Another Uncle Matt

Ella has a real uncle Matthew and a friend named Matt that we sometimes call "Uncle Matt" and now she's met a third! Last weekend my good friend from college came to visit while he was in the area. We've been friends since our freshman year of college (so 12 years!!!) and he knows Chris pretty well too since we've been together for 10 years. Also, Chris used to stay at Matt's apartment when he'd come visit me at school when we were dating. Anyway, we love Matt and were glad he was passing through! Ella hasn't seen him in a year and a half so she was shy at first but surprised us by how much she LOVED him by the time he left!

Ella's first feelings about Matt. Just kidding-just a crazy face she made while we waited for our food. We were excited to introduce Matt to our favorite local Kabob place. SOOOO tasty.

Post Kabobs it was all about the play doh. Matt got very into the Veggie Tales Barber play doh set while Chris made an impressive mug out of play doh and I made spaghetti and meat balls. Ella flitted between us all and squished things :-)

By the time Matt left, he and Ella were running around the house laughing hysterically. She even insisted on hugging and kissing him before he left (I can't even always get a hug!) and stood by the door waving until he drove away!

It was great to see Matt and hopefully it won't be too long 'til we do again. We love you "uncle" Matt!

Happy Birthday Hope!

I feel like Hope is my god-child but since we're not Catholic we'll just say she's one of my favorite kids :-) I've been able to watch her grow since the day her mom and dad knocked on our door with a pregnancy test in hand to tell us she was coming! We're pretty tight-I taught her to call people "kooks" (you're welcome Holly) and she likes to put on pretend nose rings with stickers on the side of her nose to be like "Aunt" Corinne. I hope to continue to be in her life for many years to come. Love you Hope-y and Happy 2nd hirthday!

Hope had a pony at her party!! How cool is that? She LOVED it and rode it at least 5 times.


Ella took her first ride on a horse too! I was so excited for her to be brave enough so we talked it up all week and she did it! Yay El!

Ella and her cousin Hannah in their new dresses from Nana!

The girls table-so cute!!

Birthday girl and her cupcakes! Yay Hope!

Vegetable Garden Part II

They're growing!!

after about 3 days


1 week

Ella wanted to show us how big they were one morning and scooped up a plant with a big spoon! Chris was NOT pleased but the plant survived :-)

8 days!

ELLA. CRACKS. ME. UP.

*warning-this might be too much information for private, easily embarrassed people, sorry but it's too funny not to share*

So here's the scene. Ella and I are getting home kind of late and I'm bringing things in from the car. I tell her to go get her pajamas on and I'll get mine on and meet her in the kitchen. She's ready before me and comes into the bedroom.

E: Hi Mom! I'm all ready!
Me: Ok, I'm almost ready, I just need to change into pajama pants.
E:Yeah, cause you already have your pajama shirt and you already took off your nickel-belt.
Me: My what?
E: Your Nickel. Belt. Nickel-belt!
Me: (starting to understand but wanting to confirm) what is that?
E: (walks over to my dresser and pulls out a bra) This! Your nickel-belt!
Me: (hilarious dissolving into laughter) Who told you that??
E: I just made it up! See, a nickel (motioning to her chest)-belt!
Me: (laughing so hard I can't speak)
E: (dancing down the hall singing) nickel-belt! nickel-belt! nickel-nickel-nickel belt!

In case you aren't around us enough to know, Ella calls "nipples" "nickels" and we don't correct her anymore. Partially because it's funny and partially because if she's going to talk about such things in public I'd much rather people have no idea what she's talking about than realize she's talking about their nipples. Along the same lines, we've never taught her the word "bra" because it's never really been necessary and I'd rather her not yell it across Target at an inopportune moment. Thus, she decided that a long peice of fabric that hooks together and goes around your "nickels" must be a "nickel-belt." Hilarious! I LOVE THAT GIRL!!!

Helping Daddy

Ella has been helping Daddy a lot with outdoor tasks since it's gotten warmer and they have a lot of fun together (mostly while mommy is writing papers--booo).


My two favorite gardeners!

Washing Daddy's car (yes, in an Easter dress)