Part headband, part headlamp. All “Adventure Ella.”
(Hearing) safety first when building rockets with magnets
Winter movie matinee with Yellow Submarine
Mom and dad clearly forgot just how scary the music-hating Blue Meanies were
Dad’s getting pretty decent at making Pad Thai
Yum, noodles!
A treat for breakfast- chocolate malt-o-meal, although Ella blindly declines before tasting (via her favorite phrase- “no thank you, I do not like that”)
Upon leaving aunt Megan’s house for brother’s haircut, Eleanor had to say good-bye to the potpourri light (?)
Clearly her “happy to be awake after nap” face
Ella walking Max or is Max walking Ella?
It was just barely warm enough to venture downtown for the fireworks display with aunt Megan, Liam and Viv
It was nice to see the familiar Gene Leahy Mall holiday scene one last time before construction begins soon
Pre-game snacks
Eleanor can sense there’s something going on, but she’s still not quite sure what exactly is happening here
Des scored some sweet new shades for the fireworks
Ella charges with, “KISS!”
Des staring out at the lights- one of mom and dad’s first dates many years ago walking around with hot chocolate, counting these very same lights
And then there were fireworks!
Des insists the glasses he got are a worthwhile optic effect, dad is less sure, given the required effort
A classic Omaha night
Starting out the new year with what is definitely not a new experience reading Minnie and Daisy’s sleepover story for the umpteenth time
Des playing with the weirdest gift he received this season-
It’s a hit.
Ella doing some light cleaning after nap
Only the best sushi chefs use a whole-body, cleaver chop for slicing delicate sushi
On to fine motor skills with the two-handed chopstick technique
(“Now where did I put mom’s tuna?”)
(“Oh phew! Mom would have sad.”)
Ella demonstrating the proper form for eating cauliflower soup over the bowl
Mom had to work during the day so Des and Dad ventured out to Noon Year’s Eve at the Durham, despite Des feeling a bit under the weather
Packed in like toddler-sized sardines, scored a cozy spot just under the tree behind the stage
Tunes leading up to the countdown by the usual group, though when the crowd requested “Baby Shark,” they barely got through a verse (not that requests are a requisite, but how does a musician specializing in kids entertainment not know the #15 video off all time on youtube w/ 2.5 billion views?)
“3… 2… 1… Happy Noon Year!!”
As the balloons and confetti dropped, of course he hand to grab an orange balloon
Clearly worn down and ready for a nap, a sushi lunch date evolved to take-out avocado roll at home. But still tasty.
Eleanor is going bye-bye and taking her baby with her, no car seat necessary
Mom’s New Years Eve-themed gift bag from work included a silver-glitter shot glass… big hit with the little ones!
Cheers to a new year!
Special treat for dinner- poke bowls!
“Got a little something there on your shirt, sweetie…”
Dad scored the kids new sleds, so Eleanor tries to figure out how it all works…
Before mom heads out for book club- “Taste? Taste?” Dinner happens at the table, in part, to avoid this feeding frenzy
Giddy-up!
Having unexpectedly finished all of her bites, Ella is ready to taste the candy-cane-shaped rainbow
Little Drummer Girl
Proud Des and his multi-tier crane truck
On Des and dad’s now annual Christmas shopping excursion, he’s more than happy to try out the store’s camping chair
Chips, guac, sushi… what could be… funnier?
In his happy spot 🙂
<3
Des building a tractor and trailer to haul Lightning McQueen
Eleanor with those leftover blues (despite the brussels sprouts!)
“There’s jam on my cookie!!” Des is pretty excited about his cookie from Megan-
Ella modeling her reindeer/santa pajamas
Little Ella Marie, who was no more than two, reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas with mom
Eleanor’s first egg sandwich, and she’s eating it as a sandwich! (as opposed to grilled cheese, where she eats via later- pinching off the top layer of bread, followed by pinching and eating all the cheese off, then…)
“Footsie pajamas!” (her absolute favorite)
Des giving it a spin during the world’s longest game of Chutes & Ladders
