I Just Put My Baby on a Bus...

I just put my baby on the school bus for the first time. She was so excited and happy but as the doors closed, this Mama cried!

Disney On Ice

Today, my mom and the girls and I went to see Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream.  What a great show!  I don't think any girl is too old to appreciate the magic of "happily ever after."  Even my mom and I were entertained and inspired!  We had such a great time watching the girls' individual reactions to the show.  Ellie is a "princess pro" if you will so her commentary was very detailed and critical.  She LOVED the Tangled/Rapunzel show the best and ultimately decided she wants to be a singing figure skater when she grows up!  The "princess" concept is new to Kate and she has only this week begun to show any interest in Cinderella, etc.  She also has never seen any kind of show like this so everything was new, fantastic and exciting for her.  She kept clapping and dancing to every song and it delighted my mom and me to witness her uninhibited joy in response to the performance.  Even baby brother seemed to like the music and lights...he didn't stop kicking and wiggling in my tummy the entire show!

We only had our cell phones with us for pictures but I think you can still get the idea of how much fun it was for all. Yea for Disney!

Fail Blog

I'm not sure why I am writing on this blog today.  In fact, I told Dan last night that I was done with the blog because I just couldn't find the time to keep it going the way I want to.  And yet, here I am.  Life is so full right now.  I just spent over 3 days at home (literally have not even walked outside) trying the three day potty training approach with Kate.  I wanted to potty train her before the holidays, before baby brother is here, and definitely before she is 3!  My nesting urge is in full force these days and after a LONG year of change change change, I just wanted some ease, tidiness, and order to life.  Of course the whole thing was a total disaster.  When am I going to learn that life does not happen according to MY plans?

In any case, here I am disinfecting my pee-ridden floor AGAIN while Kate naps.  I have 6 piles of pee-soaked laundry waiting for me in the laundry room.  I have over 1000 square feet of total chaos in our downstairs filled with things yet to be unpacked, repacked, tossed, organized or just put somewhere else.  The holidays are approaching, we need to shop for a new vehicle to accommodate our growing family, I have failed to do the reading for my book club, we are out of milk, and my dad is shuttling Ellie to and from school today because I literally can not do it.  Did I mention I am due in 8 weeks (or probably less if history repeats itself)?  I haven't even begun to set-up, prepare, etc for this little guy.  We don't even have a nursery plan.  This mama is feeling like a failure and feeling very overwhelmed.  I am not usually the "woe is me, I can't do it, look at my drama" kind of person but today I am giving myself a free pass.  Maybe reading my daily devotional in the morning, putting Kate back in diapers and just letting it go and moving on, or maybe just getting a night of decent sleep will bring me all the perspective I need.  I know it will come.  I'll pick myself up off the floor, actually take a shower and wear something other than sweats and a ponytail, and maybe make a real meal for dinner.  But for now, I am going to eat an entire bowl of leftover Halloween candy and wallow in self-pity. :)

Happy 6th Birthday Ellie!

It's September 17, 2012 and we officially have a 6 year old.  Wow.  Today Ellie woke up 6 years old and I just looked at her and thought, "look how beautiful she is!"  Six years later and Ellie is exactly as she was the day she was born:  sweet, gentle, observant, and absolutely lovely.  I cannot say how proud I am of our Ellie Marie.  Anyone who knows her, knows her loving and gentle spirit.  Happy Birthday to my first baby girl!

Of course, baby sister has to get in on the loot!

It was a very fun morning opening one more present from Mommy and Daddy and some special goodies sent in the mail from Sandy!  Today, Ellie gets to be the superstar in her class and Dan gets to go to school with her.  I am so thankful that Ellie is so loved and appreciate all who have made her feel extra special for her birthday!  Happy Birthday again Ellie!

Moses Lake

Today we say goodbye to Moses Lake, Washington.  Although to me it seems we have been here only the 9 months, to Kate this is the only home she remembers.  Even Ellie has forgotten little details of our home in Buckley.  To be honest, I was NOT excited to live here.  I saw it as a pit stop and nothing more.  But I can say now that living here was actually very special.  Our friends here feel like old friends and the community as a whole has been so welcoming, friendly, and fun.  Most importantly, this is where Ellie and Kate have learned to be friends and rely on each other.  To me, that is the real gift of our short stay here.  Well, that and all the fun in the sun!  Anyway, we are leaving in a few minutes for Spokane but I wanted to share some of my favorite memories from our time here in Moses Lake.  Our family made SO many special memories!

Ellie at AIM Gymnastics

Ellie and good friend MaKenna at VBS

At VBS with my baby girl

First time driving a boat

Kate's first time fishing

The infamous bouncy house/pool

playing at daddy's office

Our first trailer

Father's Day

Playing in the snow with the Raymonds

Father Daughter Dance

Sisters being sisters

Kate turns 2!

Family room entertainment

Bowling for the first time

Ellie's first competitive soccer team

Just hanging out

Kate at gymnastics

Some things never change no matter where we live!

WSP Party in Royal City

Ellie in her garden

Geocaching

This is What Happens...

This is what happens when you are sick for two months straight.  I have neglected my sweet blog for sometime and have so much catching up to do, I feel a bit overwhelmed (hmmm...this is also how I feel whenever I walk into my laundry room!).  So to ease my stress and make me feel better, I am going to post A LOT of pictures with brief captions.  I'm hoping the pictures themselves will tell the story of the memories we've made as a family these past couple months here in Moses Lake.  Of course the big news is that we are expecting another baby!  HOORAY!  We are so excited and can't wait to meet him/her.  I am due sometime in January.  I have been horribly sick and this has affected our family a great deal.  I am hoping and praying that it eases up soon but for now we are making the best of it.  These pictures show a lot of fun and life but all the time in between I have had my face hung over a bucket.  Yuck.  I am so thankful that Dan has been home so much lately and has basically taken care of all of us.  Even Ellie has learned to make lunch for her and her sister.  She makes PB and J sandwiches with the crust cut off, adds some grapes on the side and pours their glasses of milk.  What a helper she has been to me!  And what a crazy ride its been for all of us!  In any case, I have to remind myself:  Ellie is almost six, Kate is well into her second year, and this is the last summer before our family of five (counting Jaxie of course) becomes a family of six!  Time moves so quickly! 

We have done A LOT of back and forth between Seattle and Spokane this spring and summer.  Here are some pictures from my dearest friend Claire's engagement party on Vashon Island.

Chris and Claire, the happy couple!

 Me and my besties Claire and Elizabeth (but missing Erin!)

 Ellie and Elizabeth's daughter Riley. Clearly two of the cutest girls ever!

Back home, Ellie got a new bike!  We wanted to wait for her birthday but her other bike is so small, it fits Kate!  This one is seriously cool.  I told Ellie I wish they made one in my size.  It has sparkles and tassels of course!

Kate on her "new" (Ellie's old) big little girl bike.

At her first Bike-a-Thon!  This little lady rode for almost two hours straight!

I walked with Kate in the stroller and Ellie joined us for a lap or two

These next few pictures need a little more explanation.  Ellie has been saving since January for the 2012 American Girl Doll of the Year, McKenna.  McKenna is a gymnast from Seattle so obviously she would be a favorite with Ellie.  Ellie has had to earn every cent for this doll so we were so proud of her when she finally met her goal!  She has done A LOT of cleaning...picking up playroom, washing fingerprints off sliding door, putting away laundry, etc...to earn the bulk of the money but she has earned a few dollars here and there for tickling Mommy's back (hey, I get what I can) or for helping her grandparents.  This doll means SO much more to her now and I am so glad she understands how expensive they are and how much work it takes to make that kind of money.  Anyway, Job well done Ellie girl!  

love at first sight

Not sure if you can tell, but Ellie is paying with all her coins and bills from her bank.  She rolled as much as she could and helped count and sort it all.  I just love this picture.

yep, a bit excited!

One of the many advantages of traveling to Seattle is seeing our family and friends.  Here is Kate with her cousin Cole.

Just hangin' out at Nana and Papa's

Kate got to go to the zoo with Daddy.  This was really special and rare time with just the two of them.  It's all she could talk about for weeks!

Ellie made Nana's birthday cake this year.  It was delicious! 

The girls with Nana and Cole...all the grandbabies so far, but two more on the way! 

A stop at Taco Del Mar on the way home to Moses Lake. Just getting some sweet love from my baby girl.  These two pictures really capture how Kate is with her mommy most of the time.  She is a love bug!

Ellie posing for her first gymnastics fun meet.  Notice little sister is taking notes.  :)

I styled her hair special for her big day

Ellie ROCKED the bars.  She is one strong little mama!

Each girl gets her picture taken here in any pose they want.  Ellie's hands crack me up!

This is how I will think of my girls when I think back to this time.  LOVE them.

Ellie standing near her garden. She and Dan have worked really hard on it this year.  Ellie made the rock walkway in the background. 

We spend a lot of time in our backyard these days because 1) It is so hot here in Moses Lake we have to be in the pool and 2) I'm so sick I can't really go anywhere.  The girls come up with all kinds of things to play and this picture Dan took captures one of their cuter moments.  We looked out the window and saw them totally absorbed in their cell phones.  Can't wait for the teenage years...yikes!

Geocaching

A great week at the girls' first Vacation Bible School.  LOVE Moses Lake Alliance Church!

One of my favorite pictures from our first camping trip in our new tent trailer.  We have wanted a trailer for so long and we couldn't be happier.  I can't wait to make more memories with the kids in years to come.  I loved the view from the girls' bed.  What a great way to wake up!

Finally a picture with Daddy!  Ellie had a bloody nose and Kate is still clutching her candy bag that she WOULD NOT PUT DOWN all weekend. Dan is making our favorite: Jiffy Pop over the campfire.

The girls each got a little money to spend at the candy store.  My goodness they are just like me and my sister were when we were little.  Picking out their candy was the highlight of the trip.  It took what seemed like forever and they were so excited.  Kate is holding some Laffy Taffy sticks and a sucker and honestly kept a tight grip on them for the remainder of the day.  Ellie got an Indian shooting a star on her Tootsie Pop and I told her how when I was little, that meant you could get a free sucker.  Sure enough, we tried it and it worked.  It was like magic.  She could not believe it.  Honestly, neither could I.  I am so glad some things haven't changed. 

We rented a boat for the day and Kate was a bit scared.  Good thing she had her candy to help her feel secure.  :)

Ellie's first lake swim