Trip to Camden Ranch

Going on our annual christmas tree hunt up at Camden Ranch in Elk, Washington! We take a hay ride up to the trees to pick out the perfect one!

Looking for our family tree!

It was gorgeous up there, all the trees were covered with lots of snow!

The girls next to our tree before Mike hacks it down.

Heading down the hill with our fresh cut tree, Ruby tried to help Daddy out!

We added our name to the Camden Family tree, I was amazed by how many other families had already been there before us this year!

Sick girl!

Ruby went iceskating for the very first time today! She did awesome! I could not believe how brave she was during the whole experience. She started out by holding onto my friend Tanya and her daughter Jacquelyn, but as the time went on she was actually moving on her own. I tried to go out, but felt a bit uneasy about helping her along when I haven't skated since I was a little girl too. I held onto the wall for a bit and she held my hand, but I decided to let her spend most of the time with Tanya and Jacquelyn. I am hoping to take her again with Daddy during the break!

Once we were home, I noticed that she had low energy and really didn't want to eat all day. Mike checked her temperature and sure enough she was running a lowgrade fever. She fell right asleep on the couch and by 6 pm her temp was high enough she needed tylenol. She has been sleeping ever since, hope this goes away quickly! Poor girl, I hate it when my girls feel so bad.

Elsie noticed herself in the mirror today and pointed with a big smile and said, "Elsie!" Too cute!

Snuggly baby

Elsie was so snuggly today with both Mike and I. After dinner, she kept switching back and forth between couches, she would sit a bit on me and then get down and go sit with Mike. Ruby started sitting on my lap too, she hasn't done that much lately. While she was on my lap, she noticed Elsie running around the furniture and actually running into the couch. She was laughing so hard and so Elsie kept doing it more and more to get more laughs from her. So funny!

When I was putting Elsie to bed, she started practicing her facial features again with me. It was so sweet. We both had our heads down on the bed, looking right at eachother. She actually started touching my eyes and saying eyes and then came the nose, mouth, ears, and hair. She will point at mine and then at hers and say it. We also added teeth today.

She has actually been letting me brush her teeth if I let her sit on the edge of the sink and dip her hands and toes under the running water. It was driving me crazy because she was not letting me brush at all, so stubborn.

She lets me sit beside her when putting her to sleep now instead of laying beside her. She will take her whole body and move it so that her head it laying in my lap and then she wants me to rub her hair softly until she falls asleep. So cute!

Forgot to mention....

Yesterday, Ruby and I were quizing Elsie about her eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and hair. She can say and point out her eyes, nose, and hair so far. She still is a bit unsure about her ears and will open her mouth when you say mouth to her.

My Sweet Girls...

Today I noticed Elsie rubbing Ruby's back several times while they were listening to a book being read during our learning playdate, it was so sweet and warmed my heart. I sure hope these girls grow up to be best friends!

Another new thing to report is that Elsie is getting more teeth in...she currently has 6 officially in and there are tons more popping through. I noticed a big molar in the back coming in on Sunday November 14th and when I looked in again I saw tons of white showing through on top and bottom. It even looks like she may have one coming in behind her front tooth, I am going to keep an eye on that one!

Elsie copies EVERYTHING Ruby does right now, it is hilarious to watch. Every movement, noise, action, you name it she is there following Ruby's lead to the tee.

She has become very possessive of her things and says, "Mine!" when she has something that she doesn't want to give up. When she is eatting at the table she I will say, "All Done!" and she will say, "No!" and pull it back in to eat more even if she is actually done.

She repeats everything you tell her, or tries to do it. So funny!

Ruby is loving school right now and is a shining star in her classroom. She always has a great time and loves her teacher so much. The teacher always says positive comments about her, so happy to see her thriving. She is getting to know her peers and making tons of friends. I was surprised to see my semi-shy girl be the leader in her class. I will be in her classroom volunteering tomorrow, so excited about that!

I started back to Sylvan today and actually loved it! I taught SAT Math Prep and it was enjoyable! So glad to like what I am doing to take my mind off of missing my girlies!

We joined a hiking group in the area and have gone on two family hikes. I can't get enough of the outdoors and am so excited to attend more with the girls and Mike and even some on my own.

I will be subbing too one day a week. The girls will be watched by a close friend while I am at work and then I will watch her daughter on Fridays while she subs. A great deal!

19 months old today!

Yesterday we went in to get Elsie's 18 month Dr appointment done. She was 23 pounds (29th percentile), 31 inches (22 percentile), and her head was in the 59th percentile. It was great to see Dr Seppa for a bit, Elsie was pretty stubborn with him as he examined her. She is such a little independent girl these days!

Elsie turned 19 months old today. We spent the beginning of the day doing a mystery shop at our favorite grocery store. Elsie did great, she is getting used to tagging along with mommy as she completes these. Ruby played at our friend's house while we were there, much easier for us all. On our way back to get her, I was saying different names of our friends and family and Elsie was trying to repeat everything I said. So funny! It was a really low-key day for us, we mainly stayed home most of it. Later in the day, I sat with the girls as they played with their toys together. Ruby has a little birthday set from Melissa Doug that she loves and was singing happy birthday to each of us. When we all stopped, Elsie decided that she would try singing it. It was too cute, she had the rhythm and even some of the words sounded the same.

She just wants to be exactly like her sister right now, most of the time you will find her standing beside Ruby going through the same motions or movements. It is hilarious to watch!