Packing Samaritan's Purse Gift Boxes

We have packed gift boxes to support Samaritan's Purse for several years.  It's fun to pull the girls in to help decide what to buy and pick out fun things that other kids just don't have the opportunity to afford or find.  We feel like this is a huge life lesson for the kids and we always want them to be kind and generous people.  

Christmas Shopping

I remember getting the Christmas Catalog every year from Sears and scouring the pages with my brother.  We'd circle things and tab pages or leave  clues on our parents pillows.  So fun!!  

This year we received a Christmas catalog from Target and the girls were so excited!  It brought back so many memories.  We asked them to go through the catalog and circle what they really want for Christmas.   I'm pretty sure they studied the catalog and reviewed it at least 10 times.  So then when each page of the catalog looks like this...

...we had to do a little more investigating but basically I think we could get them anything and they'd be happy!!

So fun and they're definitely helping me to get in the spirit of the season!!

Ella's First Homework

Ella had her first homework this last month.  "All about Ella"!  She was a little shy about it at first but then she really got into it.  She did such a good job and then got to share it with all her friends at class.   Now when Ava works on homework, Ella sits down to work on it as well ;)

Happy Halloween!

I have not always been a big fan of Halloween but I really do love trick or treating with the girls and seeing their excitement about the holiday.  Now I think I get just as excited as the girls!!

This year Matt and I were able to join the girls for their school parties and parade.  

Ella as Repunzel and her Pre-K class

Ava as Rainbow Dash and her Kindergarten Class

Then off for Trick or Treating!  Since we're in an apartment right now we headed back to our old neighborhood for the evening.  It was so fun to see some great friends and be back on our old stomping grounds.  

Rainbow Dash

Repunzel

The hiker, Rainbow Dash, Repunzel, and Super PowerCat Girl

Darlene!!  The "old bat"...she calls herself that not us ;)

It's snowing...and really cold!!

The loot!!  They're pretty excited!!

Ava's Kindergarten Field Trip

Ava had her first Kindergarten field trip the same week as Ella; but no parents were able to go so I'm sad to say that I have no pics.  However Ava said she had a blast with her friends!  They went to the Rose Theater downtown to watch Madagascar on stage and then went to the police horse barn.  Ava reports that the play was "Awesome!!"  and that she sat quietly, as instructed, through the entire play. :)) . The horse barn was cool because they got to give the horses a snack and learn how to take care of horses but it smelled bad.  LOL!!!  A definite highlight was the big school bus ride.  I'd say her first big girl field trip was a success!

Ella's First Field Trip

Matt and I were able to help with Ella's first class field trip!  Ella and her classmates got to ride the bus to Vala's Pumpkin Patch.  We had a blast and so did the kids.  We had a great time getting to meet some of Ella's friends and their parents.  Ella thinks field trip days are the best!!

Ella and Liam

Ella and Violet

Ella and her buddy Harper

A fun day with our "baby girl"

F2 Challenge

This year instead of selling junk out of a catalog for the school fundraiser; the girls were able to partake in the F2 Challenge.  We are so lucky to be apart of an amazing school who has awesome community and family support.  One of the many reasons we fought to get the girls into this school!  Prior to Challenge Day the kids raised money by reaching out to their community to raise money by asking for sponsors for the challenge.  We don't yet have final numbers but they broke their $20,000 goal!  

The Challenge itself was a half mile course with obstacles along the way including climbing hay bales, ninja jumps, pulling tires, army crawl, hula hoop jumping, and hurdling over pool noodles.  It was so fun and the girls did so well!  It was hot!  95 degrees in mid September is not ok!  So we had to improvise by adding some water spray breaks.  Next year, we know that we need to have some water stations for the kiddos.  But overall it went off without a hitch.  It was fun to see the kids cheering each other on and being active.  

Ava and Ella did awesome!  We were thinking it might be tough since they ran at 2pm and 3pm in the afternoon.  But their classes did the entire course and with little complaining about the heat.  We did bring water for them though to help and to keep them safe.  I think they were all so excited that nothing was going to get in their way of finishing!!  So proud of our girls and this school family!

  

Showing off their class signs

   

Cool down time :)

Ava with her BFF Claira

warm up time...Ella's really into it

Ella just rolled under the army crawl ropes...smart girl