Hurry Up Spring

Tonight was gorgeous. The weather was so warm and we definately took advantage of it. We got Ellie outside, and she was so happy. She loves being outside. The snow is finally almost all gone, and this makes me very happy. This afternoon we delievered Ellie's Valentine cards to family. We started off visiting Aunt Trish, John and the boys, then we sought and found Aunt Sue, Shawn, and Shelby. Then our last start was Uncle Melvin and Aunt Donna. Ellie really likes to visit the farm. The goats just had babies so we went to visit them.

Love that smile

She walked up the hill like a big girl

Checking out the baby goats (that is my favorite)

Walking down the hill with Shelby

Trying to RUN down the hill with Uncle Mel

Pictures: 15 months

Ellie just had her pictures taken professionally in November (might I add that it is the same photographer to took Miss America's pictures when she was a Senior: Mr Foto). So I did not really want to spend a lot of money on pictures. All I wanted was some Valentine's Day cards, and a small package. Ellie was in such a good mood this morning. She was happy in the car, and all the way up to the time they called our name to start the pictures. But then she decided that she would not cooperate. She began crying and being defiant. Meghan and Josh were getting Emily's pictures taken as well, and we were going to try and get one of Emily and Ellie together. After about 10 minutes of Emily being awesome and Ellie not, Meg and I decided to join in. YAH.

This a really good picture. Emily is such a doll. Ellie is holding her hand.

Then we tried to get Ellie to calm down enough to get her own pictures taken. But she was not having that. Normally at the end of the session we have nearly 50 pictures to choose from, today we had 8. Here are the ones we got.

This is one of my favorite facial expressions she does.

Love this one...she does NOT want to be hugged.

I guess we will try again at 18 months. The best part was the lady taking the pictures asked if she was two, guess she is starting her "terrible twos" early.

Oh, my daughter!

So today Ellie has been in rare form. She started today waking up not in a pleasant mood. She would have nothing to do with Bob. We were getting ready for church, today was going to be the first day we put her in the Toddler room. After the way she woke up we were having second thoughts as to if she would stay. But we signed her in and she went into the room with no problems. We watched her for a few minutes from the glass. She was pretty content watching everyone else. So we went to church. It was a pretty good service on loyalty, and how we should be loyal to God. George Ross has such an awesome, unique way of getting the message across. But the greatest part of the service is that her number did not pop up. When we went to pick her up she had a smile on her face, and we were told that she did not cry at all. YAH.

When went to eat at the Pizza Company, she fussed until our food was delivered. This is not normal, she never fussy, especially when we are out in public. But once she had some bread bites all was well. After we came home, Bob and I were resting. Ellie went off and got really quite. I just thought she was doing her "business," and would check on her in a few minutes. But I heard her near, I got up and found her unwrapping and eating Hersey kisses, with a big chocolate smile. She had slobbery chocolate everywhere.

So I took her to get changed and try to get the chocolate out of her pretty dress. Then she refused to be dressed again. She wanted to run around in just her diaper. While I was picking up the house she wondered off again. When I went in search of her, I found her hair soaking wet. She had found someway to get water out of her cup and poured it on the floor. She was rubbing her hands in the water and then rubbing her hands in her hair. Another mess to clean up. Then she finally went into her room and played for about an hour with ALL of her toys. All her toys were out of the box and she was just having such a good time.

Finally while I was in my room putting away laundry I heard her coming and this is what I saw:

She had pulled all of her clothes, towels, and blankets out of the dresser drawers she could reach. Here she is wrapped in a blanket. I am so glad she had a good day. It is no wonder I am losing so much weight. It is time for bath and then bed.

Snow Day Four

So we might as well end the week with a snow day as well. Bob went back to work today, and that left Ellie and I at home, and no Internet (what else is there to do). We got up pretty early. We received another 1/2 inch of snow over night and this morning, I was a little apprehensive about leaving, but I decided to try out the 4-Wheel drive. It was surprising easy to drive on the completely snow covered road. I loved it.

We went to Mom's and picked them up and headed to Jeff. Ellie is getting her pictures taken for Valentine's Day next Saturday and I wanted to find her something to wear.

Then we came home and played in the snow. Ellie liked it as much today as she did yesterday. At least she is consistant.

Then tonight we headed out to grab to quick bite to eat, and then to finally go and visit with Meg and Josh. I had not had the opportunity to hold Emily. She is so precious and beautiful, I almost forgot what it was like to hold a small baby.

Ellie was just as excited to see Emily as we were. Here she is hugging her.

She got so comfortable on Bob, she fell asleep

Ellie became best friends with Candace (Baird).

Where Outta Here

We finally got our electric back on about 10:00 last night (thank you Lord). It was such a long day. Bob was out most of the night on fire runs. Today I was determined to get out of the house, if just for a little while. We decided to go to town and visit Bob and Janet.

The kids are ready to go

Driving down HWY 62

Ellie's new snow boots (she likes them as much as she likes snow)

When we got home, we wanted something sweet. So Ellie and I made brownies. She was such a big help.

Ellie and Bob waiting to lick the bowl

And So It Happens Again

We made it last night to see "Wicked." It was a good show, not my favorite, but we really enjoyed it. There was nobody on the roads when we were coming back home, kinda eerie. When we got home we put Ellie to bed and we were both not tired so we watched TV and messed around on the Internet. Shortly after we went to bed I was awaken by a feeling of something that was normal. When I looked around I realized that the power had went out. Bob instantly jumped up and decided to prepare for the impending cold. So Ellie and I snuggled and tried to fall back asleep. She slept, me not so much.

We are able to stay in the house because we have a fire place that nearly heats the entire house, plus a generator for other essentials. Bob took the day off, but he has been out on fire runs almost the entire day.

Bob taking care of us...as always

It is really snowing again, isn't 7 inches of snow and ice enough

Chloe thinks twice...she does not want to slide off the deck

We made a pallet in the living room in front of the fire so we could stay warm. Ellie liked the idea of playing with her toys in the living room and not in her bedroom. I also opened up a new toy. She got so many toys for her birthday and Christmas that I saved a few of them back to open sporadically through out the year, she really likes this idea.

This has really been such a boring day. Everyone else is talking about how caught up they are getting. I am getting further behind, no internet means no class preparations. But I did get to spend time with Ellie. I did not get to play with her much because she MUST have it her way and she gets mean. She is annal that way (I wonder where that comes from ;). But I love reading time, and so does she.

Here's to a long, dark night. I hope everyone is staying warm.

Not a fan

Ok, so Ellie is more and more like her mother everyday. After I got Ellie and myself all bundled up, and then we went outside, she through a fit. She hates snow just as much as I do. After that adventure we decided just to hang out in the house and watch it rain, yes rain on top of the 4 inches of snow we already have. We are going to see "Wicked" tonight at Kentucky Center and I am a little worried about the travel there and back this evening. I sure did pick the best night out of two and half weeks.

Already to go out

This was Ellie's thoughts on the snowSleeping is more here speed.

Our guard dog has ice wiskers :0)

NOW!!!!!!

That is what Ellie said when she woke up this morning and saw what was outside. When I took her to the window so she could look out she immediately got the biggest smile on her face and started saying "now" or snow.

I hate the snow, but I am a little excited to get Ellie bundled up and take her outside in the "now." I will be posting more pics later this afternoon. Also Bob and I have tickets to go see "Wicked" tonight. I really hope we get to see this, and I do not waste all that money I spent on the tickets.

Hope everyone has a safe and warm snow day.

First Hair Cut

I love combing Ellie's hair in the front of her face instead of the side. Her little bangs were getting so long that they were falling in her eyes. Also the back of her hair was growing uneven, so I decided it was time for a trim.

Melissa was really excited to cut her hair as well.

Aunt Melissa and Ellie

Homecoming 2009

Johnny (Senior) and Ryan (Freshman) were both on Homecoming court tonight. Both of the boys looked so good. Here are some pictures from the evening.

Ellie and Ryan
Johnny and EllieSo Handsome
Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids

Stinky Feet

Ellie has a lot of smiliarities with me. One being that she loves her feet. But this child has some stinky feet. It does not matter how long she has shoes and socks on, her feet sweat so bad and that of course causes them to stink. She loves to put them up to her nose and say "shooooo." Then she wants us to smell them and say the same.

Smelling her "stinky" feet

She let me paint her toes for the first time

History in the Making

Days like this bring a history teacher much joy. I have been looking forward to this day since November. It is not often that we get to watch "positive" history in the making. Normally we don't realize the good things that become history until many years later. We only dwell and think about the bad things that shape are world and who we are as a united country.

Forty-five years ago one of the greatest figures in modern history gave an astonishing speech that still lives on today. As he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial looking across the lake toward the Washington Monument, he spoke of visions that our founders had. The visions that perhaps the country's greatest President, had nearly 100 years before.

His vision was that his children would be judged by there character, that they would join hands with children of all races in unity. I can't help but to wonder if in his vision he could have ever imagined two little black girls living among the walls of the greatest house in the nation.

He hoped that God would help our great nation see past color and see the man or woman that lived beneath the skin. Just as Jesus looked beyond race during his life, and had compassion and acceptance, he hoped the same for the nation he loved so much.

It was not just whites who fought and died to protect this country, to protect our freedom. It only makes since, it should not just be whites to lead us either.

I believe now that we can truly become the great nation that God has planned for us. We had to first see man as man, not as black, white, Mexican, or Asian. In order to truly value human life, we had to decide what humanity really is. Now that we have reached this point, we need to decide when a life deserve that value. Hopefully with America's new eyes we can see that a child even when it is first conceived deserves that same freedom that has been spoken about for so long.

As I end this post I would like to quote Dr King:

"I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation."

God Bless each of you and God Bless President Obama and his family on this day of history.

Shew, finally over!

Tonight was awesome. I successfully directed my first performance on my own. We had a pretty good turn out for all of the circumstances the surrounded us. The students did great, and they did not mess up really at all. I thought that they all would be so exhausted and ready for a break. But no, they are already asking for what we are doing next. Well we are resting first. After the performance we went to the Mexican restaurant in town, very yummy. I brought Bob and Ellie along with us for all the fun.

"Stacy" and "Katie"

Curtain call, they got me flowers ;)


"Rosy" and her hot fudge sunday
"Doug" was celebrating his 16th birthday
Loving their hot fudge sundays

**By the way, the play was called "Love is a Hot Fudge Sunday."

Also, Beth sorry for the non understanding that we put you through for those four years. I really appreciate all that you did to make my drama experience so awesome. I could only hope that I can give my students a portion of what you gave us.

Invited

Because of the crazy weather before Christmas break, I had to postpone our school play until January. So I would like to invite all of my fellow readers to :

Love is a Hot Fudge Sunday
A One Act Play (about 45 minutes long)

Tomorrow Night (Friday, Jan 16)
@ 6:00
Scottsburg High School (McClain Hall)
500 S Gardner St