A Historical Tour

This weekend we drove downtown to visit the Indiana History Museum.  I know that doesn't sound like the most entertaining way to spend the day.  Are you asking yourselves, "How in the world were they able to talk the girls into spending the entire afternoon at the history museum?"

Well... add some amazing neighbors and over 50 beautifully decorated Christmas trees and the girls were all in!

The museum was beautifully decorated for Christmas - the trees unbelievable! The themes were wide-ranged: food, sports teams, circus, books, and much more.

Jen and I were busy checking out some trees when we turned the corner and saw this:

This was an interactive Super Mario Bros. tree.  Ryan couldn't resist taking his hand at the classic video game. Such a kid at heart!

The kids were also asked to join in some Christmas carols.  They all happily obliged, except Sullivan.  She was too shy to step in front of the mic!

Sullivan might have been too shy to step in front of the mic, but she was all smiles and energy when she found this sign...

The kids got to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus....

But the highlight of their trip to the museum might have been this...

It's kind of hard to tell because they are blocking the infamous lamp, but one tree (and area around it) was the Christmas Story theme - the lamp, the fireplace, the BB gun, and obviously the pink rabbit suit that Ralphie gets for Christmas.

I think my little rabbits are cuter than Ralphie was in his PJs...

While it doesn't sound like a glamorous way to spend the afternoon, all of us were MORE than surprised and pleased by the museum.  We didn't cover nearly everything that it had to offer and can't wait to go back again in the near future.  Chalk it up for a successful and fun afternoon!

Santa

The developer of our neighborhood was kind enough to bring Santa to our neighborhood again this year.  Last year was the best - authentic Santa, no lines!  So when we knew he was coming again, we were all in!  

Except.  Except Quinn was not so in this year.  (Sigh).  She was afraid she was going to see someone she knew.  But after she realized that the neighborhood Santa sighting wasn't probably going to have high traffic she changed her mind and was ready to see him.  (Yay!)

We went to visit Santa and there was absolutely no wait.  Not a single soul waiting to see the Jolly Old Fella.  Thank goodness for Quinn!

Sullivan asked Santa for Legos and Converse Shoes.

Quinn asked Santa for Legos and Ugg Boots.

My two babies with Mr. Claus...

It was so great to see Santa.  We look forward to his visit in a handful of days!

Career Day...

It was 'career day' at Sullivan's school on Friday.  They were allowed to dress up as their future profession of choice.

May I present to you, Miss Sullivan Grace, the gymnast!

The weather hindered her true outfit, but going to school in just a leotard when there is snow on the ground just wasn't going to cut it!

Old Man Winter

Old Man Winter arrived in Indiana yesterday. The girls woke up to our first official snowfall and they couldn't have been any more excited.

Here is Quinn getting ready to head to the bus stop.  

She had a little extra pep in her step...

The small amount of snow that we got has all but melted.  But before it did the girls made sure they got out and rolled around in it and had some fun! With snow forecast for tonight and tomorrow, it looks like they will have another opportunity to have some wintery fun!

A Designer Among Us

Sullivan's school holds a design contest every year for the cover of their yearbook.  The paperwork came home last week for the contest and Sullivan was quick to start designing.

She contemplated for a while about what to draw and finally settled on a roadrunner, her school's mascot.  She made several attempts at drawing a roadrunner, but she didn't have much success.  Feeling defeated, she almost gave up on entering the design contest.

We discussed what other options she had, and being that it is Indiana's bicentennial this year, she decided to incorporate Indiana in her drawing.

Here is the amazing designer with her equally amazing cover...

Here is the cover up close...

I love how she put her school at the heart of Indiana!  

Now she has to wait to see if her design is picked or not.  Whether or not it is picked for the yearbook, Sullivan's design is already a winner in my eyes!

2016 Ornaments

I've had this year's ornaments bought for quite some time, but felt like I should probably wait until December to post them.  Here are the girls' ornaments for 2016....

Quinn

This signifies the amazing opportunity that Quinn got to train a dolphin this year at the zoo!

Quinn has taken a HUGE liking to Star Wars this year.  She loved the first movie she went to and can't wait for the next one to come out soon!

Sullivan

Sullivan had a huge milestone this year.  She lost her first tooth (and second, and third)!  I tried to find a tooth fairy ornament just like Quinn had a few years back, but the lady no longer makes them.  That meant that I had to take matters into my own hands!

This ornament signifies Sullivan's OBSESSION with rabbits.  She loves rabbits.  Not sure why, but she does.  So this ornament is very fitting for her.

Quinn and Sullivan 

Q and S are totally obsessed with emojis.  I know it's all the rage right now and Quinn and Sullivan are hook, line and sinker.

2016's picture ornaments...

Gosh darn, this year went fast. Lots of amazing memories, for sure!

Number 9

The tooth fairy has taken up permanent residence at the Pooley house lately.  Sullivan started the trend with her few lost teeth.  And this week Quinn joined in.  

It had been about a year and a half since she lost her last tooth, and in all honesty, I think Quinn forgot what losing a tooth was all about.  She asked me to pull it out, as it was wiggly and driving her crazy every time she ate.  I agreed to do it, but knew it might not be a simple task.  (Insert some nervousness and anxiety from a certain 10 year old).

With lots of determination and bravery, the tooth finally came out.  Now this sweet girl has a new smile....

The tooth fairy came and visited last night.  She left her usual $2 reward, folded into some type of origami pyramid and cube.  I have a feeling it won't be long at all before she is back to collect another Pooley tooth.

Thanksgiving

We are so extremely thankful that Nana and Papa chose to come spend Thanksgiving with us this year.  It was quite the departure from our usual trip back to SD, but it was a wonderful weekend.

I had a couple of amazing helpers that were eager to bake pies and prepare the food.

We enjoyed a fabulous meal with all the fixins'.  A huge shout out to my master helpers and to Nana,  who was the Thanksgiving chef extraordinaire.

We managed to sprinkle in a few other activities while Nana and Papa were here.  

Quinn was SO SO SO excited to shop on Black Friday. (She is her Auntie Mer's child through and through - except for the minor fact that she came out of me!)  So us ladies obliged Quinn and did a little bit of shopping - nothing crazy.

We toured the Lilly House - former home to Eli Lilly.  It was decorated beautifully for Christmas.  Outside the Lilly house, there was this very unique, very cool looking tree made of toys.

We went for some delicious ice cream...

We also went to the Pacers basketball game...

While all of those activities were amazing, the very best part of the weekend was just spending time with Nana and Papa.  We are truly blessed to have them in our lives.

Sullivan's #3...

It took forever and a day for Sullivan to lose her first tooth.  She was nearly one of the last in her class to lose a tooth.  Shortly thereafter, tooth #2 popped out.  

Now it appears as though they are popping out like crazy.  Sullivan Grace lost tooth #3 this weekend, and another one is on its way very soon!

Isn't that the cutest smile in the world!?

The Tooth Fairy visited last night, and left a sweet $2 reward folded in the shape of a dress with a gold Sacajawea coin as the head.  

The Tooth Fairy also wrote a little note and is hoping that Sullivan pulls out her other wiggly front tooth in the next couple of weeks.  She so desperately wants to hear Sullivan sing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!" (And so do I!)

The Cutest Thing...

You can't beat a good friendship - the kind of friendship that mirrors more of a sibling quality than friendship.  That friendship was apparent this afternoon.

Jack came to the door after school  asking to play with Sullivan.  I explained that she only had a short bit to play before we had to pick Quinn up at school.  So off she went to play outside for as many minutes as she could soak in.

When it was time to call her in, I stepped outside and saw the sweetest thing...

This picture, sadly, doesn't do it justice.  Sullivan was riding on the back of the tricycle pedaled by Jack.  They were deep in conversation and having the best time.

I couldn't resist taking a close up.  The two of them so happy. So content.  So comfortable riding a WAY to small tricycle up and down the block together.

That is true friendship.  

School Pictures...

Here is this year's edition of the girls' school pictures.  

As usual, they are incredibly fabulous and the girls look stunning.

Quinn - 5th grade

Sullivan - 2nd grade

We've Got the Itch...

It's beginning to feel a lot like....

CHRISTMAS!!!!!

That's right, y'all.  We've got the Christmas itch around here.  The girls started to decorate their trees in their room last weekend, and I will most likely be following suit this weekend.

I can hardly wait.  

'Tis the Season to be Jolly (and jolly we are)!

Superhero Powers

A short while back, Sullivan's school had a 'superhero day' as a school spirit event.  They were told to wear their favorite superhero costume or clothes, or if they would prefer, create their own superhero.

I kind of spaced the whole day really.  It didn't make my radar of things that needed to be attended to.  Until.  Until the morning of the 'superhero' day comes and my sweet 7 year old asks what she is wearing for said event. 

Um.  (long pause)   Well.  (sigh)  I'm not sure.  (ugh)

I would have loved to go into her closet, or any closet in my house for that matter, and pull out something superhero-ish.  But being that my girls aren't a fan of that genre, we were not in luck.

So I pulled out my creativity skills, and we came up with:

Cupcake Girl...

We turned her apron into a cape and made a cupcake to go on her wand.

What is Cupcake Girl's superhero powers? 

Spreading sweetness to everyone, of course. 

But Sullivan already had that one in the bag before she became Cupcake Girl.

Sweet thing!

Sullivan couldn't have been more thrilled with the costume.  Crisis averted.  Thank goodness!

Randomness...

Just a bit of randomness coming to you from the past couple of weeks!

These besties can't seem to get enough of each other.  They are forever asking for a sleepover or to get together.  You gotta love a good friendship.

Quinn went to Maddy's cross country race a while back.  

I was told that Quinn made the very best cheerleader.  

A short while ago, heaven arrived for Quinn and Sullivan.  They had been asking for awhile to go to the library and apply for their own library card  Well for this reason or that, it never happened.  Finally, the day arrived when we were able to fulfill that wish.  

Heaven. Absolute bliss.  A dream come true.

And the check-out machine at the end wasn't half bad either!

It's been awhile since Sullivan has given us a crazy sleeping position.  It used to be second nature to see her in all sorts of goofy positions.  So it took me off guard when I walked in and saw her like this.

And finally, Ryan and I attended Quinn's conference a week or so ago.  As a side note, it went fabulous and her teacher only had positive things to say about her.  We couldn't be more proud of her accomplishments - both academically but as a friend and a person of good character too!

As we walked through the halls, I noticed that there was a post-it note randomly hanging on someone's locker.  Intrigued, I walked closer to take a look at what it said.

It says, "You're really smart!  Have a nice day!"

Instantly, I knew it was Quinn's handwriting.  I told Ryan that it was Quinn's handwriting, but he wasn't so sure that she had written the note.  So... when we got home from her conference we verified with Quinn and sure enough, it was her writing!

Apparently, she just wrote a note to another classmate as a random act of kindness.

Melt.my.heart!