Some For the Road

As sad as I am to move that lovely picture out of the top spot, it must be done (can I just say that is exactly the type of picture I am most drawn to when I browse photographers blogs and I'm thrilled to have one featuring my own family!).
I'm tired, but it is just time for our adventure to begin. Mike returns from CA today only to turn around and head out for FL. I have been holding down the fort and trying to get everything cleaned and packed and ready to go at the same time, which isn't an easy task when you have 3 kiddos "entertaining themselves".
Sunday we skipped the first hour of church and then headed out. Not one good picture, but proof that we did make it :-).

We all needed to get out after a weekend at home so we went over to the West Oaks mall. We hung out at the Disney store and got really excited about Disney World, we said hi to Santa (Addie wasn't so sure at first but ended up telling him she wanted a cat), played on the playground and got some dinner. We went into the family restroom while there and they had a miniature of everything. Addie was so excited to use it all...too bad we can't install our own version at home!

All ready for school today (yes, it's the same oufit as church on Sunday, but she only had it on for 2 hours, right?). Doesn't Addie look like a sad little orphan? I let her pick out her own ensemble.

And Preston's favorite hang out place while down stairs...watching the trees and birds out the back window. I must say he is one adorable little guy :-)! And he's had a growth spurt, look how short the arms on his 6 month jammies are suddenly.


Enjoy the break from posting...I'll have pictures galore when we return!
I can't wait to see how everything turns out for Mack and Cheryl's wedding, and see them too of course!
(and in case you're wondering, yeeees, I am once again borrowing a dress from Mckell...what would I do without you Mckell :-)?!)

Our Picture Preview!!!

So, I just saw the pictures from our photoshoot with Janna and they are AMAZING!!!
She posted one of our pictures on her blog if you are curious :-).
Update...I just got one of my favorites! There were just so many great ones though. I just love the colors in this one.

See...Isn't she amazing?!?!? :-)

Dear Santa...

"Is it cold at the North Pole?"



Included on the wish lists this year: the new Tinkerbell movie, make-up, a Princess Fiona Barbie, Up, a real dog (hopefully a stuffed one will do the trick :-), Littlest Pet Shops, a stuffed cat, and of course, candy.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas :-)! Hooray!!!

Gold Star Girl

Friday morning came all too soon for me. I heard the kids around 7am and went out to see what was going on. My mom offered to get Ella off to school so I could sleep a little more, but I couldn't fall back asleep (I kept remembering things...like Ella needing a snack in her backpack, etc.) so I just got up and tried my best to wake up while my mom helped me. That afternoon was Ella's Thankful party at school and she really wanted us to come. I was feeling a little sick by the end, but it was fun to see her interacting with all her little friends from school (and I even managed to sleep a couple hours that afternoon thanks to a Dora DVD keeping Addie entertained downstairs while Preston napped).
Preston was entranced by the rain that morning.

As soon as we walked into her classroom, Ella ran up to show me that she was on the gold star! She was SOOO proud of herself and I'm glad I was there that day to see it and share in her excitement :-)! They are green the majority of the time and get moved down to yellow when misbehaving (and red if it's serious), but to get on the star they need to be caught doing something exceptionally nice or being especially well-behaved. (since they alternate days in different classrooms the teachers had to have something that could move with the class)

The kids decorated cookies to look like turkeys, had a couple games to play (and got prizes after) and had 2 crafts to work on as well. It was a lot of fun packed into 45 minutes. The toughest part for me was getting Addie situated and playing with something that she couldn't break or cause a disaster with (she was of course immediately drawn to the big bins full of seashells and buttons). She read for a little bit and then Miss Torres told her she could play with the bears and she was in heaven. She was mad that we had to leave before she had finished her little set up. Preston was tired, but happy that he could see everything that was going on and be a part of the action. Ella LOVES to show him off to her friends and make him smile :-).

Ella and Miss Torres (who teaches her on her Spanish day)

New Moon Fun

So, last fall I became slightly obsessed with the Twilight series...
ok, ok, I definitely needed some counseling, but at least I can admit it right?!
I hadn't really wanted to read the books and when I finally gave in (reading all 4 in 3 days time) I LOVED them. I then read them again and then read Twilight one more time while I waited for the movie to come out. I was understandably majorly disappointed with the movie...SO many things were wrong. We did have quite a girls' night though and we were all excited about New Moon this year.
I could tell from the trailers that they had put more money and effort into this one and I loved almost everything about it (except can they get Edward to hit the gym PLEASE before they make movie #3...seriously dude, you know you have to take your shirt off and you are supposed to be a vampire comparable to marble...not sickly, withered, and hairy...so get to work!). I still have obsessive issues with Twilight...I can't read the books, listen to the soundtrack or watch the movie without partly going back into my "I just want to run away and be a vampire" funk, so it had been over a year since I read them and I think that helped me not be too overly critical of the movie this time around.
I do think that overall this movie followed the book much better, the acting (especially at the beginning of the movie) was much better, the special effects were much better, and the cinematography was much better. I loved the colors in the scenes in Italy, I thought Aro was perfection - just what I imagined, Jacob was awesome, the wolf scenes were amazing, and Bella managed to not start irritating me until about half way through.
It was a fun, but exhausting night. I got home at 4am (because the true fans hit Denny's afterwards for more discussion) and I am just not cut out for all-nighters anymore! Mike left that day for California so my mom came to my rescue and spent the night at my house and helped me in the morning as I tried my best to wake up. I would have been heart-broken if I'd had to miss the show after all the anticipation, so thanks mom!!! (she and Hope also babysat for 5 hours yesterday while I went to work...I owe you guys!)

Most of our group met up at Mckell's last night. As I walked up to the front door I found this sign...

First photo-op of the evening :-). I really felt like I was going into this movie as a more mature fan, and apparently so did everyone else. No shirt-making, no driving in fast cars, just heading over to the theater.
Mckell, Allie, Leighanna, April, me and Emily (boo to Leighanna and April for having private blogs :-)

After the craziness we endured at Cinemark last year, Emily had the brilliant idea to head to the Alamo Drafthouse for the movie this year. It is a theater that serves food and drinks, and because of the drinks has an age requirement. This meant far less crowds, fewer teeny-boppers gushing over Edward and Jacob during the movie and a less-claustrophobic theater atmosphere because every row of seats had a table in front of it for your food.

It was almost a perfect scenario, except somehow I ended up sitting on the end of the line next to a 50-something year old woman who yelled out inappropriate things to Jacob during various parts of the movie, which was wrong on so many levels.
We ordered food and chatted while waiting for the movie to start. I ran into Ella's preschool teacher from last year too, it's so funny to see just how many people love these books.
Shannon and Cathy met up with us later at the theater.

I was very disappointed that half our group didn't stick it out and go to Denny's after the movie this year. I figured, I'm already going to feel like crap in the morning, so why not live it up :-).
Allie, Emily, April and I had a great time and since there wasn't as much to complain about this year,
we actually mostly just had fun girl talk instead.

Who's ready for Eclipse?!?!

Getting On With It

I'm still recovering from going to the midnight showing of New Moon Thursday night...but I am excited to blog about it.

So, let's get on with the week leading up to the big night.
Mike trimmed some of our trees and the girls have spent hours playing in the downed branches.

We still have one more big one behind the garage and they love to use it as a fort.

Sometimes by the end of day things feel like they are falling apart.

The kids are getting grumpy and tired, my patience is wearing thin, and it's all I can do to get through getting everyone bathed and in their jammies. Once we survive it though I love to read the girls their bedtime stories and let the calmness return. I'm glad Mike got this picture of the nice part of our night. I just hope that this is what the girls remember when they get older...and not the tense, and sometimes traumatic, hour it takes to get there.

Thursday was an exciting day for me...New Moon that night of course, but it was also our first day to head back to a gym. I signed up for 24 hours fitness and I am SO excited to have a place to workout again!!! Addie and Preston both did great on our first morning there.

And some VERY messy kiddos.

Is there a good trick for eating pomegranates that I don't know about? I'm guessing the girls wouldn't like them as much if they didn't get to get all messy eating them though.

Great-Grandpa Freeman

Louisiana trip, 2006 - my favorite picture I have of him...
his hat, his suspenders, his wave, his hand holding with Grandma.

Mike's dear grandpa, Thomas Leslie Freeman, passed away this week.
I want to be sure that our children are able to know a little bit more about the kind, loving and wonderful man their Great-Grandpa Freeman was during his life on earth.
(and it is written to them, so Dad=Mike, etc).
Since I only knew him and grew to love him over the past 7 years, I gathered up some of my favorite things that others have said about him, along with our pictures.

I remember meeting Grandpa for the first time and thinking he was just the cutest little man I ever saw - just what you would imagine a sweet grandpa to look like if you could design your own. I remember his cute hats. I remember finding out that he loved Pepsi and immediately knowing I fit in with this Freeman family :-); I'd been raised among Pepsi drinkers. I loved his voice and I especially loved watching him and Grandma Freeman together. I am thankful that he was able to meet each of you children and I'm especially thankful for the chance that Dad, Ella and I had to travel with him, Grandma, Meema, Papa and Chloe to Louisiana. To be shown around the state they grew to love on their missions and to get to have that time to get to know them better. I am glad that Dad will be able to travel to CA to be at his funeral and join in with the many, many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren that loved him as they celebrate the life of such a remarkable man.

Some of Dad's thoughts:
Grandpa was the first person I've know intimately that has ever passed away. I feel reminiscent, nostalgic; I don't feel sad. I loved staying at his house in the mountains of Oakhurst and catching fish, ducks, frogs and snakes with my cousins. I loved Grandpa's pancakes in the morning. I loved that he stopped the ice-cream man. I loved going to New Orleans and visiting the people he served on his mission. I love that he always had Pepsi. I love that he came with us to the first A's game ever in Houston. I love that I have not one bad memory of Grandpa. Honestly. Grandpa was a great man.

4 generations of Freemans

I loved this picture when Papa posted it on his blog over the summer...Great-Grandpa walking away with his Pepsi in hand :-).

Meema gave a little of history with her memories of him:
"Tom and Lois fell in love over 61 years ago. She wouldn't marry him unless he was a member of her faith, so he decided to investigate it. Soon after, he was baptized a member of the LDS church and they married in the Temple. Together, they built a very happy life. Materially, they were comfortable, but if a man's wealth is measured in friends, loved ones and laughter, they were rich as kings.
Tom had the one thing I admire more than anything else in a person, true integrity. A man of his word, he did whatever he committed to do. He was an exemplary family patriarch over 5 children, 16 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren. He and Lois were exceptional parents, who produced an exceptional family; and each one of us dearly loves them.
Some of my favorite things about him are:
His laughter
His faith
He honored is wife and taught his sons how to treat their wives.
His love for his country and service in the US Air Force in WWII
He honored his priesthood.
He and Lois served 2 missions for the LDS Church, both in Louisiana
He and Lois were always there for the important events in our life.
He would invite us over and cook his special pancakes
Tom was rarely seen without a Pepsi in hand. Whenever he visited us, he would enlist the help of anyone who could drive to take him down to Tigermart for a Pepsi. From his hospital bed, he sent out for Pepsi. I just can't help but picture him in Heaven, holding a Pepsi."

A friend of the family, sent this note to Dad's cousin in CA:
"I am so sorry to hear of your grandfather's passing. He was and is a great patriarch and example for your family and a faithful member of the Church who truly endured to the end. He was one of the best missionaries in the Fresno Stake.
My dad and I had the opportunity to visit him last Saturday. It was such a sweet experience for me to see my dad holding his hand as he talked with him. Tom was alert and both Tom and my dad were able to express their love for each other. I will never forget the experience."

Great Aunt Jennifer wrote to Meema:
"Tom gave you a gift. He married a good woman, Lois, and raised a wonderful, righteous son that you would fall in love with and who treats you like a queen. That son has been a wonderful husband and father in your own family, and is the best brother-in-law I could ask for. Steve is the man he is, in many ways because of the man Tom taught him to be. What a wonderful gift Tom has given you, and all of us!"

Aunt Chrissy wrote of the wonderful legacy he is leaving behind:
"I am so proud of my heritage... my Grandma picked a good man.
Here's how I know:
...I know that each and every uncle, aunt, cousin, niece, nephew, brother, and sister
I have loves me, thinks of me, prays for me, and supports me.
I could not ask for a better family.
And I would not have any of it if it weren't for my Grandpa Freeman.
I love you Grandpa. Thank you for everything you gave us.
I will miss you terribly."

Dad's cousin Michele wrote beautifully about the time she was able to spend with him in the hospital. I think it is the perfect conclusion:
"I imagine he was telling me that he loved me and that he was proud of me (hopefully) and maybe giving me some advice to carry with me. Or maybe he was just asking for a kiss:) I could see in his eyes that he knew the message was lost. I promised to come back tomorrow and then kissed his forehead.
His spirit is not broken, just his body.
Stephanie pointed out that the feeling in his room is a very peaceful one. You know you are in the presence of a great man and the spirit is very strong where he is. There are many here who do not want to see him go, and many there who are anxiously awaiting his arrival.
So very loved is my Grandpa."

Feeling Stripey and Snappy

Ella has wanted to learn how to snap for quite awhile. Periodically she would ask me to show her how and we would practice a little bit, but she didn't seem to be making any progress. Last week she came to me ecstatic to show me that she could snap now!!! She is so proud of herself and I catch her snapping as she reads books or watches TV. Today she told out of the blue, "Mom, did you know Grandad couldn't snap when he was 5?!" I asked her if he told her that and she said, "Yeah, at my soccer game." That was over a week ago so it definitely made her feel good :-).

One of my favorite things about fall and winter are fun stripey tights for the girls :-). I tried to include Preston in the striped fun too though!

I was helping at Ella's school and tried to sneak a picture of her really quick :-). It was fun to be able to hear her practicing her Spanish pronunciations with one of the Spanish speaking moms in the hall (I was working on English sight words with some other kids).

The girls and I were having some fun last night before bed.
First, I captured Ella's laugh on video, per Christina's request. (I was pretending to crash into the dresser, hence the other weird noises)

It is super dark when we tuck them in now with the time change and we were laying on the floor looking at their glow in the dark stars and Ella wanted a picture. We took picture after picture trying to get all our faces in the shot and it was quite a challenge...the first picture is with no flash, it was black in there, I couldn't tell where the camera was pointing or where Addie was.

San Antone

It is SO nice having our parents both so close to us! It makes quick weekend trips possible, although we wish we could have stayed longer with Mike's family this time. The weekend was over before we knew it! Ella was shocked when I told her it was time to go and today Addie told me over and over again "I want to go to Papa's house!" and then burst into tears when I told her we wouldn't be going back for awhile. We are definitely looking forward to our Christmas visit!
First up are some pictures Meema took when she, Papa and Chloe took all the little kiddos on a train ride and a walk through the Tea Gardens downtown. Ella and Addie both told me about all the fish they saw.

And...
Earlier that morning Chloe did both the girls' hair.

Mike and I went out to brunch while they were on their little adventure. Once you have kids there is nothing like a quiet meal without feeding children or trying to keep them busy...it is heavenly...and almost boring :-).


Ella worked hard to prove that she was ready for a dog anytime I was...

and we ate lots of YUMMY meals-that I didn't prepare-one of my favorite part of our visits :-)!
Preston definitely enjoyed having some new places to explore.

Sometimes I forget that he is still so small because he is so dang strong and active. (The other night Mike was holding him while I got the girls in bed. Preston started swinging his little fist into Mike's chest and Mike told me Preston was actually "inflicting pain.")
I mean, look at this little guy!

But then I see someone holding him or I look at him asleep in his crib and I remember, "Oh yeah, he really still is just my little baby!"

Preston is 1/2 a Year Old!!!

CRAZY!!!
Our little guy is 6 months old and I really can't believe it...except for the fact that is constantly ON THE GO! I couldn't even get a picture of him sitting up with his bear because he would quickly try and make a get away. So, I had to lay him back and take it fast :-). He is still such a happy little guy! He only cries if he is really hungry or really tired, and even then he often smiles at you when he cries. He is sleeping great, eating great, and playing great. He is SO ready for more foods, but I have been LAZY about it! Sorry Preston, I'll do better!

Weekend Getaway

We are in San Antonio for the weekend visiting with Mike's family. The girls couldn't wait to come...everyday I was asked how many more days until Papa's house. We finally came and although we haven't been here very long they have already gotten crazy with Chloe, eaten a yummy dinner (well, we did - they just wanted to play), visited with the dogs and played Barbies. Ahhh, vacation :-).
Here are pictures from the rest of our week at home...



Addie found this big spider inside and Ella ran away terrified. Addie told her, "It's NOT scary Ella!"

I was just glad Mike was home to get it...yuck!

Ella's Treasure Chest

Ella keeps this little metal Tinkerbell purse under her pillow at ALL times. It is filled with her most prized possessions that she would prefer for Addie never to touch and she keeps it under her pillow even to sleep. I told her she could move it at night so her pillow would be softer, but she put her head down on it and said, "See, it's comfortable!" The other night when Mike was putting the girls down Addie managed to get a hold of it and Ella gasped, "No Addie! That's my treasure chest!" Most of the little goodies inside are things that Ella picked out after earning a trip to the $1 store or $1 spot by doing her chores. I love to see what random items are treasure to her :-).

In my cleaning preparations for Janna's trip last weekend I finally went through the huge stack of papers Ella had brought home from school each day. I saved a couple favorites and took pictures of a few extras before recycling them. I feel SO guilty every time I get rid of something she worked so hard on, but I just can't keep them all unfortunately.

"When Preston is 2 or 4 we'll get a dog."
(I always tell her when he is 3 we'll talk about it)


She thought up this all on her own and thought it was pretty funny:
The first line is her mess-up line, then:
"Dad will turn into Addie.
Addie will turn into Dad."
The smiley face is because Addie will be happy to turn into Mike and get big, but Mike will be sad to turn into Addie and become little :-).

What's Not Said

Anyone wondering how Addie's potty training is going? if I'm back in shape again? if Addie's still hitting? Maybe not :-). The truth is I haven't given any updates on these issues because Addie is not going on the potty anymore (except very occasionally), I haven't worked out (except for those few weeks when I blogged about it) and Addie was hitting a little boy at recipe swap yesterday repeatedly.
The potty training is completely my fault. I just don't have the time or energy to stop what I'm doing every 30 minutes and have her go. Most the time I don't really care anyway, but lately she has been pooping 3-4 times a day...in her pull-up...and I hate it! Someday.
I was doing well running in the mornings and going to walking group, but then it got hot again and I got a cold and Preston started sleeping all night so he wasn't my alarm clock anymore and Mike and I decided I shouldn't be running alone in the dark and you get the picture...there were plenty of excuses. But Preston turns 6 months old tomorrow (HOW?!?!) which means I can join 24 hour fitness because it is a much more affordable alternative to Lifetime (which I will miss forever because it's amazing there) but it also means I need to come up with a new schedule that allows some quality "me" time...not a bad thing. (not to mention I'd really love to be able to wear my winter clothes again)
As for Addie's hitting though, there is only so much I can do...right?! I'll be glad when this phase passes. I think she likes to get a reaction out of her victims and she likes the attention of all the adults rushing to their rescue and to her punishment. In good Addie news I have finally found a way to make her listen and follow the rules around our house...threaten her blankie. I only had to take it away twice for her to know I was serious. Now if I say, "Do this or I'm taking your blankie away. 1...2...." it's done before I get to 3. Hallelujah! Baby steps.

Addie told me she made "lots of belly buttons" in the play doh.

Preston has a little cold and has been sleeping on his back more often because he can breathe easier (he didn't tell me, but I'm assuming :-). He just looks so cute sleeping so peacefully. Those Christmas jammies are some Kayley got for Ella when she was a baby and last night I went in to check on him and the feet of them were twisted all crazy because his feet were up in the legs. He moved when I tried to get a picture so they don't look as funny, but I do love that he is all stretched out.

Magic

Remember this cute picture I took of Preston on Monday?

Well, look what fun Janna was able to have with it.
Amazing.
LOVE it even more now :-)!


Thanks Janna!
Now I just need to find a cute frame :-)!

Ella at School

I had a little conference with Ella's teachers on Monday and was thrilled to hear how well she was doing.
Mike and I have talked about how it would be fun to just be able to watch her at school and see what she is like there with all her little friends, doing all her little activities and participating in lessons.
Both her teachers (Spanish and English) said that she had been very quiet at the beginning of the year but after a few weeks really started to open up. Ella raises her hand and answers questions and they said she is always very sure of her answer. In Spanish the teacher said she is quieter but that she can really see her brain working to figure out what is being said and that her face lights up when she recognizes a word.
They both commented on what a wonderful laugh she has. Her Spanish teacher even remembered the first time she heard it. She said she was working with some other students and heard this hearty laugh and looked over and was shocked to see it was coming from little Ella :-).
They said she gets along well with the other students, she loves to sing and dance, and that they are always excited to see what cute outfit and hair style she'll have. They went over the milestones she should be reaching for both Spanish and English and she is doing well in both.
They also went over a test they gave her at the beginning of the school year that is used to test Spanish speakers. The first time they gave the instructions for each section and the test in Spanish and recorded how many she got right and the second time they gave the instructions in English before giving the test in Spanish and showed me improvement. The last section of that test was a reading comprehension paragraph, but the paragraph was of course in Spanish. The Spanish teacher said Ella was so cute and just smiled up at her the whole time she read the paragraph and then said, "I don't know that." :-)
It will be interesting to see how much she is able to comprehend by the end of the year. I was able to see her writing journals and it was really amazing to see the progress she has made in just two months! The first days of school she was only drawing pictures and now her entries are filled with her cute little words. You can see her trying to get her words just right and see her little thought process. They finally set up a classroom volunteer schedule and I am excited that I will be able to help out and see more of what goes on while there once a week.
I asked them about her recent sad faces for excessive talking (they have a little chart in their folder where they get a happy face or sad face each day- if it's a sad face, there is a number by it so we know why she got it and Ella had a few over the last couple weeks that all corresponded with excessive talking). She got them all in English class but the teachers said not to worry about it - that in some ways it is a positive sign that she is becoming more comfortable in class and gaining confidence. And also that all the kids are working on following rules and learning when to listen and when to talk.
So Ella is doing really well and she LOVED hearing me tell her all the nice things her teachers had said when she got home from school that day.
We are SO happy with the two-way immersion program and love both her teachers. I am so, so thankful that she has this amazing opportunity to learn two languages at such a young age and that we live in such a wonderful school district!

These are the comments that were typed up on the paper they gave me to bring home. Some of them are the same as things they told me, but for records sake, here it is:
"Ella is doing very well academically. She participates with enthusiasm in both English and Spanish. She is very quiet in Spanish class, but I can tell she is listening and processing information. She loves to sing and write, and enjoys sharing her work with others. She gets along well with others, and truly enjoys her day. Thank you for all the support you give her at home. We really enjoy having Ella in our class and being able to take part in her social, emotional, and academic development."