Eureka!

During our three week stint in Louisiana back in May, Pop & Tudi rented a house in Eureka Springs for several days and the whole family came. Uncle Luke, Aunt Katy, Avery, Betsy, Pop, Tudi, and our little family. Woo! We quickly learned that a vacation with 4 little kiddos isn’t the most relaxing... but all of the kids were fabulous and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company.

Well Hello Again!

I know, I know. It's been months since I put anything on my blog. I'm terrible and I know it.

My excuse for a pause in blogging is the fact that I couldn't fit any more pictures on my laptop. Then we sold our house in Kentucky and moved to Arkansas, Dan started a new job, the girls started a new mother's day out ("school"), found out that I'm pregnant, we tried to find a house to buy and didn't, so we moved to a rent house, and a month later we still have boxes in the hallway.

Catching up on the kiddos blog sorta got lost in the midst of things to do.

BUUUUUT, thanks to a reminder from a good friend this morning (and the fact that I cleaned off the laptop last week), I realize that I need to keep posting about the happenings around here. After all, I don't scrapbook. ;)

May I take your order?

Ellie: I would like a veggie burger with cilantro, pepsi coke with a little milk on it.
Julia: Honey, salt, ham

Art

I've probably told all of you this before, that I was an art major. Have you heard me say it? But I'll bet you didn't know that my mother-in-law is an artist. Or that my mother has a unique creative (read that: near-wild) streak? So my kiddos had NO choice, really. In this house, WE LOVE TO CREATE!

I love that every time Julia sees me making a list or writing something down, she runs up to the table, climbs in a chair all while screaming "daw! daw!"

I love that when it's raining/snowing/too dang hot outside, Ellie will ask to do some sort of art project.

I love watching furrowed brows and chubby hands creating, while mastering new skills.

I love that we have more papers with pasted pictures, stickers, marker lines, and finger paints than I can shake a stick at.

I love that our art aprons have been stained-up loooooong ago.

I love it! This is so much better than watching soaps and eating bon bons.

Ellie's Family Party #2

We had a family party to celebrate Ellie's 4th birthday this year. Plus, we were actually IN Louisiana the day of her bday (May 10)! She didn't realize it was her birthday because she felt like her party was on the day of her birthday. :) Here are some fun pics of the event.

Happily eating Johnny's Pizza!

All the family gathered to celebrate.

Originally I had a much prettier E on this cake and then botched it. Naturally. Cake decorating isn't even close to being my thing. But it tasted awesome!

Reading a card from Avery

"A new placemat! Now I can give my old Ariel one to Julia!"

Oma made Ellie her very own "Pink Bear" as we call it. The last time we were in Louisiana, Julia fell in love with Dan's old Care Bear he had when he was little. She sleeps with it every night all the while Ellie grew a bit more envious. Oma made Ellie's out of that super-soft minky fabric, which was a great choice. Pink Bear has now replaced all other stuffed animals and sleeps in the bed with Ellie each night.

As parents, Dan and I were delighted that Ellie didn't receive an abundance of gifts. And what gifts she did receive were perfectly suited for her. She got a fun ball, a few Montessori games/activities, a tiny music box, a balloon, an art busy box, some great books, outdoor "cones," an apron, some princess stuff, and a necklace making kit. We are blessed to have such a thoughtful family that has responded to our requests to help raise our children to be less-materialistic as is reasonable (in our current society). Thanks you guys!

Ellie's Family Party #1

We had a nice pre-birthday party breakfast for Ellie before leaving town for Louisiana. She was pretty excited to get to open her presents. Her big present was a scooter! She also got a nightgown I made for her, a dress she admired from Gymboree a while ago, a big stadium microphone, and probably something else I can't remember. Ellie spent a while in our bedroom with the door shut learning to ride her scooter with no one watching. Lil' sis wasn't too happy that she didn't get a scooter.

Ellie's Family BDay

I wanted to post this picture because it captures big sisterly love. Here is Ellie, on her birthday morning (of the party anyway) getting excited for Julia's little present. Backstory: we got Julia a microphone like we got Ellie - that sound like you're in a stadium, cheap and very cool. At the point of this photo, you can see Ellie has already opened hers. I have a very special 4 year old.