A "Smile" a Minute

We didn't get the first "real" one until she was about 4 weeks old, but since then, Ellis has been brightening our days with her smile almost continuously. She is such a fun, vibrant and happy soul. We just can't get enough of this girl!


Spaghetti Smile

Sly Smile

Peek-a-Boo Smile

Swimming Smile

Crazy Woman Smile
Look at that hair!!

Until next year . . .

Brandon and I got a night out last night to go watch the Jayhawks. Unfortunately, the game didn't turn out the way it was supposed to. :(

27-8. Big 12 Championship. Sweet 16. Not bad for a bunch of young guys.

Let it Snow!

Yesterday, March 26th, we got our biggest snow of the year. We've gotten almost no snow this year, so we were SO ready to get out and play in it. It started about 6:00 in the morning. They had already cancelled school because of the forecast. By 2:00 we had over a foot of snow and it was still snowing. It was FREEZING but we couldn't keep the girls inside any longer, so we went out and played for just a little while. School was cancelled again today making for a LONG spring break, which wasn't supposed to start until next week so we took advantage of the sun and went sledding with Jill, the boys, Steve, Gabe and Bailey. It was beautiful, sunny and almost felt warm. Brandon and Steve built a big jump for the kids and adults to sled over. It's amazing we all came home is one piece! We were wiped out by the time we got home. Hope was the only one that didn't take a nap this afternoon!



Ellis REALLY wanted to go outside!

Hope jumping off our front porch into the snow.

Still snowing and VERY cold!

Brandon "catching some air".

Hope's turn!

Pooped!

Daddy and EJ - down the hill! She wasn't overly excited about sledding.

Here comes Hope!

Hope and Bailey

What fun! Now I'm ready to have our spring weather back!

Lost and Found

Every year Hopes' school hosts what they call an "Oral Interpretation Festival", in which kids can choose a poem to memorize and perform. Here is a video of Hope's poem, "Lost and Found", from the school assembly. She did a great job! The parent performance was supposed to be tonight, but it was cancelled because today was a snow day! Hopefully they'll reschedule it, but I'm glad I made it to the school performance and got a video.

I'll post snow pics soon!

Innocence

Rage

Brandon and Hope went to Girl Scout Night at the Rage tonight. The Rocky Mountain Rage are our local minor league I guess that's what they call it hockey team. The girl scouts got free jerseys, got to take a tour of the whole place, go on the ice, and sit on the Rage bench before the game I guess this was too far away to get a picture, so I just had to hear the story. From their stories and the pictures, I can tell it was a super fun night!

Cheese!

Hope in her Rage jersey

Hope with her friend, Bailey. I think the people in the background were thrilled to be sitting behind the Girl Scouts!

On their way home, Hope made up a rap that had something to do with bedtimes. She's beyond tired at this point!

Leprechaun Hamburgers

Last month, during one of Hope's "booth sales", at which we stand outside (or inside if it's too windy) a grocery store and sell Girl Scout cookies, someone gave us a great idea! Thin Mints, he said, are great for making Leprechaun Hamburgers. My friend, Kristen, and I listened intently and, last night, made the cutest St. Patrick's Day treats for our kids' classes.


Here's the recipe:
Nilla Wafers (bun)
white Frosting (mayo) on the bottom bun
Thin Mint (burger) on top of the mayo
coconut tinited w/green food coloring (lettuce) - put on top of thin mint
red and yellow icing (ketchup and mustard) - squeeze both around edge of top nilla wafer, put on top! (you can also use sugar water and stick sesame seeds on top - we weren't that ambitious!)

The guy at the grocery store was probably in his early 20s. I have no idea why he knows how to make Leprechaun Hamburgers, but, I appreciate the idea!!