Faces in the crowd

I am not sure what Ella's plan was, but I guess she was having a couch party with all the dolls she could find. These were only the dolls downstairs, there are just as many upstairs I am sure. Our house is getting a bit crowded. A kind note to everyone that reads this: neither of my daughters need anymore dolls. I know many of you can pick out a doll that was purchased by you, and we (I really mean Ella and Layla) love them dearly, we (and I mean mostly me) think there are enough dolls in the house.

Christmas in January

December is always so busy that my dad's side of the family decided to have Christmas this past weekend.


Lots of cheeks. Layers and layers of cheeks.


Ella playing cars with the Stothard boys.


Layla thought Grandma Wood's walker was the bomb.


Zane looks innocent enough, he was one mean ping pong player. It doesn't take much I know, but he could put a shot past me once in a while.

Lighting it up

Ella and I turned off all the lights and sat on the couch watching the lightning and eating peanuts tonight. We decided to wake mommy up when Kristy called to let us know there was hail and wind shears heading in our direction. Don't worry it wasn't too strong as it blew by our house. When our TV went out Angie and Ella called Grammy and Papa to keep up on the weather updates and make sure we didn't need to head to the basement. The lightning was lighting up the whole yard, we could see all the way out to the pond.

Winter impressions

Don't you find it amazing that patterns can be made with the lack or presence of something. These images were taken around our yard as the 50 degree temperature took it's toll on the winter landscape. My best guess to explain the patterns in the first picture is water that melted from snow and ice washed away other snow like a river as it flowes to a lower area of the yard. As I was making my way around the pond I flushed three partridge. I wandered over where they were hanging out and found their tracks weaving through the snow that was left.

Santa needs seconds

Here is another photo from Christmas morning. Ella came downstairs to take a look at all the presents Santa left for her and Layla. More miraculous than the tree stuffed with presents was the emply plate that, only the night before, held cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer. The empty plate was all the proof that Ella needed. "We need to get Santa more cookies," Ella exclaimed. We then quickly tried to explain that he wouldn't be back until next Christmas and he only comes once a year. I do feel a bit guilty lying to my children, I guess it is all for holiday tradition and cheer.


Note: For any of you that have not seen our new house this is a view looking into the library. Someday we hope to build in bookshelves, for now it is a mostly seving as a play area. And yes, we told Ella that Santa came down the "chimney" to our little propane stove.