White Christmas

It feels a little weird to me that Christmas is right around the corner and it was 79F today in Texas (the girls were outside riding bikes without coats!). But I am ok with it because I did get one day of a White Christmas in Calgary earlier this month, and that's good enough for me. :) It didn't snow until the day before we left, but it probably snowed 6 inches that day! And then I got to fly home and not deal with the messiness and the hassle that snow brings. Perfect. :)

As much as I dislike the snow and cold, I do think a heavy snowfall like this is one of the most beautiful sights. My favorite are the bare trees that look like they're frosted with snow. And then the Christmas lights illuminating the snow. So pretty!


The girls of course loved the snow. We got to dress them up in 100 layers: snow suits, hats, gloves, extra socks, boots, and extra of every item of clothing that they were already wearing (this is why right now, I'm glad to not be a Mom of young kids, living in a place where it snows....), and they went outside twice that day to build a snowman, make snow angels and jump in the snow...oh, and eat it of course. Yummy! Afterward we went inside for hot chocolate. This is a favorite childhood memory of mine!

Ironically,
It snowed when I was in Canada last May...and then I spent the first 8 days of this trip wondering if we were even going to get to see any snow in Canada in December....and then the day after I arrived back home, it snowed here in Texas!!

School Days

While we were in Canada earlier this month we decided to visit my Aunt Joan at her school where she teaches grade 2. Elaina always feels like she fits right in with the big kids, and since we pass an Elementary School every time we drive to our house, she loves to talk about going to school. So this was such an adventure for her!

When we walked in, my Aunt showed her to a desk, and she turned to me dismissively and said "Mommy, I have to do my homework." And then she sat there, all grown up, and did her coloring. When Aunt Joan asked the kids a question, Elaina would raise her hand along with them, as if she knew what she was doing. At one point my Aunt invited her to sing a song for the class, so she stood there all by herself, in front of the whole class, and sang "I've Been Dreaming of My True Loves Kiss" (from Enchanted). And then they sang a song for her. She even went outside at recess time with them. She was pretty popular with the big kids - you can see all of them crowding around her and they all wanted her to sit on their lap. No wonder she can't wait to go to school!!

Erin also enjoyed attending grade 2, although she didn't understand what was going on, like Elaina did. This is my Aunt Joan helping Erin with her homework :)

Matchy Matchy

How often does this happen?!?! We were watching our friends' (Jami & David) son a couple weeks ago while they went out, and when they came to pick him up we thought it was pretty funny that we all looked the same:

(And I promise, it wasn't planned! :) )

Fall Leaves

I love this picture of Elaina playing in the leaves this fall with some of her friends.