Overheard...

Overheard in Target yesterday

Son (about 8 yrs old): Can I please, please get goggles? I need them!
Mom: No.
Son: Please?????Please?
Mom: No!
Son: Mommm, please!
Mom: (loudly and clearly frustrated) If I buy you these goggles and you don't wear them, you will never get another pair of goggles for the rest of your life, no matter what. Do you understand?
Son: Yay! I get goggles!

A few minutes later, the same mom (poor woman had 3 kids in target and was at her wit's end)
Son:Why don't I get a race car and he (his brother) does? I want a race car! Why don't I get one??
Mom: Because you didn't just get a shot at the doctor. Do you want to go back to the doctor and get a shot? We can arrange that you know.
Son: ok, no race car

people crack me up!

In Ella news, we're cracking down on her bad behavior. She's been having an especially defiant week so we're trying some new discipline techniques and I ordered three new parenting books. She's also banned from TV because she's started begging for it all the time so it's no longer part of the daily routine. It seems to be working-she hasn't asked for it hardly at all since she got cut off early this week. We'll see how successful the new ideas are...I'm hopeful that with God's help, we can make it through the "terrible twos" without too much long-term damage to either party. Pray for us!

The last couple days...

Pics from the last few days...


On friday we had playgroup at our house and Ella and her friend H disappeared and I went to find them thinking they'd be up to some mischief....nope...reading books to each other in Ella's room...and they continued for a good half hour!

Uncle Drew and Aunt Ping took Ella to a little festival on Saturday. She got to ride a zebra on the carousel, wear a paper crown, and eat ice cream-a perfect day!

Yesterday we got to see our good friend and her baby Daniel. Ella LOVED holding him!

In the last couple days Ella has eaten 15 olives in a sitting as long as she gets to eat them off of her fingers-I'm all for it!

Mmmmm :-)

Play time :-)

We went to a fun, indoor, kids play place last week with some friends-Ella had so much fun we stayed an extra hour instead of joining our friends for lunch! Good times. If this heat continues we'll be heading back there often.


The firetruck is what Ella was most excited about riding.

The sand is a hit with Ella. She didn't eat it this time!

This is her first time using scissors!

Ella and J had great time using these miniature shopping carts and being "mommies"


And finally, Ella being her silly self ;-)

Stuff

So, today, Ella played in her playroom with no prompting from me, for AN HOUR. She has NEVER played by herself in our house for more than ten minutes without coming to get me or calling me or at least coming to show me something. It was SO strange and kinda freaked me out but also gave me a glimpse (hopefully) of the future! It was shocking but also seemed very healthy that she was actually engaged in a toy and enjoying herself for so long. Wow...it would totally change my life if this becomes a regular thing. I'm having the revelation that this is why some people don't feel compelled to leave their house all the time in order to keep their child entertained...their kid actually plays without almost constant interaction. This is a new concept for me...mind-blowing...
Anyway, not a whole lot else to report concerning Ella but here are some recent fun pics.


Uncle Dave and Aunt Julie graduated! We're SO proud of them!

Ella and Uncle Dave :-)

We went out to breakfast a while ago and ordered Ella a cinnamon roll instead of a whole meal and figured she'd mostly eat what was on our plates. Well, the cinnamon roll was as big as my head-literally. Ella was kinda scared of it and didn't eat ANY. Oy.

Ella helped us put together a new stool for her table and fell in LOVE with the drill.

Chris took Ella to an Air Show and she got to hang out in the cockpit!

And finally, one recent conversation:
(while changing Ella's diaper yesterday)

Ella:Mom, I went poo-poo
Me: I know, I'm cleaning you up right now
Ella:Mom, do you like poo-poo?
Me: No, poo-poo is kinda yucky.
Ella:Mom, do you like poo-poo in your mouth?
Me: No! Why? Did you put poo-poo in your mouth??
Ella: (apologetically) yeah...
Me:When??
Ella: Last Tuesday
Me: (laughing because "Tuesday" was a good sign she was just making it up) You're so silly!
Ella: I did! on Thursday! (to my relief, further revealing she was making it up)

Bath time banter

In the bathtub this morning:

Ella:Mom, I drank the bubbles and the water!
Me:Ella no! Remember we never drink bath water (and more explanation about how soap is toxic) do you understand?
Ella: No
Me: Ella...(with a scolding look)
Ella:No
Me: Ella, you don't say no like that to mommy, say "yes ma'am"
Ella: No!! NO!
Me: Ella...
(more back and forth until finally she revealed her reason)
Ella: I DON'T say "yes man" I say "yes girl" MOMMY is a GIRL!!