Jingle all the Way

J Bells, J Bells, J all the WAAAAAAAAAY. Hey!

And so goes Elena's version of Jingle Bells. We can't even figure out how she knows that much - it just played for the first time today and she has the chorus down.... cute. But weird.

We had a nice Thanksgiving and we've spent the two days following in Marin, Sausalito, Napa, etc. for a short holiday. Stinky-Lala-J-Bells loved the Discovery Museum and all its glorious toddler fun. We could've spent days there.

Home again, we're looking to tomorrow to start holiday-decorating and present-wrapping. It feels as if the Christmas season has really arrived. J Bells and all.

We give thanks

In the days before Thanksgiving, I've actually stopped to give thanks. Novel idea. I am thankful for my family and our lives. I am thankful for my sweet Lala who makes me laugh and pause in awe every day. Her sweet smell and her kisses/hugs, the way she calls for me and the way she loves her Daddy and uncles and grandparents and friends. I love her curls and her voice, her mouth and her big 'ol cheeks and the way she runs from the front door to the family room in anticipation of... well, nothing. She anticipates something wonderful around every corner. It's this that I love most about her. She finds happiness and light in everything. She does this because she is Elena, because she is young and because she is all that is good and happy and light.

For this, I am truly thankful.

Yo, yo, yo...

Busy days again in the Harper-Grohs house. Elena's vocabulary is ever-expanding and she'll point out ANYTHING you do. God forbid someone should burp (or worse) in front of her. She calls you out, boy.

"SCUUUSE YOU, DADA."

Or if a stray dinner morsel might make its way to your chin, Elena makes sure you know right away.

"WHAS DAT, MAMA?" I could share much worse, but let's keep the blog clean.

We're all set for the holidays (Mommy is done shopping early again) and we're hoping to find time for Christmas pictures soon. This time of year always stresses me out a little, but Lala makes it as exciting as when we were little. I'm sure Santa will invoke tears again this year, but the last thing I want to do is rush through these years. She'll be looking forward to all those things before we know it.

Until next time... Peace out.

Cheeser

"Smile, Elena!"

This is what we get. Big cheesy grins with giggles and lots of teeth.
How 'Mommy' am I that I love this too?

This Little Piggy...

Halloween was certainly a different beast this year than last with Lala loving every bit of the candy-collecting process.


Step 1) Smile;
Step 2) "COME ON, DADA!" (And she'd drag Ryan to the next front door where she and her trick or treatin' buddies gathered);
Step 3) "Chick or Cheat"; and
Step 4) "Taaandy (candy), Mama!!!" (Accompanied with begging Ryan and me for another piece... She only got two).

She was every bit hiliarious in her piggy costume. I really didn't like the costume this year, but she loves those piggys and I have to admit, she made it awfully cute. I can only imagine next year when she REALLY understands. She'll be right out there with her friends bathing in the excitement of snagging free candy from grown-ups on that special Halloween night.