Birthday/Vacation/Anniversary!

Whew...we've packed a lot into the past 3 weeks!

Ella is now 3...whew where does the time go?? She holds up three fingers...and asks..."Mama am I three now?" She's a very busy girl! Just about fully potty trained...it's a work in progress! She told me the other day (after having an accident)..."Mama I am learning. You don't need to be sad that I had an accident...I'm just learning how to use the big girl potty." We're getting closer! She's very much a routine girl (she gets that from me!) I always carry her in the morning from her bed into the kitchen...yesterday she told me that she didn't need me to carry her...because she was 3 now...she was a big girl who can walk by herself...I told her that she was never too old for me to carry her and get cuddles! She's all about FROZEN! She has pj's, a puzzle, sticker book, an Anna doll, 2 pairs of Frozen socks, a t-shirt, and a beach towel...I think that covers it all....she loves it! She sings, "Let it Go" on a daily basis...running up and down the hallway...sometimes Josh runs up and down the hallway with her singing too! :) I need to get that on video! ;)

We also went on vacation....to Cape May, NJ. That was a lot of fun. With Josh's family....parents, his sister and all of her family. We had such a nice time....we went to the beach, pool, the boardwalk, a really nice zoo, a pirate cruise, a lighthouse, an aviation museum, and got to eat some good seafood. It was a great week that went by so fast!

Ella played great with her cousins! She loved having little playmates! They even played dolls with her! She wasn't a huge fan of the ocean...stuck her toes in it the first day...and then that was it! Was scared of the waves chasing her!

Now it's back to reality....work, work, work! We got back from vacation on a Saturday...and the very next morning bright and early Josh had leave to go to Myrtle Beach for the week for a conference for work.

Ella has moved up to the 3 year old class at church...last week was her first week...there were tears....this week she walked right in and was just fine....Josh said, "wow, that was a much easier transition then I thought it was going to be."

It's our 8 year anniversary today...wow! Time has gone by fast! I stopped and picked up steaks for the grill for dinner. We also put a pepper and onion on the grill....and had some Chedder Biscuits...followed by cheesecake....yum! Now it's back to eating salads everyday! :)

It's been busy...and summer just started!

Way Overdue!

Whew...where does the time go??

It's been a whirlwind of much of the same things....work, work, work....a few weeks ago on a Saturday morning I was tied up with a baby shower for my friend who is due with her first baby in July. Josh played "Daddy Daycare" for a few hours while I was there (I was helping set up/clean up...hard to have Ella with me for that)....so after the shower...we switched...I got Ella while Josh went golfing with some of his friends. Ella and I went grocery shopping and then home for a nap! Once Ella got up...we watched...what else...FROZEN!

Last weekend we went to the lake for Mother's Day....for a quick lunch and then an afternoon out on the lake!

Ella did fantastic on the boat....she was a little leery at first of the wind....but got over that pretty quick....she liked the waves...she liked being able to walk around...and she loved looking out at the front.

An early birthday celebration was also done....and Ella made out well! And she got her favorite....

 

It's a little blurry....but it's FROZEN pajamas....she was thrilled!

Funny Ella antics over the past few weeks....

She loves to sing the Frozen songs....so she runs up and down the hall with her blanket like a cape singing, "Let it go!!!!" When she had on her Frozen pjs she walked up to the tv and was talking to Elsa...saying, "look I have you on my shirt!" 

One day this week Ella and I were playing outside...Josh had torn apart our oven (the bottom element burned out so we had to order a new piece...and it took a week to get it! Being without an oven is hard!)....so Ella and I were outside staying out of Josh's way...we took the puppies out. Ella kept running on the sidewalk and I told her not to run on the sidewalk she was going to fall...so after about the 10th time of me saying that....what happens....she falls on the sidewalk...drama galore! Thankfully she had capri's on so her knee had been somewhat protected by her pants...but sure enough...still scraped it up...a very small scrape...so she has tears....I carry her inside and I clean it up (after her Daddy gets to see it first)....and I put some neosporin on it....and a little pink Cinderella band-aid....well for the rest of the night she's hobbling around...and let me just say that this was the tiniest scrape ever!! The next day she wakes up grumpy and still hobbling around....we get to the sitters house..and I tell Beth what happened and Ella is still being sour....well the kids that were there were like....can we see it? can we see it?? Ella hobbles over to the living room and sits down and all the kids sit around her...she pulls up her pant leg...and the kids are oohing and aahing over her band-aid....asking her questions..and she was just soaking it right up....it was sooo funny! I wish I could have recorded it!

We have been working on the potty training pretty hard....and we're having some good success....even a few hours have been spent in "big girl panties"....and she thinks she is so special by getting to wear those....we're working on it!

Ella is getting a DVD player and some movies for part of her Birthday gift (a portable DVD player for the car)....I got Cinderella and The Little Mermaid....now she'll be even more into Disney Princesses! However we figured those things would be good for longer car rides....as vacation is coming up VERY soon!

Ella keeps us on our toes that is for sure! She's always making us laugh...this is a fun stage....she just says the funniest things sometimes! 

Well I need to work on my grocery list for tomorrow...Josh brought home a lot of venison that his co-worker gave him....now I need to find some recipes...I don't know what to do with venison?? 

Frozen...and More

I forgot to post this a few weeks ago....a great article about Josh's office....

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/9da8872b#/9da8872b/106

So...Frozen has taken over our house....I mean....really taken over! Ella LOVES it. She watches it any chance she can get (usually in the morning when I am getting ready for work she gets to watch it a little bit...and maybe a little bit before bed)....and a lot of times it will be on but she'll be coloring or playing lego's while it's on....but the main song..."Let it Go"...she is up and dancing and singing....it's so cute!

Josh had to work late Friday night (night qualifications)...so he worked until 11....and then was up at 5:30 to head into work...he actually was supposed to work at the office but got roped into working an event....they did a "Child ID" event at the Chocolate Festival on Saturday...so Ella and I decided we would go visit him there....we walked around and got to see Alpaca's...Ella jumped for a few minutes in a Bounce House...we ate lunch...then went to Sweet Frog for Frozen Yogurt...Ella got a balloon...she was having fun! After we did that we went to the grocery store....I thought for sure she would fall asleep in the car on the way home...but she didn't! We got home around 3:45...I carried everything in and put her down for a nap...and she was in her room playing...she was playing in her bed...but I could hear her talking...then Josh came home...so I just let her get up since she was clearly not going to sleep....a few minutes later we made plans to go to the park with friends. They picked up dinner and we met them over there...the boys all played "Disc Golf."....Golf with frisbee's?? The girls walked the path...and then we came across a playground that Ella spotted and wanted to go on! It was made for 5-12 year olds is what it said on it....so it was a little big for Ella...I had to help her on everything...she wouldn't go down the slides...she was too scared....but she had fun climbing on everything! She finally got into the bed around 8:45...and she was GROUCHY! It was past bedtime!

I had to wake her up this morning...we were going to the early service as Josh had to work again today. I needed to get her up and have a bath before church. After church Josh went to work...and Ella and I went to Target...mainly to just walk around....something to do! Ella loves to play with the toys..and she is actually fine playing with the toy and then putting it back on the shelf....and by play...I mean she picks it up and looks at it...and if she can push a button on it she will...and then onto the next toy...works for me! Then...the best part...she took a 3 hour nap! I was happy....she needed it! And I was happy to have some quiet time! Josh came home...and it was so nice out...we cooked dinner out on the grill...actually Josh did everything....prepared it and cooked it....we did Black and Blue burgers....they were good! I cut mine in half....for Ella and I to share...I put it on her plate...and she took one bite and spit it out...she was also eating cucumbers...dipping them in light ranch dressing...so Josh said...why don't you dip your burger into the ranch sauce...so she did....and said, "Oh I like that." Way to go Daddy! She ate her cheeseburger...dipped in ranch! Oh well...at least we got her to eat it!

We had weather in the 80's today....and tomorrow is only supposed to be 62 and rainy..yuck! At least we'll be at work!

Easter Weekend....and Ya'll

Josh finally got to hear Ella say ya'll....she has only said it a few times...and each time he hasn't been home....but finally....at dinner tonight...she was talking about her Easter basket and that Josh and I could share playing with her new things....and as she was saying it...she said..."and ya'll can share my toys." I started laughing...and Josh smiled...she's our Southern girl! :)

Yesterday we got up and got ready to go to the mall...I promised Ella she could go on the Easter train ride...and she wasn't about to let me forget that...so we went to the mall....she wanted to look at the Easter bunny...but not go near him....but she did want to ride the train!

 

It's a little blurry....but she was having a blast. Josh said to her, "wave to Mama." And she was just waving as fast as she could to anyone and everyone!

Sunday morning...the Easter bunny paid her a visit...and she got lots of fun things...I think her favorite however was the few pieces of candy she got...

I asked her to say cheese and to smile...and this is what I got...

 

Then she did finally give me a real smile...

 

I did lots of cleaning this afternoon....not really what I wanted to do....but had to be done. Once Ella got up from her nap we watched "Frozen"...that was in her Easter basket...mainly because I really wanted to see it....we all watched it and enjoyed it! It was a good day!

Feeding the Neighborhood

Well....the birds found the bird-feeder....and we have a ton of birds now! While I was making dinner tonight I looked out the window and there were 5 birds out there. We also have seen a big ole squirrel eating out there. Ella saw the squirrel and got really excited and said, "ohhhh can I hold him??" Wellll....no you can't...he's a wild animal! The bird feeder has been a big hit....she loves looking out at it...and so do Josh and I!

On Saturday I had to work....so Josh told Ella a secret....they talked about what they were going to do while I was at work (I didn't know that they talked about it)....so right before I left I asked Ella what kind of fun things her and Daddy were going to do while I worked....and she looked right at me and said, "Go to Lowes and buy mulch." Hahaha...Josh was like Ella....I told you don't tell Mommy! He wanted to surprise me with it......but they did surprise me with one other thing....They planted some seeds in a big planter....more of a fun experiment...Josh said he really doesn't expect anything from it....but it would be cool if they sprouted so Ella could see it....so everyday she looks in the planter to see if her seeds have grown.

Ella has allergies/cold...I'm not sure which right now...it's fairly mild....but I think her throat hurts....she keeps saying my neck hurts and is holding the front of her neck....but I think she means her throat hurts but she doesn't know how to relay that. I did take a light and look in her mouth....I didn't see any white spots (usually means Strep)....so I'm going to give it another day or so....and the few people that I know that have had strep in the last month....were really sick...Ella hasn't been sick....so I'm thinking it's just a little sore throat....I told her she needed to be quiet to let her throat rest...obviously it doesn't hurt that bad as she's a chatterbox!

I have made in the past few weeks...a few times...roasted baby potatoes (yellow, red, and purple) and asparagus...soooo delicious! I never knew I liked asparagus!

I don't have any updated pictures...I will need to work on that!

Last weekend after I worked we went over to the lake so Gigi could watch Ella...and Josh and I went to my parents church to watch a play that my Dad was in (Mom was in it too....but took the afternoon show off so she could watch Ella) - it was fantastic! Gigi tired Ella out....so she slept on the way back to Lynchburg...and woke up just in time to go to our friends house for a cookout....perfect weather Saturday!

Sunday evening I went with a few co-workers to another play at a church called Hyland Heights to see our friend Caison and her family in the play. Again - another fantastic job. Poor Ella was so upset that I left...she's never really threw a fit about me leaving before...but she had just woken up from her nap...and was grouchy...and not feeling well....and she saw me dressed up and was like, "where are you going mama?"...and burst into tears....well Josh said...she threw a fit for 1.5 hours!! Poor Josh! He said really there was only tears for about 20 minutes....then she just carried on screaming and whining....Josh said she was screaming....."I want Daddy to go to work.....and Mama to come home to stay with me. I don't like Daddy! I want my Mommy!" Apparently she carried on for quite some time....yikes! Then she decided she was done...and was fine for the rest of the evening!

Well...I am tired...it's been a long week....and a long battle every night with trying to get Ella just to sit on the big girl potty.....she just might be in diapers FOREVER! :)

Where Does The Time Go?

I feel like each day keeps going faster and faster! It's been a fairly routine past couple of weeks. Josh was gone this past week from Monday-Thursday - he was in St. Louis for a meeting. He came home Thursday afternoon....which also happened to be his birthday....so I told him...pick whatever you want for dinner and Ella and I will meet you there after work....so Red Lobster it was....and it was delicious! :) Ella had made Josh a birthday card...and she was very excited to give it to him...so much so that she helped him open it...and then snatched it out of his hands and said she was going to color on it some more! :) Since Josh is the hardest person in the world to buy a gift for....I got him some cool Ray Ban aviator sunglasses....he's stylin'! And then just told him to get whatever headset it was he wanted from Best Buy (for his new Xbox One)...

Last weekend Josh helped a co-worker move on Saturday so Ella and I went to Target and did some shopping....I do love that place! :) In the evening we went to our friends house....and Ella got to hold the real Baby Sadie...

She was quite excited about that!

This past weekend Josh, on Saturday, was in a shooting competition...so that was early Saturday morning...so Ella and I got ready and we went to TJ Maxx...I was on the lookout for a bath mat to put in front of the shower downstairs....so I found one...and Ella needs some spring/summer clothes...I have a few things for her...but not much...so I let her help me pick out two outfits...she did a good job picking out which ones she liked! :) We did our grocery shopping too. Then in the afternoon Josh said lets go buy a bird feeder...Josh put up the bird house a few weeks ago that they built...so everyday Ella says..where are the birds?? So we went to Lowe's and let Ella pick out a feeder and which seed she wanted....Josh screwed the bird feeder to the back deck railing...so Ella can look right out the window and see the birds....well when they come...right now they haven't come as of yet...soon!

Today we went to church....we got in the car to come home and Ella said she wanted to go look at bunnies at the pet store....ok...so we did....went to the pet store...and then Josh said...let's go to Cook-Out and split lunch and then go get ice cream....so we did that too! Ella is now napping...I've got laundry going...and Josh is reloading ammo.

I'm going to make a quiche in a few minutes....I don't think I've ever made a quiche before...I hope it turns out ok!

We've been enjoying weather from 65-80 the past few weeks....Ella LOVES it and LOVES being outside....

Josh and I had a date night last night....and by date night I mean we rented a movie (been probably 4-5 months since we have done that!)....we rented thru RedBox...Captain Phillips....which was really good! Based on a true story....very interesting!

Hard to believe tomorrow is already Monday! Where does the weekend go??

Stomach Bug

So that bug Ella had...she shared! She was sick for about 4 hours....and that was about it....really was fine from that point on....well Josh and I went to work on Monday....feeling fine. Josh called me around 11 and said...I'm not feeling well...I'm headed home. When he called me....I had been feeling a little ehhh for about an hour...but I thought it might pass....well a little time goes by...and yeah it's not going away...so I told my manager...I don't think I'm going to be able to stay (she knew Ella was sick over the weekend)...I called Josh (about 45 minutes after he had called me)...and said...I'm coming home...he told me to leave Ella at the sitters so we could both rest. I got home and got right into bed....and within the hour....I was super sick. It was so awful....both Josh and I were VERY sick...thank goodness we now have two bathrooms!! At about 4:30....we had to leave to go pick Ella up....I was a little sicker than Josh (if that's possible)...so he said he would go get her....I asked him to get ginger ale on the way home...I would have paid big money to get my hands on a bottle of ginger ale! While Josh was gone...I made my way upstairs to the couch as I knew he would be home with Ella soon. He got home and he went and got in the bed...and Ella was a pretty good trooper....she knew we were sick and did a fairly good job at entertaining herself....the worst part was she wanted dinner...of course she did...she was healthy and hungry! I told her the only thing I could do was make an English muffin for her....poor girl....I could barely handle that. Thankfully she was a good girl...and she went to bed just fine....and as soon as she was in bed...Josh and I got into bed....we were so pathetic...we had all these layers on....3 comforters on our bed...and we were both shivering the bed felt like it was shaking! Ugh....but that's all behind us...WORST 24 hours that I have experienced in a really long time! We were both overdue....we figured it out...Josh was last sick with a bug in 2004 (he hasn't been sick once since we've been married)....I've had a few little things here and there...but not like this bug....but I do have to say....it didn't stick around too long! It did take us about 4 days to get our appetite back. But we're all healthy now!

The rest of the week went fine....I actually had Wednesday off...I had taken a vacation day (planned it a few months ago)....so Josh decided to take that day off too. It was a really low key day. I had my physical set up for 11 - so I went to that (nice and healthy!) Josh and Ella waited in the car. Then we went to Josh's work for a few minutes. Came home and got Ella down for a nap. Then had to get her up....she had a Doctors appointment at 3:45. We were meeting with an allergist. They were really testing to see if she was allergic to penicillin. We talked to him for a while....and he said that since she's already been on 2 different kinds of penicillin and the "reaction" that she had is unfortunately just a side effect from the medication. He was very confident that she was not allergic to it. We talked to him also about seasonal allergies...he said we could test for it...it was completely up to us....but at this point....she's young...I didn't feel it was necessary. We use the zyrtec and it has helped so much...and we run the air purifier in her room...which I think has also really helped. So we're going to hold off on all that for now.

Saturday was going to be another nice day....in the 70's....so we wanted to do something fun. Josh has worked so much in the last 4-6 weeks....we haven't seen a whole lot of him....so he wanted to do some fun family activities! We decided on the zoo in Roanoke. It's a little zoo. It happened to be their "spring fling" this past weekend...so we headed there....

 

We looked at all the animals....then we played on a little playground there....and Ella and Josh built a birdhouse (a whole thing they had set up by Home Depot there)...And then we rode on the "zoo choo" train....all in all...it was a fun time! Ella loved waving to everyone.

We then went to lunch at Red Robin. We were going to head home and Ella said...I want to go look at toys (sometimes we'll just walk the toy aisle at Target....cheaper than buying new toys!!) Josh said why not....lets go walk off our lunch! We were right by the mall so we stopped....well they have a "Build-A-Bear" store there....and probably about a month ago Josh and I were talking about doing something like that with Ella...I didn't even know they had one in Roanoke....so we walk into the mall and we're walking around....and I spotted it....so of course we had to go check it out!


She picked out which "bear skin" she wanted....

 

Then she stood on the pedal to help fill the bear up with stuffing!

 

Making sure she is nice and squishy.

 Then at the end....the bear gets a bath to get nice and clean.
They also have about 1000 different outfits and accessories to go with it! We let her pick out one thing she wanted the bear to wear...so she's in a pretty spring dress (and I already checked out eBay and found lots of outfits that run about a $1 compared the $15 in the store!).

So now her bear is her new friend...and she'll say....Can the bear that I made come in the car with me? Can the bear that I made sit at the table with me? She's also very obsessed with her birdhouse....Why are there no birds in my birdhouse?? So tonight...Josh rigged up a spot to put the birdhouse on the deck so she can look out the doors in the kitchen and see her birdhouse. She was thrilled with that. Hopefully we'll see a bird!

Tonight I made my very own mushroom cream sauce to serve with spinach ravioli....I told Josh....this tastes better than Olive Garden! :)

Well...that was our week....we're hoping for a healthy week this week!