Grandma Dresses

We finally arrived in NOLA after a long 3-day drive. Grandma had sent her Christmas presents to GiGi's house (we were supposed to be here prior to Christmas!), so the girls had more Christmas to celebrate in NOLA. This is one of the presents from Grandma from Oklahoma -- beautiful dresses she made for them! The girls LOVE them and wear them almost as soon as I get them out of the washing machine! This is not the best photo, but wanted to show the adorable dresses!

Katie All Dressed Up (and no place to go!)

Seriously, I don't know what Katie was doing.  She dressed up, put on some make-up, and wanted me to take her picture.  So, here's KATIE!!!!!

Christmas 09

I'm WAY behind in my blogging these days and finally have a little time to play 'catch up'.  Here are a few snapshots of our Lake Barcroft Christmas, just before our big move to New Orleans.  We were going to move before Christmas, but the "Blizzard of 09" (see previous post) combined with Bill's pneumonia changed our plans.  So, we rushed around and bought a few presents, got one of the last trees on the lot, unboxed a some decorations, and ended up having a wonderful Christmas! 

Ella helping decorate the tree.  She mostly liked hanging the red tiny balls, which is no surprise as she's an avid collector of "tiny balls"... that girl can find a tiny ball or a torn balloon just about everywhere she goes!

Kate hugging puppy.  She was partial to the 'figurine' ornaments.  You can see the bottom of the tree is getting more decorations than the top... time for mom and dad to step in!

Tree is all done and we're all ready for Christmas Eve Mass.  Katie took this photo of Momma, Dada, and Ella.  The girls picked out their own Christmas dresses this year.  We were at Target and they saw these dresses and there was nothing I could do to dissuade them.  These were just what the girls wanted to wear for Christmas.  Ella thought she looked like an angle and in fact, Katie asked if she could borrow the dress for Halloween next year because she wants to dress up like an angel! 

Ella's turn to play photographer.  Here is Katie in her "Mrs. Clause" dress.

Daddy's turn to be photographer -- nice pix of Momma and her girls!

When we arrived at church, they were collecting kids to be angels.  Ella immediately volunteered.  Katie was a little more hesitant, but agreed.  You'll see they were both given gold garland to wear as halos.

The girls on the alter.  They weren't sure what to do exactly -- neither did anyone else, I don't think -- but, they hung out and let everyone ooooh and aaaah over all the little kids in their pretty Christmas dresses.

Christmas Eve presents.  Beautiful red peignoir sets.  Katie decided they looked like Chinese princesses.

Christmas morning -- Santa left Katie the pink and white skunk she wanted!

Ella got a new princess dress!

A big Santa hit (still is!) was the Aurora Beauty Salon.  The girls had a blast fixin' Aurora's hair!

Flower Poster

You know those wooden structures in which a scene or person is painted on it and then you stand behind it and take a photo? Well, Katie made one for her stuffed animals. She was the photographer as well.

Mimi Bear

Green Bunny

Pink Bunny

Puppy

Ella's Best Friend

The girls had a playdate with Sierra, Ella's best friend from AUMC, just before we moved. We couldn't get them to pose for one last picture together, but this captures how much fun they have together. So sweet! She's a good friend and Ella really misses her!

Katie's New Bob

The last several haircuts Katie has asked Ms Thuy to cut her hair short (chin length), but Mommy and Ms Thuy didn't think she would like it that short so we basically didn't listen to her. Finally, Katie had enough -- she wanted her hair CUT! So, off we headed to Ms Thuy's where Katie requested a "bob".

Ms Thuy making the first cut!

Here's Katie's Bob!

Ella was getting her nails done while Ms Thuy was working on Katie's hair.

Katie and Ella with Ms Thuy.

Now you can tell the girls apart with no problem!

Dancing Dolls

What do two little girls do when they are stuck inside on a snow day? Why, make up a dance routine, of course! The girls got all dolled up and put on a show for Daddy.

Katie in the gold skirt and Ella in the silver.

The Blizzard of 2009!

DC had a record breaking snow storm and after 12 hours of snowing, the girls couldn't wait any longer to go out in it.

Katie in snow so deep she could barely walk through it!

You can see Bill in the background with the yard stick measuring...

He measured 13" in the protected part of the patio Saturday morning! And, it continued to snow all day and into the night. By the time it quit snowing Saturday night, the snow was nearly 2 feet deep in the back yard and almost up to the girls' waists.

Our front yard is a winter wonderland!

The girls try a little sledding. Katie heading up the neighbor's front yard with her sled.

Ella stuck about halfway down!

Daddy plays sled dog and the girls mush him up and down the street ... the snow was so deep, the girls sank!

Checking out the snow on the back porch.

Ella said the top of the picnic table looked like a giant snow cake.

In the play house. Notice the snow is nearly to the top of the little half door.

By evening time, the little door was covered!

Ella in her little house, checking out the snow.

Our only outside Christmas decoration this year... looking pretty in the snow!

Our house on Fiddlers Green

The next day... time to clear the driveway!

The girls watch as Daddy gets to work!!

Half way...

Katie makes a snow angel.

The snow is perfect today for making a snowman... er, excuse me, a snowGIRL!

Daddy and the girls taking a rest in the snow and admire their hard work.