Puppy Love

The dogs have always loved the kids.. even Elyza since she was born. Since German Shepherds are very rambunctious even when they are grown (she's 3 1/2) we would have to make her be still in order to see the baby. Now Elyza waits for her kisses, she loves kisses and opens her mouth to kiss them back. It's really quite sweet.

I will have to dig out some old photos of the dogs kissing Ellie and the ones with Ellie with her hands in Nattie's mouth when she was 2!!

I am glad my girls love the pups and that the pups love them.

Thought process of a 5-year old

Ellie frequently amazes me with her thought process.

Last night she got into trouble, after repeatedly asking her to be quiet (Elyza was trying to sleep and gets distracted very easily these days) I asked her to go to her room, she was MAAAAD at me.

She went into her room and shut the door and I could hear her in there ranting and raving to herself. This is a 5 year old we are talking about. I could hear her in there talking and talking and yelling etc. When she calmed down she came back into my room, Elyza was settled and we talked quietly.

I asked her who she was talking to, she said she was talking to herself. I asked her what she was saying. She did not want to tell me, but I told her it was good to talk about things. She told me she said (to herself) "I want Mama to go to work and stay at work forever and I want to be with just Daddy!!" And then she told me she said a bad word. I asked her what she said and she didn't want to tell me. Although we have a policy in our house that she is allowed to say bad words as long as she is not calling someone a name. She called me a name, a bad word she said, something she says she heard on Horton Hears a Who. I told her they don't say bad words on that movie, she says, yes they do, and tells me she said "My mama is a boob!" Which surprises me that boob was a bad word considering it is in our daily vocabulary, especially since I am nursing. Anyway, I think it was a bad word to her because she was calling me a name.

I am quite impressed that she went into her room and vented to herself. No one suggested this to her, but she did what she knew would help and when she came out she was calmed down.

My Sweet Miss Elyza

My Miss Elyza is super sweet. She is 8 months old now and is crawling. She says Mamama, but I am not convinced this is what she is trying to say, but Ellie thinks that it is!

She is shy, sweet & a cuddly bug. She even kisses her baby dolls.

She giggles excessively in the morning when her big sissy wakes up. Sometimes she tries to wake her when she wakes up first (which she does often) She gives big hugs, cuddles and kisses.

When strangers talk to her she gets a coy and shy look on her face. She will even sometimes bury her face into me if I am holding her and a stranger talks to her.

When she sees one of our cats or dogs her eyes light up and she smiles or giggles and watches them. Sometimes she wants to pet, sometimes she doesn't. She allows the dogs to give her kisses and sometimes she even tries to give them kisses back.

She loves to snuggle and be tickled, her laugh is contagious. Her smile melts your heart, her eyes are serious and knowing.

I love my Miss Elyza.

Baby brother?

So, Ellie wants a baby brother REALLY BAD. Last night she planned it all out for me. I can have twins, one boy and one girl. The boy will be Jack and the girl will be Elyza (lol). She went over how many girl children that would give us (4) and how many boy children that would give us (1). She said it would be ok if I just had one baby too, as long as it was a boy. She cracks me up. She planned out Elyza too, at least a year if not more before I got pregnant with her. She also told me a few days ago: "I remember when Elyza was so tiny and she didn't move around.. I want another little baby like that." I think Ellie is going to grow up to be a great Mama.

Our new friend

Well, here he is. Ellie and I have been talking about getting one. We read about it, watched some videos online and today we decided to get one. His name is Elijah. She met a boy at the wedding name Elijah, and since it's close to Elyza she wanted to name her crab this. I am surprised that the crab is a "boy" because she always deems everything a girl. He's pretty social so far, he having a break though, he needs one, she's been "loving" him all day.

Flower Girl Ellie

She is such a beautiful princess... that's all I have to say.

It's almost summer!

It was super hot today, ok, well super hot for May in Western Washington. It was in the 80's today.

Ellie had her first day of baseball today. They called her the big hitter, and she was the only kid they called a big hitter. Once she made contact with the ball she hit it far!!

After baseball we came home, had lunch, packed some snacks and other stuff and headed out to Kayak Point. Ellie has been begging me for weeks to go to the beach, even when it was raining! She fell asleep in the van on the way with her goggles on, it was so sweet. We didn't even know that she put them on but looked back and saw her sleeping with them on.

At Kayak point there is a super cool play structure there and also the beach (saltwater.) One part is a huge structure of ropes that you can climb way up to the top. Cassie and Ellie both climbed to the top. Ellie did it first, and Cassie couldn't let her little sister beat her so she did it too. Ellie couldn't be outdone, so she did it again.

(Cassie sitting at the top)

(Ellie standing at the top)

Cassie and Ellie played alot in the water. When I went down to the beach with Miss Elyza she tried to eat rocks, everytime I'd pull a rock out of her mouth she would put another in. If you have never felt the water on Washington's coasts, it's COLD, but they loved playing in it anyway.

Miss Elyza and I spent most of the time playing in the shade on a blanket. Here are some sweet pictures of her just because she's beautiful.

We left a little earlier than planned because Miss Elyza turned into a crabby apple. She desperately needed a nap and couldn't nap with all of the activity. But all the kids napped on the way home. (Didn't get Elyza napping because she is still rear facing)

My Hero

Yesterday Ellie told me that she has decided that she no longer wants to be a fire-fighter. She told me with a little apprehension, maybe because I never acted displeased with her choice she thought it was what I wanted.

I told her that this was fine and asked her what she wanted to do.

I think she had been contemplating this for ooohh.... about 5 days.

She said she wants to be a newspaper girl. I asked her if she wanted to deliver newspapers or write for the newspaper, I was hoping for the latter. She said: "I want to to deliver newspapers on my two-wheel bike." She is just so excited about being able to ride her bike without training wheels.

(read the Determination blog post if you haven't already)

She has a whole plan laid out. I will buy a two-wheel bike for myself to ride and she will teach me to ride it without training wheels, now isn't that so sweet? Then we will ride together and deliver newspapers. If the door is far away from the sidewalk she will get off of her bike and walk up to deliver the newspaper on the doorstep and if the door is close she will just throw the newspaper from her bike. When she throws the paper the people in the house will hear the bump and they will run out and get their newspaper. She said she would like to start this career when she's Cassie's age (10.)

She was surprised to hear that when I told her that when I was 10 I delivered newspapers. She wanted to know why I didn't tell her this before, such an important piece of information!

Now I am really her hero, little does she know or even understand, SHE IS MY HERO.

Artichokes

These are my girls! They love artichokes, and so do I.

Ellie begs for them regularly. Lately we have been eating them very often. She can eat an entire artichoke and then some. And she's been getting 1/2 of my heart outta of me too! She scarfs hers down while I am cleaning up mine and then she says, I will share that one with you, as if she had rights to it the entire time and she's being nice sharing with me. Sometimes she even gives me the bigger half!! She's been eating them since she was pretty little, calling them "leaves" for the longest time.

We've been finding huge and nice artichokes at Costco, 4 for $5 which is a great deal. Sometimes I have to make 3 for dinner for the three of us!

Elyza also likes them and she manages to get the meat off by herself with her little teeth. It's so cute watching her eat them. I know at her age she will eat pretty much anything but I hope she continues to love them.

Yep, they are Mama's girls!

Sickies

Yesterday morning before I left for work Elyza started throwing up. She seemed ok otherwise and I went in anyway. I have an hour commute and when I got to work I started to have a knot in my stomach. After 4 hours I had to leave, I felt nauseous and my stomach hurt worse. I am glad I came home because my noon I was throwing up and had a fever, a few hours later I had it coming out the other end, fun stuff. Doug had to leave work 1/2 way through his shift because I could not take care of myself, let alone my babies. I had a fever and was sick all of last night and most of today, although I must say I feel better today, but not great.

Elyza has the same thing, she's been fussy and just generally unhappy since yesterday. I wish she could talk and tell me how she feels!! Oh wait, don't want her to talk, Ellie talks enough for both of them. I also have her in disposable diapers right now because she pooed on all of her covers for her cloth which are now in the wash. We've been doing laundry all day because Elyza threw up several times yesterday and we went through lots of sheets and towels.

Doug has been sick today too, but went to work anyway, I told him to come home but he said he's stay. He tends not to get as sick as the rest of us though, so I hope that it what happens.

Ellie started saying she had a tummy ache last night but Doug thought she was copying me. Then today she said it over and over again, she pooed a bunch of times and then started throwing up. Poor baby.

Sharp-Tooth

That is what Ellie nicknamed Elyza a few weeks ago . . .and a Sharp-tooth she is. She has 7 teeth, 6 are in all the way, the 7th is 3/4 of the way in. And she's working on number 8.

Yesterday morning she bit me so hard while nursing she drew blood and left tooth marks at the base of my nipple.

She's doing it when she decides she wants to turn her head to look at something, but she wants to keep nursing. She clamps down and turns her head trying to keep the nipple in her mouth.

It hurts really bad, I only tried to nurse her once on that side after that yesterday and it hurt bad. Then today I was so full and I was sore from my wound that it hurt more, so I let her nurse this afternoon.

Don't put your fingers in her mouth, she clamps down immediately. She has reflexes like a crocodile. And it's hard to pry that little mouth open! If you feed her with your fingers you must be F-A-S-T!

Ellie bit me maybe a total of three times. Elyza bites me 10+ times a day. Stinker.

Mother's Day

It's been an ok day. I have been quite crabby all weekend. I had to quit taking my happy medicine when I quit all meds because of my spots. Ugh, I've had enough.

Doug and Ellie got me an umbrella for the table on our deck. It's exactly what I wanted. Ellie picked out the color, Red, because it's my favorite color. Kinda glad there was no rainbow umbrella, because for the past few times she's wanted to get me gifts she has wanted to get me "rainbow" whatever it was... like a rainbow nightgown, rainbow sling for Elyza, etc. Rainbow isn't exactly my thing, too bright and rainbow-ey.

Well after my mom left (she was here all weekend) Doug and I finished the playroom floor! What a relief. And would you believe that we used every single last board. We actually needed one more board because we did not have a top peice to fit in, but we modified it since it was the corner and we will just use some filler. It looks ok. Now we just need to finish the painting (ceiling and mural) and put the moulding back up and then the toys can go it - YAY - the kids have a playroom. We are also not putting on the closet doors, we are going to make the whole closet a toy box, it will be super cool. I will eventually post before and after pictures.

Now we are off to go out for dinner for Mother's Day.

Determination

Ellie has always been a very determined child with an I can and I will attitude. When she was three she decided she wanted to learn to blow bubbles with gum. . .she practiced until she learned, which didn't take long.

She did the same thing with whistling. . .

She got heeley's for her birthday and she practiced until she got it perfect.




Well today she decided she was going to learn something new... and she learned it in a matter of 10 minutes...







She had told me that the neighbor girl who is 5 months older than her could now ride a bike with only two wheels. I told her she could to, so when we came home, I took off the training wheels and she was riding like pro in about 10 minutes! She thought she wanted to at the end of the summer last year but when we took the training wheels off she would barely try. This time once she learned that M could do it she was dertermined not to be out done.

She's ONLY 5!!

And don't you just love her outfits?

My sweet Ellie

Ellie has mentioned a few times that she misses cuddling with me. I try to find time to cuddle with her, but with Doug gone at nights and Elyza hooked to the boob it is hard. Last night I was able to pull Elyza off and keep her asleep so I rolled over to cuddle Ellie and when I did she told me again that she missed cuddling with me. It made me sad. She is not complaining, just commenting. She is such a sweet little peach.


Last night I told her a story about one night when she was about 3 years old and I could not sleep. I was tossing and turning and could not rest. Finally after hours of this I snuggled up to her (she sleeps in my bed) and fell right to sleep. She really enjoyed this story, she likes to hear stories about things that happened "a long time ago."



Lately I have been telling her little stories about my childhood or past stories and she is really enjoying them and it is really helping us relate and connect.

My sweet Ellie.

And Tango Makes Three

The article is posted below that prompted this entry in my blog. Have you ever read "And Tango Makes Three?" It is a wonderful, wonderful, story and I bought it for Ellie for her birthday this year.

This article I read today annoyed me. One quote from the article: "The complaints are that young children will believe that homosexuality is a lifestyle that is acceptable. The people complaining, of course, don't agree with that,"

That would be EXACTLY why I bought the book, to teach my child that homosexuality is a lifestyle that is acceptable. And the people who don't agree with that don't need to read the book. There are many many books that I don't agree with so I don't read them.

Article: Penguin tale tops list of `challenged' books

For the love of . . .

FISH.

Did G'Damn the fish HAVE to die? That is TWO fish this week. We had a goldfish for about 5 months, but for the last 3 months he floated upside down. He would try to get right side up but would eventually end up upside down. It really bothered us, we found out the probable cause was Swim Bladder Disease. Well Jasmine, the gofdfish died last Friday. It was ok because she was clearly miserable and we couldn't help her. We had tried treatments but none worked.

Ellie wanted another fish so I took her to the pet store and we picked out a Beta. Her name was Rainbow (we all know that the betas they sell are males, but she wanted him to be a girl.) She was lively, cute, she ate well, looked at us, etc. And last night we fed her, she interacted with us a bit, then a few hours later she was dead. I couldn't believe it. I was nursing Elyza and I asked Ellie was she was doing. She said "looking at my fish." I said "Ok, well do you want to come to bed?" She said "I think he died." I said "no, he can't be dead honey, we just got him." So then she said "Well he's floating up-side-up." Then she explained that he was floating with his butt up and his face down. I told her ot lightly tap on the glass, she did, nothing, then I told her to move the bowl a little (I was still nursing Elyza and couldn't see) she said he flopped to the side but didn't swim. I was shocked, so I pulled Elyza off and went and looked and sure enough she was D-E-A-D !! What the heck?

The first day we got her she watched her for a long time and then came and told me that Rainbow talked to her (made a little fish face) and said she could understand fish. She told me Rainbow told her "Thank you for the yummy food and the pretty bowl and rock, I love you." She put a special rock in her bowl too. She was so sweet and innocent and seemed to have really bonded with Rainbow.

When she died she was so brave, and at first it seemed that she was taking it ok, but we only had Rainbow for three stinking days but she loved that fish. I could tell she was choking back the tears and trying to be grown up about it, so I told her that she could cry if she needed to. She immediately started bawling, I held her and she talked about how she missed her and wanted to know why she died. So I offered some suggestions that Rainbow was probably old, we could get another Beta, one of Rainbow's kids etc. She wrote a letter to Rainbow and put it by her bowl near where her face was down so she could see it. Then I told her some stories about pets I had when I was a kid or younger to cheer her up while I rubbed her back, then she fell asleep.

Doug took care of Rainbow when he came home from work.

I just don't know if we should try another fish, apparently we are NOT good fish owners.

I don't even have a picture of Rainbow because we had just gotten her!

10 Things to Recycle That You Never Thought You Could

I was looking at the weather today and saw a link to this. I found it interesting and because I am a firm believer in the 3 R's, reusing, reducing and recycling I thought I would share this great and informative article. . .

10 Things to Recycle That You Never Thought You Could

From PDAs to packing peanuts, new ways to keep old things out of the trash

Kelly ReganThursday, February 14, 2008

How full is your trash can? If you're like most people in the U.S., it's much fuller than it could be. Americans recycled just 33 percent of the 250 million tons of garbage they created in 2006, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In comparison to a country such as Sweden, which recycles more than 85 percent of its waste every year, it's clear we can and should do better by moving beyond recycling mainstays like newspapers, cans and bottles. So before you toss something in the trash, think about how it could find new life as another product -- or with another owner.

A few general guidelines:
You can probably recycle more than you think. Visit Earth 911 for the rules in your area -- what can be left curbside, and what your local agency will accept at designated drop-off sites.
Even your most worn-out household items can find new homes. Sell used items on eBay or Craigslist, or give them away through your local freecycle.

Items donated to qualified charitable organizations can be taken as a tax deduction.
Here are some specific ways to recycle 10 surprising items:

1. Vintage doorknobs, radiators, windows and mantels: Donate or sell classic architectural elements to salvage firms or restoration projects. SalvageWeb is an online ad space that links buyers and sellers all over the world; here you can buy an Art Deco church chandelier, or unload a clawfoot tub after renovating your bathroom. Baltimore-based Second Chance Inc. accepts salvage donations and trains low-income people in the art of "deconstructing" buildings.

2. Toothbrushes: Recycline manufacturers its Preserve toothbrush from Stonyfield Farm yogurt containers; return each worn-out brush in a postage-paid envelope and it will be repurposed into plastic lumber. The Radius Original Toothbrush has a handle made of cellulose, an organic fiber. (Radius also recycles the handles of its battery-operated model once the battery runs out.) Or try Eco-Dent's TerrAdenT toothbrush, which has a replaceable head, so the handle can be reused.

3. Foam packaging: Lightweight "peanuts" made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) contain 25 to 100 percent recycled material. The Plastic Loose Fill Council has a "Peanut Hotline" (800-828-2214) you can call to find local recycling centers, including chain-store shippers such as Pak Mail and The UPS Store. To recycle large, molded chunks of EPS used to cushion televisions, air conditioners and such, contact the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers.

4. Sneakers: Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program turns used athletic footwear (no cleats) into a material called Nike Grind, used to surface playgrounds, running tracks and outdoor courts. Or send your still-wearable athletic shoes to Shoe4Africa, which forwards them to athletes in developing countries.

5. Toys: Ask your local shelter for homeless families or battered women if they accept gently used toys. The Salvation Army and Vietnam Veterans of America also take used toys. Adult-appropriate items such as board games can be sent to troops overseas through AnySoldier.com.

6. Wine corks: Yemm & Hart, which produces recycled building materials, turns used corks into floor and wall tiles. In Canada, the Bag-a-Cork program collects wine corks for recycling.

7. Motor oil: Recycled motor oil can find new life as a lubricant or fuel. The American Petroleum Institute estimates the electricity created with just 2 gallons of reused motor oil would power the average home for nearly a day. Preserve used oil in a clean container with a secure, leakproof lid. You can recycle the used oil filter, too. Earth 911 has a list of motor oil recycling centers that's searchable by ZIP code.

8. Formal dresses: Charities like Chicago's Glass Slipper Project and New York City's Operation Fairy Dust accept donated gowns, shoes and purses to provide free prom wear to low-income teens. Books such as "Always a Bridesmaid: 89 Ways to Recycle That Bridesmaid Dress" offer tongue-in-cheek recycling advice to every woman who has a hideous gown buried at the back of her closet.

9. Eyeglasses, frames and cases: The Lions Club and Give the Gift of Sight Foundation collect used eyeglasses for needy people around the world. Donate your glasses at one of 17 Lions Clubs recycling centers, or at chains such as Pearle Vision Center, LensCrafters and Sunglass Hut.

10. Computers, cell phones and other e-waste: The EPA maintains a list of charities that accept used electronic equipment. Staples, Office Depot and Best Buy offer in-store e-waste recycling -- Best Buy also recycles used appliances. Dell, Toshiba and Sony lead the way in recycling computer products. Donate cell phones to organizations like The Wireless Foundation or Collective Good. Ship old videotapes and DVDs to Ecodisk or Greendisk. And mygreenelectronics.org connects you with e-waste recyclers in your area.

(I did not take the photograph or make the posted image with this blog post)

Fiber

A few of us from our homeschool group met at Jen's house for a sheep shearing party per say. We showed up a little late but got to see the last one get sheared. And wow, that's alot of wool!!

I have no idea how much yarn this will make, I do have an appreciation for yarn, although I can not knit. I am knitting and crocheting challenged, but I love handmade knitted items for sure!

The kids ran & played and they have a zip line thing that Ellie loved... man she would be on that all the time if it were at our house. It was right up her alley. She did not want to leave but we had to go to the tulips for the last weekend.

Tulip pictures to come. . .

Ellie's Beau

One day Doug and I were on the phone and something was said about the neighbor girl M and Doug said "Well she is Ellie's best friend." I said "No she's not" and turned around and asked Ellie who her best friend was. She promptly said "Gavin." We didn't talk about it after that.

The next time we were at Gavin's house (about a week later) I asked Ellie again, in front of Gavin's mom (but not in front of Gavin) and she again said "Gavin." A few days after that Gavin's mom casually asked Gavin who his best friend was, and without hesitation he said "Ellie." No one told either of them to say that or think that.

When it was Ellie's birthday Gavin went to pick her out a present. The only thing he wanted to get her was a frisbee. His mom asked him if he was sure he didn't want to get something else and he said "No, that is what Ellie wants." The funny part was it really WAS something Ellie wanted. She had been asking for a frisbee, but she said she didn't tell Gavin that.

So there is it, Ellie's best friend is Gavin. He is almost 5, they are 4 months apart, she likes younger men I guess.

The photo above was taken in the Tulip fields in LaConnor WA a few weeks ago.

Addicted

Hello, my name is Angie and I am a Webkinz addict.

Ellie wants me to earn her enough money to buy three pools, so each of her Webkinz can swim at the same time (because only one can swim in a pool at a time.) They cost $1500 Webkinz dollars. Her Cat Neko loves to swim (this is what it told us when she got her) and she knows that dogs love to swim too, she has a German Shepherd and a Husky Webkinz.

So why not, I love some of those games! I have earned her enough now to buy two pools and all the clothes and accessories her little heart desires, just need to play another day or so for her to get another pool. She's lucky that her Mama is addicted to Quizzys Word Challenge along with a few other games.. but with Quizzy's I can earn her the most money!