Mexican vacation

Ben and I went to Puerto Vallarta for 6 nights this week.  The girls spent a lot of time jumping on the trampoline under the supervision of Grandpa Ed and didn't seem too upset that we were gone!  We had a great time staying in the city for the first 4 nights, then we went to a small village named Yelapa, accessed only by water taxi.  There was a boardwalk, the Malecon, located one block from our first hotel.  There was never a dull moment.  The first day we ended up in a bridal parade with a marching band.  One night there was a free dance performance of different Mexican dances.  There were sculptures and street performers, as well as plenty of people selling jewelry and timeshares.  And of course there was food everywhere!  Ben found a new addiction at a taco stand.  We watched the Super Bowl at an outside bar next to the ocean and ended up sitting next to Iowans.  A lot of travelers we met were from Canada or the midwest with lots of retirees with second homes.  Maybe because it was sunny and 80 every day?  

The streets were all cobblestone.  You really need to watch your step.

We went ziplining in the jungle.  We both got to fly like Superman!

I don't know how many steps we climbed to get here.  It was a beautiful view.

These guys were out every night looking for tips.  They were Ben's favorite.

We had the bad luck of clouds rolling in most nights just before sunset.

We went on a whale watching tour to the Marietas Islands where we snorkeled.  We saw several groups of whales and lots of pretty fish.

This is the view out our second hotel window.  By window, I mean hole in the side of the wall.  It was pretty but the ocean was so loud we couldn't sleep!

The streets in Yelapa went straight up and wound all over.  There were no signs and though it was small, we always were lost.  The only transportation was ATV or donkey.  Dogs and chickens everywhere!  Our first night we watched Wolf of Wall Street in an outdoor restaurant on a big screen while eating supper.  Still in the theater in the US, but anything goes in Mexico.  It was over at 11 pm and we had to wade through a shallow (though very wide) river to get back to our hotel with only a small flashlight to help us find our way.  The tide had come in and the the river was much wider on the way home than it was on the way in.  The next day we hiked toward a waterfall but had to turn back after losing the trail several times because it was going to get dark soon and we didn't want to have to spend the night in the jungle.

Our hotel restaurant was pretty relaxing.

Some fellow Iowans took our picture right before we had to head back to the airport.

Funny Nora

Nora has told me several times, "I like to laugh and sing and play."  It is true!  She is still very vocal and is a big singer. We were sad the day Nora stopped saying depa for pizza this month.  If she stops using "eleventeen" as a number it will be another sad milestone!  Every night she asks me to tell a "mooky story" about a big monster with sharp teeth and sharp claws, a scary witch, and a scary ghost.  Other things she says daily: "watch uh show" (Dora is her favorite), "eat cereal, all the cereals," "I need all of my stuff" (multiple pillows, blankets and animals that need to be transported downstairs after every nap and every morning.)

Nora teaching baby signs to Kylie and Ariel.  Kylie the mermaid has been the most played with toy for 2 years.  She is the cause of many a toy fight.

Nora likes to be carried upstairs in her blanket.  She has two blankets, puppy, soft puppy, and Licky the racoon that have to go to bed with her every night.

Nora as Monster Dog.  She pants and tries to lick people.

Christmas Day

The weekend before Christmas started out rocky as Nora began running a fever Saturday morning.  She missed a wedding, a swim party, and a visit to the Ossmans'.  Daddy took her to the doctor on Christmas Eve and she was diagnosed with an ear infection.  Her fever was down just in time for Christmas.

The girls didn't get up until 8 am.  Ben and I were up at 6 waiting impatiently.  Both girls got what they wanted from Santa: Mariposa fairy Barbie for Alena and a puppy for Nora.  Santa brought a keyboard for the whole family to play.  Even the kitties got a new toy, although Jones was more interested in trying to eat ribbon and Ruby wanted to play with ornament hooks.  

After opening presents at home, we went to the Jensens' for dinner and presents.  Santa brought plenty of toys to their house as well, including some more fairy Barbies and a musical jewelry box for Alena and a new My Generation doll for Nora named Lily.

Nora and New Puppy help with Mommy's stocking

Team present opening.  The girls got along great while opening presents.  Everything deteriorated quickly in the evening, however, with plenty of fighting over toys.  This led to an early bedtime.

Alena took over as photographer.  She made us a neat calendar at preschool with different handprint pictures for each month.

Alena has wanted to wear her Christmas dress every chance she got this month.

Lessons

Santa gave the girls each a two dollar bill.  Unfortunately the money wouldn't fit in their piggy banks.  Alena knew just what to do.  I didn't specifically tell her not to cut money.  Now she knows.  And she knows not to clean her carpet with a bucket of water and a washcloth. Actually, I would be surprised if she doesn't try that one again.

December

December is flying by!  Big news--Nora is potty trained!  She has done a great job of staying dry and got the special treat of pink ice cream for pooping in the potty.  Other big news--Grandma Diane broke her wrist and Ben and the girls took her to the ER.  They learned about splints and x-rays, first hand!  Nora even shared Puppy to make Grandma feel better.  Hopefully she is feeling better soon.

The girls came up with the game of falling off the ottoman in to each other's arms (while wearing matching pink Dora dresses.)

Alena's preschool class had their Christmas performance.  I think she did a great job; unfortunately we were in the back row and couldn't see her unless Ben held the camera above his head and took a picture.

Grandpa Steve had a bowling party for his work Christmas party.  It was Alena and Nora's first time bowling.  After initial displeasure over the shoes, Alena thought it was pretty fun.

Nora had a blast. She said this is her sad face. I don't know why she is making it, because she really did have fun.  Santa was there and gave her a candy cane full of Skittles and $2 cold hard cash.  Her ball went so slow that it actually stopped and started rolling back toward her.

Santa

We had a fun weekend.  We kicked it off Friday night by heading to Kennedy for Playtime Poppy.  They performed Cinderella and again put on a great show.  The girls loved it.  Sunday we went to the Ceramics Center for an open house.  The girls decorated clay ornaments.  Then we went over to New Bo and they told Santa what they wanted for Christmas.  Alena was impressed that his belly really jiggled like a bowl full of jelly.  Next, we hopped on a trolley and rode it around Czech Village.  The snow was really falling so I buried the two in a snowbank when we got home.  And of course, if Alena and Nora play in snow, they must drink hot chocolate as soon as they come in!

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving with the Ossman crowd.  We missed Julianne and family (who were in Ohio) but still managed to do a lot of over eating.  Nora is one of the big kids now!  The kids stayed busy playing, crafting, and putting on a treasure hunt (the prize was watching them perform a show).

Baby Nina was too little to play with the big kids, but she still got to enjoy some sweet potatoes.

Cousin Sadie

The girls were excited to meet their new cousin Sadie last Saturday.  She was born that same morning, November 23.  She was 6 lbs, 5 oz, just like her big cousin Nora!

Halloween

The girls were fairies for Halloween.  Alena picked out the pattern and fabric and Mama Diane sewed them.  We went trick or treating with Tillie and Lucie in their neighborhood.  It stopped raining just in time to go outside.  Nora grabbed one of our hands and said, "let's run!" between every house.  She also told people, "I do it," when they tried to put candy in her bucket and always selected candy with brown wrappers.  Then she would repeatedly say "thank you" until she was acknowledged. Alena had fun but wasn't quite as excited this year.  

There was a parade at preschool on Monday night and Alena sang us two songs.  The girls also wore their costumes to a show opening at The Ceramics Center.  And they wore them to a Halloween library party.  They got a lot of compliments.

We collected pumpkin seeds for Daddy and Alena to bake for a treat.

Banana yogurt ghosts were a hit...

as were our peanut butter cracker spiders, which we shared with Ms Pam!

Last stop of the night--back home.  Alena drew the three eyed pumpkin and Daddy carved it for her.  I made a kitty for Nora.

Waterpark

The whole Ossman clan (minus Grandpa Ed, who was busy with harvest) met in Des Moines at an indoor waterpark/hotel.  We realized this was Nora's first time staying at a hotel.  She loved it!  After spending all Friday afternoon playing in the pool with her cousins and eating pizza she got the privilege to sleep with Mommy!  (Nora's goal every night is to sleep in "Mommy Daddy bed."  She likes to sleep sideways and thrashes around quite a bit, so she isn't the best bed mate.)  Alena and Daddy got to share the other bed.  Before going to sleep we told stories.  Nora told the story, "Once there was a little mommy and a ghost!"  Then she would laugh hysterically for a minute before retelling the story.  Against all odds everyone eventually fell asleep.  In the morning Alena and Daddy went out to walk around and Nora and I ate banana bread in bed while watching cartoons.

The babies had fun, too!  Nina practices her sitting.

The final birthday celebration

We needed to celebrate Alena's birthday one more time, now with Grandma and Grandpa Ossman.  Alena got a new princess sleeping bag, Barbie clothes, and a new leotard so she is prepared to start gymnastics class on Wednesday.  We set up the camper, Grandpa gave tractor rides, and we went to a pumpkin patch.  The girls are going to have to get some good rest in during the next few days.

Nora has her puppy, books, and Alena's sleeping bag ready to take out to the camper.

 Alena practicing some moves.

The girls loved going through the haunted house, seeing the animals, and playing with all of the toys

Nora was not interested in going home.

Birthday party

Alena had friends Brielle, Tillie, Maya, and Kaelyn over for a fairy themed party.  The girls played some fairy games, made necklaces with fairy shrinky dinks, and ate chocolate cupcakes with pixie dust on top.

The Thatchers gave Alena a Flutterbye, a fairy that actually flies!

Happy birthday, Alena!

Alena turned 5 today!  The Jensens all came over to celebrate in the first of several birthday parties.  We had pizza and ice cream cake.  Alena is preschool's "Jaguar of the Week," so Jackson the stuffed jaguar even attended.  Alena has loved Barbies for over a year, and was very excited to receive a Barbie fairy, that she named Fiona, from Mommy and Daddy.  She received several cute outfits and a new Lalaloopsy doll from Grandma and Grandpa.

Girl Summer Updates

 Nora took a nap in Alena's bed...after reading every book in the room.

The girls love watching videos on the Kindle together.  Their favorites: Elmo uses the potty and The Little Mermaid book.

Alena went to Bible School in Springville with Tillie.  She loved singing the songs and dancing to them.

Lily and Finn had a sleepover at our house.  We went out for ice cream, ran around the backyard screaming, and watched "Tangled."  It was a great time, although Alena had to sleep in our room after being too disruptive to her cousins.

 

Alena and Daddy went to princess night at the Kernels.  They got to meet 4 princesses, eat cupcakes, bounce in the bounce house, see fireworks, and watch a little of a baseball game.

Preschool

Alena's first day of preschool is today!  She is going to St. Matthew's this year and her teachers are Mrs. Bates and Mrs. Eberle.  She was very excited to go this morning and was out the door in record time.  When she got into the room she was a little intimidated, but she found a girl to play with and told us goodbye.  Daddy was surprised to see a man he went to elementary school with.  His son is in Alena's class!