rella

Back in November, Nora watched Cinderella for the first time...

She wore a dress of Dot's that has been dubbed Cinderella's pink dress so she felt quite special.

Since that day it has been her number one obsession.  She loving refers to it and the main character as "Rella."
Good thing we already had a book of it so she wouldn't ask to watch it 100 times a day.
(or at least it helped appeased her when we had to say no).

She was lucky enough to get a hand-me-down Cinderella dress that started being worn over her clothes everyday.
Aunt Angie sent her some socks to complete the look.

She has seen the movie a number of times now (because I can only say no so many times), but I think we will hold off on the new live action one until it is rentable.

However, she got to go see a performance of Roger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella at Jimmy's school and wear the dress out in public...

Let's just say the dress is getting a little worse for wear and I am afraid to throw it in the washing machine and ruin it.
It needs a good handwashing.  Maybe I could make that chore part of the game.
I have already taught her to clean the floors and "be Cinderella."
  One day she came in from outside with black stuff all over her lips and hands.

Apparently, she had really been committing to the part by kissing our firepit and thus getting cinders all over herself...

She also got a Cinderella doll from Mimi for Christmas who has become a dear friend...

And of course, every princess needs a prince or knight around...

She should never be lacking in those around our house.  We are much more used to those. 

This whole princess thing is new to us, and I am loving it more than I thought I would.

president's day hike

We enjoyed some beautiful weather on President's day while  hiking a trail on the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.

Gus found a cave...

Nora slept for a good bit of it, but towards the end she wanted out of her carrier and the boys were starting to get tired.  They had fun, but they do always look the most forward to the snack they get at the end.  

So glad they love getting outdoors.  I see many more hikes in our future.

valentines 2015

This year Jimmy decided to make Star Wars Valentines for his class.
We made lightsabers out of crayons and electical tape.  Then we joined him in his class for a party.

Since Valentine's was on Saturday this year we got to enjoy a relaxing breakfast of pink heart pancakes and pink milk.

The Queen of Our Hearts....

Mimi dropped by with some special cookies which needless to say Nora loved them...

But she didn't love them nearly as much as she loves her Mimi...

phoenix groundhog 2015

Once again we hosted our annual Alumni Groundhog Party for the University of Dallas. 

The kids always get pretty excited about it.

We always love to have a few beers with some old friends and sit by the fire.

I was a little lame about taking pictures this year, but I did get this one of Nora walking around with a whole container of cheeseballs...

The one occasion a year that I buy such a thing, I let my kids go a little wild.