I'm no artist...

I was trying to cut and then paint Ella's nails and she kept jerking away and even started crying at one point saying I hurt her. Then...
Me: Ella do you know what toenails are? They're dead. Like your hair. You being scared of me cutting your nails is like going to a hair salon and crying when they cut your hair. You wouldn't do that because it doesn't hurt!!
Ella: but no mom. It's different.
Me: no it's the same
Ella: no but they are different...they do it all the time, they're like....artists mom. They're talented. They know what they're doing. So it doesn't hurt.

What???

I acted all offended and assured her that I'm no toenail artist but after 32 years of life, I know how to cut them.
Where does she come up with this stuff???!!

Stealth Decorating

 Every year Chris has a week long work trip to Florida. So, anticipating that he'd be away, and that it would coincide with his birthday, I cooked up a plan.  What if, I made over his office while he was away?  Chris works from home about 85% of the time and his office has been a sad mish mash of what used to be a playroom before Sadie's arrival last year.  I always felt bad that his work space wasn't ideal but he never complained so we never did anything about it.  Until now!  I did some planning and stealth shopping before he left and then pulled off the re-do in the 6 days he was gone!  He had NO idea and we're both very pleased with the result :-)

 Before

The mint green walls were "fun" when it was filled with toys but not so fun anymore

Notice the left over kid art on the wall from when it was a playroom?

 and drum roll........

After!

This was right after the "reveal."  He was so shocked and happy!

So glad Daddy's home!

Nostalgia wins

 I have very fond memories of going to a local pick your own farm with my dad for many, many years growing up.  So, when Chris and I realized our weekends are packed this fall and there wasn't going to be a time to take the girls this week we decided we'd throw legalism to the wayside (who wants that anyway?) and skip church to go :-)  We got there when it opened and had a great time.  We got pumpkins, apples, took a hayride, Ella mastered the Hay Maze, and the hot apple fritters were amazing. There's defintitely something to be said for enjoying God and family in the sanctuary He created once in a while rather than in a more formal one :-)

Preparing to rock the Hay Maze

It cracks me up that Chris was FEET taller than the maze!

Chillin at the Barn

My Peeps!

Not so sure about Hay

Turtles and Wings

Ella has been hilarious lately!  She's also been really well behaved, affectionate, and wanting lots of time with me since kindergarten started.  So far so good with how school is affecting her-hope that lasts!

Some recent conversations...

Me: (telling a story)...and one named Beau...
Ella: I know a Beau at school! He's Brianna's brother. Her turtle twin.
Me: her what??
Ella: Turtle twin. You know mom, when a boy and girl are twins. TUR-TLE twins.

Me:...wait...fraternal twins?? (laughing once I realized what she meant)

Ella:Noctural twins? Like they can see in the dark?

Me: (CRACKING UP) No! FRA-TERNAL! And Nocturnal means they stay up all night not that they can see in the dark!!

Ella: Fraternal? 

Me: Yes.

Ella: I like turtle twins better.

Me: Me too.

And today...

We were talking about going to heaven and how we'll have new bodies

Ella: what will they be like?

Me: I don't know.  The Bible just says they'll be new and we won't get old or sick or die but I don't know what they'll look like.

Ella: Ooo maybe we'll get to pick whatever we've always wanted and God will just make us into it!

Me: Maybe! That would be cool.  What would you pick?

Ella (without pausing for a second): Asian with wings.

Me: What?

Ella: I'd be asian and I'd have wings, like an angel.

WHERE DO THESE THINGS COME FROM??? I love that girl and she makes me laugh A LOT. Especially because she's not trying to be cute or funny, she's 100% sincere and innocent when she's this hilarious.  Loving this "almost 6" age :-)

Sadie's 13 months (ish)

I am having so much fun with Sadie now that it's just the two of us for 7+ hrs while Ella's at school. 

Fun facts...

-It's become a ritual on a lot of mornings that after we get both kids dressed and fed and Ella off to the bus, I'll sit down for a couple minutes to eat my own breakfast while Sadie plays.  This lasts about 2 minutes before she crawls over to my chair at the bar and "eh, eh, eh"s until I pick her up and then she proceeds to sit in my lap and eat all my breakfast :-)

-Sadie's cruising and making effective progress toward walking.  She has started to be willing to take a few steps holding only one hand which she would NOT do a week ago.  She's definitely pretty cautious physically, as was her sister.  I'm in no rush for walking so the slow plan is good :-)

-Sadie likes to eat. A lot.

-Sadie lovesssss her belly button.  She will pull up her shirt and point to it on command (the only body part she will consistently do this for) and likes to play with it at random.

 

We went to a free trial class at Gymboree where Sadie first discovered tunnels.  She was scared at first but grew to love it in the short time we were there.  So, our friend Jenn who was with us bought her one for her birthday.  It's a HUGE hit!

-I think when I was pregnant I may have prayed more for this baby to be a snuggler than for her to be healthy.  Ella was not snuggly as an infant or toddler (though she is now) and I desperately wanted a baby who would want to cuddle with me. And I got one!  Most of the time, Sadie is very affectionate and sweet and likes cuddling up to read books or just stroke my cheek or hair.  I LOVE all the precious moments we have like that every day.

-Sadie has developed in the last 3 months or so, a love of books.  Hooray!  That means she'll fit in in our family!  She loves being read to and will sit and page through a stack of books on her own for a long time. In fact, that's usually how I get a shower these days-setting her in her crib with a pile of board books. Ella was exactly like this.  Love it!

-This month, Sadie has discovered her silly side.  She is hilarious!  She's started to make funny faces just to get a reaction.  She'll tilt her head and bug out her eyes and make an "o" with her mouth until I crack up.  She's becoming quite the ham and I love her frequent giggles.  Our house is filled with so much joy because of this little girl!