Note From Mom

So much LIFE has been happening around here!

Give us a week or so

and it will be like we were here the whole time!

But just in case...

Art class, a giant Polar bear, and great friends

I am LOVING my art class 

(I signed up for another session).

My instructor is so creative and is teaching us all kinds of really cool things to do.

Last week, we painted with vegetables.

We used potatoes, broccoli, cabbage, onions, cauliflower, and celery.

I really like painting.

I actually love painting.

So I thoroughly enjoyed this class time.

I also may have tasted the vegetables once I painted them.

And at the end we made a cool little portfolio to put our work in.

Prepping the potato with a little green and blue paint.

Prepping the cauliflower.

I had a smorgasbord of paint.

These little spots of paint on my face are apparently what gave me away in my taste-testing efforts...
and the fact that Mommy knows I put EVERYTHING in mouth just to test it out.

Vegetable paintings

Does anyone remember the Knights and Princess of R Street Castle??

Well, there's now another princess and a lot of fun going on.

My family decided to meet up with them (and their parents!) midway from both of our residences and we somehow ended up in a zoo... which was fitting.

This is who greeted us:

Ella was always ready with a pose and a great smile.

Ella and Elly

Baby brother... oh wait! That's not my brother, that's a baby orangutan.

This is Isaac.
He kept trying to hold my hand.
I really didn't want him holding my hand...
however, I did let him cozy up next to me.

There are two babies missing from this shot.
But do notice the kangaroos in the background... with no fence.

This is inside the Polar Bear exhibit where you can see him being fed.

And he can come say hello.

And show off his HUGE paws.

We had so much fun; 

a timely little adventure when looking for a place to dine for dinner 

(our GPS somehow managed to find TWO carry-out only pizza shops, however we didn't know this until we arrived!);

and free cookies for dessert.

It was such a great trip.

I get it from my Momma...

We were at my cousin's house the other night having a fun family dinner.

When my cousin, Taylor, and I were finished we decided to go inside and play.

We may have found her mom's make-up bag.

And I may have used her mascara.

I can't help it!

It's in my genes.

My mommy is a mascara/lip gloss junkie.

So, really... what do you expect??

An afternoon at the movies... or the porch.

Movie out on the front porch?

Yeah, sometimes that's how we roll.

Art Class

Does anyone remember when I said I was going to be starting an Art Class back in March??

Well... it was cancelled.

There apparently weren't enough kids signed up.

But I didn't let that get me down!

Mommy and I just got a little creative and made our OWN art class...

out in Daddy's garage.

I painted and did some crafty things.

But then a new semester of classes were beginning,

so we tried again.

And this time, there were plenty signed up!

It was a five week class where we molded clay,

painted,

drew all kinds of things,

used scissors and glue...

my kind of thing.

I loved it.

Here are a few samples of my work:

(These aren't currently for sale, 

but if you see something that you just have to get your hands on,

let me know and we can probably work out a deal.)

There are a few other workshops being offered, 

so you may be seeing more of my work soon.

A magical evening at home...

I was standing by the fence checking things out in the neighborhood.  Mommy has taught me well... we're basically the Neighborhood Watch Crew.

Then Elly and I took a journey into an enchanting forest.

When I wasn't looking, Elly went back for more!

We got a little fishin' in tonight.

Judah got in on the action, too.

And then we laughed and laughed and laughed at our Daddy, but that's pretty much a daily thing around here.

Oh yes, it's that time again!

This last weekend was the kick-off to the 

MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!

And so, of course, we all know that means a trip out to the pumpkin patch.

It was a blast, as usual...

The horse swing that I rode and yee-hawed all the way!

Elly wasn't sure at first, but she ended up really liking it.

The BIG slide! As you can see, we loved this.

Oh! Look at Grandpa and my baby brother... so sweet.

Growing!

This is the headless horseman that showed up as we were finding our pumpkins.

Daddy and me finding the perfect pumpkin.

The family!
Aunt Anna and my little baby cousin (she's still being knit together, but she's almost here!!) were  out of town this year and we missed her. 

Elly, Haley, and Uncle Bryan

Elly liked the jumping pillow... as long as Mommy was holding her tight!

So, as you can see, when I said it was a blast, it really WAS A BLAST!!

Happy Birthday, Elly Belly!!

Elly's birthday date

Little Sis is going to be TWO on the 28th.

TWO! Unbelievable.

Her and Mommy went on a birthday date today, while I hung out with Great Grandma (which is almost just as fun as a birthday date).  Since I wasn't invited, I don't REALLY know what went on, but these pictures look as though she got her money's worth!

A Note From Mom:

First off, that big smile while sitting in the car seat is because that's actually Big Sister's car seat, which Elly sits in every chance she gets if Lucy isn't with us! Then off to Knolla's for some breadsticks and pizza and a little drive through their arcade. Elly received a coupon to the B & N Cafe to pick out a birthday treat (we're members of the Kid's Club at Barnes and Noble and the kid's get coupons on their  birthdays for free treats... and a lot of other things throughout the year, too!), so she picked out her own M & M bar and highly enjoyed it!

Elly has such an old soul and has always reminded me of a little old lady.  She has such a tender heart for others and on the other side of the spectrum is the orneriest little thing you'll ever meet! She has a heart to serve and bless others, just like her Daddy, and it's so sweet (and incredible) to witness these moments. She's just such a beautiful little person already. She hasn't quite mastered speaking the English language yet, but she's an incredible communicator (which excites me to see how her Creator will use that in her life!). And she's potty-training herself, which is good, because I lose almost all patience in the potty training stage of life.

But I just can't get enough of this little lady.

My Summer Favorites Round-Up

Obviously, number one on the list...

anything to do with water;

hanging out with sis, and snuggling baby brother;

Haley.

We've had a fun, eventful, HOT Summer around here. Baby brother is growing, smiling, cooing, and basically being awesome.  Little sis is almost two and takes after Mommy showing signs of a true DIY-er potty training herself. And me... well, I'm soaking in every little thing I hear and see; asking questions and seeking answers; doing whatever it takes to make Mommy laugh; wrestling Daddy every night before we read our books and pray; learning compassion; asking for forgiveness (sometimes hitting Elly IS the answer... in the heat of the moment); singing at the top my lungs anytime we're in the car; being a superhero one minute and a princess the next... just really REALLY loving life.

And I hope you are, too.

New! Downing Children's Garden @ Botanica

Okay, to say my mommy was excited about this is kind of an understatement. She COULD NOT wait for this place to open. And then when it did finally open... guess where she was?? In a hospital.  However, she was with a REALLY cute little snuggly baby, so she didn't mind too much.

We were able to make it over there last week with Great Grandma and a few cousins and seriously had a blast! That little squirrel welcomes you as you walk under rainbows of light towards a beautiful garden full of wonder and delight... oh, I rhymed, hehehe. Plus there's water... and you know how little sis loves that water. We really did have so much fun and I can't wait to go back!!

Oh yeah, and another thing...

check out Mommy's new blog:

www.she-laughs.blogspot.com

Note From Mom:

This is SUCH a great place!! I'm considering getting a membership... that's how great it is!

Although on Thursdays it's $3 admission for everyone 2 and over, 2 and under are free.

And, yes!  Check out MY new blog. :)

Summer Rain

"How beautiful is the rain!

After the dust and the heat

In the broad and fiery street

In the narrow lane

How beautiful is the rain!'

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Summer Rain

He's made it a month! (Well... he's gotta make it one more day!)

Oh goodness! Look at that sweetness!

And he's VERY kissable!

We get to keep him?!?!

Well, little brother has made himself quite at home here in our little world. And it's wonderful. He's a really good little baby for Mommy, which means Elly and I can be just a little bit more naughty and it all evens out. At least that's how I look at it.