A little of this and a little of that....

It's been a few weeks, but here is what we have been up to! A little out of order, but all you want to see if the pictures....right!?!

Merry Christmas! I love that we get to have a 10 foot tree, I have always wanted a big, tall tree. Here she is in all her glory!

Last weekend was the Kiemel/Rueber Christmas. It is one full house with 10 adults and 9 kids! Courtney enjoyed reading to Elle!

Grandma Maureen and Papa Coach spoiled the kids as always!

What did Elle get you ask....an over-sized Pottery Barn chair! (among a heap of clothing!) She loves her chair.

She reads in her chair, doodles in her chair...

and has figured out how to tip it over and use it as a trampoline!

Elle must have made the "nice" list, because St. Nick made a stop at our house.

She enjoyed opening her presents.

And had both partially opened at one time. Poor girl didn't know what hit her first thing in the morning...tired girlie.

She L.O.V.E.S. her Magna-Doodle.

Elle enjoys "helping" around the house. How warm and cozy on a cold winter day, fresh warm clothes straight from the dryer...well I guess still in the dryer!

She will soon learn that it is easier to fold the laundry once it is out of the dryer. Funny girl!

Tis the season for an advent calendar. Elle L.O.V.E.S. to open all of the doors looking for treats. We have to only put them in on the day otherwise she would have eaten them ALL already! Two M&M's in a door and she thinks it is heaven!!!

Random cheese face I found on the camera....seriously TOO CUTE!

O.M.G. All I can say is what a goof!!!

Look at my new trick mom! Dad taught me how to ride Paisley!!!

**Take another look...David is holding onto to Paisley so she can't get away. Poor dog!**

Our first snow. It was so pretty! Elle and I headed out early to shovel the driveway before Daddy got home from work!

What is this stuff mom???

She is always willing to pitch in and help!

Elle, could you please put the snow on the side of the driveway????

She didn't last long shoveling, and was off on an adventure...

but didn't get to far! Darn marshmallow man suit and snow, and a little girl can't get away too fast! :)

And then to try and get back up with all of that stuff on!

**Insert a grunting sound, followed by a scream for help!**

She was bound and determined to get to the back yard.

We made it and then went for a winter swing!

Before everyone got the sidewalk shoveled, we took a winter walk down the street. Elle loved it and didn't want to get out of the sled!

Hope you enjoyed the update. Next one will be a Christmas marathon!

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!
Love,
The Ruebers

REPORT CARDS

No update this week....report cards are due and I need to get back to them!

Check in next week!

Tis the Season For Family and Traditions!

I L.O.V.E. this time of year. We are a family with many traditions and this time of year brings out the best in us! I love spending time with family and friends and of course eating delicious food for the next month!!! We had a busy weekend with family, here is a sneak peak!

A few randoms first...

Elle is definitely and "outdoor" kid, any chance she gets she wants to be outdoors. I foresee backing the cars out of the garage and letting her run and ride on toys to burn some energy this winter. Lately she wants to sit in anything you will push her in. Stroller, wagon, Burley, cozy coupe, high chair (yes, I said high chair - ask Grampa how his back is doing?!?!)...anything!! Elle was on a hunt for something, not sure what.

Elle was "helping" us get ready to host Thanksgiving. She carried up 2 rolls of paper towel (so did I) and when we got upstairs, she tried to put all four rolls in her cart. Think she has been to the store a few times??

Elle will only keep pony tails in her hair, clips she will pull right out. But...one night, it was fun to put ALL of her clips in her hair. She kept asking me to put more in....

then, she pulled them out and wanted them in Gramma's hair...I think it is a good look on Gramma!?!?!

Thanksgiving morning, we had a little bit of business to take care of. I had to clean and Elle had to paint....

Two handed works better than just one!!!

Why you ask did I let Elle paint the morning we were hosting thanksgiving....well we made this adorable hand print center piece for one of our tables. It is the teacher coming out in me! :)

Our latest tradition is hosting Thanksgiving. With Dave's wacky work schedule, it is easiest for him to sleep in his own bed and wake up and walk up stairs to eat!

We had 10 adults and 6 kids (5 years and under!) With the newest member making his appearance. Easton Maximus Rueber was only seven days old for his first Thanksgiving! Congrats Jeff, Sue, Brock and Aftin on your newest member of the family.

Asthon, Aiden, Uncle Adam and Gramma were chillin' on the couch before dinner. Look how healthy and happy those two little (not really little, they weigh as much as Elle) boys are!

Aftin, Brock and Elle enjoyed cooking a Thanksgiving meal in Elle's room. Brock is a real chef and L.O.V.E.S to cook!

See, here are the two masters a work, making gravy. The gravy was delicious....

Dave and Grampa carving our 25 pound turkey!

Ashton and Aiden enjoying a post dinner conversation with Gramma and Grampa.

After dinner, the kids headed downstairs to play. It was great, while the kids played, the adults got things cleaned-up upstairs.

While all you crazy people are out braving the crowds at 4am, we head to St. Paul around 10am and do our own retail therapy. A tradition that we started four years ago. We hit a bunch of little boutiques, enjoy a yummy lunch and buy stuff that we really don't need!

Another tradition that has changed a little in the last few years is Christmas tree cutting. We used to go "back home" trek through the woods (literally, it was a national forest) and find the perfect Charlie Brown tree! Now, we go to a tree farm...with kids is MUCH easier than walking 2 miles through the woods!!

Elle got all bundled up in her winter gear and was ready for the hunt. Notice the nice "cheese" face.

We enjoyed the wagon ride out to the trees...again cheese face!!

Some of the luckiest grand-kids - they are SPOILED (rotten) by these two!

Elle is very independent (just like her mommy!) and was off to find her own tree....

but spent quite a bit of her time on the ground. The uneven terrain wasn't easy for someone with such short legs!

Elle is such a good helper...she helped cut the tree down!

We did visit Santa and Mrs. Claus While we were at the tree farm, but Elle did NOT like him...and the picture wasn't the best. Hopefully we will have more success when we try again at the mall...

And...she helped decorate the tree.

We are thankful for all of our wonderful family and friends. We are so lucky to have all of you in our lives!

Happy Holidays!

No Pictures...

So I didn't post last week because there was only ONE new picture on the camera!! Bad mommy... Well this week there was only ONE more picture - and only one is "blog worthy". So this will be a blog without pictures!

A blog without pictures - okay I will add one at the end...

Our little lady does so many things that remind me she isn't a baby anymore...

1. Elle now sits in a booster seat at the table. We put the high chair away about a month ago.
2. She doesn't want to snuggle/rock before bed. A little sip of milk and she points to her bed!
3. Elle is signing more and more. She is able to sign: more, all done, please, milk, eat and thank you.
4. We are still waiting for a huge language explosion, but we hear new words all the time.
5. She understands about 90-95% of what you say to her - it is amazing!
6. She can put her own hat on and loves to try and put socks/shoes on.
   
7. LOVES to brush her teeth.
8. Elle loves to dry her hair with a blow drier.
9. She can reach things on the table now.
10. Elle can climb onto anything! The dinning room table was a new one this week!
    

Elle is very into mimicking sounds. If you sneeze, she will pretend to sneeze. If you cough, she will cough (and cover her mouth!). The funniest one was yesterday, she was playing in her cozy coupe and passed a little gas - YES she tried to mimic the sound with her mouth...silly girl!

I will stop boring you with typing - all you want is pictures and I promise to get the camera out more this week. It is a short week for me only Monday and Tuesday!! Yahoo! We are hosting Thanksgiving again this year (our 3 year in a row). I have a 25 pound turkey in the fridge...Yum, Yum! Can't wait to pig out on some good food!

Here is the only blog worthy picture. Elle, Paisley and I took a winter walk yesterday. She insisted on going, so we made a quick trip to the corner and back! Brrr...it was cold and wet! The wagon does NOT go so well in the snow, there was ice on the tires and by the time we got home, I swear they weren't turning anymore!

All you Facebook followers....I broke down and put up a few Christmas decorations today!!! Dave just shook his head...I just couldn't wait any longer!

Happy Halloween!

3 weeks in a row....must be a record!!!

Happy Halloween!

Elle didn't have a clue what was going on, but thought it was pretty great having a big bowl of candy to dig through!

The theme of the year continued...Our little "lady" was (the most adorable) ladybug!

I'm outta here...

Come on Dad, I'm ready to go...

Elle L.O.V.E.D. passing out candy, she would have rather passed candy out than gone door to door to get her own. It was too cute!

Time to turn our light out and visit the neighbors. Elle lasted about 7 houses and that was enough as Mom and Dad would be consuming the candy this year....

Counting and sorting her candy...okay maybe just looking - someday...

We tried to get a picture with the neighbors - Avery and Olivia.

Daddy is there anyone at the door???

Too much candy, no just those darn eye teeth - Darn things need to break through already!

Check out these nice leggings...Daddy's socks!?!? Silly girl.

more leggings!

Elle and I had a fun morning Saturday. Instead of grocery shopping and laundry (like most weekends) Elle and I made a trip to the Children's Museum. I was nervous that it would CRAZY, but it wasn't too bad. Elle just loves the museum....

Picking veggies from the garden,

sorting veggies,

turning on the lights so see the animals,

she thought this was a trampoline and was trying to jump!

The car is always a hit...

Elle was passing the money holder back and forth with another little girl and was LOVING IT....

Check out that smile! She was having sooo much fun!



It was so nice to take a break from the normal weekend "to do list".

Not sure why it it underlining what I am writing and I can't turn it off...