Bathing at Papa & Grandma's

Sometimes it's in the sink.

Other times Bruin is involved.

The Colorer

Oranges

Sugar Cookies

I saved all of my baking for when I got to my parents'. All in all, I made frosted sugar cookies, thumbprint cookies, peanut blossoms, and peanut butter balls. Granted, I had help with each of these. Emily is surprisingly good at rolling dough balls.

Waiting for Papa

My dad only had to work on Monday, but the girls missed him anyway. They decided to wait outside for him to get home.

An attempt at Christmas pictures

California

On Saturday (the 19th) we got up at 2ish in the morning and were on the road to L. A. before 3. It actually worked out brilliantly--the girls (and I, for a little bit) slept and we were all the way to Yreka (CA) before we had to stop. Emily asked to eat in the car, so we were just off of the road for about half an hour getting gas & breakfast--perfect. Then we drove until we needed gas again...which put us south of Stockton for a late lunch. Eating in the car was once again appealing, so we headed off without much delay. Both girls were great and slept a lot. We didn't even turn on the DVD player until we were going over the grapevine. Granted, that's when we hit traffic. While we should've made it to my parents' house at 6 (record time--15 hours), the traffic added a bonus hour. Frustrating.

The picture is how we found Ellen when we were getting ready to load them up for the trip.

Snuggle Buddy

Apparently holding hands with Daddy is similar to Nyquil.

Sunday, 5:30 pm

Visiting Santa

On Tuesday we went to Bridgeport to see Santa. He was AWESOME. We were the only ones there, too, so we got to ease our way into things without feeling like we need to hurry up and leave. Plus we didn't have to wait outside in the 12-degree weather.

Emily asked for noisy toys and a bug car--no, two cars. A red one and a blue one.

Ellen asked if she could get off of Santa's lap. That's all she wants for Christmas.

Ellen was happily playing with that Christmas Elmo when I plopped her on Santa's lap, hoping she wouldn't notice. She did.

When my girls look big...

Seriously. When did Ellen get this old?!

Decorating the Tree

(Sidenote: Julie, Ellen LOVES her tutu! Regardless of colors/matching.)

(Sidenote: Jessica, Emily loves Ellen's skirt. Regardless of colors/matching.)

Stolen Thanksgiving pictures

The great-grandparents and great-grandkids...at least Karen & Emily are smiling.

Ellen and Great-Grandma Lucy (please note the cookies/bribery in Ellen's hand)

Great-Grandpa Chauny (and those cookies again)

I'm so excited about Ellen's pigtails!

In defense of the drool--she had a cold and is getting her canines.

"Um, do puppies eat toes?"

Curtis & Emily LOVE to hang out and play together.

Ellen & Starbucks

Thanks, Larisa!!