Christmas Stuff 2009

So this year is different for us as we have had our first Holiday by ourselves. We've definitely missed everyone and did our best to fill the time with fun things. We tried to mix new traditions with the usual favorites.

This was our Christmas Candy Making Night. We invited our bishop's family and the missionaries. Everyone was sugared out and covered in chocolate. Such a fun night!

Elder Hitchcock dipping homemade caramels. And here's Ella dipping into the chocolate.

We made caramels, turtles, coconut haystacks, mint cookie balls, peanut butter and mint truffles, and last but not least, buttermints. Here's the story of the butter mints.

It started with a very pregnant Cyndi spreading the syrup on cool baking trays.

It went outside to have the cool on the pans as we tried to start balling the mints. I think first degree burns were had by all, even though we were all laughing.

We eventually worked it into balls and started to pull and here is the amazing result...

a complete catastrophe! So the butter mints didn't turn out but I think it will be the biggest memory maker of the evening. We couldn't stop laughing.

Here we are with the Nelsons. Love them! Our family away from family.

The Ward Christmas Party:
Stress of the Season, for Cyndi, that is. She was in charge of getting the entertainment for the evening. Some of the numbers were:

Austin and Riley playing Jingle Bells Fantasy Duet. They were awesome.
Cyndi and Jed sang "Baby it's Cold Outside" while a couple did a ballroom routine on the stage. We weren't planning on singing, but at last minute the couple who was going to got strep. Oh the joys of planning! (Not my favorite thing.) And no, Ella isn't playing the piano, but we're thinking about starting that soon.

Another number was our bishop, JJ, and the elders singing the chipmunk song with helium balloons for the full effect. I think this was the favorite of the evening, especially when the singers had to stop mid phrase to suck more helium. Everyone was laughing. These gentlemen were such good sports to do it. A definite memory maker of the night.

And of course...Mr. and Mrs Claus came to wish the ward a merry Christmas.

Here's Ella and Jed with Santa and Mrs. Claus. She's still scared of him, so this was as close as she got.

Christmas Eve:
We did something we've never done before and went out to eat for dinner. We went to Texas Roadhouse with the Browns and then acted out the Nativity with puppets while dad read Luke 2.

We also made homemade ToffyPop cookies for Santa and wrote a note for him and left out carrots for the reindeer. Ella was so cute about leaving a treat and signing her name with thank yous for Santa.
After that, we all cuddled up and watched a Christmas movie by the tree and think we'll add that as a family tradition for years to come.

Dad and Ella watching "A Muppet Christmas Carol."

Christmas morning was a relaxed, fun, time. Ella got "baby toys," and mom and dad got new Nike running shoes. We swear by the Nike Zoom Air. That morning we had crepes (Nordfelt tradition) and then had a big traditional Christmas dinner with some other families. Part of that dinner was a white elephant exchange where Jed gave an autographed picture of himself and this was the picture...

Signed "Go-Go Nordfelt."
It was the funniest gift of the night for sure.

It really was a fantastic day.

Halloween Activities

The Halloween Festivities started with:

Boo Zoo...the trick or treat with the Louisville Zoo.

Ella's favorite part of the whole thing was seeing the PINK flamingos.
It was near impossible to get her to do anything. Although, she did master saying thank you after getting a treat.

Cyndi's Halloween contribution...Zumba Thriller at 7 months pregnant!

I have the awesomest class that is up for anything.

So we did an ode to Michael as part of our October Zumba classes by learning "Thriller."


Ward Halloween Party.
Trunk or Treat and Chili Cook-off.
We actually won 2nd for the while chili.

Little Princess Ella as Belle with her friends.

Happy Halloween from our family!


Trick or Treating in the Neighborhood...

Ella and daddy walking the neighborhood.

One house was totally decked out!


Friend's Halloween Party at the Southwells...

This was our first attempt at Homemade Root beer. We learned that we don't need 15 lbs of dry ice. It makes for lots of smoke, but pretty soon you can't drink it because the whole thing will freeze over! We literally had to use an ice pick to open the valve. It actually took 2 days for the whole thing to finally melt! Oops!

Next was a very cool ghost cake whose eyes lit on fire!



The pumpkin pinata was fun and since Ella wouldn't participate, Jed got to swing instead.

Last and certainly not least was...
The undies breakthrough!!!
Ella has wanted to buy big girl undies, but never wanted to wear them until after dressing as Belle for Halloween night. This was a big moment for her.

Ella's 3!

It's a Princess Party!!!

Ella has known for months that she wanted a "yellow Bell" party.

She was sooo excited while we were making her cake. When we were finally done she just dropped her jaw and finally said, "Wow!!! She's beautiful."


Opening her princess presents.

Singing "Happy Birthday to me."

Showing us that she's 3!!!!
Ella, Ella, we love you!

Fall Festivities 2009

So Kentucky goes crazy with Fall Festivals...
Here are some that we've enjoyed so far.

First was the Bluegrass Balloon Festival:

This festival brings about 70 balloons together onto one field for various activities that range from glows, tethered rides, airplane shows, food, kids games and events, to bluegrass music and skydiving demos.

Here's the Harley Balloon and ya know, we just had to get a picture.
Jed's loving the trike. He's hoping it could be our next family vehicle.



The skydiving demo from the Army.

Cyndi loved seeing all the balloons and their gorgeous colors went lit up. Ella got a little nervous with the balloons firing all around her, but in the end, she saw how pretty it was.

Her favorite balloon was the birthday cake since her birthday was coming was in a few weeks and she thought the balloon cake was for her.


Then we went to the St. James Court Art Show:


This is one of the most popular Art Fairs/Shows in the country. There are literally 500+ different vendors with art that ranges from traditional to insane.
This Humpty Dumpty was a favorite. We were so sad that we didn't get more pics, but our camera battery died. Boo. Well, there's always next year and we definitely plan on going again.

Lastly is Colorfest held at Bernheim Forest:

This celebrates all things outdoors and all things Fall.
We loved painting a pumpkin and see great potential in the Pollack style for little Ella.


This hay maze was by far the favorite. We had to drag Ella away, she would have stayed in there the whole day.

There was a really neat music section that used percussion and then "found" instruments. Jed was master at the wind tube. Ella just thought it was a spy glass.


We all loved the little dock over the pond. The water was so green that we had a lot of fun with reflections.




We miss ya all and wish you could join us on these fun adventures.

Our Annoucement

It's official...the Jed,Cyndi and Ella Nordfelt family are expecting a baby boy January 15th.
I'm working on finding a scanner to upload the ultrasound pictures.

Until then, you can see the fun things mom and Ella have been working on welcome our baby boy.

These are animal friends, that I made from a Valori Wells pattern. Ella likes the lion.
There's also an accompanying quilt we'll be sewing soon. We'll post a picture when it's ready.