I was brave, Mama

Hair holder

Mouth (and bottom) wiper

Nose blower

Back patter

Sheet changer

Toilet scrubber

Towel washer

Lysol sprayer

Gatorade buyer

Channel flipper

Pillow fluffer

Stair climber

Hug giver

Phillip and Ellen are both very sick with some sort of stomach bug.  Or possibly food poisoning.  Common denominator: pool party yesterday afternoon for one of Ellen's school friends.  It's most likely a virus but whatever the cause may be, they both woke up sick in the night, first Ellen and then Phillip, and they have been going, going, going ever since.  I took Lilly to daycare this morning (she is not allowed to get sick!) and then started in on the cleaning, sanitizing and continued caregiving.  Ellen is resting in our bed and Phillip finally fell asleep on the couch.

Ellen is the sweetest, most optimistic little girl, even when she isn't feeling well.

"I'm getting better.  I don't feel like I need to throw up.  Just a teeny, teeny bit."  Love her.

This too shall pass.

Hello and Goodbye

The Children's Academy hosted a luau last night.  It started out hot, hot, hot (major heat wave happening here) but it cooled off nicely once the sun started to set.  Phillip ended up taking a very tired Lilly home soon after we ate (hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, fruit, etc.) but Ellen and I were in it for the long haul.  As I talked to Lilly's teacher, Ellen played on the giant blow up water slide and ran around with her friends.  She had a lot of fun.

Lilly would not cooperate for the camera

Today I am thankful for...

Ellen having friends to play Monopoly Junior with (turns out she's good too!)

A job that pays weekly (helps us out a lot)

Size 3 diapers which have *so far* been able to contain Lilly's poops (we have been dealing with daily blowouts for several weeks now)

Co-workers who make me laugh

Drawers filled with clean laundry (the choices are endless!)

Nine years of marriage being celebrated today

Fuzzy-headed babies

Painted toenails (Ellen did it yesterday and it makes me smile)

Winning a contest on the radio (I'm not typically one who wins things)

Teamwork

Little girls who announce at dinner that they have a boyfriend

My last day as a 32 year old (growing older isn't so bad)

Belle's Dainty Cupcake Fail

Ellen and I decided to bake something out of the Disney Princess cookbook she got for Christmas.  As we looked through the recipes, the choice became clear... Belle's Dainty Cupcakes it would be.  We made a list, went to the grocery store and once home, got straight to work (we also got haircuts and ate lunch at Chick-fil-A while we were out).  The recipe was quick and easy and about 20 minutes later we were ready to pop the cupcakes in the oven.  The plan was for Ellen to take a nap while they baked and cooled.  And she did.  

My thoughts during this process were as follows:

Let's hope these taste better than they smell

Let's hope these taste better than they look

I don't think we should eat these

Maybe Ellen will forget all about them while she's sleeping

I hope she's not disappointed

What a waste!  (Except it wasn't really.  We had fun.)

Ellen was ready to make the icing as soon as she woke up.  I decided the show must go on.  Why quit now?  We only iced one cupcake and she ate about half of it.  She downed a glass of milk immediately afterwards and then went merrily on her way.

I call that a success.

Here are a few pictures from when our hopes were high (not pictured: a sleeping Lilly):

A few more pictures from our day, including endless posing, wild child in action and straw wrapper blowing (not pictured: an awake Lilly):

Green Beans: Not a Fan

Lilly has had cereal a handful of times but this was her first taste of baby food (6/18).

???

That's a little better - not as worried looking

Trying to turn away from Phillip

Help!

Ahhh... much better

Now this is what I am talking about! 

One hand grabbing my toes, one hand in my mouth - perfect combo.

FYI - Bib is from daycare :)

Down to the last detail

"I've been waiting for this day"

Phillip kind of got a raw deal today, all my fault, but he is wonderful father and we love him very much.  Ellen gave him a picture, card and key chain that she made at school.  She was very excited.  He chose Buffalo Wild Wings for his Father's Day lunch.  

Provider, comforter, encourager, genuine, selfless, funny, strong, thoughtful, patient, gentle, playful, kind... just some of the qualities that make me fall in love with Phillip more and more each day.

Cole is 7!

We were honored to be able to attend Cole's 7th birthday party at Glow Galaxy today.  Ellen had so much fun running around with her friends... and dancing like there was no tomorrow on what she considered to be a lit up dance floor (it was really a game).  Mindy held Lilly so Phillip and I could play too.  We came away with a few scraped elbows but it was worth it!

Party room

 Big man on campus

 Lovely cake

 Making a wish

 This girl loves present time

 Waiting to give Cole our present

(What kind of loser brings an unwrapped present to a birthday party?)

 Queens for a day

Self control

Ellen is not typically a messy eater but when it comes to cherries, all bets are off.

The lost art of doodling and other matters

I used to doodle a lot.  Now, not so much.  I caught myself doing it the other day and realized I kind of miss it.  Or maybe I miss the days/circumstances that allowed for the opportunity.  I guess that would be when I was in school - middle school, high school, college.  Sitting in class, taking notes, writing notes, waiting for the bell to ring, daydreaming, inevitably doodling.

--------------------

This just about sums up the level of our communication these days.  And we only speak by text.

Me:  Rocking out to Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror
Phillip:  I'm jealous
Me:  Naturally
Phillip:  Is he asking you to change your ways?
Me:  Begging me

And he likes to send me pictures of popcorn (his office has a popcorn maker).



Oh how the mighty have fallen.

--------------------

Ellen is enjoying summer so far.  Same routine but a welcomed change of pace.  There aren't as many kids at school (I think she enjoys the smaller class size), Kona Ice comes every other Thursday, every Friday is water day and they have special activities planned throughout the summer months.  Tomorrow is Doughnuts for Dad in honor of Father's Day (Phillip is going to take the girls) and she is having a picnic lunch.  The Children's Academy is also having a luau next Friday and we are looking forward to a fun evening with our daycare friends.

Ellen is excited about "going to the beach" in a few weeks although she doesn't particularly care for the beach itself.  She just wants to see her cousins, Aunt Andrea (+1), Uncle Caleb, Grandmother and Granddaddy.  And she can't wait to swim!

--------------------

I ordered Ellen's Wrap Pack over the weekend... her school supplies for Kindergarten.  I could have gone out and bought everything on the list myself but a few of the items are hard to find and the teachers really encouraged us parents to buy the Wrap Pack.  Sold!  One less thing for me to worry about.

--------------------

Ellen learned the word bed a few weeks ago and started writing it (on everything) as if it is part of her name.  She sometimes throws apple into the mix.  Funny girl.

--------------------

"Cool out" is Ellen's way of saying chill out/hang out.  Watching TV while drinking milk, to be more specific.  Cooling out is usually on her To Do list when we have a stay at home day.

--------------------

Lilly is five months old as of yesterday.  We are her biggest fans.  I need to come up with a new word to describe her because although she is (and everything she does is) sweet, precious, cute and adorable, I have used those adjectives so many times already :)  We sure do love our Lilly!

--------------------

Me:  Did you see Lilly at school today? (Ms. Eady wrote on Lilly's daily sheet that she got to see big sister, which is rare)
Ellen:  Yes.  Ms. Eady held Lilly up so I could tickle her.
Me:  I bet she was happy to see you.  Did she smile?
Ellen:  No, she just had her regular face (proceeded to show me by giving me a blank look with her lips poked out a little - pretty accurate)

Wordless Wednesday

May 28th

Always going after those toes!

(Happy birthday, Ashling!)

A Roy G. Biv inspired birthday

Ellen was so happy to be able to attend Hannah's birthday party this year.  She's almost six.  Hannah and I share the same birthday, June 23rd, and we are usually out of town and miss the celebration.  Best theme ever(!) and fun activities to boot:  art projects, slip-n-slide, playing in the pool, water balloons, bubbles, a pinata and more.  She had a great time.

Rainbow cake

 Lilly was on her best behavior.  Phillip proudly reported that she didn't spit up on anyone, himself included.

After the party we went to Blue Coast Burrito with the Moss's (I met everyone there after work) and then to see Madagascar 3 (Lilly and I went home).  Ellen really liked the movie and Phillip enjoyed it as well. 

Party, cake, water play, riding with Cole and Savannah (dream come true for Ellen), dinner and movie with friends... a very fun Saturday!