Ian at one week

Meet Ian Michael

Me AnD mY BuDdy!

Elliette's Beauty Shop...NOW OPEN!

Belly pictures

Getting Ian's Room Ready

So, my dear husband, despite a mysterious back injury giving him serious pain, painted Ian's Nursery on May 1st and 2nd. Our friend Krissy came over on Sunday May 3rd to help get everything into place.

Elliette's Third Birthday

On April 26th we celebrated three years of Elliette with a few friends and family members. These are Ellie's little friends from church, they had the greatest time. Highlights were playing ring around the roses, Jello, and of course playing in the new sandbox!

Feeding the Ducks on a Sunny Spring Morning

Valentine's Day Happiness

Brian and I decorated the kitchen last night for a Valentine's Day surprise. We started this tradition last year. A trail of confetti hearts lead to all our Valentine's Day cards and gifts on the kitchen table. Ellie got some pretty awesome heart shaped sunglasses, stickers, candies, and jewelry. But best of all a new My Little Pony named "Starsong." At breakfast time we made pink heart-shaped pancakes, I even found some Valentine's Day napkins and plates in boxes of teaching supplies!

Ellie said a special Valentine's Day prayer, which I couldn't quite make out, but she was excited about it. Ellie and I are both recovering from colds and Brian worked over 90 hours last week so considering our state of affairs it was a fantastic morning!

Painting a Fire

Ellie has been obsessed with campouts and roasting marshmellows lately. She has done neither in real life, but saw them on an episode of "Little Bill" she asks us often to turn on the fireplace so she can pretend to campout. We hate to waste the gas so this weekend she made her own fire on a cardboard box. This was a very fun project. Even though she asked every five minutes... "Is my fire dry yet?" then.. "Is my fire dry now!"

A Snowy Day

The Only Santa Picture

I saw a report on the news the other day that they were making a book full of pictures of kids who were screaming on Santa's lap. That is what we would have had if we had forced the issues this year. You would think with today's technology they could superimpose Ellie's body into a Santa picture, sparing her the trauma of having to get so close to someone who she sees as pretty scary. She has told me numerous times that she doesn't want Santa coming through our fireplace. He may have to leave gifts on the back step!!!

Ellie sings the cougar fight song!

Elliette learned the fight song over the summer. Here she is singing it for Mommy and Daddy (both cougars and so proud)!

Halloween Trick or Treat

Getting into costume she was so proud to be a kitty cat... meow!!!

Kicking back with Daddy on the front porch!

We've had 197 visitors tonight... we are only three away from our goal of 200! The 200th is getting the rest of the candy and then... out go the lights... I don't know if Ellie will ever fall asleep. Her favorite thing is having friends over so tonight was like a dream come true!

ELiE's NeW HaIrCuT!!!

So it has taken me a week to get used to... but I officially love her new doo! Ask me to tell you the story some time!

New Boots, New Coat, New Hat

Ellie just got this coat and these boots from Lori and Pam. She was so excited to go outside and wear them. She is also very into "hopscotch" right now. She asked me to draw the rainbow at the top! The hat is a souvenir I brought back for her from a women's retreat I just went on. Once again, in Leavenworth!
If you look closely you can see she still has breakfast on her face AND a shiner on her eye from where she ran into a table this past Saturday. Brian said she cried for me... of course I wasn't here to get her an ice pack. So sad! :(
When we came inside Ellie said to me "Mom, that was a fun adventure wasn't it? That was a fun adventure outside." It is such a joy to see that the little things, like going outside with sidewalk chalk, are an exciting adventure for a two-year-old. It reminds me of when I was a kid and my mom introduced us to sidewalk chalk, hopscotch, and snail hopscotch it is so fun to pass this tradition on to my daughter.