Christmas!

Josh and I both had Christmas Eve off....which was nice...we really just had a lazy day around the house relaxing...it was very nice! We got ready for church as our church does a candlelight service....we went to that...and then stopped on the way home at our friends house as they had a little gift for Ella...we came home and Ella got to open her Christmas PJs...there was a matching nightgown for her baby doll too. This was her first nightgown....so I put it on her and she said, "Mama I need pants. Where are my pants??" I was excited to tuck her in so I could bring up all the presents and put them out under the tree! I think I was more excited than Ella for sure. I woke up at 4, 5, 5:30, 6:15, and then finally 7....which is when Ella woke up. Here we are ready to go....

 

Ella enjoyed opening up the first few presents...then she was more interested in playing with them and kinda didn't care about opening up anymore! 

I think the hair dryer might be her favorite thing....she wants to blow dry everyone and everything! :)

After Ella got to play for a little bit...we packed up and headed over to Grandpa and Gigi's!

I was really hoping she would sleep on the way over....but no luck :(

We did get Ella to take a nap....in the big bed...she desperately needed one!

All in all it was a great day....we were all tired out at the end of the day....and it was sad to have to be at work the next day at 8am! 

Josh and I both worked Thursday and Friday. Friday night we went out with some friends for dinner for my birthday. Saturday we took Ella to Grandpa and Gigi's house...then Josh and I went to Roanoke for the evening....we picked Ella up on Sunday afternoon....came home for a few hours then went back out to our friends house for dinner....it's been a whirlwind...I'm tired! :) 

I made homemade chex mix in the crock pot today! Pretty good I must say....not quite as good as my Nana used to make it...I need to do a little tweaking. 

Ella's favorite toy has been....play-doh!

Every chance she gets she's asking to play with her play-doh! LOVES it!

Almost Christmas!

Josh was gone all last week to DC for work....so it was just Ella and I...needless to say....I was sooo happy to have him home Friday evening! Ella is a good girl....but she has a hard time obeying Mom...and my patience was just about out! Last time Josh was out of town I told Ella that Mommy needed to step away for a few minutes because I was so upset that she wasn't being a good girl....so this past time when I was getting upset...she said, "Mommy...you need to step away few minutes." At least she knew she had pushed my buttons!

We had a pretty quiet weekend...

Ella was sick again! Imagine that....it's actually a nasty little bug going around....it only lasts for about 18 hours...a yucky little bug that made for a big mess for Mommy to clean ;) That hit Ella on Sunday morning as we were all getting ready for church....but after that..there was no church for Ella....I was almost ready...so Josh said why don't you go to church and I'll stay home with Ella....he knew that I had been cooped up all last week with her...so I did. They watched a movie...and then Ella fell asleep on the couch...and slept for a few hours. Woke up and had a little applesauce....and then went back to bed for another hour. She  woke up from that nap...and said that she was hungry! So I made her a little Mac and Cheese (her request)...and that was all she ate for the rest of the day...and she climbed into her bed at 7...and asked to go to bed.

She woke up this morning and said....my tummy all better....she said she slept and when she woke up her tummy was all better! So she ate breakfast....and then I headed to work. Josh was off today...so he hung out with her. They actually went to the mall...Josh had a few last minutes things to get...and he wanted to take Ella on the train ride at the mall.....and show her Santa. He said that Ella didn't want to sit on Santas lap....but she was very interested in him....Josh said that Santa waved at her and said, "Merry Christmas"....and Ella waved back and said, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" She was very excited to tell me about it when I got home. She also told me exactly what her and Daddy went shopping for :) I had asked for a new water bottle since I broke my last one a few weeks ago...I always carry a water bottle with me...so apparently that is what they shopped for today ;) It's a purple one. Ella pointed out which present it was under the tree....hahaha....can't tell Ella any secrets!

Ella's new thing is bringing her table and chair into the living room to eat....

I didn't have my act together this year...I didn't get Christmas cards going...I need to be a touch more organized for next year....

And on that note...I'm going to go wrap for a few minutes :)

Overdue!

It's been a few weeks...

And what do you....2/3's of us are sick again! Josh - always manages to stay healthy. Ella just came down with a cold on Thursday...it's actually not a bad one....except for her cough...poor little thing....and I have never felt sick at all....just a cough that kept getting worse...and finally enough people said to me....you should probably go to the Doctor for it...I did....asthmatic bronchitis I was told I have...so basically bronchitis...and some fancy named tubes are reacting like I have asthma (which I don't)...so I have to use an inhaler for a few weeks and be on an antibiotic...Someday we'll be healthy again....maybe not til Summer!

We've been busy with Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, and getting ready for Christmas! We had a mini ice storm last week...so we stayed home and Ella and I made gingerbread houses...

 

She had fun making them....and eating them!

We decorated our tree...

 And Daddy brought this wonderful toy up from the closet downstairs....it has lots of Christmas songs...and a train goes around the globe...and she plays it non-stop! Thanks Daddy!

Nanny and Grampy came for a few days for a visit. Ella had lots of fun baking with her Nanny!

And of course she's not smiling....but Ella had a blast on the train ride! She kept wanting to go on it again and again!

Ohhh....Ella got to meet her new friend....Baby Sadie....

 

That's Baby Sadie at 2 weeks old. We got a picture of Sadie and put it in a frame. It is in Ella's room....and she carries around "Baby Sadie" quite often. It's cute!

She's still very much stuck on Ann and Andy and they go everywhere with us! Andy came to Josh's Christmas party this past weekend. Ella and Andy got matching "Deputy" stickers. She thought that was soooo cool!

Poor little Ella coughed so much last night...no one got very much sleep...I put her to bed tonight a few minutes before 7...she was just so tired...she's still coughing quite a bit...but I hope she'll sleep a little better...she needs it! And mommy need it....I need more than 4 hours! :)

Thanksgiving Week.

Ella I think might almost be all the way healthy!

Sunday - we didn't go to church as she was still coughing a lot. And I didn't want to bring her around a bunch of other kids. It was a quiet day but productive in cleaning/rearranging. We are in the process of moving the guest bed out of Ella's room into the office. Well the office has about 2 years worth of clutter in it - so it took some time going through everything, rearranging, and getting everything all cleaned up! Today we made the big switch.

It was rather a normal week for us. Josh had his first eye exam. He's been getting some bad headaches so I advised him to have an eye exam. :) He does work on a computer 8 hours a day....since that is his job! I thought maybe he's getting a headache from staring at that all day. He has better than perfect vision for distance...but was prescribed a very mild prescription for the computer. He at first said there was no way he was getting glasses.....but then he warmed up to the idea....or caved...and is getting some glasses to wear just while at work. He didn't like what I picked out for him....so after going back and forth - we settled on some Oakley frames that are black plastic...I approve :)

I started doing some wrapping tonight for Christmas....but soon ran out of tape (I only got 3 presents wrapped)...that love of tape must run in the family! ;)

Thanksgiving was fun. We went to the lake for lunch. Ella was super excited to go over and play with Grandpa and Gigi - and was thrilled the puppies were along for the ride. (They came with us for a week visit at the lake since Josh's parents are coming this week - it's better when the puppies aren't at our house). However when we left...Ella said, "where are my puppies?!?" in a rather accusatory tone! Ella and Grandpa had the best time (well Ella did - Grandpa was a good entertainer!)

Grandpa and Ella played with Chapstick...Ella LOVES chapstick...I have to hide it! Then Grandpa took Ella for a walk around the house...and Ella kept wanting to walk more....but it was cold out...so Grandpa had to bribe Ella with the pie inside!

And this is Ella's new smile...when she has chapstick on...she doesn't want to mess up her "lips" so she does this funny scrunched up nose smile. Silly girl! (and notice that Felix the cat is in her arms....as Felix goes everywhere with us!)

It was a nice day filled with steak, shrimp, salad, and peanut butter pie! :)

We got home and we skyped with Ella's Nanny and Grampy in Vermont and all her cousins. She just stood and stared at the TV watching everyone! We have skype connected to our TV...so it's like watching the family on TV (reality TV!)

I was given the option to take Friday off - and I jumped on that opportunity. I was thankful to have it off and spend time with Josh and Ella. I made a bunch of muffins. And I am going to make a German Chocolate Poke Cake to bring with us tomorrow - we are going to a friends house to have a Thanksgiving meal.

I got lots of laundry, dishes, cleaning done today. And tomorrow morning...I get a massage! :) I'm looking forward to it!

Still Fighting a Cold...

Poor little Ella has been fighting this cold for 2.5 weeks now. I did actually end up taking her to the Doctor on Tuesday afternoon. She has an ear infection and a sinus infection. Started her on an antibiotic. She was a little better about going to the Doctor this time...but she still knows when the person who walks in with the white coat is the Doctor...she flips out. Starts crying and saying, "noooo!" Her cough is pretty bad today. She was up 3 times last night. She did however take a 3 hour nap today....which she needed!

Let's see....last Sunday Josh left to go to Virginia Beach...he had to be in court there on Monday so he left Sunday to drive over. He was in court all day Monday and then had to drive back Monday late afternoon....he got home around 9. I got off at 2pm on Monday...so I had 3 hours to myself before having to pick Ella up...it was awesome! I did some Christmas shopping and had a great time walking around the stores by myself (it's been a while since I was able to do that!)

Tuesday was a normal day for all....well except for having to take Ella to the Doctors. Wednesday...Josh had a normal day of work...and then had to go to "night driving training." So he got home around 11:00-11:30 that night. Thursday....was the midnight release of the xbox one!!! Aren't you excited?!? Josh was :) Him and 2 of his friends went and got theirs! Which was on pre-order....so he went to bed at like 4am....he took Friday off specifically to play on the new xbox....but he has lots of vacation time built up....so why not! Then Friday I worked....and had a girls night after work. Josh picked Ella up and I went to dinner with two friends and then we went and saw Chonda Pierce...who is a Christian comedian...and she is hilarious! I had a fantastic time and was home way later then I am used to! So I didn't get to bed until almost 11:45...and then I had to work this morning! Whew....it's been a busy week!

Ella was a big helper today....

She was very eager to help Mommy make brownies! (She did just wash her hands before helping....as she is touching the spoon!)

The nurse at the Doctors office said, "Wow...Ella looks just like you!" I said, "Well she does have a few of my features....but if you saw my husband then you would think Ella looks just like him!" She said it must be the hair...you both have long hair and similar colors.

Last Friday night we went to the hospital to see our friends who just had a baby. Ella can't go back into the Mother/Baby center so Josh and I took turns going in. I saw out with her in the waiting room first and then we switched. Ella colored a picture for "Baby Sadie." She is very excited to meet her....but of course Ella needs to be healthy first!

I am having a massage next Saturday....finally cashing in on a Christmas gift from LAST year. I'm looking forward to it! I wish it had been today.

Well that has been our week in a nutshell....and I'm ready for bed....I only slept for about 5 hours last night....and I like sleep!

Ella Joy Taylor

And here is the video clip....

I think I have watched it at least a dozen times!

I may be slightly partial...but she is so cute! :)

Josh had today off....lucky him! I had to work. And actually I can say that Josh did a fair amount of work around the house. Our next project is to spruce up the upstairs bathroom. So Josh did some work in there. And he began a long process of cleaning out the office (aka JUNK ROOM) - it has just accumulated over the past 2 years - everything! He hung some pictures up on the walls, moved the book shelves, and began to start going through things....a big step! And he reloaded ammo.

I do 99% of our bills electronically. I opened up our electric bill this past week and about fell on the floor....it's the highest bill we've ever had! How is that possible....it was October...a few cold days...but not awful. I told Josh - he wouldn't even let me tell him the amount - he said he didn't want to know! However, said that he would make a phone call to the heating/air guy that put in our new coil this past spring. So today, Mike came out to the house....and discovered the problem...a wire had come loose and it was causing the air conditioner and the heat to run simultaneously. Cold air was being blown over the heater and the heater was trying to warm it up and blow out warm air - so that's why it sounds like it's been running 24/7 - because it HAS! That's just great. Oh well....at least it's fixed now!

Ella loves putting me to "bed." It's her new favorite game. I lay down. She covers me with a blanket, brings me dolls, "reads" me a story, gets me water.....I actually LOVE to play this game! :)

And speaking of bed....I am ready for bed...I know it's 8:19 - but Ella shared her cold with me and I am so whipped. I fell asleep around 9:30 last night and I woke up in the exact same position this morning - I'm pretty sure I never moved an inch last night! Plus my kindle is downstairs right next to my bed...and I just love getting into bed and reading!

No Naps!

Two days in a row...Ella wouldn't take a nap...ummmm I'm not happy about this!

We put her in bed to have resting time but she keeps getting up and playing. We go in and put her back to bed and she gets back up again! All is well - she's not grouchy....until about 6pm..and then she's rolling around on the floor as whiny as can be! Hopefully a trend that will soon be broken!

We're having family pictures done next weekend...I'm really excited about them! I just went today and bought 3 items of clothing - 2 for Ella, 1 for Josh to pull the look all together....and hopefully Ella will be co-operative and they will turn out!

My stories are going to be random...I'm too tired to try and put them in order tonight!

Ella and I went to church together today. I had nursery. Josh had to work today.  After church we're driving along and Ella points out the window and says, "Daddy get hair cut there." I was really surprised she put it all together...Good job Ella!

So I made the mistake about a month ago to let Ella bring her chair into the bathroom to let her stand on it and brush her teeth, etc. Well now she likes to get into Mommy's make-up bag! I was getting her bath ready yesterday so I went in her room to get a towel and washcloth and I walked back into the bathroom to catch her putting on my makeup!

Ella's doing better about eating. Even Beth (the sitter) said Ella has been eating more....yay a growth spurt maybe! Maybe she'll start filling out a little instead of growing taller! Some of her 2T pants are already getting a little short on her!

Ella is a little parrot. When we read her a story she wants to repeat every word. Which is good....helping her learn new words/phrases. The other day (I'm not sure where she learned it) - she said, "Oh snap." It was pretty funny! And she says, "oh my crackers" all the time.

My video isn't working....but I will try to upload it tomorrow. If you say to Ella, "your name is Ella," she'll say, "no my name is Ella Joy Taylor." It's soooo cute!

Since Ella didn't have a nap today and I had nursery....it meant I spent 12 hours with Ella today....12 hours straight....ahhhhhh! That 2.5 year old has run me ragged. I am so tired! I can't even think of anymore cute Ella stories!

Oh by the way (great) Grandma..Ella LOVES Raggedy Ann and Andy. It's her favorite thing to play with right now. She likes Andy the best and carries him everywhere! And she likes Felix to sit on the counter and if you move him she gets upset and puts him back on the edge of the counter!

Thankfulness!

So it's the month of November....the month of Thankfulness. And I have so much to be thankful for. I was reminded how thankful I am for Josh after spending a whole week of just Ella and I!

Josh left Monday morning at 5:50am. I can't really complain too much. Ella did fairly well. We kept up with our normal routine during the week. Thursday was Halloween. I let her wear her Minnie Mouse costume to Beth's house. Beth's house is in a very popular neighborhood in Lynchburg....well I didn't think about it...but it was Halloween! So I got to Beth's house around 5:15 and it was already packed out with kids trick-or-treating...they were coming in droves! Ella was scared of the kids in masks...glad we didn't go! I took her to my work just to say, "Hi" to the few people who were still at work and then we headed home.

Saturday morning Ella and I went to a vendor show....had some pictures done...

It's this booth where they have all kinds of props that you can put on and take pictures - it was cool. Ella enjoyed it! We went outside and got to go in a big bounce house. She jumped for about 20 minutes and then I took her to the mall where she got to go in a place called, "Bounce About" that had 7 BIG bounce houses....that was pretty cool!

We stayed there for about 1.5 hours. Then we went to the food court to Chick-Fil-A to get lunch. We walked through the mall. And then it was about 1:30...time to get Ella home for a nap! I sang songs with her the whole way home to make sure she stayed awake in the car! I thought for sure she would sleep for at least 2 hours....nope...1 hour - that was it! So when she got up we played for a bit and then went to the grocery store. Josh called around 5:40...I thought to tell me that he was home....nope...instead told me that their car had broken down about 35 minutes from our house....on their way home from Chicago....great just great! A tow truck was called and I went and picked them up....again THANKFUL that they were that close to home...could have been much worse!

Sunday - went to church. Josh found a great new way to get Ella to go to the nursery...so he brings her as it's a little easier than when I try to drop her off. So he brings her and she is just screaming MAMA...I can hear her as I am walking down the hall! He ended up taking her outside and they talked. He told her that he would let her go down the slide 2 times...and then she had to go to nursery and play while we went to church. She agreed...he let her go down the slide twice...and he said that they went to nursery and she walked right in and did absolutely great - no tears! And had a great morning....now hopefully that works every week! I did 6 hours of laundry! All of Josh's clothes, towels, bedding....my washer and dryer were non-stop! I cooked a few meals, made muffins, made brownies. I was busy but was LOVING having Josh home to help entertain Ella!

Ella can talk really well. She is forming sentences. Oh....I went to lunch with mom and dad on Wednesday as they had a trip to Lynchburg. We went to lunch and it was free pie day! So I brought home a piece of pie. Ella said, "Pie? I like pie!" And yes she did...they few bites she was allowed to have!

She is such a routine girl. She has a mini muffin and yogurt with milk EVERY single morning....routine like her Mama!

She did great with the time change....although this morning she was up about 30 minutes early. Talking of sleeping....making me super sleepy...time for me to go to bed!

Go, go, go!

Go, go, go! That's what this weekend felt like! We both worked all week. It was a COLD week. Saturday we got up and played/cleaned around the house for a bit. Josh then took the puppies to go get their pedicures and took Ella with him (the vet is about 1.5 miles from our house). When they got to the vets office he let Ella carry Bella's leash. Well the receptionist, techs, and even the vet were all swooning over Ella and her two adorable chihuahua's. The vet was even carrying Bella around saying that they were two of the sweetest dogs. And they gave Ella a kit-kat. It was her first ever kit-kat (the snack size) - she liked it a lot! Once they got home, I was ready and we went to an apple orchard that is about 15 minutes from our house. It's a small little orchard but they had goats, and a donkey that Ella was in love with. She kept petting them and just laughing away. We got some fresh cider and some apple cider donuts. Then, out of the blue, Josh says, "let's go to Roanoke to the gun show." So...why not! We drove to Roanoke and went to the gun show. We looked around and saw lots of pink guns (Ella and I checked those out!) We saw a few people we knew from church there. And Josh found some powder that was a good buy. So he bought that. By this time it was about 2:30...and we had not had lunch yet. So...I told Josh to just pick where he wanted to go...he chose Red Robin...which is pretty much all gourmet cheeseburgers (his heaven!) I did eat a cheeseburger and it was very good...Ella had a corn dog (she loves those and only gets them on occasion). I let her choose between broccoli or apple slices and she chose broccoli! She actually ate some of it too (good girl!) Then we headed back to Lynchburg. Ella fell asleep...and so did I! We stopped at a tool place on the way home...Josh wanted to get some work gloves - he's clearing out some brush behind our house. Ella slept, I stayed in the car, and Josh went into the store. Then we went to TJ Maxx....Ella slept, Josh stayed in the car...and I went shopping! :) Ella woke up just as I was walking out to the car....we came home and had just enough time to get changed and head back out again! We were going over to a friends house for dinner and a campfire (and to make S'mores!) Well it was a late night! Ella stayed up til 10!! The latest I think she has ever stayed up! I felt bad having to wake her up Sunday morning!

Sunday morning I had nursery at the 8:30 service....so I had to wake Ella up to get her ready and to have a bath (to get the campfire smell out of her hair!) We went to church, then stopped at the grocery store. Josh took care of the trash while I made lunch. I did a bunch of laundry. Ella got a good nap in....then it was time to go to a Fall Festival! Ella got to wear her costume....

What a cute Minnie Mouse! It was at Hyland Heights church. It was from 4-7. We had a trunk or treat at our church tonight....but it didn't start until 7:30 (which is actually Ella's bed time) - so we opted not to do that and instead go to the Fall festival. They had a "kiddie-zone" area for Ella's age...2-5. So she got to play some games and got to get a few pieces of candy. We went on 2 hay rides! She did get to bounce in a bouncy house for just  minute but then they let some bigger kids in and she got scared so she wanted to get out. The hay rides were her favorite. They had pony rides too - we brought her over by them - and asked her if she wanted to do that -she watched them for a minute and said no. It was a long line - I wasn't going to stand in line and have her back out! It was fun....we stayed for about 2 hours.

And now I'm getting ready to go fold all the laundry. Josh is leaving for Chicago first thing in the morning and will be gone for a full week :( He'll be home Saturday night. So another week of just Ella and I - whew - I'm tired already!

Fall Weekend!

Well it might just be our last Fall weekend...I looked at the weather this week...a high of 49 on Wednesday...what is up with that??

After a week of getting up at 5am, working full-time, being a mommy full-time, and cooking, cleaning, etc, etc....by Friday night...I'm done! I was falling asleep on the couch by 7:30...I did manage to stay awake for another hour or so...and was asleep by 8:45! And what time was Ella up...5:41 on Saturday morning...what?? Josh got up around 5:15...he had to work...so I don't know if she heard him...but when I heard her start making noise...I thought oh man! So I jumped in the shower so I could get that out of the way before she was fully up. I was really hoping she would go back to sleep....but no...she was up for the day. So we had breakfast and got ready...and really it was only 7:30...nothing was open of course! So we hung around the house and played for a bit....then we went out and I had looked up to see what time TJ Maxx opened...and their website said 9...so that is what time we were there....well their website lied...because the sign on the door said 9:30...well I wasn't going to sit outside for 30 minutes...so we went to a different store instead, Ollies, and walked around. We looked at books. And found a couple of good deals. Ella got compliments galore there. "What pretty eyes. What a good little girl. She sings so pretty." Yes, Ella was singing in the store...I kept saying..."shhh remember to use your inside voice!" She was a good girl though! Then we made our way to Kroger to do our weekly grocery shopping! It was only 10am...and really quiet at the store...it was nice!

Saturday at 5pm was when we went to the birthday party for Ellington. They had 3 bounce houses, games, painting pumpkins, hot dogs, and cupcakes. Ella was loving every second of it!

She talked about it the whole way home! "Had fun!" And this morning she got up and wanted to see her pumpkin.

We went to church this morning and then after church they had a Fall festival. So we ate there and then played on the playground. They did have 3 really big bounce houses set up...but Ella was too scared to get on it...they were much bigger and there were a LOT of kids!

At least we got a few more fun activities in before the weather gets really cold!

A full night's sleep!

The coughing has stopped at our house! Well at night at least. Ella's cough is completely gone. Josh's is almost gone. Mine is gone at night...during the day I still have a decent cough....but I do think it's finally starting to get better (today being the first day I didn't have a coughing fit!)

The princess and me....

Ella is quite the talker now and is saying all kinds of funny things...

Last week I was putting her in her car seat and I said, "Ella you are as cute as a button." Her response, "I know" (pause) "pretty too." Well she has self-confidence! Actually after this picture she grabbed the sides of her dress and she was dancing around saying, "I'm cute." Silly girl!

I made dinner this week and we had tacos...well let me start over...I normally just buy the taco kit and make tacos...well I didn't pay attention and I apparently just bought the box that had shells...no sauce or seasoning....so I had to create my own seasoning...healthier I know...but it was lacking a little in flavor...I used black pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, paprika, and a touch of salt. I was impressed with my quick culinary thinking! ;) Anyway....Josh had a few tacos and I made a little taco salad....and I had fixed something different for Ella. Well she took one look at our plates and said, "what you have?" "What's that?" So I told her that Daddy and I were having tacos. She said, "I like tacos. I want taco too!" I've tried to give them to her before and she never wanted it....so I made her a taco....with the soft shell....and she ate the entire thing! Guess she does like tacos!

This past weekend it was pretty rainy....so it was kind of a bummer weekend...we didn't get to do anything fun outside. On Saturday we went and got Josh's hair cut. Which Ella and I went inside to the Barber shop too. Well the lady barber let Ella pick out a "sucker" - I guess that's what they call lollipops in the South! I do believe it was the first one Ella has had (that we have ever given her) - it was one of the real small ones...well she was in 7th Heaven! So I let her have it in the car...and I watched her like a hawk while Josh drove :) We went and checked out a house....it was already under contract....but we thought it would be fun to just go see. It was up a side of the mountain....literally. It's not really a place I would ever want to live (now that I have seen the drive) but it was a really pretty drive. Just too far away for me. There were some beautiful houses up that way though! Saturday afternoon I had a baby shower to go to. So Ella and Josh both had naps that day...Josh let Ella sleep for 3 hours! She didn't wake up til 5pm! Sunday we went to the early service at church so Josh could get back to go to a shooting competition with his friends after church. Then Grandpa and Gigi came over in the afternoon....well Ella and Grandpa played and played and played....that's her new favorite playmate! :) By 5:30 that afternoon she was rolling on the ground saying, "I tired." I think Grandpa wore her out!

This coming weekend Ella has a birthday party to go to for one of our friends...I'm excited about it! I think she'll have fun. They are going to paint pumpkins.

Sickness All Around!

Pneumonia for Ella. Bronchitis for Mama. A cold for Daddy.

That has been our life the past 10 days!

We ended up taking Ella back to the Doctor last Monday. As her cough was really not getting better at all and actually getting worse. So I called first thing Monday morning and brought her in. The Doctor listened to her lungs for like 3 minutes straight (which felt like an eternity trying to keep Ella quiet and calm). She FREAKS out at the Doctor's office. Does NOT like it. So he listens to her lungs and says..."well she has pneumonia." He did however say thankfully it was caught early and she wasn't going to be hospitalized for it. He put her on an antibiotic and said she had to be at home for 48 hours. Oh just great! So I took her to get the prescription filled....and she got to pick out a whole pack of stickers for being a good girl (well kind of a good girl) at the Doctors. Josh took the rest of Monday off and Tuesday off to stay home with her. I brought her back to the Doctor this past Monday for a follow-up visit. Everything was good. Her lungs cleared up. We have started her on an allergy medication regimen. So now she gets Zyrtec everyday. That is something we are going to have to do for Spring and Fall as apparently she is going to have allergies in the spring and fall as that is when the complications start up for her.

Last Monday I started out in the afternoon with a slightest cough....it slowly progressed over the next few days. By Thursday I was hoarse. And Saturday night I couldn't take it anymore. I went to a walk-in Doctor's clinic as it's hard for me to take off during the week to go to the Doctors. I got told...sure enough you have bronchitis. So I started my antibiotic regimen. Today was my last day of it. However, I'm not quite sure it worked. I am coughing almost just as much as before! We'll see how the next few days go!

Ella has discovered that the top comes off of her table and it turns into a LEGO TABLE!

It's her new favorite toy. She keeps says, "Daddy wanna play Lego's with me??" How can you resist that?

Well I am ready to go read a chapter in my book and call it a night. I'm so tired! I've been so sleep deprived these past few weeks! Lots of coughing in our house!

Fall Fun!

I love Christmas...but not really a fan of winter....but I LOVE fall and wish it would stay like this for months!!

Josh came home around 9 on Friday night. Ella was up around 6:50 on Saturday morning...I was hoping for at least 7! She still has a pretty bad cough. It's mainly at night and then when she first gets up. Then if she starts running around and getting worked up it flares up and she gets to coughing. So when she first got up Saturday there was lots of coughing and I kind of waited a bit to see how she was going to do...and it slowed down...so we made plans for the day. We decided to go to Drumhellers Orchard Apple Festival. We got there probably about 10:45 - it's about 20 minutes north of us. They had live music, all kinds of vendors, bounce house for kids, apple slingshot, and a hayride. We bought tickets for the hayride (but missed the sign that you had to buy a ticket to get a pumpkin - so when we got to the pumpkin patch we just "posed" with the pumpkins!). We'll be going to another festival in October so we'll be sure to get one there. Ella wasn't too disappointed....she had fun just walking around picking them up!

We got lunch there...Ella had a hotdog and some chips, Josh had BBQ chicken, and I had a BBQ sandwich. We sampled the cider and called it a day!

We then went grocery shopping. Then came home for "resting time" for everyone! Ella took a 2 hour nap. Even Josh and I laid down and slept for about an hour! I was so tired from the week getting up with Ella every couple of hours...one day this past week my alarm was set for 5:00....I remember turning it off...and apparently I went right back to sleep! Oops!! I ended up sleeping for an extra 40 minutes....my morning routine went right out the window...I was rushing around to get ready. I made it to work on time....but I was so exhausted all day...I had a few people ask me if I was ok...I think the couple of weeks of 4-5 hours of sleep each night was catching up to me (if you know me - you know that I need 8+ hours to function well!). I am so happy that last week is over!

Last night we got invited to a bonfire/fall party. It was held at one of our friends grandparents house. Ella got to roast a hot dog over a fire (yesterday was hotdog day!)

Ella said the fire was HOT!

She got to hit a pinata!

And then she got to collect the goods! A little bit of candy and some toys. She came home with some stick on tattoos - which her Daddy helped her put one on today! On her hand...it's a "sticker."

Then we all posed for some pictures....the girls being cute....the boys being silllllly!

We stayed til 9....past Ella's bedtime...and she was getting cranky...so we headed home....her coughing got bad around 12....and I was up til about 1:30 with her. She stopped and we all were able to sleep for a bit...and she was up at 6:50 again! I thought she might sleep in a little....but no.

 Her coughing was bad this morning so we ended up staying home from church. Josh said he didn't want to bring her to nursery with that cough as we'd end up getting called out anyway. So we watched church on the computer!

I did lots of cleaning today....and lots of laundry! We just laid low. Ella took a 3 hour nap. She got some honey cough suppressant tonight, Vicks on her feet, humidifier on, propped up on 2 pillows....here's hoping for a good night!

Ohhhh....Ella really likes Veggie Tales....we were sitting at lunch today and Ella says...."look Mama, Bob is wearing sunglasses."

On Veggie Tales....Bob is a tomato. Josh and I cracked up laughing...she's observant!