A Memorable Weekend

We had a full weekend!  I fell asleep sitting up in the chair earlier which NEVER happens...I guess that means I am still recuperating from all of the fun we had!

Our weekend started off with a play date at Elam's house!  Ellie loved his trampoline and would have stayed all day to jump if I would have let her.  Kim had lunch for us and we got to tour their new house.  It was a fun day!

Later on we let Ellie swim and then we headed to Nankipoo for Aunt Aileen's 94th birthday party.  It was almost like a family reunion...lots of fun!  I hope I look this good when I am 94.

 Ellie colored and played with her new Slinky that Granny brought.  She was really good for just a short car nap on the drive down.

Ellie was having so much fun with DeDe and Granny that she practically begged to go home with them.  They of course said SURE so Don and I loaded up her carseat and off she went home with them!  She had no clothes and just a few diapers but I am sure they made do.  I know everyone enjoyed their time with her and we appreciate them letting her stay!

Whenever Ellie is gone we always wonder what to to do with ourselves, although we never have much trouble coming up with something.  We went to dinner Saturday night and headed to the lake for some fun on Sunday.  We really enjoyed our mini-vacation after the crazy few weeks we have had.

We have lots of house showings this week so we have been busy cleaning and trying to keep the house in order.  We have practically lived outside lately (which is nice, keeps the inside somewhat in shape) and tonight we let Ellie swim again.  She was really being a ham so I broke out my camera and took a few pictures.  She is such a funny, silly girl!

She's going to hate me for this one...

Hope you had a great holiday weekend!

Last Day of School

Today is Ellie's last day of MDO at Englewood.  I am a little sad.  Her experience there has been so much more than I thought it would be!  She has learned so much, become so independent and made the sweetest little friends.  Last night we were playing outside and cut some hydrangeas from our bush.  She was being the sweetest little helper (as always) and every time we would cut a stem she would name a kid in her class.  She wanted to take flowers to everyone today!  She has such a sweet and giving little heart.  I hope it always stays that way.

She said she was going to give Ms.Christy and Ms. Cindy (her teachers) and all of her friends a big hug today.  She talks about them all the time.  I know she is too young to realize she won't see them much anymore.  I  also know when we move she will have TONS of kids her age to play with all the time.  It's just a little bittersweet.  I guess this is the first of many changes we have ahead of us!

Anyway, on with the pictures!  I love comparing the first day to the last day.

August 2011:

And this morning, May 22nd.  Her last day!

I think the biggest change is obviously her hair!  It has really grown.  She also looks like she grew a foot!  Time sure does fly.

Quick update

Ellie is getting SO big.  I feel like I haven't updated on her in forever, so here is a quick one to hold everyone over!

First off, we are full on potty training!  Her teachers at MDO asked if they could start taking her potty with a couple other little girls in her class.  I OF COURSE said suuuure!  This has been the biggest help.  I knew she was ready, but I was just putting it off.  I know watching the other kids do it is what made it "click" for her.  She is doing SO well and we are so proud.  Yes, it is exhausting  and YES my laundry loads have increased even more, but it was time and I am pleased with how easy it has been.  Miss smarty pants now loves to go potty EVERYWHERE.  Target, restaurants, you name it.  She's also figured out she can prolong naps/bedtime by saying "I'm wet" "gotta go potty!".  Stinker:)

She talks away like a little magpie.  Her newest phrases:

• "Mommy, where you are? where you are?"
• "I'm a girl, I'm Ellie"
• "Hey! What's your name?"
• "I can do it by myself"
• "I'm not tired, no nap!"
• "No, I don't want it!" (we hear this and "I can't" waaaaaay too often)
• "That's gross" (my fault)
• "Oh my gosh!" (once again, my fault! but she knows it's not nice so she quickly changes to "oh my goodness!")
• "I go to school and play with my friends?" 
• "Can we go to the park, playground, "chick-away", storytime, Sonic drink"?  Yes, she's rotten.

The other night during her bedtime prayers, she thanked God for our entire family (naming each one!) and then thanked Him for Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White and Sleeping Bootie.  Too cute:)

My favorite way to describe her right now is that she is just very TWO.  She doesn't throw many fits, but she is definitely strong willed.  She will collapse in the middle of a store or parking lot and just refuse to walk.  Time out is still a work in progress.  She is into spitting everything out right now and it drives.me.crazy.  She has also started getting a few spankings here and there (more like gentle slaps on the leg).  It hurts me to do it and I don't know how much it is helping but she NEEDS discipline.  Any tips in that department are welcome!

Still loves books, princesses, Dora, Barney, Caillou and Bubble Guppies.  She is really into "pretty hair", "pretty dress" "pretty bow".  It melts my heart when she says "mommy your shirt is so pretty or "your hair looks pretty!"  Even this morning with no make up and an Orange Beach t-shirt she told me my shirt was "so pretty, I love the colors in your shirt!".  She is also forming an opinion on colors and kinds of shoes she wears and what color bow matches the best.  I guess she IS my child!

Her eating habits still aren't the greatest but they have probably improved somewhat.  She has had entirely too many fruit snacks and cups of chocolate milk during this whole potty training process.  Whatever works, right?

She's our sweet, funny, loving little stinker!  I just can't get enough of her and her little personality.  I could just eat her up!

Mother's Day

Today has been a great day!  We started off at church and then kept the 2 year old nursery.  We had between 11 and 13 kids in our room at one time.  It was wild!  Ellie came and played in our room and was SO good!  It is so much fun to watch her interact with other kids.

After church, Don sent me out to get a pedicure!  He laid Ellie down for a nap and even picked up around the house and cut the grass.  When I came home, there were cupcakes and the sweetest card waiting on me.  I was impressed!

Tonight Don grilled me the yummiest dinner and made all of my favorites!  It was delicious.

I had visions of this amazing picture all dressed up with E before church but once again that didn't happen.  This was as good as it gets this year.  I just love her so much.  And her sweet Daddy for making my day so special!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mommy's out there!

Are you ready for some football?

Don's team is in full Spring Practice mode!  He has been burning up the roads traveling back and forth a lot the last few weeks so we decided to tag along last night!  At this rate, we may be shoving him into a Prius for the good gas mileage...ha!

My catholic friend Cathy has suggested burying a St. Joseph statue in the yard to help sell our house.  I am seriously considering it!

Weekend Fun

We've had a fun and full weekend!

Friday night BB, Mammie and Eric came to visit and took us to Cracker Barrel.  Ellie had a big time playing checkers with Eric.  She may or may not have left Cracker Barrel with her own set of checkers by the end of the night;)  And please look at the PIGTAILS!  So cute!

Saturday DeDe came to visit and we went to "Tea with Miss Tennessee"!  We talked it up big to Ellie all morning and told her she was going to meet a Princess.  She was so excited but turned a little shy once she got up close.

The Jackson Service League put on this fun event and we had a great time!  They served lunch, made princess picture frames, had their picture taken with Miss TN, got her autograph and so much more.  It was a fun, girly day!

After naps, we headed to Asahi to help celebrate Matti's 12th birthday!  Poor Ellie was NOT a fan of the hibachi chefs or the big fire they set off before the started cooking but she perked up as soon as she saw birthday cake!  Thanks for letting us celebrate with you Matti!

Here is my pretty girl before church this morning!

Real pictures!

I haven't managed to take many pictures with my real camera lately.  I only have a couple but I thought I would share a few really quick!