Christmas is coming!

Saturday morning the rain drops gave way to snow flakes. They weren't the first ones of the fall/ winter, those were the day before Ellie's birthday, but these actually amounted to something! I hope this isn't a sign of a bad winter...
Saturday morning we met the cousins at Kennilworth Mall for our annual visit to the train gardens and visit with Santa followed by pizza. It really is a fun morning!
Ellie posing by the trains.
Erica, Ellie, and Andrew ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the circus display and Thomas train.
Seeing Santa.
Well, as you can see, this didn't go so well. She was so excited about seeing Santa! Ellie had her wish list down and was bouncing off the walls until it was her turn! She wouldn't talk to the big man or even smile. However, she did look at him once or twice and even let him touch her hand. That was a HUGE turn around from last year!
By the mail box to the north pole.
The three stooges... Andrew, Ellie, and Erica.
Two goof-balls acting silly after lunch.

Ellie-ism of the weekend: They are breaking my nerves!

The silver bullet on Saturday afternoon.
Ellie and Schatzie eating some snow on Saturday afternoon.
Shelter me!!
Attacking Margie with snow balls.
Margie and Ellie pose for a shot.
Enjoying the snow...
... and the hot chocolate afterward! Thanks Papoo.
Meme and the princesses taking a break and staying warm!

Sunday Ellie and I went down to Arlington, VA for a tree trimming party. On the way home we were talking about clothes and what she was going to wear to her Christmas Program later this week. I had asked if she wanted to wear a skirt and she told me no. That seemed odd coming form Ellie, the girl that loves dresses and skirts. But then she started telling me why...
"The kids at school were laughing at another girl at school because she wore a skirt w/ her pants and it hurt her feeling. Everyone was laughing but me. I told her that she looked beautiful and the other kids were being mean. So, I don't want to wear a skirt."
I think she got past her 'fear' of skirts, she wore a dress today but still, even if this is a made up story, I was so proud of her good heart!