Mia's First Time Skiing

Mia is EXCITED to ski! from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Untitled from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Mia's First Time To Ski! from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Mia skis with poles from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

She was Born to Ski!

Last year when Mia was just two we went to the bottom of the slopes in Winter Park to take a family picture. She was fascinated by the skiers and told me (Elise) she wanted to do that. Well this year she did and she LOVED every minute of it. If you ask her about it her face completely lights up.

The Little Mother

Make sure you stop the music on the bottom of the blog because the dialogue at the end is classic.

Sledding - Bri Scolds Her Sister from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Christmas Story Girls

Happy

Christmas 2010 - Butde and Papa's Play House

Butde and Papa's House! from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Mr. Potato Head

Poppy, you can just hope and pray that your "You have Mr. Potato Head at home" marketing truly pays off.

Mr. Potato Head from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Santa

Santa came to preschool and Mia was the bravest. She insisted on seeing him. She got the closest to him. Her sisters then decided to try it.

Preschool Holiday Program

Brianna and Mia were told to wear their nice "Holiday Attire" for their annual preschool holiday program. I have to say that my girls were the only ones NOT in red, green or black. Ever since my worst ever fifth grade school picture I have refused to wear red.

Sorry girls.

Brianna's First Ballet Show

So Bri's dance school was genius. They never once had to tell the parents about their annual Holiday Dance Performance called Clara's Dream. They just told the little girls about it and gave them each a flier to take home. Brianna slept with the flier by her bed for a month. Every night we had to look for it and make sure that it was by her bed. It was first described to me as "the thing that I want to go to".

Surprise, surprise she got her way. Mommy, Brianna, Miss Tara and her best friend Eva all went to Clara's dream. It was one of the longest 2.5 hours of my life. It was priceless. Brianna and Eva could hardly contain themselves they were so excited when the dancing first began. Bri kept hugging me and saying "Thank you, Mommy". The dancing was amazing. I kept getting choked up thinking that could be one of my daughters someday.

The challenge was that I have never seen Brianna so excited in her life. She could not sit still for one second. The poor people all around us handled it amazingly well. But I was exhausted just watching her and trying to calm her. The funniest thing is that she was very mad and confused when she first saw some boys up on the stage. She kept saying Mommy why are there boys up there.

So just a few days ago I was telling all the girls that at the end of dance season Brianna would have a recital and we would all go watch her dance up on a big stage. Bri then said "Mommy will I dance with a boy?". Heaven help us. She is only three and that was her first question.

Mia and Hadley insisted on a picture of them ready for their time with Daddy:

Hadley's 2010 Ornament

Each of the girls took turns going to the Hallmark store to pick out their ornament for 2010. I (Elise) first took Brianna and she wanted the most expensive ornament which was $44 (unfortunately she takes after both of her parents) but we negotiated down to an $18 ornament. Mia was faster than Brianna at picking out hers but sad to say that her first choice was sold out. So again we negotiated on another ornament. But Hadley....Oh Hadley. Dan said she knew immediately which one she wanted. Winnie the Pooh.

Hadley and the Train

Hadley and the Train from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Christmas China

The girls received this Christmas china last year from Mo. Isn't it precious. Because it can break, I tell them not to play with it but everytime I look at it, it is arranged differently. They just can't resist it.

They Made the Mantel!

Yes, believe it or not Keiffer and Bower made the mantel this year. Even though they weekly destroy our new carpet, they have somehow managed to worm their way back into our hearts. I think having a little more space and not tripping over them constantly has helped them immensely.

Papa's Train

I have a whole new respect for Papa.....fixing derailments is a time consuming thing. Papa gave us a train to put around our tree when Brianna was born. This is the first year since the girls could move that we were brave enough to put it up. I am seriously hoping that our house does not burn down before Christmas. Daily I receive a major electric shock after walking across the family room floor. This is my clue that the train has been derailed and not turned off thereby charging our carpet something fierce.

Papa, where are you when you are needed?

Decorating the Tree

So I let the girls help me decorate the tree this year. It was hilarious. This picture does not quite capture it. The bottom row of branches had as many as three ornaments hanging from them. On a real tree this is not a good thing. Believe it or not I wanted to leave it this way (that is major progress for a control freak like me) but there is no way that the tree was going to hold the ornaments.

Christmas Tree Adventure

It was just another day in the life....

• Second tree attempt
• First began with meltdown disaster
• Freezing cold and windy
• After dark
• During bath time
• Wild, excited girls
• No employees near trees
• Daddy not dressed very warmly
• Daddy can't find wallet
• Hadley falls in cart
• Mouth bleeding
• Mommy pushes giant cart with girls and pulls tree to car
• Daddy searches for wallet
• Home depot searches for wallet
• Chili's searches for wallet
• Mommy searches for wallet
• Daddy finds wallet in car
• Girls buckled in
• Tree hoisted on top of car
• Drive Home

Another priceless day with the Deebles

Grandparent of the Year Award

Here is Poppy assisting with playing Mr. Potato Head on the computer. Poppy hands down earned the grandparent of the Year Award by his efforts over Thanksgiving day alone. I think he single handedly entertained 8 grandchildren on his own for 10 hours straight. His games consisted of the following:

30 rounds of Mr. Potato Head

Spinning on a chair

Breaking up numerous fights

Treadmill walking and toy jumping*

Humpty Dumpty (on Nana's bed)

Hide and Seek (in the house)

Watching "The House on the Haunted Hill" (Deeble girls were banned from viewing)

However due to my niece receiving second degree burns on the treadmill his award was REVOKED. So instead the award goes to Nana for handling all the aforementioned games being played inside her house . And for giving Poppy a firm scolding and telling him I told you so regarding the treadmill.

Better luck next year, Poppy.

*WE do NOT recommend this game. In all seriousness, one grandchild suffered second degree burns on her hand and is meeting with a burn specialist today. You can pray that the tendons on two of her fingers will be ok.

Barton Grandaughters

Girls, girls, girls.

NOTE: two girls are missing

Addicted

Yep! The Deeble girls are addicted to the iPad. Both my mom and sister have one and it was the favorite toy. It is amazing how quickly each of the girls learned how to operate it. Here they are watching a netflix with Aunt Mei Mei.

Sky on Fire

The girls got their first taste of autumn leaf raking last night - set to the most glorious sky as our backdrop. So glorious that they all got to climb their first tree to drink it in.

Mia's Latest Quote

So last night Dan and I were praying for Mia at bedtime and Dan leaned down and said "I have a secret for you, Mia." She said, "What?" He whispered in her ear "I love you ." Mia then said she had a secret for Dan and Dan said expectantly, "What?" She leaned up to his ear and whispered, "I want to play soccer every day."

Heaven Help Us

So my mother is getting her payback. I was a VERY strong willed child. I use to hold my breath until I passed out if I didn't get my way. Well, I have more than met my match. Hadley has to do EVERYTHING by herself. Dan likes to say that "Hadley needs Jesus". Oh boy does she ever.

Well when Hadley is sick and on a steroid. Look out!!! Last night I fought her going to bed for an hour and then called the pharmacist and gave up. I realized that I was fighting a losing battle. Dan got home at 9pm to which I told him I had a surprise for him. Hadley was high as a kite after self administering her bong. When I quit fighting her will, she was actually hilarious.

Now to make my life even worse she is potty training herself. I just heard her go into the bathroom take off her diaper and get on the potty. I go in to find that she has taken care of business but not waited for me to help clean up. I AM SO NOT READY FOR THIS!!!!!!!

Brianna voted

Dan and I continue to be amazed at our girls' preschool. It came to us highly recommended and we feel that we are getting every penny and more from it.

The girls new unit is on dinosaurs and yesterday I picked up the girls and took off Bri's coat to put her in her car seat. I just sat stunned when I saw her sticker which said I Voted: For My Favorite Dinosaur. That just took a lot of creativity and planning. Way to go preschool!!!

It also helped remind me of my civic duty.

Halloween 2010

This was the first Halloween that the Deeble girls dressed up and trick or treated. We were too chicken in the past to brave it. The girls had a blast and have done nothing but cart around their buckets of candy all day.

They trick or treated with their best friend Eva. It was too cute.

Untitled from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

More Mo Gifts

Mo and Poppa keep our girls in style!!

Dance Class: First Parent Watch Week

Mom, this is for you. Here are three videos. So unbelievably adorable. As you will see, Bri was a little distracted by the audience.

NOTE: Also to hear the audio on the video you have to stop the background music playing. To do that, scroll to the bottom of the blog and hit the stop button on the Music Playlist.

Untitled from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Untitled from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Untitled from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Peek A Boo

Video from Preschool Parade

Untitled from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Untitled from Elise Deeble on Vimeo.

Preschool Costume Parade

Hadley and I got to go see the girls at their preschool costume parade. I was soo proud of my girls. Mia totally reminded me of a high schooler playing it cool. Her bunny ears and tail were all that she would allow me to do to her.

War!

Grassheads

So I (Elise) spread some Scott's Patch Mix grass seed on a couple of bare spots in our front yard and faithfully watered it twice a day for 12 days. I gave up in disgust when the girls grass heads sprouted grass after just 2 days of watering them.

Aren't they cute? These were a craft from church that the girls missed one night but that the children's ministry team sent home with Dan so that they could do them. Mia begged me to do it for about a week and then I finally relented. They turned out darling.

Mia's List

Daily Mia says and does things that amaze me. She knew all her letters by the age of 2 and recently she has earned all her numbers. Probably from Dora the Explorer I must sadly say. She loves to point out numbers wherever we are: grocery store, Target, etc.

One more background point is that Dan's schedule at work has been crazy and he hasn't been home much due to the capital campaign the church recently launched. We girls are really doing way better with it than we thought we would but we are starting to feel his absence.

Well yesterday Mia grabbed a sermon print out of Dan's that had 7 numbered points on the middle of the page that were highlighted in yellow. I sat down on the couch to take a momentary rest from madly cooking and cleaning for a party. Mia saddled up next to me on the couch and preceded to read her list to me. I can't remember how she started the whole thing but here was her exact list and you have to picture her saying "number 1, number 2 in front of each one".

#1. I love my daddy. I really don't want him to go
#2. I love my mommy too its really true
#3. I love my blankie
#4. I like my blankie
#5. I like to go on the swing set with daddy
#7. I love my daddy

Absolutely priceless!!!!!

Seriously?

O.K. so you can now add a wood pecker and a mole to our little menagerie. I had absolutely NO idea how much damage one little creature could do. This mole is even destroying the inside of my house. Keiffer's new mission in life is the catch this mole. So at least every other day we have to completely wash Keiffer down because she is covered in dirt and mud from digging in the moles tunnels trying to catch it. And then mud does not agree with Keiffer's stomach. I have been doing more carpet, bedspread, chair scrubbing than anyone should ever have to do. Need I say more. I was on the verge of loathing my dog but now that I spent Saturday out in the yard and saw the damage that this mole has done, I am cheering her on. Go, Keiffer, Go!!!

That brings us to mice, possum, ground hog, spiders, wood pecker, mole, lizards and walking sticks. NONE of which have yet vacated our premises. And then as if that wasn't bad enough Dan says to me you know we probably should have our chimney checked because I don't want to totally freak you out but I have seen bats flying around outside. Seriously? How much can one woman handle.

My Little Surprise

One of the things that I treasure most about Mia is that she never ceases to surprise me (Elise). She is very creative and full of surprises . They just delight me. She is 3.5 now and yesterday as the 4 of us girls were holding hands and walking into church, Mia stopped and pointed to a blue jeep in the church parking lot. She said "Mom what is that?". I said, "it is called a Jeep". She then said "Mom, I want to drive one of those when I get big. [pause] But I want mine to be orange". I laughed and just stared at her amazed. And I had the sudden desire to buy my daughter an orange jeep.

Couldn't Be Prouder

Not quite what I had dreamed and imagined when we got the doll house 5 years ago*. But I couldn't be a prouder mom. Mia started it and then Bri pitched in. My favorite line was from Bri, "no, I need the drill. Hadley can you get me the drill". And Hadley got it. Go girls!!! Papa will be so proud too.

*Yes, we got it before we had any kids. The women's ministry all pitched in and got us a gift card to the plaza one Christmas and told us to spend it on something we didn't need. I told Dan how I had always dreamed of having a dollhouse and never had one. The following year the staff gave us another gift card for Christmas and along came the furniture. We are truly spoiled by an extremely giving church, family and friends. And we are still pretty sure that Mom has more fun with it than the girls at this point.

Favorite Quote of the Day

So Mia and Brianna are starting to amaze us with what they say. My favorite one of the day is from Brianna. I, Elise, was sitting at the computer checking emails and Brianna came up to me and said "Mom, can you get up for a second. I need to check a message." I was so cracked up by it that I obeyed. She proceeded to climb up into the chair and play on the computer.

cupcakemalaise

The Newest Cousin

Brianna couldn't wait to meet her new little cousin Brenna Christy. Here is Brenna at 3 days old. She is a doll!!! Bri wouldn't take no for an answer on holding her . As always, she amazed me at how sweet, gentle and confident she was.

Hadley's 2nd Birthday

Hadley also got two little birthday celebrations this year. One at home with Daddy (Daddy didn't want to be left out) and one in Columbia with Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins (daddy couldn't come).

She talked about her birthday party at least 4 times a day for the last two weeks. She adores her older cousins and always has a blast at Nana and Poppy's house. So hopefully they party lived up to her expectations.
Party Number 2

Fall Photos

We had another great session with our fantastic photographer and friend, Jaime Miller. Click here to watch a slideshow sneak peek.

Let the Trapping Begin

Well, I met one of the inhabitants of the large cave under our front porch/hall closet tonight. We both were quite shocked to see each other. I am still really proud of myself that I didn't scream. But then again freezing is also one of my M.O.s

I was doing a little after dark landscaping using the front porch light as my guide. While I was standing and surveying my work, about 15-20 feet from me., out pops an Opossum. Did you know that their formal name really is Opossum versus Possum. I just learned that while watching the PBS show "The Cat in the Hat" with the girls. Anyway, I digress. So now we can add an Opossum to our list of critters. He froze. I froze. We just looked at each other and then he turned around and went back into his hole. I then packed up my stuff and also went in. Landscaping was fun while it lasted.

Who would have thought that I would have to start a monthly envelop for critter control.

Our Latest Neighbor

We seriously should have boys to live in this house. Not only do we have a half court basketball court in the backyard, woods behind us with a creek below, but we live in critter ville (no wonder we got it for a good price): lizards, walking sticks, mice (yes mice!!!), TONS of spiders and now a groundhog.

We Deeble girls just can't fully appreciate all of this. Dan tried to forewarn me of what a wooded backyard and creek might entail but I was in denial due to the beauty and privacy.

This is a picture of our latest friend. We also think he solves the mystery of the gigantic hole under our front porch. This picture does not truly represent our little friend's size. He is HUGE. I am still amazed at how he squeezes his fat body under the fence. Little does he know that if he just put one paw on the fence it would fall down.

I will just say this. If I ever see him in the backyard while I am also in the backyard then we will be hiring Critter Control to relocate him.

Fun Family Pics

Here are a couple of fun family pictures of the Deebles. We never get family pictures because one of us is always taking the pic. These are from some friends during our trip to St. Louis this summer.

The girls have to take family pictures for show and tell this Thursday at preschool and I thought oh boy I better see what we have....

Back to Church

I meant to post this a few weeks ago. The girls were all excited to be going back to our church. Brianna had to wear her special birthday dress from Nana to show her teacher Miss Marty.