A Few Moments With Mommy

Mommy's Little Angel!

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Once a teacher, always a teacher! :)

Ellie identifying her colors

Ellie practicing "weather" words

According to Ellie Marie

According to Ellie Marie...

"That yogurt (Ogre) is funny when he toots in the tub (Shrek "toots" in the swamp). That funny." "Mama, Baby Dante (our friend) is as cute as a bunny rabbit." ???????????

"I no eat stawberries. Eat too much give Ellie tummy ache. I no like stawberries." "I no like bugs. Ewww. Gross."

Me: What's your name?

Ellie: Ellie McDonald

Me: What's my name?

Ellie: Mommy McDonald and Daddy McDonald and Jaxie McDonald

Me: No what's MY name?

Ellie: Asia

Me: Ellie, where did you come from? Ellie: Mommy's Tummy Me: Who sent you? Ellie: God

And just in case you were wondering what you did all day (according to Ellie, of course)...

Me: Ellie, where is Mema today?

Ellie: Playing in the pool

Me: Where is Papa?

Ellie: Mexico

Me: Where are Aunt Mary and Uncle Andre?

Ellie: Playing with Oh-way-uh (Olivia) in tractor

Me: Where are Nana and Papa?

Ellie: Sleeping

Me: Where is Matt?

Ellie: Golfing in the fields Me: Where is Sissy?

Ellie: At Pickle's house.

Me: Where is Nick?

Ellie: On the potty. Yea poo poos!

Me: Where is Daddy?

Ellie: Golfing on fields too

Me: Where is Auntie Tara?

Ellie: Little Gym

Me: Where is Rosanna (best friend's mommy)?

Ellie: At the grocery store. Buy oranges. Make dinner for Baby Dante.

Me: Where is Bob (best friend's daddy)?

Ellie: On the Savannah with the elephants.

Honestly, where does she come up with this stuff?

A Day With Daddy

Dan catches Ellie (our little runaway) in the front yard

Ellie playing dress up with Daddy. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of Dan! :)

Ellie is learning how to throw the ball for "Ja Ja."

Our little sweetie pie!

Ellie gets this look from her Daddy. I think it means, "I'm up to something..."

I honestly don't know who had more fun on the swing!

Watch Daddy!

This is about the twentieth time up the ladder and then down the slide

Ellie shows Daddy her skill

I don't think so Ellie!

This one says it all :) Growing up, I remember my dad had a coffee mug or something that read: Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a daddy. I guess it sounds a bit cheesy, but now having my own daughter, I appreciate the profound truth in that statement. Here are a series of pictures I took on one of Dan's days off. Honestly, these are not "just the best pics of the day." When Dan is home, this is the way he spends his time with his family. He is a great Daddy to Ellie; they have so much fun together and he always makes her his number one priority. How lucky I am to have had this kind of relationship with my Dad and to now watch the same relationship between my daughter and my husband. I am so blessed!

Chicken Dance and Mary Mary

For those of you who are of the Etscheid clan, you may recall doing The Chicken Dance at almost all of our family weddings, anniversary parties, etc. And although it has been a few years since we all were together for such an event, here is proof that the tradition is alive and well. I now present to you...The Chicken Dance.

And here is Ellie reciting the old English nursery rhyme "Mary Mary Quite Contrary...". The story here is that I have read this little poem maybe half a dozen times to Ellie but I've never practiced it with her or made her recite it or anything like that. Then two days ago, we were walking up our front stairs and she began to recite the poem. I don't know about you but my heart melts when she says "cockle shells." :) Here are the words:

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,/How does your garden grow?/ With silver bells and cockle shells,/ and pretty maids all in a row.

For Sandy

Ellie with Mommy and Daddy at Point Defiance Zoo

Dear Sandy,

Here are some pictures that better meet your criteria. I apologize for all the "pony tail pictures." I don't know what I was thinking. :)

Sincerely,

Angela

July Passing By

4 years and counting...!

My handsome hubby love

Too bad the lighting wasn't right in this picture but hope you can see our oyster tray!

Dan calls this my Magoo face because my eyes squint when I get the giggles

Great view of Mt. Rainier on the way home from Seattle

Ellie and friend Gabriella

Wenatchee: Spent the day strolling the town and swimming in the pool while Dan golfed with friends!

Ellie and Mommy singing "The Wheels on the Bus" for the umpteenth time...she LOVES the water!

Hi family and Friends! We are back from Wenatchee and settling back in at home. Dan, Ellie, Jaxie and I are doing well and enjoying the summer days. Dan has recently been "informally" offered a new position with WSP and he is thinking it over. He would still be a trooper but would take on a specialized position with new and challenging responsibilities and opportunities. He hasn't made his decision yet but I will keep you "in the know" as the process unfolds. He also received a call from the command staff this weekend inviting Dan to accept an award (best police force in the nation!!!!!!!!!!!!) on behalf of the State Patrol. He and I (and Ellie and Tara) will be travelling to San Diego in November for a three day stay. Tara will get lots of time with Ellie and Dan and I will get some time to attend WSP functions and maybe even hit the town! :) It should be a lot of fun and I look forward to it because I have heard great things about San Diego. Ironically, we are planning a trip to San Diego two months prior with some friends of ours. Their little daughter, Gabriella, is one of Ellie's best friends and it should be a lot of fun for all of us.

Ellie is asserting her ideas, opinions, needs, and wants on a daily basis. Today she told me "Don't talk, Mama" when she wanted me to stop my conversation and pay attention to her (Dan thinks this is hilarious). She told Dan, "Dada, my hands are all dirty. Wash them all clean [with] soap and water." And her new trick is to tell stories that she imagines in her head. Most recently, she made up a story about a dog named Simpson (???) who waits at the front door of a lighthouse for a bone from her friend Sawyer. The dog is very hot and pants to cool off. It just cracks me up. Her sentences are so clear and complex and her ideas are so creative; she amazes us all the time with her articulation.

As for me, I am just enjoying being a mommy and a wife. I am content and feel proud of our recent efforts to establish a garden, a composting system, and an array of flower pots (this may seem like no big deal but to a black thumb like me, it's AWESOME :) ). I guess I should have a new goal to work toward but I am not sure what it is yet. I am just content right now and figure I'll know it when it comes to me.

July 10th was our 4 year anniversary. I think that sounds so substantial and so new at the same time. In any case, we had an AWESOME day and I've included pictures to share our memories. We started with a couple's massage at my favorite spa in Redmond and then went to dinner at Elliot Bay Oyster House on the Pier in Seattle. Actually, the oysters were very good...until the fourth, fifth...12th one! We ordered a dozen as an appetizer and it was a bit much but we had a lot of fun daring each other to try "one more" with spicy sauce, etc. The food was amazing and then we took a stroll on the boardwalk and enjoyed an ice cream cone. It was a perfect day. Love you Dan!

For those of you who haven't heard, my brother and sister in law just found out they are having a little boy! My dad is so excited that he has a grandson to carry on the Ciabattari name. Congrats Mary and Andre and Olivia! We can't wait until December to meet the new addition to our family!

Well, I think that is a long enough update. I am waiting for pictures from my Mom's camera from their visit. We got a great family picture at Point Defiance Zoo that I hope to post for all of you. Take care, enjoy the sunshine and keep in touch!

-Angela

Miss Independent's Independence Day

Oh Ellie! You are mommy's sunshine!

Dan and Ellie work in the garden today

The three Musketeers

Ellie slightly missed on the tutu...

Oh Andre, how will I explain you to my friends?

We have the most beautiful children!

I'm not sure these kids are having any fun...

What would a get together be without the Wii?

Ellie and Mema listen to music

Little princess loves to play dress up!

Mommy and Ellie being silly in the mirror

What a weekend! We have been having so much fun with family these past few days. Ellie is LOVING all the attention. She now wakes up calling for Mema instead of mommy! :) We have been to the zoo, taken a few long walks, but mostly stayed at home BBQing and watching the little kids play on the patio. We went to Thai food last night and spent the day in downtown Sumner today. The days are long and truth be told, Ellie is staying up late and still waking up around 7. She is having too much fun these days. Here are some pictures from Thursday through today. Tomorrow we are going to Lake Sammamish with family and Thursday, Dan and I are sneaking off to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. Then we are off to Wenatchee for the weekend for a Golf Tournament and a bit of small town sight-seeing. This is turning out to be a great July!