January + February photo favorites

 There haven't been too many photos taken the last couple of months and the majority of that small amount are photos of our new kittens - a BIG highlight since we got them in January... 

Some snow and sledding fun!

Okay, now you're going to get some kitten spam! Some backstory first though...So ever since Steven and I got married (12 years ago) we knew we wanted to own a cat at some point. With our living situation(s) for a while, then moving states, then having kids we decided to wait. This last year Ellie has reeeaallly wanted a cat. Well, at the end of 2020 we started to seriously talk about adopting a kitten. After Steven made some phone calls, we realized adopting two kittens would be in the best interest of the cat. And shortly after that, we came across these two gray sister kitties and my heart melted for them. They are basically identical and the only real way of telling them apart is if you look right at their face; their eyes are different. We ended up getting them collars so it was easier to know who is who! In the photo below, the one on the left is Luna (light yellow floral collar) and the one on the right is Jules (green floral collar). Also, they sleep together 95% of the time in the sweetest ways and Ellie takes pictures of them often! Luna has warmed up to us the fastest, cuddling next to us or in our laps every day. Jules enjoys being pet and follows us around a lot, but does prefer her space more. We have loved watching them grow with our family!

^ Luna

^ They are literally asleep like this!

^ Paige is "reading" to them.

^ Steven had been somewhere when we walked to the park and when we were walking back home he met us. And race home ensued!

^ Cupcake and photo by Ellie.

So.Much.Snow!

^ And then the weather turned beautiful and biking practice has begun! 

Ellie at age 6 + birthday party

Our biggest little is 6 as of February 5th! Watching Ellie grow (physically, mentally, and spiritually) and learn has been such a privilege (also, info on her size...47" tall (80%) and 47lbs (62%)). She amazes us every day with her heart and mind. She definitely likes things to be a certain way and she also definitely appreciates her space. When writing and/or drawing Ellie can be kind of particular and we're working on the way she gives herself grace, patience, and being proud of herself. She has quiet time and she really savors that time to herself. Paige is her best friend but also the person that gets on her nerves the most. Their personalities are really different so respecting what each other needs is still being learned - from all of us. Ellie goes through tons of pieces of paper because she is drawing and writing constantly. I want to keep all her artwork, but I would have a room full if I did! She loves clothes, her dolls/babies/stuffies, and has just recently gotten into Barbies. I could write paragraphs about her, but that's a bit about our girl and I asked her the following questions like I did last year. Some answers haven't really changed, and some answers were a little bit of a surprise. Enjoy! And we had a couple small parties to celebrate her birthday, cat theme of course (a theme she had picked out basically right after her last birthday) - pictures below.

Favorite color? Pink and red.

Favorite food? Strawberries and cherries.

What's your least favorite food? Mashed potatoes. (I added this question this year because she is so funny with mashed potatoes. She has a high dislike for them and will literally gag if she actually puts them in her mouth. We try to encourage her to give them a chance to see if her tastes have changed, but she really really doesn't want to.)

Where do you like to eat out at? Red Lobster and McDonald's. (For the last 3 years we asked her where she wants to eat for her birthday celebration and she has picked Red Lobster. We had gone a little bit before her 4th birthday and she liked it, so I think that's why she picked it for her special day. And now, she seems to stick with the tradition, even though we say she can pick anywhere. And basically, anytime we ask the girls where they want to eat at, they say McDonald's.)

What is your favorite TV show? Go, Dogs Go!, Elena Of Avalor (She kind of has several shows she leans towards and Go Dog Do is a very recent one she started watching. Elena has been a top one this whole last year.)

What is your favorite movie? The Grinch.

What is your favorite game? Candy Land and Uno.

What is your favorite animal? Giraffe and Elephant (I really thought she would say cats because she had been wanting a cat for about a year and we just got 2 kittens in January.)

What is your favorite song? That's a hard one...Trolls songs...that Poppy one...("Get Back Up Again")

Who is your best friend? Elliana and Declyn

What is your is a favorite thing to do outside? Go in the pool.

What is your favorite holiday? Hmmm, Halloween and Christmas. Oh and Easter!

What is your favorite stuffed animal? Ellie the Elephant and my bear.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor. And maybe a ballerina.

What is your favorite thing to do with Dad? Go on one-on-one time.

What is your favorite thing to do with Mom? Same.

What is your favorite thing to do with Paige? Um, play together. (Paige was right by us when I was asking Ellie these questions and Ellie said again, talking right to Paige..."I like to play with you Paige." Paige responded saying, "I love you, Ellie!")

What is your favorite book? The Christmas Story. (I went on to ask what's another book she likes to read throughout the year and she said, "I like the Nancy mystery books." (Nancy Drew)

What is your favorite thing to play with? My baby doll and big girl doll (her Our Generation doll), and my stuffies.

What do you do really well? I...do art really well.

What do you enjoy learning about? Hmm, Jesus.

What makes you happy? My family. And friends.

What makes you sad? Hmm, that's one I don't really know.

^ At one party we had a cake and at the other one, we had yarn cake pops!

December photo favorites

 

^ Art by Ellie

^ There were so.many.winter crafts this month! But I really didn't mind!

^ On our way to Indian Creek Plaza, there was this amazing sunset. This picture isn't edited in any way. The hot pink was amazing. God is such an artist. 

Annual drive to see Christmas lights. 

^ Had to capture this photo to remember how the girls always bust into our room as soon as their Ok to Wake clock turns green. They usually get up into our bed and start chatting away. 

^ Paige has been getting into brushing or "doing" my hair. She usually does a fine job, but this moment was a little rough. Don't worry, I didn't lose much hair ; )

Annual gingerbread houses. We don't take it too seriously and the girls love doing it. 

And of course, they love snacking on the candy as they go. 

It was such a joy to see Ellie create these drawings all on her own.

Top: translation - Jesus brought light to the world.

Bottom: Christmas; Jesus's birthday 

Christmas Eve service at church.

 (Note masks in hand...such weird times, but trying to keep some traditions going.)

^ Christmas morning! Paige's smile in this photo and photo above has been her grin lately. 

She's such a ham.

The last week of December we took a drive to a nearby city, which was a getaway to a cabin with another family/friends of ours. 

We loved being surrounded by snow and friends for three days and four nights. The girls got to experience a lot of firsts here...sledding, sleeping in a bunk bed, being up close and personal with deer (and Ellie fed some), snow machine rides, and going on a hayride to see a huge herd of elk, to name a few highlights. 

^ Ellie drew this photo after she went sledding for the first time. Love.

It was also my birthday on this trip and Ellie wanted to decorate the dining room to be festive. Our friend Amanda helped her secretly put this together in the office. Her heart is so thoughtful and sweet. 

I made the above shakers for the kids for New Years' 

and Ellie wanted to add her touches of artwork to celebrate as well (photo below).

There was snowman building of course and more sledding to ring in our last day. It was a trip well spent.

^ Both girls were worn out by the end of the trip and Paige snoozed on the drive home. She was so tired she fell asleep mid-coloring and when she'd wake partially I'd try to collect her stuff, but she would say, "No!!" However, she'd instantlly fall back asleep. Ha!