Snow-Graham Family Photos

Tonight, I got to take photos of my Aunt KK and cousins, Michael and Morgan. Part of the reason for it was a little selfish {I needed updated photos for Christmas projects and I wanted the practice}, but also to be able to bless them with some updated family photos. We went to the same little park where I took Ellie's two year portraits - it's definitely becoming a favorite spot of mine! I think they turned out really great and am looking forward to doing some more senior portraits for Morgan soon!

Thanks for letting me practice on ya'll! ♥

Creating Fun

When Nana got home from work, I left the kids in her care so I could run a quick errand to get Ellie's thank you cards printed. Once back home, I found these little gems on my camera and two very happy children playing with their newest creation: Thomas!

Well-loved by their Nana? You bet.

{And thanks for watching them, Mom!}

The View from Sunday

Lunch after church at Jessie and Bryan's...

A special after dinner treat with Nana...

and Superheroes... just after their baths...

♥

A Day Out with Thomas

Noah has known for a couple of days that we had a "secret adventure" to go to today. Last night, we let Daddy-Ben tell him where we were going to get to go - to ride on Thomas! I imagine it goes without saying that Noah was pretty excited.

When we arrived at the Oklahoma Railway Museum for our Day Out with Thomas, Noah's excitement was so very evident - he practically pulled Nana over to see Thomas!

I don't think they could believe that he was really there!

We had tickets for the first ride of the day and arrived a little early, before all the other festivities really started, so the kids played on the playground for a few minutes before we headed to the passenger cars.

Both of them were thrilled to get on the train!

After the train ride, we made our way to the rest of the activities.

Ellie's favorite? Coloring, of course.

Noah pretty well enjoyed it all. He got a tattoo...

listened to a story, checked out the model trains, and even played miniature golf.

What he did NOT enjoy, however, was meeting Sir Topham Hatt.

Neither did Ellie.

Maybe next time.

All in all, the trip was a success!

Ellie @ Two

{It's a little late, but better than never!}

Our sweet little Eleanor turned two almost two weeks ago.

I can barely believe it, and yet sometimes, she acts far older than two!

Things Ellie likes at Two:

• talking and singing! Her vocabulary is ever expanding and single words have blossomed into sentences seemingly overnight. {Though, we're still working on getting her to stop calling Aunt Jessie, "BB", ha!} Her current favorite songs to sing are the "ABCs" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider". She requests them nearly every night.


• playing games... particularly her own little made up games which usually involves getting others to say or do things that she wants them to do. For example, she'll call on everyone in the room to sing by telling you, "Sing, Papa!" "Sing, Nana!" Everyone always plays along... except for Noah.


• tackling, pestering, chasing, and all around annoying Noah. To no end. I'm still not sure if it's because she thinks it is funny or if it is because she simply loves him.


• tackling me with a great big hug and saying, "Hi, Mommy!" when she knows she's about to get into trouble for something.


• snuggling with Papa before she has to go to bed.


• reading. And she'll even read to herself. Favorite book ever: "No, David!"


• pretending to talk to Daddy on my cell phone.


• "helping" Nana when she's trying to fix dinner.
  
  

Littlest Dear One, you are amazing. And beautiful. And spunky and sassy. We love you to pieces and are so blessed to have you in our lives. You make us laugh with your silly and funny faces. You melt our hearts every time you squeeze our necks and say "Youve you". One has been a fantastic year for you... we can't wait to see what wonderful and exciting things Two brings. We'll eat you up, we love you so!

Today

These two have been obsessed lately with coloring {or, as Ellie likes to call it, paint'n}. Particularly coloring and drawing pictures for people. The first thing they both asked for when we got home from school {and Target}, was to color.

Today's intended recipient? Aunt BB.



He drew himself, Aunt BB, and the Joker. All with boogers, or so he says.

You've got to love boys. And their imaginations.

And after bathtime, trains with Nana. ♥

Wordless Wednesday

"I want to be a Fireman."

Noah got a book yesterday from Grandma Haze titled, "I want to be a Fireman." While I was putting Ellie to bed last night, Nana read it to him. One page in particular, caught both of their attention:

Nana pointed out to Noah that the little boy and his sister made a fire truck out of a box. Maybe, she told him, Mommy would let him make one out of the box all the presents were mailed in. No sooner than I had walked out of their room from putting Ellie down for bed, Noah was asking to make one! Assuring him that we'd make one tomorrow, I put him to bed as well.

First thing this morning, he wanted to make a firetruck. Except, we had bible study at church which meant there was no time in the morning.

"After naps", I promised him.

He didn't forget. And while I was changing Ellie's diaper, he was getting the crayons out and ready.

He didn't want a ladder. And didn't like that Ellie added "smoke" to his windows.

It's hard being a fire fighter.

She loves clothes. {Or maybe it's just presents?}

I've been really trying to stay away from the whole "thank-you-for-this-gift-and-that-gift" kind of posts - for many reasons. But sometimes, because of the way the gift is received, documentation simply has to be shared. Like the package that Ellie received in the mail today for her birthday:

Evidently, the girl loves clothes. And opening presents. I couldn't contain myself over the cuteness that is Ellie hugging on her new clothes! ♥ May she forever have such a grateful and thankful heart.

{Thanks again Grandma, Poppa, and Aunt Marian!}

The Great State Fair of Oklahoma!

No post yesterday.

I didn't take any photos before naps {we were busy running errands and the like} and then, literally moments after the kids woke up from their naps, I had an allergic reaction to some pecan-infested caramel popcorn {Seriously, Cub Scouts. Who puts pecans in caramel popcorn?!}. I'm normally super diligent about asking and/or reading labels. I make Ben brush his teeth before he can kiss me after he's had something with pecans in it. It's been YEARS since I've had a reaction because I'm so careful. And ironically, just before Dad bought the popcorn from the Cub Scouts outside of Sam's Club, I had asked one of the vendors inside if I could have a cookie cut with a new knife since they were using the same knife to cut all the cookies with {including ones with pecans!}.

{{sigh}}

One bottle of Benadryl later and I'm certain I'll never encourage the purchase of a tin of popcorn from the Cub Scouts again!

***

Instead of getting up early to go to church today, we got up and headed out to the Great State Fair of Oklahoma. It was a beautiful morning and when we arrived, the crowds were not bad at all.

Batman, Robin, and Batgirl in the "Batmobile" in the car building

We ♥ BBT!

Noah and I went into the Butterfly Pavilion, just the two of us. It was an awesome little side adventure. Made me think of when Ben and I went to a butterfly exhibit on our first anniversary trip. Ben and I tried SO hard to get one of the blue morphos to land on us... and here Noah had one on each hand and at one point, he and I both had one on our backs!

Poor Ellie didn't get to go in with us, but she seemed to be having a good time anyway with the rest of the crew!

Checking out the storm shelters with Papa. They were also known as "Bat Caves".

Fun trip, lots of memories, and plenty of good ole' fair food!