Turkey Day in New Jersey

The family had a delightful Thanksgiving holiday with Bebe, Popi, Dolly, Ba, Opa, Uncle Dave, Aunt Casey, Juliana and Stan in New Jersey this year! 

One of Evie's favorite things to do is help Bebe and Daddy set up the Christmas Village. This year, she really got into making up stories for all the people in the village. 

Popi, Opa, and Ba discuss the geography of Ireland, while Dolly makes a move for the shrimp on the table. 

On the way home, the family made a pitstop at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, and enjoyed the sharks and dolphins, and the gift shop, of course. Ahhh!  Look at the fish's giant jaws!  

Evie takes in the beauty of the jellyfish. 

Ellie goes for a closer look.

The jellyfish exhibit was one of our favorites. 

We braved the stormy day on Wednesday to watch "Penguins of Madagascar" in a deluxe theater with reclining, leather seats.  Evie's face perhaps accurately reflects her reaction during the movie, whereas Ellie was in heaven. She likes to recite her favorite line from the movie "I make my own options." and then go "Aghhhhhhhhh!" to re-enact the penguins falling out of the plane. 

Thanksgiving Magic...

It has been an exciting couple of weeks in November for the family.  We celebrated last week when Evie won the Belle View Elementary Respectful Bobcat Citizenship Award for the first quarter - this is the second year in the row that she's been nominated for the award!   Evie sported her medal and certificate and got to use the family's new "You Are Special" plate! 

We also celebrated with ice cream cake, which Ellie seemed to enjoy the most! 

Mom, Ba and Ellie also got to attend the annual Thanksgiving luncheon at Belle View.  Evie and Ellie enjoyed the pumpkin ice cream the most - what a treat! 

Ellie and Mommy also checked out the pilgrim Evie had created... 

... and Ellie was delighted to see that her sister had said that she was thankful for her little sister (Mom swore an earlier draft said "when she is nice" instead of "because she is nice."). 

On Saturday we were so lucky to have a visit with Auntie Mel, Uncle Brian, Amelia and new baby Wesley! The girls had a great time playing and were hamming it up for their pictures.  

Oy. The three musketeers and mommies who are just along for the ride. 

Later that night we had a pre-Thanksgiving dinner at Ba's house with Co Ba and Uncle Minh, where she had prepared a ham dinner feast!  

Then that night we watched a full production of the Nutcracker. The costumes and dancing were great and the girls were very, very excited - only falling asleep at the very last bit of Act II.  Ellie got really involved in the story, talking a little bit despite Mom's shushing: "Why did the man take her present? She's so beautiful! What is going to happen?"

As you can see, she was very, very excited! 

Popi's Big Birthday Celebration

Everyone was delighted that Popi, Bebe, and Aunt Dellie were in town to celebrate Popi's birthday this past weekend with the family and Ba and Opa.  The girls proudly showed off their life-sized portraits along with their artistic styles (Mommy probably made Dolly a little too chubby, but Evie's party hat makes up for it). 

After a delicious meal of ribs and pulled pork, the girls sang "Happy Birthday" as loud as they could.  They had helped Bebe ice the cake and now helped Popi blow out all the candles. 

Then it was time to dig in - Ellie ate her chocolate cake and frosting with gusto! 

The girls painted rocks to make paperweights for Popi's office - Ellie incorporated her favorite color purple and Evie made an Irish flag with a golden heart (or harp, depending on who you ask).  Popi gives Ellie "knucks" in appreciation. 

 

The girls had a delightful couple of days with their grandparents, especially Ellie, who got to spend the whole day with Aunt Dellie and Bebe on Friday.  They went to the Air and Space Museum where they saw the smallest plane - Skybaby - and Bebe "saved the day!"

Popi McDonald and the Range sisters get ready to hit the road after a lovely visit - and battle the DC traffic (that itself will age you a bit). Happy Birthday Popi!