Disney on Ice- Princesses

Another great night with two of my favorite girls!. Natalie got us some great seats at the Hippodrome in Baltimore to see Disney on Ice. We had seen the same show when Ella was two and Jennifer went with us and we all wore dresses and tiaras. This time it was just the three of us and we dressed down a touch but all wore Disney head wear. It was so fun to see all the little girls dressed as their favorite Princess. Ella has always loved Minnie Mouse Princess and even named our dog after her. She knows I love Belle because Papa reminds me of the big lovable Beast. We all like CinderElla because of course she has the same name. Although Ella was named after two of my favorite women, Tom's grandmother, GabriELLA and my mother, Nancy, who died two months before Ella was born. Hence Ella Nancy.

Back to the show.We got there early to see the dresses on display but so did everyone else and we were stuck in line for 45 minutes. We saw Cinderella's dress first, those mice did a great job. We were in the 6th row (second row off the floor). We got to see everything, not sure still if that made the show better for us. We thought they would have some "dinner" food but we ended up with funnel cake, fries , popcorn & soft pretzel. I don't think she minded. It was also the first day she was wearing her new glasses, aren't they cute.We're going to be better about making sure she wears them this time.

"Thank You, Mommy!

Can I watch a movie in the van on the way home"

Life is good!

A Little Bit about Sami

Sami has been spending her days with us since her Mommy went back to work when she was two months old. Most mornings I walk across the street to her house and am greeted by a pj clad toddler running at me. I get breakfast for her and her sister and help them get dressed, although sometimes I take her back to our house for a bath and to get dressed.Tom takes Ella to school and runs errands, sometimes stopping by to see Jack & Lily and Sami & I play.We have everything she could need at our house. Sometimes Tom will even take her on errands like now so I get some time to myself to work on the blog and play some Farmville.We have lunch and after her nap we play some more or we all may go somewhereSometimes she even stays for dinner but we don't mind. Bye Sami, see you tomorrow!

A Sleepover-Why Not?

Jen called Wednesday morning and asked if we would like Jack to spend the night because she had things to do. Sure,Why not? Tom takes Jack to gymnastics on Wednesday anyway so he just brought him home afterwords.

Of course we have Sami every day so for a few hours we had two toddlers in the house,

Why Not? When Sami left I asked Jack what he wanted to do and he said "dig in snow" so that's what we did, Why Not?

Brutus enjoyed the snow too

Why Not?

We decided to take the fun across the street to the playground.

Why Not?

Hot Chocolate and nuggets for dinner.

Why Not?

Then popcorn and a movie(yes, he has a baby, why not?),

Dinosaurs in bed.

Why Not?

I asked him if he wanted oatmeal or eggs for breakfast and he said"no want something hot" so we made fruit salad.

Why Not?

oh, and a granola bar

Why Not?

Then he wanted to help me empty the dishwasher

Why Not?

There was a delay opening in school because of ice so we had Ella for a couple of extra hours, so a game of hide and seek broke out (BOO).

Why Not?

and a game of who's on the phone,

Why Not?

People wonder why we spend so much time with our grandkids,

Why Not!

I know why, I love them and they make my life complete.

oh ya, and it's FUN!

Snow Days Yaaawwwnn

Another winter is upon us and for the second year in a row we're actually having one. Since we have lived in Maryland, ten tears now, this is only the third year we have had serious snow. After last year I thought we were due for a dry winter and when the winter started we had threats of snow and even closings due to THREATS of snow but it looks like we'll have a snowy winter after all. This is all getting boring though. We get snow, it stops, it gets shoveled and it snows again. Just enough to slow everybody down here. School has been closed for three days after being closed for two days for teacher in service days. Now it's snowing again. Yawn!
We have had some excitement but not good excitement. In the midst of the worst of it our little Lily bean had a slight seizure and a high fever and her mommy had to drive her to the ER. Tom had his coat on before I could finish telling him what was going on. He was determined to get to his "girls" no matter what. Thank goodness she was treated swiftly and they were home safe within a couple of hours. SEE HERE

Ella needed some new snow boots and after going to two Target's, WalMart and the entire mall before we found a pair ! Bathing suits and shorts, no problem.
She also broke the zipper on her snow coat but thank goodness it's really not that cold.

It's a wet snow and great for snowballs and snowmen

Couldn't stop Tom from getting outside and shoveling. At least he wore his brace. Thomas hurt his shoulder the first day so Natalie was shoveling the second day AND she made chocolate chip scones, what a woman!"Brutus what are you looking at?"It's just Hercules, our 20 pound outdoor (most of the time) catNothing better than some nice warm noodles (Ella calls them BaBa noodles because her other grandma, BaBa, was the first one to make them for her. Something her health consencious grandma is not proud of I'm sure.) Tom just recently got addicted to these. The only time we ever bought them before was when he was active duty and would be "in the field"and he'd take a case with him because the MER's (Meals Ready to Eat )were so nasty. Never thought he'd be eating them in his retirement. LOL Ella was impressed that we buy them by the case.Of course PaPa shared his lunch with Sami Then Sami topped it off with a Clementine.

They ALL can't seem to get enough of these right now.

Not a bad way to spend a snow day.

Papa Bear

The title of my blog is The Most Important Things in Life Aren't Things at All. Our daughter-in-law, Natalie proved this to us one more time by writing this poem along with Ella for Tom's birthday. It's better than anything they could have bought him. We love you Natalie! Papa Bear

I Have a Papa Bear

His arms are warm and strong

And when they're wrapped around me

I know I can't be harmed

He's never ever cross

(even when I cry)

He just scoops me in his arms

And dries my teary eyes

I know he's really tough

And he's never ever scared

But with me he's sweet as honey

And tickles me with his beard

And if the storm clouds come

And the thunder's rolling in

I can curl up in his lap

And know I am safe with him

I have a Papa Bear;

The best Papa in the world

And no matter how the years pass

I will always be his bear-cub girl.

Happy Birthday

Love,

Ella & Samantha

Jan 2011

A Trip to Ohio

Monday Holiday so it must mean a trip to Ohio! We decided to take Ella with us this time, she has been traveling with Tom and I since she was a year old. We've taken Jack on a few trips too and next time it will be his turn. We stayed at a Holiday Inn 2 minutes from Charlie's house just to make it seem more like a vacation. We swam in the pool a few times and even took Piper for her first swim. We got a chance to spend a few hours with my brothers & sisters and their spouses which sounds easier than it is. Thanks Mark & Sue for having us all in and we love your new bar. Wyatt also enjoyed their air hockey table and Ella was our waitress, earning money to go in her new wallet. I wish I would have remembered to take the camera in :( We also took them to a mall that has a huge play area with bouncy houses and obstacle courses and of course Ella made friends wherever she went. While they were doing all that Charlie & Michele took Piper to get her ears pierced. Not sure how I feel about it but I wasn't going to be involved. No pictures again, just too busy to remember I guess. Charlie took a picture of Wyatt on the train in the play area and some when we were at the pool on his phone and sent it to me though.

Piper was worn out after her swimming.

This was on the bed in the hotel. She just passed out. I did remember to take the camera to the 'big event" of the week end, Toy Story on Ice. The tickets were only $20 but all the fees doubled the cost, so frustrating. I remember taking our kids and that would have prevented us from going. This time we were able to buy whatever they wanted although our kids don't ever remember ever being denied I was glad we could get the grandkids what they wanted without worrying where the money was going to come from.

Wyatt looked like this the entire time. He was amazed and even at Intermission he got a panicked look and asked for more.

These snow cones were HUGE. Wyatt got the alien and Ella of course got Jessie.

Ella with her stash. She just wanted a program which she has from all the shows she's been to and loves to read them and retell the story. For an extra $5 they threw in a coloring book. Michele said we could have gone to the dollar store and gotten one but they made it sound like a good deal, oh ya, I almost forgot they also threw in a fake flower that Jessie uses in the show for FREE. look at that face.

When the other kids around us were getting antsy I looked over at Wyatt and he still looked like this. He even wore his new Woody hat the entire time.

We got back to Wyatt's house and I just had to take a picture of the cousins.

We stopped and brought dinner back to the house and Wyatt wanted to use his new cup.

Still the hat is on. This cracks me up although it shouldn't. Looks like papa Bear & Momma Bear with Michele sitting in Wyatt's little recliner and Charlie filling up his so well.

She enjoyed getting into some new toys but she was just too big for most of them.

Wyatt finally took off his hat but just to give it along with a kiss to his baby sister.

"I love you, Uncle Chuckles!"

Wyatt can't get enough of Toy Story Look at our littlest Sweetie. She's not so little any more.

We love hotel breakfast and Ella had to take her new cup to breakfast because she said it was perfect for cereal (She sees me eat cereal out of a coffee cup.).

When we got home we found this big girl soo happy to see us.

This was the first time she greeted us like she missed us.

Jack came to visit us too. As a matter of fact Lily and Jack stayed with me for the afternoon and when she was napping he made a tower and wanted me to take a picture.

I LOVE THESE KIDS!