John's School Christmas Party

Sweet Baby John had his school Christmas Party on Wednesday.  I was so sad that I could not go but so very thankful that LeLe could.  John has the greatest teachers.  We love you Mrs. Lauren, Mrs. Sherilyn, and Mrs. Robin!!!  Thank you for taking such good care of John on Mondays and Wednesdays.

 Sweet John ready to get the Christmas Party started.

Enjoying some of the reindeer cookies that I sent in for his party.

 John's sweet little class.

 One of the crafts during their Christmas party was to paint with jello and pudding.  So fun and messy.  I am already looking forward to that artwork being sent home :)  HaHa

 Check out that green hand.

 Such a beautiful picture John.

 Figuring out that his "paint" tastes good too.

John's good buddy in class, Cole.

Ella Kate Ballet pics

Below are some pics from Ella Kate's ballet class this week. So so cute.

Sweet, beautiful ballerinas.

Their teacher is known as Fairy godmother Irene or Mrs. Irene.  I think it is hilarious that Ella Kate is not quite sure what Mrs. Irene is - I think she believes that she is somewhere between an adult and a true princess.  They all adore Mrs. Irene.  Mrs. Irene told us that she had been teaching ballet on the Square for 25 years.  She is so so good with these girls.  She makes the entire ballet class so fun - and I love it that she always refers to the girls as "Lovely Ladies."

Practicing First position.  I think they have a little bit of work to do before they are ready for a Nutcracker performance.

So happy. 

Giving Mrs. Irene a high five.  The girls are really learning to be patient and take turns in class. 

Love these little boolalies as Mrs. Garrett would say :) 

All lined up practicing walking on stage for their recital.
                                            
Very serious about staying on the gray line to walk on stage.

Love these poses.

Ella Kate decided to add a little hip action.  Love it.

And a little more hip action.  They were supposed to be shooting arrows.

Practicing hopping on one foot.

Livie doing her gallop.  She is fast...

Rebecca and Ella Kate about to do their skips.  I never realized what a skill it is to learn to skip :)

Ella Kate's Parent Observation Week at Ballet

I love it that Ella Kate loves her ballet class!!  Below is the video I took this week during parent observation.  They are all so precious!!!  Love that group of girls

Ella Kate's 3 Year Old Class Christmas Party

Last week was a busy week full of Christmas parties and festivities.  Thursday night was Dave's office Christmas party which included dinner on the square and a play at the Theatre on the Square.  He works with a fun group so it was a nice night out. Friday morning was Ella Kate's school Christmas party and on Friday night our girls supper club had our annual Christmas party and this year we did a Tacky Christmas Sweater theme.  Oh why oh why did I not take pictures.  I think a few people did so as soon as I get them I will post.  Everyone really out did themselves with their outfits and it was such a fun night.  Thanks so much Whit and Emilie for hosting this year.  We topped off the weekend with a trip to see Lights of Life with Kenneth, Emmy, and Brooks.  Such a fun festive weekend.

 One of the things I was responsible for bringing to Ella Kate's party was fruit.  Well thanks to pinterest I could not keep this just a simple task.  I attempted to make Christmas fruit trees.  If you were to really do them correctly you would fill them in much thicker with fruit but I did not think a 3 year old could eat that much so I made rather sparse Christmas fruit trees.  I think they turned out cute and Ella Kate and I had fun making them together.  She is quite the little cook.

 Their snacks for the Christmas party.

 I loved these cupcakes that Dana's Mom made.  Definitely going to need to copy this.  Ohh pinterest you have officially made me a little bit creative but mostly just complicated my life :)

 The setup before the kids came into the party from the playground.

 Ella Kate and her good friend Mimi.

 I love all the kids in this class.  It is such a good group and good parents too.

 Working on their art project.  They decorated gingerbread men and women with M&M's.  That is what M&M's they had left after eating every other one they picked up :)

 My little princess.  She is growing up way to fast.  I can't belive that pre-K is next year.  I am so not ready for her to grow up. 

 Love the dedication Mimi has decorating her snowman.

 Ella Kate being blindfolded and then pinning her inititaled ornament on the Christmas Tree.

Her little class party was so fun.  Dave was able to come which was such a great surprise for Ella Kate.  She was so proud to have her Daddy their.  As soon as he walked in she started telling everyone that was her Daddy.  Good Job Dave!  You are a good Dad and thrilled your little girl at the party.

Atherton Place Christmas Party and Santa at the Poston's

We have been seeing alot of Santa lately...  Hope that is a good sign :)  Last Thursday we saw Santa at Phipps and then on Saturday we talked to Santa at Atherton Place and then saw him again on Sunday at the Poston's.  Whew!!  On Saturday Dave completed his first adventure race in the North GA Mountains that included trail running and mountain biking.  He had a great time and I was so proud of him for doing it.  It was no easy task I think they covered around 11+ miles of trail running (that would mean running up a mountain) and 15 miles of mountain biking.  Good Job Dave!!  While Dave was doing his race the kids met Papa, LeLe, Great Aunt Mary at Atherton Place (where Great Grandma lives) to attend the annual Atherton Place Christmas Party.  It was such a nice party and the food was great!  They had pictures with Santa and a lady doing caricatures for the kids and Kids at Heart.  We had a nice time. 

On Sunday we had our third Santa visit of the year at the Poston's annual Christmas Party.  They are so kind to invite so many into their home to have pictures with Santa.  We had a nice time seeing friends and Ella Kate enjoyed talking to Santa again.  John did NOT enjoy talking to Santa but he will laugh at these pics soon. 

 I love the look on John's face checking out Santa.  What John is really thinking is can you please not touch me and just give me some of that candy in your basket :)

 Ella Kate and Great Grandma

 Sweet girls

 Ella Kate with her best buddy LeLe.  These two are big buddies.

 LeLe and sweet Baby John.

Ella Kate had the best seat in the house

John, Me, Emmy, and Brooks at the Poston's

Elliott Family pic at the Poston's.  Well almost everyone was smiling and looking at the camera.  Poor baby John :)  Maybe next year.

Here Comes Santa Claus...

Today was our appointment with Santa at Phipps. I scheduled it at lunch time in hopes that Dave could meet us - and thankfully he could. Ella Kate loved talking to Santa and told him that she was 3 years old and wanted a Chuggington train set, purple dresses for her and her baby doll, and a Belle and Auroa doll. When Santa asked her what her brother wanted she said , "Uhhhh maybe just a ball." HaHa. Even Santa laughed at that one. John on the other hand was not so fond of Santa. He was having so much fun laughing with everyone in line that I thought maybe he would not mind Santa. Ohhh but he was all smiles until I put him in Santa's laugh then the screaming began.

 It was so fun to watch Ella Kate talk to Santa.  I love experiencing Christmas again through her little eyes.