That's right folks. The rat tail/mullet was getting a little out of control and now it has a very special resting place in Ella's keepsake box. It was a big step for me. Just means our little girl is growing up even more.
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August 29, 2009
August 27, 2009
Bookworm(s)
If you know me, you know I love to read. I love books of any genre. Give me a classic novel, a horror (I happen to love serial killer books..fiction though!), Irish Lit (Maeve Binchey is brilliant), heck I will even dabble in the occasional romance novel (did I just admit to that?)...but give me a book and the time to read it and I am in my own world. My parents always told me to do whatever made me happy and that's why I chose to be an English Literature major. *I promise Mom and Dad to eventually use my degree again and return to teaching!*
Back to why I am posting about my love of reading...I think I passed it down to our daughter. I know what you all are thinking. "Oh every kid loves to read. Yours is no different." I am going to go out on a limb here and I do think Ella is a tad bit different. While other children are probably running around wild driving their parents insane, mine is quietly sitting reading her books. ALL DAY. Of course she takes her breaks to watch Sesame Street or Dora and for a meal here and there, but the majority of her playtime indoors is spent reading. Even our night time routine has been interrupted. It used to consist of her picking out two books and I would rock her, read to her and we would say our prayers, and I would put her in the crib. Now she runs to her room and says "Me. Bed. No read mommy." But she will sit with the 50 books in her bed and read every single one of them to herself until she falls asleep. Even though I am terribly sad she doesn't want me rocking her or reading to her (this won't last long!) I am thrilled she loves books as much as her mama does. Remember my baby shower? And everyone brought a book for Ella instead of a card? Very, very worth it. Thank you all:)
She has great taste in authors;) Oh and her hair is green from the tv screen. Thanks Nick JR.
A book train!
And this is how I find her every night. Don't worry after she falls asleep I clear it all out.
I mean, really? How could she possibly sleep with this stuff in there?
PS. The book on her chest is titled "I Love My Daddy"...say it with me "awwwwwww."
Back to why I am posting about my love of reading...I think I passed it down to our daughter. I know what you all are thinking. "Oh every kid loves to read. Yours is no different." I am going to go out on a limb here and I do think Ella is a tad bit different. While other children are probably running around wild driving their parents insane, mine is quietly sitting reading her books. ALL DAY. Of course she takes her breaks to watch Sesame Street or Dora and for a meal here and there, but the majority of her playtime indoors is spent reading. Even our night time routine has been interrupted. It used to consist of her picking out two books and I would rock her, read to her and we would say our prayers, and I would put her in the crib. Now she runs to her room and says "Me. Bed. No read mommy." But she will sit with the 50 books in her bed and read every single one of them to herself until she falls asleep. Even though I am terribly sad she doesn't want me rocking her or reading to her (this won't last long!) I am thrilled she loves books as much as her mama does. Remember my baby shower? And everyone brought a book for Ella instead of a card? Very, very worth it. Thank you all:)
Ella reading to her buddy, Big Bird
She has great taste in authors;) Oh and her hair is green from the tv screen. Thanks Nick JR.
A book train!
And this is how I find her every night. Don't worry after she falls asleep I clear it all out.
I mean, really? How could she possibly sleep with this stuff in there?
PS. The book on her chest is titled "I Love My Daddy"...say it with me "awwwwwww."
August 25, 2009
The many faces of Ella
Check out Ella's many personalities. She's a real trip this kid. Gotta love her!
August 23, 2009
Days of Summer
Our fabulous, but tiring days of summer are slowly coming to an end. We've managed to keep very busy everyday and to be honest, I can't believe it's almost September! The busier we were, the quicker the days went by and the closer we are to heading to South Korea! Here are just a few fun photos from this summer that I never got a chance to post. Enjoy! PS if they are a bit fuzzier than usual, they came from the Iphone!
On a lunch date with Johnny Cole at our favorite place Rosa's
Our very first RODEO! Ella loved watching the horses and cows!
Look at all of the soldiers in the background! What a sight!
We went on a buffalo hunt with Michelle and this is what we encountered. I was TERRIFIED. It was in arm's reach of my car.
Another shot of the giant beast!
She learned to play the drums this summer.
She realized mama's shoes are way more fun than her own:)
She got her first black eye twirling in the living room and falling headfirst into the corner of our coffee table. Ouch. She's tough. Still smiling!
And mama was able to kick back, relax and have one too many drinks at a wedding this summer!
Story Hour at the public library--more importantly--look at her adorable outfit and ponytail:)
On a lunch date with Johnny Cole at our favorite place Rosa's
Our very first RODEO! Ella loved watching the horses and cows!
Look at all of the soldiers in the background! What a sight!We went on a buffalo hunt with Michelle and this is what we encountered. I was TERRIFIED. It was in arm's reach of my car.Another shot of the giant beast!Ella attending her very first Quinceanera! Happy 15th birthday Miss Liz!
She learned to play the drums this summer.
She realized mama's shoes are way more fun than her own:)
She got her first black eye twirling in the living room and falling headfirst into the corner of our coffee table. Ouch. She's tough. Still smiling!
And mama was able to kick back, relax and have one too many drinks at a wedding this summer!
August 19, 2009
I miss...
waking up next to you.
the excitement in Ella's face when she knows you are home.
the way Riley "hugs" you.
sharing junk food with you, instead of eating it all myself.
knowing I can rely on you when something breaks or the Jeep decides not to start anymore.
having you here on weekends to be lazy with me.
you playing with my hair to put me to sleep at night.
YOU.
You've missed...
Ella peeing on the potty for the first time.
Hearing her say I love you.
Ella learning to tap dance like Happy Feet &
galloping around the house singing 'Skip Skip Skip to my Lou'.
Her mimicking me applying lotion and deodorant and stealing my high heels to wear on her little feet.
Seeing me cry...a lot.
Even though we are 33.3% done with this tour, I am so ready to have you home. We are so ready to have you home. Love you babe.
August 17, 2009
LOL
That's the name of the place we go to for some indoor fun. Actually we have only been there one time, but it won't be our last. The kids had a blast and they have miniature bowling which Ella couldn't get enough of. Too bad instead of rolling the ball down the lane, she KICKED it down the lane. And it's a pretty heavy ball to be kicking. ( I guess she doesn't have her mama's mad bowling skillzzz) She won 200+ tickets from playing the games there and even picked out her own prizes...a snake, a slinky, a 1990's cheetah slap bracelet, lollipops and bubbles in a guitar container. Girl's got taste, huh?
Starts off good...
Frustration sets in and she decides to kick it down the alley.
Looks like she might knock a few pins down!
Ella's first simulated roller coaster ride! Check out the video
Ella admiring that cool kid;)
Starts off good...
Frustration sets in and she decides to kick it down the alley.
Looks like she might knock a few pins down!
Ella's first simulated roller coaster ride! Check out the video My brave little fish
Lately Ella has quite the obsession with slides. Waterslides to be exact. We took her to the local waterpark recently while my cousin Michelle was visiting here and we couldn't get her off the slides (or out of the wave pool!). She would go down them and say "weeeeeeeeeeee" the whole way and as soon as we hit the water she would scream "again, again!" Thank goodness I had Michelle with me to help out because I'm too old to be climbing a million steps 30,000 times to go down a few slides;) I don't have any photos at the waterpark (shock right? They don't allow cameras there!), but I did take quite a few of our most recent trip to the lake. They have two pretty big water slides there and Ella didn't even hesitate to go down them (on my lap of course). But you can ask Michelle how hesitant I was to take her down them! For some reason, my almost two year old is WAY braver than her almost 29 year old mama;)
Please check out the photos from our day at the lake! Ella had a great time with her sweet cousin! We were so blessed to have her here for three weeks helping me out. Click here for more pictures!
Please check out the photos from our day at the lake! Ella had a great time with her sweet cousin! We were so blessed to have her here for three weeks helping me out. Click here for more pictures!
August 16, 2009
An almost sleepover
Just wanted to share a few photos of Ella and her buddy Johnny. His parents had a military ball to go to the other weekend so I had the privilege of keeping my eye on him. They really are such good friends and I can't even fathom the thought of saying goodbye to this family when we leave in the spring.
Ella is so totally cool with her mohawk
Here Ella, let me get that shampoo out of your hair:)
A few things to notice in this picture-1. I fed them marshmallows after the bath and right before bed. (such a great babysitter!)2. Riley is SO desiring those lil 'mallows;) 3. Is my daughter playing footsie?
Ummm yeah, she's playing footsie.
I promise they didn't stare too long this close up!
See? They stepped away from the tv!
It's bathtime!
Ella is so totally cool with her mohawk
Here Ella, let me get that shampoo out of your hair:)
A few things to notice in this picture-1. I fed them marshmallows after the bath and right before bed. (such a great babysitter!)2. Riley is SO desiring those lil 'mallows;) 3. Is my daughter playing footsie?
Ummm yeah, she's playing footsie.
I promise they didn't stare too long this close up!
See? They stepped away from the tv!
August 13, 2009
A "pwane" mommy!
Of course there are no direct flights from JFK to OKC (that would make traveling with Ella entirely too easy) so at the Minneapolis airport they have this adorable little indoor play area. It has a GIANT airplane and an air traffic control tower. Ella loved playing there and thank goodness my cousin Michelle was there watching her so I could just sit back and relax. A nice mommy break:)
August 10, 2009
All good things must come to an end...
July 21-We absolutely loved having our man back in our arms, but of course we knew it was just a temporary...albeit way too short of a visit. Before he left though, we (and by we I mean me and my MIL) dragged him to visit the city. For some reason I love the chaos of it all. But this trip was different. It was raining on and off and we didn't have much time to see the sights, but I still loved going. I really just wanted to take Ella to FAO Schwartz. It turns out Ella likes NYC and the chaos, too. She was smiling the whole time we were walking around. It was fun to watch her explore a new place and get all excited at the loud noises and the crazy amount of people. Maybe one day she will take after her G-Ma Don Don and work there!
Ella and Granny P being silly at the Empire State Building. We went there for lunch.
Very overcast/rainy day in the city...You couldn't even see the top of the building.
Family pic in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
In FAO Schwartz and Ella was quite the happy little girl.
She found a "Riley" doggie and had to have it;)
Best seat in the house!
Playing on the giant piano with Uncle Matt!
Taking the Long Island RR into the city-Ella's first train ride!
Ella and Granny P being silly at the Empire State Building. We went there for lunch.
Very overcast/rainy day in the city...You couldn't even see the top of the building.
Family pic in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
In FAO Schwartz and Ella was quite the happy little girl.
She found a "Riley" doggie and had to have it;)
Best seat in the house!
Playing on the giant piano with Uncle Matt!
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