Hello My Name is Elodie and I like to do drawings...

Elodie got this super cute easel from her Grama and Papa Yarn for Christmas. It's a chalkboard on one side, a dry erase board on the other side, and has a roll of paper she can color on too.

She has loved drawing on the paper and has spent quite a bit of time in front of the easel. Thank you Grama and Papa! Here is her latest drawing. I have a video of Elodie explaining to you what she drew but blogger won't let me post it. Who knows. I also tried photobucket and you tube....weird. I didn't do anything different either when I took the video.

I can't explain it better than Elodie. lots of windows, flowers, Chris, Me, Elodie, and Addysen, and a rainbow. I've tried a few times to upload the video. Maybe I'll have Chris have a shot at it, if it works I'll post it later!

She is also getting better at writing her name and is constantly asking me how to spell words and other peoples names. Lately she is loving coloring pictures for her friends and putting them in envelopes with their names on the front. This is one from just today to her friend Madison.

The best of both worlds

Still half up and half down like she likes, but with a little personality like I like. We are slowly learning to compromise!

The photoshoot that will not end!

I wanted to get a few more pictures of the girls together for a photo collage I did for my mother in law. Sadly, I picked the coldest day this week to get the girls outside. Don't let the green grass fool you (here in Arizona that's called Winter Grass), it was FREEZING outside and the girls weren't too happy with me. You really can't tell in the picture though. Elodie is my perfect poser and Addysen ALWAYS has this look on her face!

No Snow in Snowflake

We went up to Snowflake the Sunday after Christmas to spend time with Chris' family. On the way there we stopped in Heber to play in snow and enjoy the feel of a Winter Wonderland. Only in Arizona can you drive 3 hours North and be in a completely different climate. While it does get cold in the valley, you can expect it to be about 20 degrees colder up towards Snowflake! It's definitely nice to get the best of both worlds. Cold and sunshine then go to Cold and Snow.

At the highest elevation the snow was so deep that it reached the speed limit signs. There was no where to turn off because the side roads weren't plowed. Had we of turned off, there was a huge risk of getting stuck in the snow or the ice. Crazy. We settled with Heber, and though they didn't have as much snow, it did the job. Besides, Elodie was all about the snow when we were in the car but as soon as we got in it, she was ready to go!

The snow is so pretty and holiday-ish but I'm glad we don't have to deal with it on a regular basis! The video pretty much summed Elodie's attitude towards the snow!

Elodie Funny

Tonight we were hanging out listening to music on Chris' i-pod when a song by Carrie Underwood came on. Chris asked Elodie if she liked Carrie Underwood and Elodie gave Chris a funny look and said "UH?!! Scary Underwear!?!"

Christmas Morning

She was so happy about her Hello Kitty Backpack. She ran into our room and said "SANTA BROUGHT ME A HELLO KITTY BACKPACK!" It was the first thing she noticed out of everything else!

She loves Taylor Swift!

She finally got Tinkerbell! She's been asking for it for months! We just kept telling her to "Put it on your list!"

Addysen was very excited about her cups but she mostly played with all the empty boxed and wrapping paper! The joys of having a 9 month old! Easy to please!

A Barbie Kitchen

New Princess Shoes

Little Miss Sunshine!

Belle Polly Pocket

A Littlest Pet Shop House

Santa didn't forget us either- Chris got a I-Home for his I-Pod and I got a HUGE clock for my family room!

This is what my house looked like the rest of the day! And surprisingly, I didn't mind a bit. Elodie played the entire day with all her new toys! Before Elodie went to bed we played a round of her new My Little Pony Matching game. It was so addicting that after the girls went to bed Chris and I sat down and played 6 more times with it! Sadly, Christopher beat me everytime! He always new where Pinkie Pie or Kimono were hiding! Don't knock it till you try it!

Merry Christmas! Love, The Yarns

Christmas Eve & Pajamas

We had a quiet Christmas Eve at home. I cleaned the house, Chris wrapped presents, Elodie was excited, and Addysen didn't notice any difference. We had friends over for soup and bread bowls. This was the second year in a row that we've gotten together with the Hamblins and the Whites. We are all in town for Christmas Eve so it's been fun to celebrate with friends. After our friends left the girls unwrapped their Christmas Pj's....

After Addysen went to bed, we made sugar cookies for Santa...

Chris, I mean Santa, ate his cookies before I got a picture of them. This is proof though that Santa was at our house. In and out in a flash! I love that Chris detailed the plate with crumbs.

We read from Luke Chapter 2 with Elodie, read "Twas the night before Christmas", and listened to "The First Noel" and "Silent Night" Definitely a nice way to end our Christmas Eve.

And after the girls were asleep, our tree looked like this....all ready for Christmas!

And because I didn't have a blog way back when....a look back at Christmas PJ'S:

2004:

2005:

2006:

2007:

Christmas Recipe Day 3

Triple Chocolate Fudge:

(Makes a HUGE batch so it's definitely great for gifts!)

6 cups sugar
1 cup butter
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (11 and 1/2 ounce) package (2 cups) real milk chocolate chips
1 (12 ounce) package (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (13 ounce) jar marshmellow creme
1 tablespoon vanilla

Combine sugar, butter, evaporated milk, and cream cheese in saucepan. Cook over medium heat stirring occasionally with wire whisk until mixture comes to a complete boil. (20 to 30 minutes) Boil, stirring constantly, until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees F or small amount of mixture dropped into ice water forms soft balls. (10 to 13 minutes)

Remove from heat, whisk in all chocolate and marshmellow creme. Beat until smooth and glossy. Stir in vanilla.

Pour mixture on to a buttered cookie sheet. Refrigerate until firm (atleast 2 hours). Cut into small pieces. Store refrigerated.

ENJOY!

Visit with Santa...my dad would be proud!

I had my first time mom moment when Elodie was first born. She was 3 months old for her first Christmas. Naturally I wanted a picture of Elodie with Santa. I went to 3 different malls to find the perfect Santa. I scouted, I compared, I debated, I found my perfect Santa.

This is Elodie the night we took her to see Santa. Isn't she sweet!?! Addysen is actually going to wear this same outfit tomorrow for Christmas Eve.





We've only missed pictures with Santa one year. Elodie was 2 and wouldn't go near him. When she was 1 she screamed her head off...Poor Santa! This was also the year I started Christmas Sweaters. Just a sweet festive sweater to wear during the holidays.

December 2005




Since we already had a screaming with Santa picture there was really no reason to have 2. Last year we saw Santa at Disneyland...SIGH! We also visited with Santa and Ms. Clause at our ward party. That was fun and Elodie was all about them both! Once kids figure out you have to tell Santa what you want to get it, they are all about sitting on Santa's lap.

Ward Christmas Party 2007:

Disneyland 2007This year we made 2 trips to see Santa. The first trip was to the mall on a Friday afternoon around 1pm. I forgot school let out early and the lines were HORRIBLE! It wasn't worth it. We got out of line and thought we would just come back early the next week. Later that same afternoon I was on the phone with my cousin Randa and she mentioned they were coming back from the Bass Pro Shop. She told me they took their kids their to visit with Santa for FREE! FREE PEOPLE! The cost at the mall was $15 for a 4x6. When Elodie was a baby it was $15 for a 5x7 and that was expensive to me! Now, a 4x6?!?! Come on!


Randa also told me that you could take your own camera and they would let you take as many pictures as you wanted. My kind of place! Definitely after Randa told me it was a "Good Santa"!


Since Chris only works half days this week, I met him at the Bass Pro Shop when he got off work. My dad would be so proud. He is an AVID AVID fisher and LOVES the Bass Pro Shop. I had not set foot in one until today....it was actually a pretty cool place to look around! Definitely up my dad's alley!