Shopping Trip!

Ella, Gigi (no longer Grandma...we're going to try out Gigi!), and I have been planning a shopping trip to Roanoke for a few weeks now. Saturday was the big day! Josh had made a few plans of his own...was going to go get his hair cut, go shooting with some friends, and work on some more homework. Ella and I were out the door at 7:56am...headed to the lake. We got there around 9:15...Ella took a little nap on the way over...and when we got to my parents house I let Ella run around for a few minutes to burn some energy....about 20 minutes later we headed to Roanoke...our first stop TJ Maxx...Ella was in her stroller...so she was pretty happy....she didn't really like me being out of her sight...she would call out "Mommy!" However we spent probably close to 45 minutes to an hour....picking out an outfit for Ella, new cups that she HAD to have, new shoes for me and a new top, a book for Ella and a shirt for Grandpa. After TJ Maxx we headed over to the little mall that is attached...it's a pretty empty mall....but it was kind of nice...Ella was able to get out and walk around (holding my hand of course!) but it wasn't crowded....she had her first escalator ride...which was so much fun! Then they had 4 or 5 little cars made for kids to climb in and ride....so we had to check out every single one!! (and ride the carousel!)

She had a blast on those!

Then she was done....she did well for a few hours...I wasn't going to push it any further...baby steps! So we skipped the second mall. Instead we headed over to Rocky Mount to visit Grandpa at work...which he had about 10 more minutes before he got off...so we made plans to meet for lunch....we went and stuck our head in another store to kill a few minutes while we waited...and then went to Cookout for lunch! Grandpa shared his fries, and Gigi shared her milkshake with Ella....she was in 7th Heaven....by now it was about 2:45...Ella was happy and had a full belly...and fell asleep in the car...and got a good hour nap in.

We came home and played until bedtime! Ohh I did have to bribe Ella to eat her dinner....I told her that if she ate 3 more bites I would let her come outside with me and walk the puppies around the house...that bribe worked wonders! :) We made 3 big loops....and then BELLA was ready to come in!

Sunday we went to church, grocery shopping, and I came home and made a Rosemary Salmon and Corn on the Cob....and got everything ready to go in the slow cooker for dinner...

 

An organic whole chicken stuffed with a lemon and cut up carrots, celery, and onions....with a garlic rub...on low for 6 hours....it was good! And then I also cut up some sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini, and carrots and roasted those in the oven....I feel like I cooked all day! But now...meals are covered for at least the next 3 days with left-overs! 

Throw some laundry in there, cleaning the floors and kitchen....and I call it a day! Ella's in bed sleeping...I'm getting ready to go read for a few minutes...and Josh is packing as he is getting ready to head to Virginia Beach for a few days to do a presentation at a conference being held there.

Oh I did finally start a little birthday shopping for Ella today...I ordered a big Pottery Barn towel that is navy, white, and pink and has a whale on it...and is embroidered with her name....it matches perfectly with the bathing suit that Grandpa and Gigi got for her birthday! 

Fun at the Zoo!

Ella has me up at 6:30 this morning...that is about what time she gets up during the week...so of course on the weekend she's ready to roll at 6:30...so I got up and went and got her....and heated up a pancake for her (I made a big batch last week and froze some).

Josh came upstairs around 8...and said are you ready?? To which I was like ummm no....ready for what? And he said....remember we talked about it last night...we're going to the zoo...and I was like ummm no I don't remember that...he really had me believing that we had that conversation...but he was just teasing me....we didn't have that conversation...he thought of it himself...so I got ready....and we walked out the door around 9....so we start off...and Josh pulls out...and I say..."don't we usually go 130?"...he says..."I don't remember....lets just go to Charlottesville and get on 81...." well 2 hours later we get to the zoo....hahhaa....I tried not to rub it in too bad...that my 35 minute trip was the right way to go....and not his way....but it worked out because Ella slept for about an hour in the car...so that was her nap for the day...she just took a morning nap instead of an afternoon one!

So we finally get to the zoo....Ella felt safer in her stroller...and didn't really want to get out....

However...she FINALLY warmed up and once she saw Josh and I feeding the animals...she wanted to check that out...

 

She liked the camel...she was too scared to feed him...but she did pet him a few times. 

Then we moved onto the goats....she kept saying "hi" to them...and calling everything "her friend"...

 

I think she enjoyed herself! There's a little smile there!

She did keep calling some of the animals "puppy"....and there were all these roosters walking around...she really wasn't a fan of those.

It was perfect weather....the day started out at about 60....but then warmed up to 75ish...perfect weather!

On the way home we stopped and got lunch at Sonic...and then came home....we relaxed for a little bit and I let Ella play to get some energy out....then I took her to the grocery store with me. And that was our Saturday!

Tomorrow I have nursery at church, a Baby Shower to go to at 3, I need to make lunches for the week, and make some kind of dessert for a dinner Monday night, and finish house work...it's going to be a busy day!

35 degrees to 90 degrees

Last week I drove home in a snow, sleet, rain mix. Today it was 90 degrees out....crazy! With the 90 degree weather comes the news that our Air Conditioner unit needs a new coil. Just peachy! Which of course they can't be here until next week. So that means it's a warm house for us....at least it's supposed to be in the 70s in a few days...that will help cool down our 83 degree house! I told Josh we were getting take-out tonight as I wasn't going to come home and start the oven up! So we had "Cook-Out" where they have the best milkshakes ever....and we indulged in those! I put a fan in Ella's room thinking that would help cool it down...the first night she cried so I turned it off...tonight I asked her if I could leave it on...and she said ok....it's been about 45 minutes since she went to bed and there hasn't been a peep out of her..so must be she got over her fear of it!

Josh came home on Friday night after being gone all week. Saturday he went to a shooting competition...his first one ever and he loved it and will be doing another one in July. So while he did that Ella and I went to Target to do some shopping :) Well first we went to the dry cleaners to pick up our clothes. Then onto Target....then on to the grocery store.

Ella got to pick out a new toothbrush at the store...and talked about her teeth the whole way home...and couldn't wait to get home to brush her teeth!

Saturday afternoon we did our usual...we went to Sweet Frog and to the Pet Store...I'm not sure who enjoys it more...Ella or myself!

Sunday my parents came over...and we talk the puppies for a little walk around the yard! Ella likes to do it all by herself!

 

After we came in...Ella and Grandpa played in her princess tent!

 

Monday brought the beginning of another work week....at least Josh is home for a few weeks!

We went out to dinner Monday night at Texas Roadhouse (a co-worker of mine was doing a fundraiser there - 10% of all food sales went to her for the money she is raising to go live in Haiti for a year to help start an eye clinic). So the three of us went to dinner...Ella actually ate a lot! She was chowing down on a "Bloomin' Onion"...I would have never thought she would eat that!

Now we're in the midst of hot weather...Josh is miserable...can't stand the heat....I however will take this any day over the 20 degree weather! :)

Strong-Willed

Strong-Willed - that's how I describe Ella this week....it's like a switch went off and she wants to do everything herself and not listen to a word Mom says...it's been a long week...in just a minute I am headed to bed...the girl has worn me down this week!!

I'll recap the past week or so in pictures...

Ella loves balloons...she's never actually had her own balloon...just has seen them....so on Saturday we went and got Josh's hair cut...then went grocery shopping....while I was picking out the veggies for the week...Josh said I'm going to go over and get Ella a balloon...and I said that was fine by me...so he took her over and they picked out a pink balloon...and the nice lady at Kroger just gave it to her and didn't charge us! And then the check-out people gave her a sticker...life was good!

This is a favorite past-time of Ella's...

She would stay outside for hours with the puppies if we let her! She loves "walking" Bella!

I actually forgot about this picture...it was on my camera...it's from about a month ago before church one Sunday. I couldn't get her to smile without her hand in front of her face. But still a cute picture!

So of course the Easter Bunny made a little stop at our house...her favorite thing was the coloring book...it actually came with markers...but they are "magic" markers..they are actually clear until they write on the page...I don't know how it works...but they are wonderful as she can't make a mess with it...and she loves it. Every morning...."color mommy"...so I think she likes it!

Oh and I said that everything Ella wants to do by herself...that includes taking out the trash...

That's been my week in pictures!