Don't Worry, We're Professionals

Eliza and Hannah nearly became professional tree decorators when they more or less decorated three trees on their own this year (our house, their Grammy and Papa's house, and their D's house). A few pictures from the three decorating parties:

Hannah kept looking at the ornaments and when she looked into one of the bulbs I asked her who she saw and she said "I see Hannah!" in a surprised tone.

The girls took turns on the stool to get the ornaments up high, but even so there was about an 18 inch gap between the star at the top and the rest of the ornaments on our tree. We didn't care though, we loved it.

Okay, so they did have some help from their D's and other adults, but whose keeping track anyway?

Thanksgiving Day Pictures

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (or at least until next year)

This year's reenactment of the Christmas story found Eliza and her bitty baby in the roles of Mary and Jesus. Hannah was offered the role of the "Angel of the Lord" but signed on for what she viewed to be a more edgy role as the "sheep of the shepherd". The gamble paid off and she will likely win best supporting actress.

Hannah had the opportunity to play Mary in the remake done immediately after the original but declined.

Charlie Brown Christmas Trees

With the help of their aunts, Eliza and Hannah found "Charlie Brown" Christmas trees.

Alice and Lila

Eliza and Hannah's aunts (the "D's" as they refer to them) gave them gift certificates to Build-a-Bear for Christmas. As a consequence, the whole family sallied forth from home a few days after Christmas to, well, build the girls' "bears."

Hannah settled on a gray kitty and named her "Alice", while Eliza settled on a bear named "Lila".


The girls got to stuff their animals and put a "heart" in them as well.



Then they picked out some clothes.


Add some information to a computer and you get a birth certificate.

Note that the box picture above containing the animal, clothes, and gift certificate became a point of obsession itself. The girls were carrying the boxes around constantly and when the handle tore on Hannah's box there was a lot of crying until Papa (Josh's dad) fixed it.

Rock Park Disney

While in Washington, Eliza and Hannah's Papa (Josh's dad) ordered a dump truck load of gravel to help level out a piece of land where a new greenhouse is going to be placed. The girls were amazed by the dump truck and stood awestruck as the truck dumped the gravel.


When the driver got out of the truck to get paid, the girls asked if they could touch the dump truck which they were allowed to do. After the truck left the girls played and played on the piles of gravel left by the truck. Eliza dubbed this new wonderland "Disney Rock Park."

Who knew a pile of rocks could bring so much joy to two little girls?


Top that Disney imagineers.

B.Russ vs. Leukemia

I am tired and will edit this post later to explain more. I just wanted to go ahead and get the link on my blog for those who are interested in staying up to date with how Bryan is doing. I am still having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that this is real. It just doesn't seem possible that my big brother has cancer. I must be too tired at the moment but I can't sleep...I will write more when I have myself pulled together a little better.

http://brussversusleukemia.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to add a link to his blog on your blog if you would like.