Life Lately

My girls' hair doesn't grow very fast. Almost two, Ella's hair is just long enough for a bow. Abby has had her hair cut a handful of times to even it out and keep it fresh. Her hair has just recently gotten long enough to braid! We've been having lots of fun with that, even though I'm kind of out of practice!

Breaking news: Oliver has become a real dog! He walks on a leash, runs outside, basks in the sunshine, fetches his ball and spends extended periods of time chewing his rawhide. Puppy boy is growing up!

We spend entire mornings on the deck making masterpieces!

I can't take enough sleeping pictures of my girls. For some reason, when I pause in these peaceful moments, I feel like I'm freezing time. I could seriously watch them forever.

and sometimes you just need to crawl into Mommy and Daddy's bed

cheeks

It is a very rare morning when one girl is sleeping in way later than the other. Ella was up early and this was an especially summery morning that called for a special breakfast date outside with Daddy.

  

a hoodie and chubby baby feet...i'm totally in love.

I thought my photo I clipped on Ollie's bedroom was pretty funny!

The girls love any opportunity to have a movie date with fresh popcorn. I have to cut them off after their second helpings. They would probably eat popcorn non-stop if I let them.

These days, you can't walk into a room of girls without hearing a Frozen reference of some kind. Abby has recently informed us that she wants to be an Elsa performer when she grows up. She dreams of the day she can sing, "Let It Go" on a stage. And of course she thinks Ella should be Anna. I captured this moment a few weeks ago when Abby and her friend, Makena, were all dressed up and playing Frozen together.

 Live entertainment = front yard tree removal.  We finally got rid of our dead tree! The girls found the whole process fascinating.

Nursing their babies...

...then taking their puppy baby for a walk.

Wait a minute...I'm not ready to have a baby who wants to be potty trained! Ella is showing a lot of interest. After this picture happened, we decided it was time to bring up the training potty. She is very serious about the whole thing and often demands privacy (as you can see below). Here's hoping Ella will make potty training as easy on me as Abby did and way less complicated than potty training a new puppy.

 

As I followed this season of Dancing with the Stars, I would pick my favorite dance or two to share with Abby via YouTube the next day. She just loves dance and watching dance as much as I do. Apart from watching the dancers, she was really into the scoring and eager to see if anyone got tens. Well, a couple of weeks ago, Abby asked me to put on princess music for her, then she went into my bedroom and shut the door. When I went in a few minutes later, I found her dancing around for these judges. She cracks me up! I give her a ten!

What a fun surprise when Aunt Ayash (also known as Ashley) calls early in the week and says she is spontaneously coming to visit that weekend. As if that isn't fun enough, she even came with some fun gifts: Nikes, field hockey sticks and a pink baseball mitt. Do you notice the theme here?  I'm so thankful for friends who love our girls so much and teaches my kids in areas I'm not very gifted in. They loved getting out in the yard and trying some new sports.

The girls even got to spend an evening with Ayash while Mommy and Daddy attended a fundraising banquet. They had a blast and trained Ashley in her first young kid babysitting experience. We exchanged lots of funny Snapchats throughout the night.

mini date night

lots of laughs with Ayash

playing mommies

before with his long scrappy hair

I can't forget to mention that Ollie got his first haircut. He has a face! Love this little guy. Here's the before and after.

After: naked puppy!!

Last, but not least, some videos to enjoy!

Ella: 22 months

Ella: 22 months 

(Our littlest sweetheart)

• loves to laugh and make others laugh 
• challenges all of her boundaries (trying to make everyone laugh in the process) 
• makes "her face" when she wants to break up a serious moment 
• loves to snuggle 
• loves her big sister 

rockstar

• so so opinionated and quick to tell us about it
• devastated when things don't go her way  and expresses herself in the most dramatic ways
• pretty fearless: when she falls down, gets hurt or does it wrong the first time, she is quick to jump right back in without hesitation

puddle jumping

• Favorite phrases: "No do dat!", "My did it!", "Boood Boyyyyy! (encouraging Oliver)", "Niiiice" (petting people and Oliver and referring to being gentle with her hands), "Peese, Mommy, peese", "I ya you too", "Eat nack peeeese", "No eep" (no sleep)
• Favorite books: anything Elmo, Brown Bear Brown Bear 
• Favorite activities: water, playing library, water table and sand box, riding her bike, coloring, eating "nacks", playing with Ollie, being Doc McStuffins, singing anything with a tune

Ella's "cheese" face

 One of our challenges at this age is teaching Ella not to hit when she gets frustrated (mostly at her sister)! It's kind of cute and really challenging at the same time because her emotions are so strong and when she feels them she just wants to let it out! We have two very emotional and dramatic little girls! As a result, two of the most repeated phrases in our house are "Sorry" and "I forgive you".  Ella just takes the shortcut and lumps both phrases together. When she hurts someone or doesn't listen, she quickly runs over to embrace the person and says, "Sorry. I forgive you." When someone hurts her feelings, she still says "Sorry. I forgive you." She might not get how it all works completely...but she gets it!

Abby: You hurt me! 

Ella (hugging Abby): Sorry Abby. I forgive you. 

Mommy: Ella, you can not do that. 

Ella: Sorry Mommy. I forgive you. 

 It cracks us up because Ella is always telling us she forgives us when she does something. At least we are covering all the bases right. It's the most persistent little reminder to me multiple times a day of my need to apologize for my own sin and forgive others all day.

Little miss personality

• loves to go bye-bye and insists it happens at least once a day. If someone is leaving the house, she often scrambles to find shoes and throw herself at ankles until someone takes her along. 
• wants to wear kitty rain boots with every outfit! 
• She wants to play outside all day everyday and just can't get enough of it. 
• expresses how adorable or sweet things are  (puppies, babies, a hug from someone she loves) with a little scrunchy expression, head tilt and an "Ooooooooooh" that says this is too precious!

ready for church

Our baby girl, you make life even sweeter just because you are you! Only two more months until your second birthday! Abby has already started planning your party. (Move aside, Mommy...the little party planner has arrived!) She wants to make it as special as she possibly can for you, so she has made herself my official assistant. We love you Bells.

Mother's Day Weekend 2014

After last year's weekend of fun at Skytop Lodge, Grammy's side of the family planned another one. We all traveled to Pennsylvania to be together this past weekend. It is amazing to me how much activity we all managed to pack into a day and a half. 

We hit the road on Friday afternoon and as we crossed into PA, we landed ourselves in miles of traffic. What to do when it's time for dinner (actually almost time for bed) and you are stuck in traffic with whiney and screaming little girls? (Other than stop to go potty two times!) Well, these parents led the loudest little Disney dance party sing-a-long we could and kept the snacks flowing. It's hard to keep up shouting while Joe is belting the Lion King.

 

After many hours in the car, we finally sat down for dinner at 7:30. I think Abby's face says it all! 

 The girls actually did pretty well at dinner considering how overtired and hungry they were, but when the meltdown started it came quickly. One of the sweetest (and most chaotic) moments of the night was bedtime. Abby was a little wound up, but Ella was past the point of no return. We thought for sure they would crash when we got them upstairs. Well, Ella was not having it. 

Abby got settled into her bed and Ella was in the crib a few feet away. Ella just kept screaming from her crib, "Nooooooo eeeeep. Peeeeese, nooooo eeeep! No Daddy! Mommy no eeeeep!" It was so sweet to hear Abby whispering from her bed, "Ella, don't you want to see Grammy in the morning? If you want to see Grammy, then you need to go to sleep. Ok?"  Ella: "Otay Abby!" Then, she would lay down for a few seconds, think about it....and start again. After a few tries, Abby asked permission to get out of bed and help her sister. Joe and I were completely spent and kind of at a loss, so we sat back and watched as Abby's dream came true and she had a real life chance to comfort her sister like a little momma. Abby asked Ella to lay down (Ella listened) and rubbed her back as she sang their bedtime songs to her. Total peaceful silence. It was beautiful. Until, Abby walked back to her bed and fell fast asleep. That seemed to be Ella's cue to jump back up and start shouting again. "Abby, Abby peeeeese elp me! Elp me Abby Elp me!" This girl finally wore herself out at 10:30. Phew! That was some start to the weekend. Joe and I fell fast asleep.

The girls were up bright and early the next morning. I let the girls play some games on my phone while we were getting ready. I love this picture of them playing together. They are such buddies.

Rough night? Who had a rough night? We are totally refreshed and ready to attack the day!

 The hotel is absolutely beautiful, inside and out. I couldn't get enough of the stunning floral arrangements everywhere.

Nana and Ella are buddies. Ella loved to sit next to her at meal time and play with all of Nana's jewelry or find something fun in Nana's purse. They also enjoy taking walks together. 

Saturday was filled with fun aunt and uncle time.

make your own ice cream sundaes with Uncle Tommy

Uncle Bradley and Aunt Alex

silly Philly Phanatic glasses from Grammy

While most of the guys spent the morning golfing, a bunch of us took a hayride around the property. Rain was predicted for Saturday, but it turned out to be a gorgeous day instead. Perfect morning to be outside.

three generations

 

An empty-ish lobby  must mean an open dance floor, right? Abby sees wide open spaces and she just can't resist making it her stage! Ella joins right in.

best daddy ever.

The grounds around Skytop are so gorgeous, I could literally take pictures all day. These tulips! I couldn't get enough of my little girls and the tulips.

Abby asked me to take a picture of her with this one and posed all by herself. I love her.

 

Next up...the rubber duck derby. We headed down to the creek with to see whose ducky would make it to the finish line first. There was an extra duck, so Joe claimed it, putting himself in the running with ten kids for a free milkshake. It was all fun and games until Joe beat out a bunch of excited kids. Thankfully, there was a duck that made it past the place Joe's duck was stuck, so the guide gave the first place honor to the little boy. I say thankfully, but Joe wanted that milkshake and wasn't so sure about having his title as Rubber Duck Derby champ taken away! ;)

After lunch and naps, we all headed down to the lake to check out the boats. Abby hopped in with Uncle Brad and Aunt Alex. Ella, Joe and I rode right alongside Grammy, while G-Diddy rowed. Grammy even led us in rounds of Row Row Row Your Boat!

 With an hour left before we had to get ready for dinner, we headed down to the pool for a swim and confirmed once again what I already knew. My girls are like little fish. Abby is a cautious fish who does what she can to ensure water safety. She loves the water and could stay in it all day! Ella is a pretty fearless fish. We have to watch her very carefully because she would go under (in the one foot of water they were playing in) and it barely phased her. Joe would pull her up and she wouldn't even pause before bouncing around again without abandon. When you imagine a kid standing on the edge of a pool preparing to jump into their parent's arms, Abby is definitely a "how about we test this out a few times with you holding me, so I can determine my level of trust and make sure I'm not going to land safely in your arms" kind of kid, while Ella will just jump right in before anyone is ready for her and no one is looking. Can anyone say 24 hour life vest for Ella when we are in Florida next month?

The girls made some friends at the pool. It was fun to sit back and watch them interact with the four older girls so easily. The eight and ten year olds loved having the little ones come play with them. Ella was running around the pool and hugging all of them and Abby was making up games for the girls to play and telling them the rules. My favorite was overhearing Abby have a big kid conversation with the girls:

Kayleigh: Abby, where are you from?
Abby (with such confidence): I'm from (insert street address here).
K: Where is that street?
A: In New York. In America.
K: What city is that?
A: Oh ummm...Albany. The house with a blue car and a green car in the driveway. 

Then, we headed back to the room to get ready for dinner. When dinner was over it was close to 8:30, so Ella needed to go up to bed, but Abby got to stay downstairs with the grownups and dance. I heard she was learning to waltz with her Daddy. She came upstairs at 10:00 so full of energy and excitement. I'm pretty sure she felt like she was on Dancing with the Stars.

 

 

 

On our last morning, the two late nights and the day full of activities must have caught up with Ella because this was her until 8:30 when we had to wake her up for breakfast.  When my girls sleep until 7:00, we consider it sleeping in because it never really happens. Once 8:00 hit, we even turned the lights and TV on in the room while we got ready and this girl did not budge. I LOVE these pictures. I could just squeeze her and kiss those chubby cheeks all day! Actually, when she woke up, I did just that.

 

We only had a few hours after breakfast before the big Mother's Day brunch, but we enjoyed some mini golf (both inside and outside), archery on the lawn (where I channeled my inner Katniss Everdeen) and took some more family pictures. 

It's not often that a rattlesnake display makes me do anything but walk by it as quickly as I can without looking.  Justin Timbersnake is officially on record as the only snake I ever liked.  My N'Sync fandom lives on in nature. :) I'm wondering what my girls will do with that cultural reference when they read this someday. N'Sync? What was N'Sync? When I hear them start saying..."Oh, that must have been back in your day, Mom...", I'll just break out my best choreographed dance for them and call it day.

running into her daddy's (and Abby's) arms. I love this sight.

kind of felt like Katniss Everdeen, but with way less style and skill

We are thankful to have been able to celebrate Mother's Day with Grammy and Nana over a yummy Mother's Day brunch. We are blessed by these two special ladies in our lives.

so thankful for my family

There aren't enough words in the world to express how blessed I am to be a mommy to these little ones. There is no where else I'd rather be. There is no other way I would choose to spend my days. There is no other job I could want more than this one. I'm so honored that God chose me to love and teach these precious girls. They are my sweet gift. My daughters, I love you so so much.

Abby might be over pictures right about now...or it's starting to sink in that we are leaving in two minutes.

Take two with Ella

One day I will share more about our sporadic photo booth picture collection. When we find ourselves near a photo booth, we try to capture the moment and watch our family grow. This was our first as a family of four. Unless you count the one we have with Ella in my belly!

On our drive back home, I saw this and was reminded once again of how much I love my home state! I really really do love New York State!

And....one...two...three....they're done! This was our backseat three minutes into the drive home.

 

This year, it worked out perfectly because we were able to celebrate Mother's Day with my mom too! On our way home, we stopped to take my mom out to dinner. Though it seemed too short, the time was really special to all of us. The last four years have made this day more special to me than ever before, not only because I became a mom, but because at the same time my mom's life was saved and she was given a fresh start. Mother's Day is a celebration of so much in our family! I love you, Mom!

Reflecting on this weekend, I am reminded of how many wonderful moms we have in our lives! I'm thankful that we got to spend time with so many of them on Mother's Day. (Though we definitely missed celebrating with Nagymama.)We love you all so much!