Tuesday, February 7, 2017

2017 Updates

I should probably do more of an attempt to summarize the last several months - let's start with October 2016 - most notably - we went to San Diego (Patrick had a work conference, so the kids and I joined in!!) It was SOO fun!  I just love San Diego - great weather, nice people, and lots of fun things to do.  Most of all - was the San Diego Zoo!!! I just really loved it - the animals are SO close, it's so clean and it's really close together.  Just a really, really awesome zoo.  We loved going to see the seals in La Jolla, and Coronando Beach area and the famous hotel.  Really great trip!!














Then, of course, was Halloween.  Will was our superhero, Captain America, and Ellie was an 80's workout girl :)  Super fun, and Ellie was the queen of social media posts for her outfit (thank you Pinterest for the idea, and to Ellie for making the picture super cute)





November:
Will's 5th birthday at Pump It Up.  We had lots of fun celebrating with our cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents - and they were really great at assisting in all party needs!! He loved turning 5 and was so cute when he would get this shy smile and blush when he was the center of attention!!









December:
Santa pics, Pinnocoho the elf on the shelf fun, and the magical Christmas season.  I just love this time of year and was so sweet to celebrate with friends and family.  Patrick and I hosted several parties - from my work Christmas party (where we got a white elephant gift of a beta fist, that Will immediately named Mark (no idea where this name came from!!)), and had Patrick's group of friends over, and then had my group of college friends over for New Years.  It was a really really great holiday season.
Ellie got a dollhouse from Santa, and Will got a new racetrack, and an animal bucket, which is what he kept asking Santa for (?!)











January:
Hmmmm.... what is fun about January?! Not too much, except I celebrated my 33rd birthday - and had a really really nice dinner with my sister, Cody and Patrick at Bluestem.  We did wine pairings - and the food, wine and company was all excellent.  Lots of laugh and delicious food.

Will started basketball through the Jewish Community Center (the J) and it's been a lot of fun watching him play.  He had his first game and had a sort of deer in the headlights experience, as he mostly was found on the court twirling his hair, and then flailing about when he got the ball and shooting it underhand and not even close to the basket..... it was hard to watch!! Then, after watching some Jayhawks and some focus on his part - I guess this last Sunday at his game - he was ballin'!! Patrick told me he scored about 20 points!! He was running up and down the court, shooting lights out and was playing defense.  Pretty fun- I'm looking forward to seeing him play this Sunday.

Ellie - started Gymnastics and has really enjoyed going to do 'somersalts' as she calls the class.  It's been fun seeing her in a little leotard and just enjoying having her own 'thing'.


Some words to describe the kids at this stage:
Will: competitive, driven, hair-twirler, loving, sweet, dazed when he is tired, loves praise

Ellie: social butterfly (all her friends at school get so excited when she walks in), good listener, great at picking up toys and following directions, she loves books, loves to play Zingo, independent (goes downstairs and just plays on her own), silly, eye-roller (just started this to get laughs from us) and overall sweet girl.

If I haven't said yet - we are truly blessed by these sweet kids - and Patrick and I are so lucky.  I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime to raise these babies either.  Thank you God for your gift of family, your loving presence in our lives, and to continue to stay as the center of our lives and our family throughout the years.  Amen.