Before all of the kids wake up and I forget to tell you...I have to share!
During our morning calendar/story time, I always have the kids sit on their "mats" and then I have always included the babies in this as well...I usually have them sit in the exersaucer or the chair and sit them around in our group time as well.
Well, today, I was putting the mats out for the older kids and Ella was walking around "helping" me. When I called the kids to come find a mat, Ella walked right over to one and plopped down. She continued to sit as they other kids came to join her, so I quickly got out another mat (since I hadn't intended on her sitting on a mat with us.
All of the kids got a kick out of it and cheered her on for being such a BIG girl. Amazingly, she continued to sit! She made it through calendar time and then halfway through a story. She then woudl stand up, pick her mat up and I told her, "no, no, Ella, it's story time" and then she would plop right back down. She was just too darn cute!
She's growing up on us!!! I usually don't start having them actually try to sit with us until about 16 months old, but looks like she's ready to strut her stuff now! :-)
Cyclopes
Ella is officially a walker! Fortunately that means we don't have to carry her all the time, unfortunately she still falls every once in awhile.
Wednesday morning we were getting ready for the day and she slipped in my bathroom and hit her head square on the drawer handle. Ouchie!
Saturday she fell and hit her face on the corner of the box and cut herself by her eye and then tonight she tripped and hit her mouth on Josh's head and busted her lip.
Poor thing looks like she's been in a round with Tyson but she certainly doesn't give up!
Wednesday morning we were getting ready for the day and she slipped in my bathroom and hit her head square on the drawer handle. Ouchie!
Saturday she fell and hit her face on the corner of the box and cut herself by her eye and then tonight she tripped and hit her mouth on Josh's head and busted her lip.
Poor thing looks like she's been in a round with Tyson but she certainly doesn't give up!
Make-Up Day
Tax season is SO close to being over and the guilt of being gone so much combined with a desperate desire to get out of town had me making a hotel reservation for this weekend. I mentioned something to Dustin on Thursday and he thought it was a great idea so we figured we'd surprise the kids with a trip to Wasserbahn in the Amana Colonies.
Oh man was that just what we needed!
We got there right at check in (4:00) and as soon as we found our room the kids stripped down and found their suits.
I had to figure something out for dinner so Ella and I chilled in our room and ate Apple Jacks until Josh and Lauren were hungry enough to leave the waterpark long enough to eat.
After dinner we all headed down for some fun!!
We played WAY past bedtime and the only way we could get them out of there was promising them that as soon as they woke up we could come right back.
They fought sleep hard but when they crashed...they crashed.
Lauren woke up at 5 am and was adamant about going to the pool. Neither Dustin nor I had enough energy to argue with her so I gave her the remote to the tv and thankfully Tom & Jerry was on. She crashed five minutes later and everyone slept like angels until 8:00.
Once everyone was up we convinced them that breakfast was necessary for energy and then headed back to the water!
Josh was our little water slide maniac!! Dustin went down the red one and ran up to me like a little kid with a HUGE smile on his face and laughing about what a serious drop was on that slide. Just as I was done listening to him go on and on about it I saw Josh coming off the red slide and running right back to the slide entrance. I didn't see him until twenty minutes later and he must have come down the slide fifteen times in that time.
He is obviously his father's son.
This is Ella's "I've completely missed my nap but I'm having too much fun to sleep" look.
Once I realized it was almost time to checkout we had to leave but had to get one last picture from our fun weekend in the water.
You know that since I was 6.3 miles away from the outlet mall we had to head there for some quick shopping. And after that....it was lunch at the Ox Yoke Inn!! After some time in the Amanas it was time to head home.
We will most DEFINITELY be doing this again...and more often.
Oh man was that just what we needed!
We got there right at check in (4:00) and as soon as we found our room the kids stripped down and found their suits.
I had to figure something out for dinner so Ella and I chilled in our room and ate Apple Jacks until Josh and Lauren were hungry enough to leave the waterpark long enough to eat.
After dinner we all headed down for some fun!!
We played WAY past bedtime and the only way we could get them out of there was promising them that as soon as they woke up we could come right back.
They fought sleep hard but when they crashed...they crashed.
Lauren woke up at 5 am and was adamant about going to the pool. Neither Dustin nor I had enough energy to argue with her so I gave her the remote to the tv and thankfully Tom & Jerry was on. She crashed five minutes later and everyone slept like angels until 8:00.
Once everyone was up we convinced them that breakfast was necessary for energy and then headed back to the water!
Josh was our little water slide maniac!! Dustin went down the red one and ran up to me like a little kid with a HUGE smile on his face and laughing about what a serious drop was on that slide. Just as I was done listening to him go on and on about it I saw Josh coming off the red slide and running right back to the slide entrance. I didn't see him until twenty minutes later and he must have come down the slide fifteen times in that time.
He is obviously his father's son.
This is Ella's "I've completely missed my nap but I'm having too much fun to sleep" look.
Once I realized it was almost time to checkout we had to leave but had to get one last picture from our fun weekend in the water.
You know that since I was 6.3 miles away from the outlet mall we had to head there for some quick shopping. And after that....it was lunch at the Ox Yoke Inn!! After some time in the Amanas it was time to head home.
We will most DEFINITELY be doing this again...and more often.
Career Day
Last night was our one night out for supper. It's just me and the kids so you know it has to have a drive thru or delivery service. I let the kids pick and they chose Burger King which, for girls, has the Pinkalicious theme (which is one of Lauren's favorite books). Anyway, the toy was a little magic star wand that lit up when you pushed the button on the handle.
This is an actual conversation between me and Lauren last night...
Lauren: Mommy, look at my pwin-cess wand.
Me: I know. It's beautiful.
Lauren: Yes, you push da button and it wights up!
Me: Uh-huh. Are you going to be a princess when you grow up?
Lauren: No, I be a doctor!
Me: That's right!
Lauren: You buy me books to be a doctor?
Me: Yes, but don't you have to go to school, too?
Lauren: Yes, I go to Wittle Wambs Pwe-school.
Me: Yes, you will be going to preschool in the fall.
Me: But can't you be a princess AND a doctor?
Lauren: No. Me da doctor. Ella da prince.
Lauren: Look mommy! (As she puts the lit end of the wand in her pants.)
Lauren: My underwear isn't dark anymore!
Me: Yes, Lauren. Take your princess wand out of your pants.
Me: Lauren, how can Ella be a prince? I thought only boys were princes.
Lauren: Silly mommy. Boys are pirates!
Oh, to be two again.
This is an actual conversation between me and Lauren last night...
Lauren: Mommy, look at my pwin-cess wand.
Me: I know. It's beautiful.
Lauren: Yes, you push da button and it wights up!
Me: Uh-huh. Are you going to be a princess when you grow up?
Lauren: No, I be a doctor!
Me: That's right!
Lauren: You buy me books to be a doctor?
Me: Yes, but don't you have to go to school, too?
Lauren: Yes, I go to Wittle Wambs Pwe-school.
Me: Yes, you will be going to preschool in the fall.
Me: But can't you be a princess AND a doctor?
Lauren: No. Me da doctor. Ella da prince.
Lauren: Look mommy! (As she puts the lit end of the wand in her pants.)
Lauren: My underwear isn't dark anymore!
Me: Yes, Lauren. Take your princess wand out of your pants.
Me: Lauren, how can Ella be a prince? I thought only boys were princes.
Lauren: Silly mommy. Boys are pirates!
Oh, to be two again.
Teeter Tottering
This was taken just over a week ago and it's amazing how much more she is walking already. Tonight in the kitchen Josh counted her taking fourteen consecutive steps!!! Go Ella!!!
My Baby Can Read!
Lauren is quite the little reader lately. Well, she doesn't really read yet but she certainly makes up good stories from the pictures on each page. And Ella can't tell the difference so they're both happy!
Spaghetti House
I left the office at five o'clock tonight (amazing feat #1) and actually had the energy to make dinner (amazing feat #2). My children were shocked and couldn't believe that their dinner didn't come out of a cardboard box or from a strange person coming to our front door. It was nothing fancy, but it was homemade and that's all that counted!!
"Oh, I'm just getting started!"
"Mommy said these yummy things are called noodles."
"Num Num Num"
"All these carbs are making me tired."
"**sigh** I think I'm ready to go to bed now."
"Oh, I'm just getting started!"
"Mommy said these yummy things are called noodles."
"Num Num Num"
"All these carbs are making me tired."
"**sigh** I think I'm ready to go to bed now."
According to Josh
- I only work, watch tv and fold laundry.
- Uncle Joel only plays video games, sleeps and works sometimes.
- Dustin works, sleeps and watches tv.
- He goes to school, plays video games and sleeps.
I think I should make this a regular question every year to see what he thinks I do every day. It would be interesting to see how his answer changes each year. I do find it very interesting that I fold laundry...but don't do laundry.
- Uncle Joel only plays video games, sleeps and works sometimes.
- Dustin works, sleeps and watches tv.
- He goes to school, plays video games and sleeps.
I think I should make this a regular question every year to see what he thinks I do every day. It would be interesting to see how his answer changes each year. I do find it very interesting that I fold laundry...but don't do laundry.
Baby Steps
Ella is pretty comfortable taking one or two steps before collapsing to her knees to power crawl. The longest stretch she's had is four consecutive steps (without assistance).
I've been trying to figure out ways to help her figure this out and yet she came up with a solution before I could!
She played for a solid hour with that stroller and walked behind it most of the time, only stopping to turn around. It was too cute and the kids just cheered her on the whole time!
I've been trying to figure out ways to help her figure this out and yet she came up with a solution before I could!
She played for a solid hour with that stroller and walked behind it most of the time, only stopping to turn around. It was too cute and the kids just cheered her on the whole time!
What's Ella thinking?
"What? Haven't you ever seen a girl eat an entire cake before? Just give me a few minutes and you can watch me eat all that ice cream, too!"
Another First!!!
Birthday, that is.
A couple of things I learned: #1 - having a child in the middle of tax season was not the greatest timing (although, I learned that last year, too), #2 - planning a birthday party in the middle of the tax season is no walk in the park either, #3 - no matter how many times you explain it or how many lists your make, your husband will always miss something in translation and #4 - I enjoy watching my children at their birthday parties more than they probably enjoy them.
A year has passed already and I have already forgotten what it was like to have a newborn ball up on my shoulder.
Oh, the joy this child has brought me this year. **sigh** Could there be a more perfect being? I don't think so!
I remember the day we found out she was coming and what a wonderful, joyous surprise it was. I remember trying to enjoy every minute of the pregnancy because I knew it was my last. And I remember how overcome with peace I was when I held her for the first time. No woman should be as blessed as I to have not one, not two, but three healthy, beautiful children.
Each child's birthday party is a celebration of another year together. Another year full of giggles, happiness, love, tears, boo-boos, accomplishments, fun and health. I have had a number of friends go through much heartache this year when it comes to their children and I am exponentially reminded of my blessings. And I have yet again another thing to add to my list of prayers of thanksgiving.
Birthdays may be a little over-the-top at the Bricker household but it is such a special day to celebrate! If nothing else, it's a celebration that we've survived another year and are here to tell about it!
Happy Birthday, my little Ella Bella!! You may be one year older, but you'll always be my baby. ;-)
A couple of things I learned: #1 - having a child in the middle of tax season was not the greatest timing (although, I learned that last year, too), #2 - planning a birthday party in the middle of the tax season is no walk in the park either, #3 - no matter how many times you explain it or how many lists your make, your husband will always miss something in translation and #4 - I enjoy watching my children at their birthday parties more than they probably enjoy them.
A year has passed already and I have already forgotten what it was like to have a newborn ball up on my shoulder.
Oh, the joy this child has brought me this year. **sigh** Could there be a more perfect being? I don't think so!
I remember the day we found out she was coming and what a wonderful, joyous surprise it was. I remember trying to enjoy every minute of the pregnancy because I knew it was my last. And I remember how overcome with peace I was when I held her for the first time. No woman should be as blessed as I to have not one, not two, but three healthy, beautiful children.
Each child's birthday party is a celebration of another year together. Another year full of giggles, happiness, love, tears, boo-boos, accomplishments, fun and health. I have had a number of friends go through much heartache this year when it comes to their children and I am exponentially reminded of my blessings. And I have yet again another thing to add to my list of prayers of thanksgiving.
Birthdays may be a little over-the-top at the Bricker household but it is such a special day to celebrate! If nothing else, it's a celebration that we've survived another year and are here to tell about it!
Happy Birthday, my little Ella Bella!! You may be one year older, but you'll always be my baby. ;-)
