New Mexico Trip

After some time in Arizona James and I rented a car and drove 4.5 hours to New Mexico to see our friends.

Timing just worked out perfect with my dad's wedding and Tania being due with her 4th baby that we made sure to plan an entire vacation and go and see the new baby and spend time with our friends in New Mexico.
This picture is from Tania's facebook. But her kids are just the cutest and they love their new addition, baby Clint.

Ellie was in heaven while we were there. I've mentioned before how much she loves attention and playing with other people so having 3 other kids to play with from 7am-8pm everyday couldn't have gotten any better for her. Jane and Ellie are the same age but Ellie seems to gravitate toward the older kids. Ellie got all wide eyed when she saw Sadie's dolls in the closet so Sadie was nice enough to play dolls with Ellie. I wish I could give Ellie an older sibling, haha.

 New toys are always exciting. Ellie loved this doll house and all the tiny babies that were in it. She frequently lined them up across the couch just to check them all out.

 The bubble machine was a big hit they got to do before bed. Notice the difference between boys and girls. Ellie and Jane would clap at the bubbles and chase them around while Everett Karate kicked them. 

 I cannot wait for Ellie to be a big sister. She adored this baby and was so gentle while rocking him.

It was "cold" outside for the most part but my kid needs to be outside, a lot, so I bundled her (because she wouldn't have it any other way) and Jane up and threw them out there a few times. 

The dad's took the kids to the park while Tania drove me around her town to help me understand the full picture of it's awesomeness, wink wink. James took this picture. Sadie was obviously trying to attempt something here.  

I've been holding out to get Ellie's haircut until we saw Tania. Her hair has curl but it was often falling straight after naps or in the carseat and it just wasn't looking right. And she had a long tail in the back and long wings in the side so it needed trimming. I didn't think of a before picture until after she got started, but this one is before enough...but it doesn't look bad here since I did it and sprayed it and all that.

Anyways, she was so into getting her haircut. Such a girl. And she got a sucker afterwards. She couldn't stop talking about it for days after either. "Knee-uh (Tania) Haircut and sucker."

 And the after. 

Since cutting it short the curls stay better and if it goes straight you can still see wave and nicely cut layers vs long crazy baby hair. But hey, she was bald for so long that I'm so grateful we got to get a haircut! 

We rented a car from Arizona but we flew back to Idaho from Albuquerque. It was a 2.5 hour drive back to Alb. from where we were so we left to get the car back by 11am and our flight was at 2pm. The Alb. airport is small but Ellie and James walked around a lot and Ellie found her fair share of things to jump off of.

 But let me tell you this story...we got there and went through the security and we have our system down to a T. I make sure to get the carseat hand checked because it's probably too big for the scanner and it's attached to the roller so undoing it would be a pain. All the other airports we've been through James, Ellie and I all go through the metal detector vs the x-ray scanner. That's usually what they do when you have small children. But at this airport they said only one parent could go through the metal detector the other had to do the x-ray scanner. I've never done the x-ray scanner so I told James I'd just go with Ellie. 

Sometimes after going through they swap your hands for explosive materials and the computer reads the swap. They probably do that since there wasn't an x-ray scanner to detect anything hidden on your body I suppose? This time they did swab my hands, which, normally, no big deal. But this time she said I failed the test. I thought she just reswab or something but no a whole bunch of people came over and were looking at the computer that read 100%! The lady said she never sees it say 100%. She mentioned to the man how she wasn't able to do the "pat down" so here comes this other lady and she said she was going to have to go through all my stuff and take me into a private room. What on Earth!? 

Of course they stop the anxiety girl! However, I wasn't too anxious and James got to stay with me so it was fine. But they asked what bags were mine and I wasn't allowed to touch them or my shoes. They went through them and swabbed them and I saw the computer say pass. Then they took us into a private closet and there was one lady who explained what she was going to do and the other lady watching probably to be sure she followed all the rules and did it professionally and what not. But she had to touch around my boobs and my groin and in the waist band of my pants. It was fun. HA! Ellie kept saying I was getting a haircut?!

After the pat down the observer lady swabbed the gloves of the lady that just patted me down and went and tested for that explosive material and it passed so I was good to go. But here are the weird things about all this...I was holding Ellie the entire time and they never once swabbed her or checked her. I pointed to which bags were mine but James was with me, they didn't take extra precaution and recheck his bags. I could have not pointed to my bags and James would have just grabbed them. So in my opinion, while it didn't matter in my situation because I knew nothing was wrong, if it did happen to someone who really was bringing explosives on the plane I sure hope they would check EVERYTHING. Quite the experience. And afterwards I felt like they were probably watching me from all the cameras in the ceiling. HA! JK. Sort of.

Arizona Trip and Dad's Wedding

We flew to Arizona on Feb. 27th for my Dad's wedding on the 28th. My dad and Pam have been together for 10 years and finally decided it was time.

I had wanted a carseat roller ever since I saw someone have one so I had been on the look out for a second hand one and I was lucky enough to find one at a consignment sell they do twice a year. It was so nice to have to carry Ellie or her carseat through the airport. 

Ellie was SO excited to go on an airplane. She couldn't stop talking about it. She has been on planes many times before but this time she obviously understood more of what was going on and where we were headed.

The flight went smoothly but flying into Phx was a little bumpy and made me nauseous and hot. Yuck. Oh and when we took off Ellie was looking out the window and turns to James and says, "My tummy" and laughs. Gave us a good laugh. She probably had that roller coaster feeling in her tummy.

We didn't have a lot of time before we had to head to the rehearsal so we met Cassidy at my mom's house, had a snack and headed out. Dinner was at my dad's and we had mexican food. I was so excited. I've been telling James for awhile that I was craving restaurant style mexican food. So it hit the spot and made me look a little large in the tummy after that! Food baby+baby!!

Ellie had so much fun playing with her cousin Camden. I've mentioned before how their only a little over a month apart. They were running and jumping around and play screaming (which was cute but annoying at the same time). Glad they were able to entertain themselves though.

A few pictures to come...maybe

The next day we mostly hung out and then got ready to go. 

We were asked to wear a purple dress of some sort. I found mine at target and felt the waistline was high enough for comfort. And I found it on clearance. Bonus. I found Ellie's dress at Carter's and the two dresses ended up being the exact same color. Cassidy was having a hard time finding a dress but I picked hers out off Target.com and it fit so yay.
I wasn't sure if it would be cold or not so I bought us sweaters just in case and then thought man if 60ish degrees in Idaho is hot to me 75 degrees is going to kill me. But the day was overcast and once the wedding was over and everyone was inside it started to rain. So, I'm glad I bought sweaters. 

Ultimate fail. I didn't take a single picture at the rehearsal or wedding. There was a photographer and a few other people had their cameras out so it was my cop out I guess.

Here are some photos from the Photographer, Chip Keeler.

 It was a good wedding. It was fun seeing people I haven't seen in years and introducing them to my sweet Ellie. She was such a good girl. A little shy but she was so well behaved.

On Sunday we headed over to my Grandparents house for lunch and to say hello. We took a generational picture...

Check out this rocking bed head Ellie woke up with one morning.

On Monday James and I rented a car and drove to New Mexico...

Mommy's Birthday

My Birthday wasn't too eventful this year. I wasn't feeling the greatest so I didn't want James to plan anything big. We planned on meeting James at work for lunch but while I while getting ready Ellie came in and told me about her foot being dirty. I looked and it looked like grease so I thought maybe she stuck her foot near or by something but then she goes "come mom, come, I show you." So I followed her into the family room and gasped!!!! There was something black all over my rug. I have pictures but it does not do it justice. It was a very large spot.

I first used a paper towel and tried to soak up as much black at possible and then tried using my best carpet cleaner and that didn't do much. I poured water over it to dilute it and that helped a little. Then I got dawn and vinegar mix and scrubbed it. The dawn made sooo many suds though so then I was working on getting the soap out but the stain did eventually go away. Ellie was so concerned. I wasn't freaking out but she knew it wasn't good. She wanted to help pour and dry. She's so sweet.

But it came from these kiddy lawn chairs we have outside. She had brought them in that morning and I don't know if it's mud or some sort of rust or what and I have no idea how it would have gotten wet inside but the wetness was poured out when she tipped the chair to move it around.

Soo after that clean up we made lunch and headed to James' work. We ate with him and he gave me my gift which was a purse I saw while window shopping one weekend. Then we headed to Anthropologie so I could use my Birthday coupon. After walking around 20 times and worrying about Ellie breaking something I finally decided on a candle that is like the signature Anthro smell.  I have to say, that is the best candle I have ever purchased. It smells so good and makes the entire house smell good. I highly recommend it.

I did not feel like cake for my Birthday but I was craving Apple Crisp so we made "Apple Cake," according to Ellie. We also didn't plan the candles well (After all, it's my b-day I should have to plan. Right? Ha) so we made a 6 using one of the 3 from James' B-day.
It was super late because the crisp took so long so we were trying to hurry so I could get some pictures with Ellie too. I blew out the candles and everything and then I realized no one sang to me! Hahaha! SO we did it again.

Miscellaneous and Valentine's Day

As mentioned in the previous post, Ellie LOVES getting up on the chair and watching and/or helping me cook or bake. She is very careful and doesn't touch stuff when I ask her too but she also loves to "try it." I asked James to take these pictures so I could remember this cute little time.

And that outfit! Seriously kills me. She is just barely starting to ask for certain clothes and she saw this skirt hanging in the closet and wanted to wear it. I don't mind if it's around the house but in public...she wears what I say, while I have a say that is.

She enjoys helping me with the dryer whether that's putting the clothes in or taking them out.

The day before Valentine's Day I decided I should try and be a fun mom and make some sugar cookies. I've never made them before and looked at tons of different recipes and made sure we had the ingredients on hand. The recipe I used the dough was super dry to work with, I could hardly roll it but then they turned out great so that was good.
When I set the dough on the table to roll out Ellie said, "Play-doh?" Yes but no. Haha once she realized they were cookies and she could eat this dough, she couldn't stop! We use cookie cutters with her play-doh a lot but since this dough was dry it was kind of frustrating letting her help too much because the cut out would break easily if she tried to lift it on the plan. In the end it all worked out. She got to frost, decorate and eat them!

On Valentine's morning James made breakfast with Ellie and when I came out there were some goodies on the table already so I added the ones I got to it.

 
I got this Frozen story set for Ellie a long time ago but never gave it to her so Valentine's Day seemed like a perfect day for it. She literally played with it all day and that's not an exaggeration! She still loves it and plays with it at least once a day, at least!
I got a lotion I asked for and James got the same chocolates I get every year, it's tradition.

I wanted to get a family picture so I set up the tripod out back and ran back and for a few times...

 ...Ellie clearly liked the idea because James caught her doing this.

Super cute!!!!!!

Again with that skirt. And notice the gloves. Those are Elsa gloves. And the shoes. It's not cold she just loves them and they're easy for her to put on. She carries them over the wall or door and braces herself against the wall or door and sticks her foot in them and pushes down. I have since had to put the boots up so she stops choosing those ones. The outfit of choice was picture worthy!

Ellie loves to play outside. She always wants to go outside and wants me to play with her. She also loves to swing aka "spin." Something I wanted to remember so I also took some pictures. After I wind the swing up I say, "Ready, set..." she used to say "go" but I was joking around once and said "Baby GoGo" which is a character from Yo Gabba Gabba so now she says Baby GoGo or some other random goofy thing before I let the spinning unwind. She thinks she's hysterical. 

James' Birthday

Happy Birthday to James!

His Birthday landed on a Saturday this year which is always nice. We went out to breakfast at a local restaurant and then we went out to a few store afterwards and he found himself a new pair of pants. Yay, because my present to him this year was lame. A shirt. Ha.

The day before Ellie and I made James a cake from scratch. German Chocolate. I big favorite around here. Ellie helped a lot. She LOVES helping in the kitchen now and scoots her chair over. She likes to crack the eggs-which is always a risk and she likes to pour in ingredients after I scoop them. And of course, likes to eat the batter off the spoons when we're done.
I hid the cake in the laundry room because I knew he wouldn't be going in there.
I did need something from the grocery store before dinner, but because it was his b-day I volunteered to go. James thought I made an excuse to go get a cake but nooo!!! He was very surprised to see I made a cake and was able to hide it.

Ever since her b-day, then Christmas, then James' b-day, Ellie has become well versed in presents and b-day cake. She was all about the cake and was very excited about dad's present. Funny story...we got him a shirt at Marshalls and I kept telling her that we were looking for a shirt for dad's b-day present. Well, afterwards we were driving home and I let Ellie talk to James on the phone and she says, "Present for Dad's Birthday" and James couldn't understand what she was saying so he kept inquiring and she kept repeating the same thing and all I could do was laugh. He never caught on though. But now whenever he wears that shirt she immediately remembers and says, "Present for Birthday!." She has an elephant brain like her mommy. She doesn't forget the little things.

Happy Birthday James! You are an amazing daddy and husband. We are lucky to have you. But, stop getting old! 

Pictures in the Snow and extras

I made this crochet hat for my mom but then my sister decided she wanted it. But after I made it I decided to make Ellie one too. Cassidy wanted a Auntie/Niece picture in their matching hats. 

 I also asked Cass to take some pictures of us in the snow.

A few extra pictures from the end of the month. Ellie in her Frozen getup; cape, crown, new sticker book from Great Grandma. 

Ellie licking the chocolate off the peanut butter blossom cookie with her after nap pushed forward pony tails.