Visit from Devin, Visit to Papa's work, and a snowman?

OK, not the greatest snowman ever but Elli was so excited to make one. The snow wasn't quite ready for snowballs, so we have a snow mound with a hat, carrot nose, button eyes, and pipe:)

Elli was showing how strong she was by holding this heavy tool:) (No one was injured in the taking of this photo)

She enjoys when dad shows her all his toys, I mean tools. She especially likes the flashlights.

Devin stopped by to drop off his bike and get his suitcase for going home over the holidays. Elli loves Devin and was excited to see him. She also thought she was quite special with his hat on:) I love this picture of both of them.

First snow, sledding, Dec 12 and 13, 2010

This is the best part about sledding, according to Elli! Hot chocolate.

She couldn't resist making a snow angel:)

Elli and little Seth. We went to the end of our road to sled down the hill into the retention area. Aside from the concrete ditch, all went well:) Seth was a little unsure, probably because of the frigid temperatures, but Elli loved it.

Getting all bundled for our first sledding adventure of the year. It sure takes a while to get ready.

Brent had to shovel so we could make a WalMart run. What else are you supposed to do in a snow storm? I get really excited about snow and so does Elli. We had a great day!

Preschool Praise Performance, Dec 12, 2010

She was so serious this morning, but she did a great job.

Doing all the motions. These kids are always so fun watch. Elli sang herr little heart out. What a sweet girl. Later in the day, Brent was singing one of her songs and she smiled really big and said, "You like my music daddy?"

Santa Visit Dec 10, 2010

She was not afraid this year. She did however take a second look when she realized Val wasn't working here anymore.

Proud of my little girl.

Mom's Surprise 60th birthday lunch at Logan's, Dec 5

Gonga and her grandbabies.

Elli wanted to help blow out the candles.

This is just one of the three tables celebrating mom's birthday. She had mentioned to LInda that no one had tlked about celebrating her birthday. What she didn't know is that we had already called her friends and set up this surprse lunch at Logan's for her. Not even dad knew. It wasn't until she got to the restaraunt and gave her name that the host asked if she was there for a borthday party. Then she saw her friends and family waiting on her:) Leah and Matt came with the babies, us, Heather and Gary, Shaneyfelts, Bradds, Kubinas, Daniels, Hinkels, Kundiffs, and mom and dad. Fun times.

Elli was at mom's later in the week and saw the huge balloon. She had mom pick her up and put her on top of the balloon and then told mom to let go. She was upset when mom said she couldn't let go or Elli would fall. Elli told her she was going to float on it and was very upset with mom. She said it would work like on TV:)

Clifton Mill, Dec 10, 2010

Elli was in awe of this site! So many lights. I loved her little gasps when she saw it all.

We enjoyed looking at the collection of over 3000 different Santas.

Elli noticed this little Santa right away. Leah has one just like it from when she was a little girl. I think my grandpa bought it for her.

Elli was fascinated with this Santa on the roof. She asked Brent how he got in the chimney. He said it looked like he got up there by the reindeer. Elli replied, "He is not our Santa. He looks different. And these are not real reindeer. They are machines." We figured we better leave before she put it all together in one swoop.

It was a fun night. We enjoyed our $4 cup of hot chocolate:) At least the tickets were free!

Dec 1-3, 2010, A Finger Trial

My brave little girl. I was proud of her for being brave.

Going potty before the surgery. She was quite brave. She was still crying when they took her away, so I was too. She doesn't remember it though. Good thing:) The surgeon only did one incision and removed the dead skin on top of the finger. We will see what it looks like in three days. Monday we go back to the Dr for him to remove it.

She woke up ready to go. Look at her little smile. 6:00 am!

We had several visitors. Mom and dad, Heather and Gary, Sherry, Devin and Drew. The next morning, Pastor Joe and Paula and Lily came. Elli did say she didn't want too many people to come because she didn't want to give anyone her infection. She got several goodies while here from visitors. She really did like some parts of her stay.

We got all ready for bed, Brent went home, and then the nurse came in and said Elli needed to put on a different gown. She screamed at the top of her lungs, at 9:30 at night, that she was, "Not wearing that. It is ugly, ugly, ugly." She wore it:) As we were finally going to sleep again, in the same bed, she was telling me how much she loved me. She said, "I love you all over the whole world, even China, and all the way to moon, all the way to the sun, and even all the way to God." Love her too, more than she can even name.

IV in, medicine on shirt, hurt finger propped up, watching TV. Poor little baby.

When she went for x-rays, I told her it was like getting her picture taken just like we did on Tuesday for Christmas pictures. So, when she was set up she started smiling while they took her x-rays. No bone infecton:)

When we checked in, they gave her this pink blanket. Look at that poor little finger.

Wednesday, Dec 1, we noticed Elli had an infected finger tip. Brent poked a needle in it that night and got some green puss out but it was not enough. Throughout the night we did not sleep much due to Elli's pain. Her entire finger swelled and even into her hand and wrist. Brent took her to the Dr. Thursday morning and they sent us right to the hospital where they said we would stay the night at least. Upon arrival, the orthopedic surgeon checked her out and thought we might take her irhgt into surgery. The final decision though was to put her on IV antibiotic and do surgery Friday morning. Elli did pretty well though she cried quite a bit. She got upset at everyone that came in the room assuming the worst.

Due to the look of her finger, several residents came in to take a look. It did look terrible.

The nurse drew lines around all the red infected areas on her hand and wrist. Elli told her she didn't draw a very good picture:)

A visit with the twins

Look at sweet Wesley:)

Wesley has the crazy hair:) These boys love each other.

Look at Luka's smile:) It is not voluntary, but cute all the same. Look how big it is!

How big eyes! (Luka)

Elli was loving on Luka. She says he is her favorite, but I think she loves them just the same:)

Thanksgiving Day, Nov 25th, 2010

Luka and Wesley. They are so sweet!

Look at these little turkeys:)

Sleeping their way through Thanksgiving.

Leah didn't feel up to taking these one week old precious babies out and about with lots of people, so we took dinner to them:) We can put together a great meal in two days, turkey included:)

First holiday as a family. Super sweet:)

Happy Thanksgiving

One platter of turkey cookies. She is proud of them though she didn't help all that much. She is a good watcher and encourager too:)

Elli lost interest about 5 minutes in. We made one cookie and then it was too long for her to wait on the rest:) She did enjoy eating extra icing, pretzels and candy corn though!

I searched high and low to find candy corn to make these turkey cookies. CVS had a few bags left over. So, Elli and I decided to make the cookies for Thanksgiving.

At church, we got cards and suggestions for random acts of kindness. Ours said to make a dessert for our mailman. We put a couple cookies in a bag and left them in the mailbox. Elli was waiting for the mailman and then decided to pray. She prayed, "God, please help the mailman to arrive safely to our house. Help the rain to stop. Help the mailman to know you." I may have a little missionary on my hands:)

Operation Christmas Child

I love to see the kids take their boxes up to the front of the church. Elli was excited to pack her box this year. She even prays for the kids who might get her box. What a great lesson to teach our little ones.

Aunt Heather met Elli coming back and gave her a box to take up too. Elli thought that was pretty cool to take another box up.

Elli and Madilynn were waiting patiently in the aisle for the time to come to take their boxes up to the front. So sweet.

Caleb, Elli, Lydia and Lydia waiting to go into Kids Town at church. Elli loves this part and often sings the songs on the way home. So sweet. I love that our church is teaching our little ones to Praise Jesus all day long:)

The twins come home, Nov. 20

Gonga holding sweet little Luka.

Luka was very tired after eating a good dinner and filling his diaper:)

Papa holding Wesley.

Wesley is sleeping on Brent after his dinner.

Welcome home O'Connor family.

We were waiting for Matt, Leah, Luka and Wesley when they arrived home. Look how incredibly small these babies look in their car seats. They were so snuggly in there though. I cannot wait to help them get acquainted with all their new surroundings. Elli of course was waiting with open arms and washed hands:)