The girls put out cookies for Santa. Ella wanted to take a drink of his milk just to "make sure it was nice and cold." 
We were lucky enough to be able to get the kids everything they asked for from Santa. Eventhough the reason for the season is not to get presents and material things, we love giving the kids presents. Among other things, Ella got her coveted Lalaloopsy dolls and the Littlest Pet Shop toys she asked for; Grace got her Nintendo DS and the Littlest Pet Shop toys; and Colt got a basketball hoop and a bunch of cars and trucks.
Colt aslso got a Carhart coat just like Daddy's this year from Grandma Ruthie. They look like twins in their coats and Yankees hats : )
Every year before we go to Mass, we make the girls take their picture in front of the Christmas tree. They had really cute matching jackets and skirts to wear this year. I, unfortunately, didn't get to go this year because Colt was being very grouchy and uncooperative, so he and I stayed home while Chris took the girls.
This is a closer look at Miss Muffet.
Colt's first time helping with cookies. I'm not sure if he stirred more than he ate : )
These are my mom's famous cut out cookies. If you've ever had them, you know how delicious they are! I finally got them right after 11 years! They would usually come out really thin and really dry, but this year they cam out perfect! I'm so excited! I just wish the peanut butter blossoms came out as good.
These are all the cookies we made today. Santa better bring his appetite! The peanut butter blossoms came out way too dry and thin. I'm not sure what I did wrong, but they definitely are not like my mom's! I'll have to ask her what secret she has : )
Colt spent all evening trying to eat the cookies. He especially liked the blossoms. He'd eat the chocoloate middle then throw the rest to the dogs. This went on for a good 10 minutes before I caught him. He's definitely the little trouble maker!
Last Monday, Grace had her Christmas program at school. It was nice that the school put on a show that was just for the first graders and their guests. The place was packed and I can't imagine what it would look like if all grades were there! Grace is the angel in the middle. The other two cuties are friends from her class. She practiced so much, even Ella knows the songs : ) This was out first program and, of course, got every second on tape - she didn't have a program last year. It was refreshing to see a program filled with songs that reflect the reason for the season - Grace goes to Catholic school, so all the songs except one were Christ-oriented and there was also a Nativity skit. It was beautiful!
Instead of going to any neighborhoods this year, we decided to take the kids trick or treating at the zoo here in town. It was Colt's first real time going and he had a blast!! You can probably tell by the red candy all over his face : ) It was fun, safe, and we got a few great pictures too!
I haven't posted much lately, Chris and I have been SO busy with school obligations (we're teachers) that we've barely had time do sleep! We finally had a day that no one had us doing anything, today we took the kids to Ligonier's Fashion Farm Pumpkin Fantasy Land. It was fun and the kids had a really good time! I hadn't been there since I was a kid and it seemed to be MUCH more then than it is now : ) I thought the kids would enjoy the fact that I had gone there every year until I was 13 or so. They had mazes, a pumpkin jumpy thing, a pumpkin display that had pumpkins dressed as famous people and cartoon characters, and of course we bought some pumpkins to carve.
Afterwards we raked up some leaves and let the kids run through them. Colt had a blast! This was his first time for this and they were a MESS, but they had a ton of fun!!
Last Saturday, the girls and I went with my sister in law, Jennifer, my niece, Anna, and my mother in law, Ruthie to the American Girl Store in Chicago. It was so much fun!! We rode the train out of Waterloo which was a new experience for the three of us. Grace slept almost the whole way there and the whole way back. It was really nice since I didn't have to drive : ) 
While we were there, we shopped, looked at the sights - Grace was really impressed by the huge skyscrapers! - and looked at all the cool American Girl accessories. Luckily all three girls have a doll, so no one was left out. We also ate lunch there, which was really neat! We had a four course meal - which included cinnamon buns BEFORE the actual meal, much to Ella's delight! - and the food was thankfully VERY kid and mom friendly since we are all pretty picky : ) It was an experience that none of the girls will forget. Hopefully the girls and I will get to go to the store again around Christmas time with my mom if all plans come together. More pictures will come as I get them through email : )
We finally celebrated Grace's birthday party! We were going to celebrate at Chuck E. Cheese's, but decided at the last minute to just have cake and ice cream at the house since we all had to go to school the next day. With just a few family members (lots less than usual) we had a nice small garden party. She received lots of nice gifts and got to play with mu brother Donnie's kids.
This week was back to school time. Summer went by so fast! Grace was very excited to get to first grade and back to seeing her friends daily and Ella and Colt were excited to get back to Tara's and to playing with the friends they missed over the summer. Chris and I were not as excited to get back to the classroom - more anxious than excited, I guess : ) The week went surprisingly smooth for being off of our schedules for so long. Now we're all looking forward to Labor Day and the next day off ; )
Today was such a pretty day that I decided to take some pictures of my hibiscus and roses before they wilt because of the heat. We have four different kinds of hibiscus (I'd love to have the huge ones that are the size of small basketballs, but alas, no). 
I also took a picture of the Peace Lily I received from my great grandma's funeral last year. I love this plant and I was afraid I was losing it, but I transplanted it into a larger pot and cut off the dead parts of the leaves and it's now thriving so well! It's actually blooming some lilies!
