Birthday Girl

My sweet Ella, born just 6 years ago, celebrated her birthday this weekend.

With her friends, she had a Tea Party.  Cheers!

Gift cake boxes courtesy of Daisys and Dots.  I am so upset we didn’t get a photo of them all together before the kids tore into them.  They were SO cute.

Nico was on time, but most of the guests were fashionably late.

Yum!

The kids had fun and were very well behaved!

Ella had another party with family.  Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle John and Kris (John’s Girlfriend).

(Not sure why we don’t have photos of actual people besides Ella for this occasion).

Table set for stew.

A lucky girl with family, presents and a roaring fire! 

I think she likes it.

Our pretty, sweet, smart, wonderful SIX year old!

 

Ella got lots of presents from her friend party too.  LOTS.  She was so excited about all of them.  In the evening, with family over she decided to dress her new Barbie in the new Barbie clothes.  She said she was getting ready for a date with a boy.  Her dad just about fell over.  I told him she’s already a teenager, talking about dates!  Neither of us were at all thrilled with the little bitty teeny weeny clothes Barbie wears these day either…

Sweet Siblings

Sometimes siblings can have their not-so-good moments.  Ours have plenty.

But they can be sweet too.  And we saw a lot of it this weekend.

Goofing and playing.

Helping with buttons.

 

Fixing a boo boo.

I’m so glad they have each other and that they can treat each other so well.

Christmas 2009, Part 1

Our first Christmas celebration took place this past Saturday the 19th, in conjunction with Ella’s 3rd birthday celebration.

We prepared a meal, cake and cookies and set our table up in the dining room in an attempt to create a nice atmosphere.

The cookies I made this year from left front going clockwise: Kolachky with honey/almond filling, Mixed Nut Bars, Buckeyes and Gooey Butter Cookies. 

If you click on any of the above cookie names, you will be directed to their recipe.  Except the Buckeyes.  You can find recipes for those all over the internet, but I didn’t find one like what I use.  Which I love, because I’m used to it.  Let me know if you really want it and I’ll post it or look harder for it on the internet.  Also, a tip for the Gooey Butter Cookies… I found that Duncan Hines has a Butter Recipe Golden Mix that really makes these cookies even better than using the Classic Yellow Mix.  Don’t worry, if you can’t find it, they still taste amazing!

Next up was exchanging presents and spending some time together.

Ella with her Grandpa and Babi.

Jen (Scott’s girlfriend) and Uncle Scott.

Ella carefully eating her Buckeye on the couch.

Miles with Babi.

Jason spoiling Velvet (the cat).

A family moment…

Home for Christmas

This year we stayed home together all day Christmas.  It was a really nice experience!!

Before the big day, the kids really enjoyed wrapping!

On Christmas Eve everyone got new PJs.  I did too, but you do NOT want to see me in pajamas!  The kids not only went to sleep in them on Christmas Eve, they never changed into their clothes on Christmas Day!  Mr. Grinch did shower and change into clothes, for the record.  And he’s not really a Grinch.  They were just cute PJs.

 

The kids were more than ready to get the unwrapping started!  We didn’t go too crazy this year with gifts.  We tried to stick to this rule for each kid.  4 gift rule – something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.  And you know what?  It was nice and I think the kids enjoyed it more than getting a ton of gifts.  Their gifts were VERY well thought out by us and they weren’t overwhelmed.  The big hit for Ella was a play digital camera.  Something she didn’t even ask for, but is really having a blast with and I think is a very creative tool.  It has video too!

I bought this beautiful handmade dress from Crystal of Little Bit Funky.  Ella loved it and talked about it later.  She’ll be wearing it tomorrow for Christmas at my parents’.

 

Miles had a Very “Cars” Christmas.  For the most part.

I made a couple of these for the hubby.

And a Czech dinner for the family.  Pork roast, sour potatoes, dumplings (Knedlicky) and sauerkraut.  (Jason is 1/2 Czech).

 

Our Final Christmas Celebration for 2009

At my parents on the 26th.  We met up there with my brother John and his girlfriend Kris.  As we arrived, we naturally gathered in my parents’ kitchen.  My mom did a LOT of work on dinner!

The kids posing in front of my parents’ tree.  The beautiful dress is courtesy of Crystal.

 

The kids love their uncle.

 

And Kris.

 

The cookie spread.  Contributions by everyone, including Kris’ mom!

Family gets ready to eat a delicious meal.

 

Another sweet moment.  (The camera you see Ella holding in most every picture was her favorite gift from Santa!)

 

Let the unwrapping begin…

The best gift of the evening.

So We Thought Christmas Was Over

But… we forgot we didn’t exchange gifts with Jason’s brother Scott!

We went down to the city (Chicago – Lincoln Park) last Wed.  It was our first time visiting his new apartment which is located right across the street from the Lincoln Park Zoo.  We all went over to enjoy “Zoo Lights”.

The front lobby of Scott’s apartment building (it used to be a hotel).  Isn’t it pretty!

Miles in Scott’s apartment.  He just looked so cute in his new hat made by his Grandma.

 

Scott’s Christmas tree.

 

A preview of something we’ll be doing in 2010?

 

Ice Sculptures

  

Cold, but fun!

 

Then, though we did not go to Jason’s family friends party, some folks sent along some gifts for us and the kids.  Boy did they like these, hot chocolate mug sets.  And of course, Miles got the Cars set!

Anyone else taking advantage of after Christmas sales?

Here are a few nice ones…

Hanna Anderson

Boden

Childrens Place (got some Christmas presents for next year already!)

I’m sure there are more out there, but I’m going to stop looking in case I find more things we “need”.