The Ellis Family's Little Wonders...: December 2008

Happy New Year's Eve!!

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

We had a GREAT New Year's Eve, with some great neighbors & friends. We went down to the Call's house and barbequed with them and the Gerling's.

Taking FULL advantage of living where we do, we shot off lots of fireworks and all the kids ran around with sparklers.

It was pretty cold outside, so us girls had the men light all the fireworks... while we snuggled in the tailgates of our cars with the heaters on. Here is Leiah, her sister Maya (who was visiting from college), me, little Lydia (Leiah's daughter) peeking through in the back, Shelly and her adorable baby girl, Ambria.

The gang... Donnie, me, Leiah, James, Shelly & Jason

After shooting off the fireworks, we came inside for dessert. It was SO funny because just a few minutes after I took his picture, Kaleb's eyes blurred over and he started falling asleep right there in his seat! Just a few minutes later... he was OUT!!!

We watched the ball drop and had a sparkling white grape juice toast. Kaden had asked to go to bed at 11:30, but we told him we would go home right after the toast. He ended up falling asleep during the 20 second drive home! I think we were all a bit tired at the end of the night. We had SUCH a good time!!! Thanks again for having us all over, Shelly & Jason... can't wait to do it again!! =)

A Fantasy In Lights

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Donnie & I took the boys and Kaden's best friend, Braydon, up to Callaway Gardens tonight to see Fantasy in Lights to ring in the New Year a little early. We were hoping to be able to go to on New Year's Eve, but tonight was the last night. We decided to take the trolley instead of driving our car through... it was a bit colder, but we were told it was a lot more fun! So we bundled up, snuggled together... and got some hot cocoa afterwards.

This picture came out a bit blurry... hahaha, but I wanted to show how bundled & puffy we were. =)

Kaden with his buddy, Braydon.

There was Christmas music playing over speakers as we drove through... and every one Kaleb knew, he wasn't too shy to sing along!

Hahahaha... I'm not quite sure what Sky was doing in this picture!! We were driving through Snowflake Valley. The trees were completely covered with lights... it was gorgeous!!

The boys had SO much fun!!

The light show lasted for about an hour. We went through the North Pole, the 12 Days of Christmas, Snowflake Valley and Swan Lake. Quite a journey!!!

Sky's FIRST Calling...

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Sky received his first church calling today as the Teachers' Quorum President. He is SO excited, and we're extremely proud of him! He sets such a good example to the other young men in our ward, I know he's going to be great!! Congratulations... we love you!!!!!!!

Family Fitness Day

Saturday, December 27, 2008

We couldn't BELIEVE how warm it was today... up in the 70's!! So we decided to go take advantage of it! Donnie went to the fitness center on-post and worked out for a few hours before meeting me & the boys at the 1-mile track. There is a road race in a suburb of Birmingham in a few weeks that we're getting ready for. Donnie couldn't run with us because of his leg, so instead he took a bunch of pictures of Sky & I.

At 4:30 on the dot, Donnie stopped what he was doing and stood at attention... as did everyone else on the track, and a few cars driving through the fitness center parking lot pulled over to stand at attention. It's been six years now, and that still gives me chills. =)

Warm up before our hard mile

Atlas lunges... lunges have kicked my REAR these last few days!!

Doing some stretches

Family strides =)

We all worked up a bit of an appetite... so we went for some Mexican food, and took the boys to go see 'Bedtime Stories.' If you haven't seen it yet, we DEFINITELY recommend it... we laughed the ENTIRE movie!

All in all, it was a really fun day!!

The Unexpected Is ALWAYS Expected!!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

We were supposed to leave this morning, to spend the weekend in Atlanta with Donnie's sister, Ursula, and her husband, Keith. But after Christmas dinner, Keith's mom had a massive heart attack... and they had to rush her to the hospital for an emergency surgery. Thank GOODNESS she is okay... and is expected to have a full recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with them!!! We love you both... and are here if you need us! And hopefully our visit for next weekend will work out!!!

It turns out our original plans to spend next weekend, playing in the snow in the Smokies, also has to be rescheduled. Because... there ISN'T any snow up there yet!!!! The little two boys have been begging SO much to make a snowman... we decided to take a trip. But it looks like that trip will have to be rescheduled as well! (Hahaha...perhaps we SHOULD have gone up to Chicago for Christmas, they have gotten quite a bit of snow this year!!)

So... it looks like a relaxing weekend at home!! Although... tomorrow is a big day for Sky, we have some exciting news to share with you all after church!!

We hope you all enjoy your weekend!!!!!!
xoxo

Wishing You All A Very Merry Christmas!!!!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmastime has always been my favorite time of year! I love it's sounds, it's smells... and most of all it's feeling. Since Donnie was overseas last year, we decided we would stay home this year and just enjoy being together.

We spent the day playing games, watching movies and playing more games. I don't think we changed out of our jammies until well into the afternoon (Hahaha, yes Kaden put Kaleb's jammie bottoms on last night... and after we told him, he didn't think it was important to change them. So try not to laugh too hard!)... what a great Christmas!!

Kaden & Kaleb received this book from their primary.

The boys definitely weren't spoiled like they were last Christmas, when we went up to Chicago to visit my family, but they still received some really great gifts from their grandparents. And Santa was SO kind to bring all three of them nerf rifles... apparently, he didn't converse with Mom first!! =)

Donnie and I were a bit stressed... we've been trying to locate a Wii for the last two weeks for their main gift, but had no luck. Thank goodness the boys didn't seem too upset to open MarioKart... with no system to play it on!!! Hopefully it will be back in stock soon!!

Gram sent Chicago Bears shirts... what can I say, we're all fans!!!

Because Sky loved his art class SO much last semester... Gram also sent Sky a professional acrylic paint set, complete with a wooden case, a tabletop easel and a canvas. I can wait to see what he creates!!

Grandma Kari sent the boys a tabletop air hockey game... what a HIT that was!!! They played with it throughout the entire day!!

This evening we enjoyed a small dinner at home... complete with brown sugar baked ham, garlic mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables, homemade yeast rolls, sparkling juice, eggnog, apple crumb pie and, of course, homemade Georgian pecan pie!! Yummy!!!!

But the BEST part of the holiday, is remembering all of our wonderful family & friends!! We hope you all had a very blessed day!!!!! And we PROMISE... the cards are in the mail!! =)

Treats For Santa

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Every year on Christmas Eve, we put a plate out for Santa. Usually we leave him cookies, but this year Kaden said Santa wanted rice krispy treats... so that is exactly what Santa is going to get!

Chef Kaden... he has LOVED getting in the kitchen with me since he was just a little guy.

Kaden did everything completely by himself... he even put butter on his hands so he could transfer the gooey, sticky green stuff into the dish to cool.

Instead of using the tree cookie cutters, Kaden decided to use the snowman... and of course, he had to use sprinkles!! Here's Kaden's creation, on the china Christmas plate Gram sent us a few years back, with a little note he wrote to Santa. When I asked him if Santa would like some eggnog as well, Kaden said, "No, he'd like something more heathly... milk." I guess he figures Santa's belly is big enough. =)

We hope you all had a MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!!!!!

Trimming The Tree

Friday, December 19, 2008

Between my finals, Donnie's reverse schedule at work and his jump accident... we were a bit late getting our tree and putting up our Christmas decorations. But what matters, is that we got them up, right? After putting the lights on, we let the boys decorate the tree completely by themselves. They thought it was so fun! Of course, the decorations are almost all on the bottom!!! =)

I promise I didn't tell them all to put on red shirts. =) Kaden & Kaleb had their Christmas program at school this morning, and Sky just so happened to have changed into his red sweatshirt after he got home from school. Too funny!!

We were picking up a few things at Target earlier this week, and Kaden & Kaleb BEGGED Donnie & I to buy these nutcrackers... they thought they were SO cool. Of course, Dad gave in... and we didn't just get one, but they each got to pick one out. Hahaha... Sky passed. =) Here Kaleb is playing with his.

Pajama Party Day

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Today the boys had a pajama day at school... which they thought was SO fun!! At school, they watched 'Polar Express' and had hot cocoa. Here Kaden & Kaleb are getting ready to go to school.

I think it's so funny that Kaden has lived in the south since he was 18 months old, and Kaleb was born in Georgia... but they both tell me it just isn't Christmas without snow, and that they wanted to go back up to Chicago this year. So..... we decided to make some snow of our own. I bought some of that spray snow and sprayed all the windows too. Now, if only I can make it snow outside. =)

The Christmas Parade

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Today was the local Christmas parade and we were all excited to go to see Kaleb and his Pre-K class on the school district float, but it ended up being just Kaden, Kaleb and I that went. Donnie had a late night jump last night in Savannah, and landed on his hip. He called me at 6 in the morning to pick him up from the hospital... to say I was panicked during my drive is an understatement!! Thank goodness he didn't break anything... however, his whole side is swollen and he's in a lot of pain. He has to walk with crutches and is taking pain medication & an anti- inflammatory for a while. Please keep our poor guy in your prayers! =(

Sky was a very good son today, and stayed home to take care of Donnie while I took Kaden & Kaleb to the parade. I was worried about leaving Donnie, but thought the house would be quiet while we were gone so he could rest. And the boys & I had a lot of fun!