Goodbye February

I am so glad that February is ending. For me it always symbolizes the end of winter and the beginning of Spring. Even though it is the shortest month, it often years seems like the longest. Tonight Meghan and Emily came over to hang out and play some Wii. Ellie was such a big girl and tried to help entertain Emily.

Ellie letting Emily swing

Bob was having so much fun

Congratulations Grandma

Janet retired from GE today. Since this was her last day she was able to invite her family over for her final day. Bob, Tricia, and Susan got to watch her clock in and out as well as tour the building.

Return of the Wii

After dinner with Scott and Melissa, it was still early so we decided to invited Bob and Janet up to play some Wii. We had such a good time bowling. Ellie was in such a great mood. She was laughing and cheering everyone on as they bowled.

Happy Birthday Uncle Scott

Tonight we went out to eat for Scotts birthday. It was Monday but they were out of town and just got home yesterday. We went to Cracker Barrel of course (Fish FryDay). We had such a nice visit. We don't get to spend near enought time with them like we used to. They brought Ellie back an awesome vest from Colorodo (it says "Cowgirl") plus Uncle Scott bought her a baby that she loved on and played with at dinner.

How we spend our days off

We having been busting our tails over the last few weeks at school to make sure that we did not have to come in to work today unless we were needing to finish grades. SHS is on a trimester schedule so every twelve weeks we switch classes and kids. At the end of the grading period the kids always get off and we have half day PD and half day grading. We as a school have been staying late and meeting during lunch to make sure that we could compensate for having a much needed day off (not driven by the weather). So I finished my grades through sickness yesterday, so I could enjoy the day off today.

I was so excited to sleep in. But Ellie wanted to get up at 7:00 this morning (let me tell you that Ellie has not willing got up at 7:00 ever.) I begged her to let me sleep a little longer, she agreed and fell back asleep until 8:00, but that was all she was giving me. She was wired and ready to go, me on the other hand, not so much. I felt like I was dragging all morning.

We played for the longest time until Sesame Street came on and then she was done with me. After that went off, we got ready and loaded up in the truck to meet Meg at Olive Garden. We had a yummy lunch. I think Ellie had about 3 breadsticks, she loved them.

Then Meg and I went to Sams and Target to pick up some essential items. Yes essential only. I have given up any excess spending for Lent. It took me a long time to convince myself that is was ok to buy Ellie some new shoes because she can not longer fit into her old ones. For the first time in a long time I walked out of Sams not having spent a 100 bucks.

Then when we got home Ellie went straight to her room to play (I was not invited). When I went to check on her, I found her playing with her laundry basket.

Chloe does not know she will be the next target

Ellie had stolen Chloe's toy and was teasing her with it

She played in that basket for hours. It was not until I put clothes in it that she found something else to play with.

Fashion Show

With Easter being later in April, I thought I should get in gear and find Ellie an Easter dress before all the good ones are picked over. So after Dad got home, Mom and I left to run some errands. One of those being to the Mall to find a dress. I had seen one in a magazine a few weeks ago and I came across it tonight. I also realized that if suddenly got warm (which is not out of the ordinary) Ellie would not have anything to wear. So I picked her up a few outfits as well. (If anyone has any spring or summer clothes 18-24 months they would like to get rid of, please let me know)

My little baby is turning into a big girl so quickly. A few quick things of how she is changing (not necessarily all for the good).

*Her new favorite word(s) is "uhh no." (while shaking her head)

*She loves to cuddle or hug Chloe. If Chloe is around she is always loving on her.

*The first thing she does when we get home is run to her room and see all of her toys.

*She is just now really starting to play with her toys. She is finding toys she has had for many

months, loving them.

*She is attached too much to her "ninny." We are noticing it more as we are trying to break her.

*She is starting to put more words together and we can understand her.

*She is finally wearing mostly (not completely) 18 months clothes

*She is a big eater, and especially loves meat (chicken, steak)

*She prefers to play by herself, and almost gets angry when we try to play with her with her

toys.

*She prefers showers over baths.

*She loves books, and we read to her, and then she will read the book back to us.

*She constantly makes animal sounds: chicken, cow, horse, dog, cat.

I think that sums it up for now. There is tons more.

Oh right now is clapping with Congress listening to President Obama's speech saying "bamble"

Too Cute

Visitors

Over the past few days we have had several visitors. Yesterday, Ellie was having some allergy issues (imagine that), so we stayed in all day. Susan and Shelby stopped by while they were in the area to say hi.

Ellie and Chloe taking a Sunday nap

Then tonight, Meg and Emily came for a visit. She is growing so much everyday. She is such a good baby. We really enjoy when we get to spend time with them. Please keep Meg and Emily in your prayers they will be working through some issues over the next 90 days.

So pretty

Chuck E Cheese

Today Bob, his mom, and I took Ellie to Chuck E Cheese. When we told her we were going there (it was her first time) she kept saying "cheese." It was pretty crowded, so we decided to just to let Ellie play some games and not stay and eat. She loved it, especially watching all the kids playing. Actually she did a couple of things, but we had more fun than she did I think.
After we played and lost all the tokens, we went to Logan's for dinner. My meal was not so good, but Bob and his mother really liked theirs. So did Ellie. She was intent on feeding herself.She is still a little to young for Chuck E Cheese, but we wil try again in a few months.

The Return of the Wii

We have not really played the Wii very much over the last few months because we are never really home. It has been a busy few months. Last night we took Maranda and David and Maranda's boyfriend Cameron out to Pizza King. We had a great dinner, they are such good kids (Scott and Melissa should be very proud).

After dinner we invited them back to our house to play the Wii.

Maranda trying to bowl a strike
Aww, my two girls
Ellie sharing her Teddy Grahams with Cameron
Two Sleepy girls

Picture taken in the dark, Ellie's eyes are so cute

Happy Birthday Aunt Sue

Ninny

That is what Ellie calls her pacifier. We have been trying to break her from it to where she only has it when she is sleepy or not feeling well. Last night she went on the search. Calling out "ninny, niiiiinnnnyyyy." She was looking everywhere for it. Here she is searching underneath the couch (where it normally is).Also last night she was playing in her laundry basket, and I kept telling her to get out of it. Then today after I changed her, I went to throw her clothes in the basket and found that there was something else that she needed to be washed.
Oh man, she is growing too fast.

Thank You Momma

My mom picked me up some tulips (my new favorite flower)

while she was out the other day. So pretty.

Dinner with great friends

Ellie is blowing Emily kisses
Emily has such a cute face in this picture

Meg and Josh

Tonight we went out to eat with Meg, Josh, and Emily. We had a super long wait, but a nice time. Bob and I don't go out much with others, so it was nice to spend time with another couple. That is one of the greatest things about our marriage. We always have so much to talk about when it is just the two of us, that is why we mostly just assume to go out by ourselves. But it is nice to catch up with others once and a while.

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.