An update finally!

Whew...long overdue!

Let's see....Josh and I are taking a financial class...Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University...we're 3 weeks into it...and it's been enjoyable so far. We've learned some new things...and this is our first month of truly doing a budget...we're doing the "envelope system" as well. We have envelopes for: groceries, clothes, car/tires/maintenance, house repairs, entertainment, eating out, etc. It will interesting to see how it goes...we're hopeful it goes well and we can pay down some student loans! :) While we go to that class...Ella goes to Awana's...a program for kids at church...she loves it! She gets to wear her "Cubbies" t-shirt and every week she learns a new Bible verse.

Since I'm a month overdue in writing a post...

I cut my hair...a lot.

Before...

After:

I really thought it would help cut down time in getting ready in the morning...but somehow it hasn't...it actually takes me longer to dry now...I don't know why! My hair is like a sponge and holds water! Speaking of taking a long time to dry...I wish I had gotten a picture of it...but Josh was blow-drying Ella's hair this morning...we were getting ready for church and I gave Ella a bath...it was really cold this morning...I was trying to finish getting ready and I started blow drying her hair...and I asked if he would finish it for me...I told him...this is probably something you wouldn't have expected doing huh?? :) It was cute.

We had some great summer days in September...and hit up the pool one last time...Ella's request...

She does love playing in pool! Unfortunately the same time Grandpa got there to join us it started thundering so they made us get out...but that meant we got to go to Sweet Frog! :)

This weekend was our first true taste of Fall...I wanted to enjoy it! Of course it was super windy...a little too much...but we made do. We went to a little orchard by our house...Morris Orchard. We fed the goats and the donkey. We sampled apple cider. We bought one apple cider donut to share...well I took one bite and Josh and Ella devoured the rest of it....Ella realllly liked that! We picked a pumpkin. We posed with some hay bale creatures.

I think we're going to wait to carve it next week. 

Then we came home and took a nap. We got up and it was time for round 2! We met up with our friends and went to a corn maze, saw more animals (donkey's, alpaca's, chickens, goats), and went through a hay maze. It was realllly windy so we didn't stay too long. We then went to dinner...and got a great picture of the three girls...

Sadie, Peyton, and Ella

How sweet!

It was a busy weekend!

Tomorrow Josh leaves for DC for another week of training....but this time...Ella and I are going up Thursday night to go meet him! We'll come home Saturday evening...we're hoping for some nice weather! 

Hmmm....oh yes...we finally finally transitioned Ella into big-girl panties...yay! Not a single accident...that was 3 weeks ago...she just needed that final push. So far so good!

Tomorrow is another day of work...the weekends go by too fast!

Funny Stories by Ella.

Well I don't have any pictures to share...I'll need to start taking some! I do however have funny stories from Ella...

Let's see...I made some pudding a few weeks ago...and out of nowhere...Ella started calling it bacon...I have no idea what started it...or how she even came up with that word (I think I have made bacon once...maybe twice)...not something we really eat....so it cracks me up that she calls it that. I let her have some pudding after dinner...and Josh came home after we ate...and Ella ran up to him and said, "I got to eat bacon because I ate all my dinner!" She was so excited to tell him!

Ella finally finally finally tried corn on the cob....she kept saying...I don't like that...I however convinced her to just try it...now she's unstoppable! Last night we went our friends house for dinner and Ivy and I were peeling the husks off getting it ready...well Ella took the piece out of my hand and I thought she was putting it on the table...Ivy and I were just talking away...and I looked over and Ella had taken a bite right out of the raw corn...hahaha...I was like noooo it needs to be cooked first! So we wrapped up the corn in the tinfoil and Ivy cooked it..it's a mystery as to who got the corn with the bite out of it! Ivy also puts pepper on her corn before grilling it...Ella took a few bites of her corn and said, "My lips are bleeding." Well I first thought....allergic reaction...as your lips can go tingly and swell....but after a few minutes...it was discovered it was the pepper doing that to her!

They have grapes that the sell here at the Fresh Market...I'm not sure how long of a season they have...I think only a few weeks...they are called, "Cotton Candy Grapes." No lie...they smell like cotton candy and taste like it! Ella took a bite of one...and was like mmmm this is good!

Ella likes to talk to herself...well her reflection....she was washing her hands and talking to her reflection...and she said, "I'll see you later when it's time to brush my teeth!"

Needless to say...she keeps us busy!

Josh has been helping our friends do house projects as they are buying a house...so he has been spending a lot of time over there....while the wives and kids hang out! We did a girls shopping trip to Target....and all came home with stuff for the little girls...there's a 7 week old, 9 month old, and Ella who is 3...Ella likes to play, "I'm the big kid so I'll tell you what you can and can't do" to the 9 month old. She tried to get up on the stairs and Ella said, "No no baby you can't do that. Only I can because I'm bigger than you." She keeps those girls in line! :) So back to the Target trip...they had little cowgirl boots...and Ella spotted them...and said in awe, "Boots like Sheriff Callie!" Which is from a little show that she likes...who wears cowgirl boots...so yes...I was a sucker...and got them along with a little pink/purple plaid dress...so precious! I can't wait for her to wear it!

Ella likes to paint....Josh printed off Frozen coloring pages....and let her use some paint to paint them...he helped her with two of them and then I helped her do one...I got more paint on me then I did on the paper...Josh was like what in the world did you do?? :)

I can't wait for Fall...I don't wish for cold weather...but I can't wait to go do things outside...apple festivals, pumpkin patches, hayrides...I'm excited!

I feel rather southern....I just made my first squash casserole...pretty good I have to say! I also made turkey burgers with feta, spinach, red onion and topped with avacado....something I truly like...I offered Ella a bite...she took a bite and you would have thought I just fed her dog food...took her almost 3 minutes to just swallow it...she was making a big deal about it. It was hard not to laugh!

Well I will work on getting some pictures...Ella is growing like a little weed! Her hair is getting so long...it's really time to get it trimmed...which I will do soon...I'm cutting allllll mine off on the 13th...I'll do a before and after for you! I want to make my morning routine easier...this long hair is too much work blow drying and straightening! Now that school is back is session I have to leave the house at 6:50 to get to work for 8...the traffic after I drop Ella off is awful! Anything to make my morning go smoother I am all about!

Shopping/Bubbles/Fun at the Park

The week Josh and I took turns being off...he took Monday off and Friday off. I took Tuesday and Thursday...and Grandpa and Gigi got Wednesday! Ella had a busy week! Monday - Josh took Ella to the "Car Doctor" - which was really an oil change. Then they got lunch and came to my work and we ate lunch together. Josh had plans of taking her to Amazement Square...but when they got there...they were closed...turns out they are closed on Mondays. Tuesday was my turn...Ella and I went to Target! Oh boy...we got into trouble there too...we didn't tell Josh all we bought...but such good deals couldn't be passed up! I figured I am saving us money in the long run! :) I bought Ella a bunch of clothes for next summer. After that excitement we couldn't spend any more money so we came home! :) Wednesday was Grandpa and Gigi's day...they came and met me at my work...where we switched the car seat and they took Ella for the day. They went to the park, went and fed the big fish at the lake, went swimming and to sweet frog...

Thursday was my day again...Ella and I went to my work for a bit so I could teach the new manager how payroll works...then we picked up lunch and went and ate at Josh's work...after lunch one of his co-workers came with us and we went to Rita's again for a sweet treat! On the way home I was going to take Ella by the pet store as she was asking to go see the bunnies...and even though it was just down the road from where we were...she was already asleep...so we just came home...of course that nap in the car was just enough of a power nap that she never took a real nap when we got home....she just kept going and going and going! Friday was Josh's day...they did go to Amazement Square finally...and they went and ate lunch at Josh's work. Needless to say...Ella was kept busy!

Last Sunday after church we went to the park for a cook-out with friends...it was hot! However we did have fun!

Last week was a busy busy week again. On Friday Josh left to go to Indianapolis for a motorcycle race for the weekend...so it was Ella and I allllll weekend...whew! I'm tired out...I need a weekend to recover from my weekend! Saturday we went to Roanoke...we picked up Gigi and went shopping and out to lunch....oh and a train ride through the mall! On the way back to Gigi's house...Ella piped up from the back...what about dessert? I didn't have any dessert yet! (which by the way she doesn't get dessert everyday but the waitress at the restaurant asked if we wanted any dessert...Ella remembered that!) So we got Sweet Frog and brought it back to the house so Grandpa could have some too! We stayed at their house for about an hour or so...then Ella and I headed back....which she slept the whole way home! :) Ahhhh....a little quiet time!

Today Ella and I went to the early service...8:30 for church..I was helping in nursery. Ella went to children's church...she has done such a great job going to church...no hesitation whatsoever...just goes right in! After church...Ella requested Target! Then grocery shopping then home. Today was kind of overcast...so we decided to stay put....plus I had a lot of housework to do! Which...Ella insisted on helping me with! So we cleaned the floors, vacuumed, and cleaned the bathrooms...oh and laundry.

Ella got some new goldfish...princess goldfish....good marketing huh? :)

 

We've had a few mild nights...which Ella always asks to play outside or eat outside...so we had one night a picnic on the deck....and another night played with some bubbles....

 

Hard to believe the weekend is over and it's already time for the week to begin! In that case...there are more clothes to be folded tonight!

July

So where I left off....July 4th....we got our sparklers...and went over to Wayne and Fallon's for a cook-out on the 5th...

Ella was scared of the fireworks and sparklers that we did....it was fine if she was far away...I FINALLY convinced her to hold a sparkler...it took a lot of persuasion...

Josh has gone out of town once in the past few weeks to Norfolk to be a hearing in court. He'll be gone for 2 days this week for a training in D.C.

We've been grilling every weekend....we've done steaks, burgers and boneless spare ribs....and Ella has tried them all....her favorite is the burgers. I usually split one with her as she won't eat a whole one...I'm impressed she eats them...we always do them "black and blue"....so pepper and blue cheese and she still eats it!

Ella has been begging me for a while to paint her nails...so we finally got some nail polish...she requested blue...like Elsa (from Frozen)....

So early one morning right after breakfast....I painted her nails!

I took this past Friday off (our sitter is on vacation)....and Ella and I had a fun day....we went to the playground at church...then we went and met Josh for lunch (Ella's first taste of Chinese food....she liked the sesame chicken the best)...then we went to Rita's....which I guess is Italian ice and custard...which was good! Ella like the custard the best...wasn't a huge fan of the Italian ice...it was our first time trying it out...then Ella and I went to Target...we had a very busy day!

I got an email a few weeks ago about Romp and Roll (Ella used to go there a few years ago when she was younger...) they were having a FROZEN party.....well I knew Ella would love that...so I called and signed her up! I didn't tell her about it until Friday afternoon...as I knew she would talk about it non-stop (I was right...she did ask about it non-stop right up until the party!)

It was very very cute...they did a great job with it...they had a "snowball" fight, played with musical instruments, jumped in the bouncy house, painted a picture frame, got to have a frozen treat, all kinds of great fun...Ella had a blast...and was not ready to leave! I think she would have stayed all afternoon if she could have!

That has really been our last couple of weeks! Work, work, and work....some fun on the weekends...we did go to Amazement Square last weekend....and tried a new restaurant in town...Zaxby's...it's chicken. Glad that we tried it...it was ok...probably wouldn't choose to eat there again. And Ella helped make brownies last weekend...she was very excited to help. She's in a helping phase right now...she helped me clean today.

Tomorrow is work for me...and Josh is home with Ella....Tuesday we'll trade. I could get used to having days off during the week...I miss that!

Bike Rides/Fair/Disney

We officially have started our Disney fund....hoping for 2016...Ella will be 5...Josh ordered a DVD all about planning your Disney vacation....and we watched the whole thing this morning :) It got us excited for Disney!

Last weekend we took Ella for her first bike ride...she's been on it a few times...but this was her first real bike ride....it was very short...and Josh pretty much had to hold onto the front the entire time...she doesn't have the steering part down yet!

 

She did a pretty decent job pedaling...by the end she said..."my legs are tired!"

This week a friend of ours had their first baby...so we went and saw them in the hospital the day she was born..Josh and I took turns staying with Ella in the waiting room as children are not allowed to go back...which worked out just fine....we're going over to see them at home tomorrow...so Ella will get to meet Baby Peyton!

Today is July 4th....we had a fairly low-key day...in the morning we actually went to the mall! I wanted to go TJ Maxx....and Bath and Body Works....then we came home and had lunch....then we decided we would go to the Salem fair as it was a little cooler today....but it was still about 85...no breeze, in the bright sun....it was a little toasty! We stuck it out for about 2 hours....then decided we were done. We watched the pig races, and went to the petting zoo....the two big highlights for Ella...and her and her daddy shared a funnel cake....she was all about that! After the fair we went to dinner and then headed home...Ella didn't take a nap at all the entire day...and she talked the WHOLE way home...I thought she would be out like a light once in the car....but noooo! So she was getting towards meltdown time...we weren't risking it....we came home instead of going to see fireworks....but we actually bought some small sparklers and little fireworks that we are going to do tomorrow.

And it's a 3 day weekend...I love it! Tomorrow Josh is going shooting bright and early....and then he's in a shooting competition on Sunday...we're going to go check out the local farmers market...I say it every Saturday that I want to do that and forget about it and remember it after they are already closed. That and cleaning is on my agenda tomorrow!

The past few weeks....

Let's see....

I left off at our anniversary....did I mention Josh surprised me with a new Michael Kors purse...good job Josh! ;)

Last weekend Ella stayed up probably the latest she has in a reallllly long time! It was our friend, Ivy's, birthday....so a group of us went to La Caretta for dinner and then to our friends house for a bonfire with s'mores....well you know it stays light out so late these days...I forgot to pay attention to the time! :) Then Ella laid on me and said, "I'm tired..." I looked at the time...almost 10:30...yikes! Well yes little girl you are tired! So we packed up and headed home to get her in bed! She did sleep in the next morning until about 8:30...then I got her up and ready as we headed to church and then to the lake for Father's Day....

Ella got a little braver with her car....she still won't push the pedal as it makes noise..but she was all about sitting in it and pushing it around! (with help from her Grandpa)

We went to the pool...which was lots of fun...followed by some ice cream at Sweet Frog...and thennn Ella crashed....just about 4:00-4:30....and she had a meltdown but was asleep within 5 minutes!

Ella's sitter moved last week....so this past week was the first week in her new house....she moved further away....yuck....I logged my miles one day to see how much I drove...73 miles total in 1 day...I said that's it...I'm ready to move to the other side of Lynchburg.

This weekend was a little quieter....yesterday I dropped Josh and Ella off to go to Amazement Square while I went and did the grocery shopping...that worked out great...she got to play for about an hour and half while I got all the groceries. We went to the pet store later on in the day...always fun to look around...Ella said her favorite thing was the kittens and the snakes! We walked around Best Buy too...we've been contemplating putting a TV downstairs in our bedroom....we "window shopped" but didn't take the plunge yet.  I did 7 loads of laundry in the past two days...how does 3 people have that much! Between all the bedding, clothes, towels, dog bed and blanket, and the blankets in the living room....it added up quick! I was doing some major cleaning today....I've slacked the past few weeks...so I was getting caught up...and I said...I really want to watch, "The Proposal"....so we did while Ella napped....I absolutely LOVE that movie....we don't watch many movies....but I'm pretty sure I have seen that one at least 5 times...I love it!

Oh yeah....can't remember if I said this or not...Ella had her 3 year old check-up...she did great. I absolutely love her pediatrician! She really put Ella at ease...she was running with her (as she wanted to see her walk/run) she tickled her belly when she was feeling her belly....she "played" with Ella the entire time while doing the examination....I was very pleased with her. Ella is 37 inches tall...and 27.8 pounds...a little on the small side :) However, according to her growth chart she is doing good...Dr. Gagen said that she has always been a little small but she's growing! I just can't say enough good things about Dr. Gagen!

Tonight we played with some sidewalk chalk....

 

We all had fun playing with it!

Josh is on a Disney kick....researching it all....maybe we'll start planning our Disney vacation sometime in the near future! :)

 

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!