Oklahoma Christmas

We spent Christmas in Oklahoma at Grandma and Granddad's house.  When we arrived, there was a surprise waiting for you -- a puppy!  You two worked together and decided, because of her creamy color, to name her Butterscotch. 

Santa brought the Penbo pet Katie wanted and she came with twins!  A pink little penbo baby for Katie and a purple baby for Ella.

Here we are on our 12-hour trek back to Louisiana -- notice how the van is stuffed to the brim with Christmas goodies?  Butterscotch is in Ella's lap. Katie is taking her time getting to know her.

Katie zonked out...

Ella's out...

and Butterscotch too.

The Holidays

When the holidays pass
I feel sad
Because I miss
All the fun that I had.

by Katie Brigman

Going to See Santa

Katie and Ella with Santa. 

Katie told him she wanted the Penbo and a beutiful pink princess dress.  Ella completely blanked on what she wanted and, initially, was very upset.  Then she remembered the song that says Santa knows everything (he knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you're awake.... he knows when you've been good or bad...), so she decided there was no need to worry.  He would get it right.

Katie

I found this in your school folder today... BEAUTIFUL!

Christmas Cookies

Ella (left) and Katie making Christmas cookies.

Ella rolling out more dough

Decorating the Tree

Hard at work. Ella is on the ladder and Katie is below.

Katie

Ella

Santa Wish List

When we saw Santa at school, you two got a little nervous because you didn't know what you wanted to ask Santa to bring you for Christmas.  So, I decided to take you shopping for your wish list.... see what kinds of things you might want to ask Santa to bring you.  Katie, you had the great idea of taking pictures of what you wanted.  So, here is your wish list.

Dear Santa, see below.

A beautiful pink princess dress complete with shoes, crown, and scepter for Katie please.

Ella would like a corresponding blue princess dress, with all accessories.

Ella will take any of these cute little animals.

Katie will take any (or all) of these.

Squishy dolls (aka polly pockets) are always nice.

Even more squishy dolls, please and thank you.

And a piggy bank.

Oh, and the number one spot on Katie's wish list is the Penbo pet.  She can't quit talking about it.  Please note, ** #1 ** on the list: Penbo, with baby penbo. Pink please.  Did I say Penbo with pink baby?  Yes, that's it. It sings, walks, talks, and dances.  Penbo please.  Pink.

Ella was having trouble deciding what to ask for, but eventually she found something she wanted.

I think we are all ready to see Santa now.

In the Eyes of the Beholder

This morning you both watched me as I immersed my face in skin products.  Ella, you asked, "What's that stuff for, Mommy?"  I answered, "To help me look young and beautiful."  Katie, you responded with... "You already are beautiful, Mommy!"   Ahhhh, pure sweetness.

ISL School Days

A day in the life of a Kindergartner...

Morning drop off.

Our after school hang out -- the trees in the neutral ground across from the school.

Some days it looks like a family of orangutans, there are so many kids hanging in the trees.

Other days we have a hot chocolate party with friends at the Corner Muse, our favorite, kid-friendly coffee shop just around the corner from school.

One day, Ms Lucia, the librarian, had an apple tasting event at the coffee shop.  The kids tried rojo, verde, and amarillo manzanas (apples), fresh pressed apple juice, apple butter, and dried apples.

Ella showing me her apple juice.  (I think she prefers Mott's, but was a real trooper trying the fresh stuff.)

Ella's class has planted a garden.  Here, the kids are helping with some watering after school.

The school had a Holiday Bazaar.  Of course we went to see what kind of goodies we could find.

Low and behold, we found Santa on a motorcycle!! 

Katie is transformed into a beautiful butterfly!

Car pooling -- this is Katie and our friend who carpools with us on two days a week.

Ella and our carpool buddy.

Bagel Storage

An alternate use for the clothes hook in the van... Katie's bagel keeper.

Note to Self:

Do not give 6-year-old oil pastels.

Halloween Happenings

Lots of Halloween fun this year, but the first order of business was deciding what we were going to be.  Katie, for months you have been adamant that you were going to be a witch again this year.  We dusted off the old witch costume from last year and took it on for a spin around the yard...  Perfect!  As we were trying on costumes, you decided to make the tights witchy-poo pigtails...

More funny than scary, for sure!

After school on Friday, we went to a Halloween party at the coffee shop next door to your school.  It's sort of an "after drop-off Mommy hang out" called the Corner Muse and the owner, Ms Vanessa, had a great party for all the kids.

Katie had her face painted

And so did Ella!

Saturday night was Boo at the Zoo!  I was a flapper girl, Ella was a cowgirl, and Katie decided to be a bunny rabbit fairy.  Here we are in front of the house before heading off to the zoo.

We trick-or-treated

and ran

flapped our wings

and turned our pixie sticks into fighting swords. 

A great time was had by ALL - even on the terribly scary train ride, in which Mommy screamed more and louder than both kids!!

Halloween fell on Sunday this year so we had yet another night of dress up and trick-or-treating fun.  This time, Ella was a beautiful fairy and Katie decided to be a kitty cat.

Pop treated us with some trick-or-treating

And then you took a turn handing out candy to all the neighborhood kids while eating a late dinner of Mom's homemade, extra good lasagna.

Ella giving Pop a good-bye hug and kiss.