Sometimes I Feel Like A Banana Tree

Merrit Malloy - blog

2010-12-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

http://erickarozema.com/category/poems/

We will meet again

2010-07-02T10:43:00.000-07:00

Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.

Richard Bach

Life Quotes

2010-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

In my journey the past couple of weeks I have come across some "life quotes" that I have felt connected with.

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly. – Henri Bergson

The one law that does not change is that everything changes, and the hardship I was bearing today was only a breath away from the pleasures I would have tomorrow, and those pleasures would be all the richer because of the memories of this I am enduring. – Louis L’Armour

Food Dog

2009-10-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

What a character!

She is not pretending they are boobs... sometimes in the video it sounds like she is saying boobs but she is saying food. She says "Per food" which means Cooper food, one of our dogs... and she also says "Nattie food" which is our other dog.

When she emptied her dress she nicely put it all back into the dog dish.

Then she picked up the dish and dumped the food all over the floor...haha!

Ellie gymnastics

2009-09-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

This is Ellie doing some gymnastics in our living room in June, a back-bend and then a kick over, then a handstand into a back bend.

We are changing studios this year and I hope that she will learn much more than last year. Last year the gymnastics class was mostly for recreation and while she learned she could have learned a lot more.

We Did It!

2009-06-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

I took several video's just sharing one... watch it all, she's so stinkin cute.

This Dora was Cassie's, she got it when she was about 4 or 5. She played with it some, Ellie played with it some.. but we have our biggest Dora fan ever now, Elyza, and she loves it!

She pushes through the buttons to find her favorite, swiper, "we did it" song and talking about the color Rosado.

34 seconds into it you can hear her say "Did it!" right after she claps.

And she answers Dora, shakes her head when she can see anything else Rosado.

And puts her hand out to stop Swiper.

C-U-T-E!

Ellie Singing

2009-06-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

These were from Christmas...

Jingle Bells for... Elyza

Deck the Halls for... Dad

You better watch out... for Mom

Lilkittyy

2009-04-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

Lilkittyy is 13 years old and I have started to notice that he's aging. There is nothing overly noticible but I can tell he's becoming an old man and that makes me a bit sad. Hes been with me since he was a little guy, since 1996, and I love him dearly. He's a beautiful, smart and loving guy and I wanted to share some photos of him that I took recently.

Reptile Zoo

2009-03-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

Ellie loves this place, Reptile Zoo/Serpentarium in Monroe, WA. She loves to hold snakes and has no fear of them. On this visit she held 5 different snakes and finally they had to tell her that the snakes needed to rest :) She wanted to wait until they were rested so she could hold them again!

Alligator Snapping Turtle

Albino Rattlesnake
Ellie holding another snake
Iguana

Albino Alligator

American Alligator

Florida Soft-shell Turtle

Sausage and Teeth, yum!

2009-03-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Monday the 16th Ellie was in the bath, I was nursing Elyza and Doug was in the kitchen. She starts calling for me so I told Doug to go check on her. He comes into the bedroom with a tooth. She was trying to pull a suction cup off the bathtub wall when her tooth came out. It was loose but not quite ready. After the bleeding stopped I could see that it would have only been a matter of days anyway as her second adult front tooth was coming up under that one and was pushing it out. So now she has lost 3 teeth, one bottom adult tooth is in, the other coming up quickly (you can barely tell she lost any teeth!) and they are taking up all the room.

The second part of the story is that she really wanted the Barbie Thumbelina movie but it was not out until the next day. So she thought if she saved her tooth until the next night the tooth fairy might bring her the movie. Her tooth went into a baggie and put on a shelf in the kitchen that is up high from little sister hands.

Tuesday night she went to get her tooth and it was gone. GONE. Seriously how did her tooth disappear? So we called Dad at work. He asks where the tooth was, I told him. He thinks for a second and says: "I think I put sausage in that baggie this morning." So I look in the fridge and there is the baggie of sausage, and a tooth.

Happy Birthday Ellie!

2009-03-06T23:59:00.000-08:00

Ellie is SIX and I can hardly believe it! She has started to read, she's lost 2 teeth and she's just growing up too quickly!

I tried to convince her that it would be a great idea to skip her birthday this year so she could stay my favorite 5-year old. She wouldn't have anything to do with it. She KNEW that she'd be my favorite 6-year old when she turned six. She also knew that even IF we skipped her birthday she would STILL turn six and still grow smarter and bigger. I told her we could have cake and presents but just pretend it was a regular day, nope, too smart for her Mama.

She had a great birthday, we had lunch, she went to a class with Gavin, played at the park and went to Jungle Playland.

Six has been hard for me, I think because it really sets in that she IS growing up and there is nothing I can do about it.

Ellie's Beau Part Three

2009-02-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

So last night Gavin was over playing. We started looking at pictures of Ellie from when she was a baby, I was walking down memory lane as her 6th birthday approaches. I told her I had found one earlier that I was going to show her husband when she got married. She wanted to see it so I showed her... it was a really nasty poopy diaper.

Then here goes their conversation...

Gavin: So who do you want to marry anyway?

Ellie: I don't know

Gavin: I know who I want to marry!

Ellie: Who?

Gavin: You! I want to marry you!

Ellie: Why?

Gavin: Because you are like my best friend and stuff

Ellie: Oh

I had to turn my head and try NOT to crack up laughing.

Elyza Braging Time

2009-02-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

I have to have a little Elyza brag.

She was 18 months 2 days ago.

Although her words are very limited she knows most of her body parts, Head, Hair, Mouth, Teeth, Nose, Eyes, Ears, Fingers, Toes, Feet, Butt.

The other night I said light and she looked up at the ceiling light. I was surprised, although I should not have been, that she knew what light meant. So I asked her "Elyza, show Mama the light." I was even MORE surprised when she got down off the bed, walked over to where the light switch was and tried to reach it.

She doesn't talk very much and I think this is why I am always surprised when she shows us without words that her little noggin is working. She has 5 words that she uses regularly. Mama, Dad, Hi, Ba (ball) & Dat (that)

She also says "na" and touches her breast or mine for nurse, and she says "Ta" for Thank you (and signs it as well)

She signs: more, eat, drink, nurse, thank you, and shakes her head yes and no. We are working on the signs for please and help.

She closes her eyes for her picture smile :) Shes so dang cute!

Our new bird

2009-02-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

She crawled in there by herself and was SO mad when I finally made her get out. She was in there snacking on bird food pellets... what a goof!

If you look real close you can see Kiwi, the REAL bird in the upper left hand corner (he's green)

Photos from January

2009-02-10T07:13:00.000-08:00

Miss Elyza with Ellie's underware on her head.

She finds clothes and puts them on, it's really very cute!

Elyza eating tomato soup

Cassie & Elyza swinging

Elyza at the park

Elyza & Kiwi

Ellie & Kiwi

Ellie & Elijah

Elyza "dressed-up" Ellie put the skirt on her to play dress up.

Dress-up sisters

Simon sleeping in my sock drawer

Ellie in Gymnastics

2009-02-06T06:26:00.001-08:00

Ellie started Gymnastics in September. The first day the woman who owns the academy said "Her body is built for this." which I had been saying for while now.

She's really good at it, and finally the other day we remembered to take the camera and take some pictures.

She is only in level 1 but will be ready for level 2 soon, but I think we might wait until next year to move her up as we will likely be changing gymnastic academies.

Ellie's first lost tooth!

2009-01-22T22:00:00.000-08:00

Ellie's tooth started wiggling in mid December. At first I told her not to wiggle it because she was at Nana's and I didn't want her to loose it there! She wiggled it anyway but soon lost interest. I encouraged her to bite down to loosen it and to wiggle it but she didn't want to.

One day the neighbor girl comes over and says that she has her first loose tooth and that is blood behind her tooth. Ellie, I think not wanting to be beat by MacKenna asked me the next day if there was blood behind her tooth too. I looked in her mouth and there was not blood but there was another tooth! So I told her that her tooth really needed to come out.

So we worked on getting it out. In the photos her eyes are red and that's because she was bawling. She was saying "These are tears of joy!" and "I am so happy!" She is so dramatic.

After it came out she called EVERYONE and told them about it. She doesn't even like talking on the phone!

Minutes before it came out

Once it was out, you can see the adult tooth already coming up behind the hole

New smile

Admiring herself in the mirror

Change

2009-01-20T09:36:00.000-08:00

I listened to Obama and Biden giving their oath this morning. When Biden was sworn in I had tears running from one eye. When Obama was sworn in I had tears coming from both. What a wonderful day.

Obama's Oath

Inagurational Speech

And she had a dream...

2009-01-15T07:47:00.000-08:00

Ellie told me last night about a dream she had the night before.

This is what she told me...Ellie, Cassie & Gavin (Ellie's friend) were stuck in a maze in space and they were trying to get out, to get out they had to find a button and push it before midnight. If they didn't push it before midnight they would be stuck there forever. They found the button just in time and when they found it Marcia was there and she old her to sit on the couch and hang on tight for the ride home.

She's so stinkin cute sometimes. I love it when she shares her dreams with me :)

My little Miss Elyza

2009-01-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

I am always writing cute things about Ellie I think that Miss Elyza deserves some attention now. She is truely a sweetheart, IF she wants to be!

Lately if we say "Ouch" or if we act hurt she must come over to give a hug and a pat. She is quite darling and often we do it just to get some of her sweet love.

She is not talking much yet, she says Hi, Mama, Daddy, Ellie and That regularly. She has said Nana and Up and it seems like I am missing some other words.

She is walking and running a little bit, she loves her new climb and slide that lives in the living room that she got for Christmas.

She loves loves music. She dances to any beat, it's really cute. She also likes to make music. When she was born her fingers were really really thin and long and everyone said "She's going to be a piano player." (not they are very very pudgy, lol)

Last night i said "Who wants some cake!?!?" And then I raised my arm and said "Me!" And she giggled so Ellie and I did it a few more times and I raised Elyza's arms and we said "Meeeee!" to make her laugh. Then I got the cake and we sat down to eat it and again I said "Who wants some cake!?!?" and Miss Elyza raised both her little arms and said "Meeeee!" I am sure she had no idea what I was saying but still she knew the answer to the question.

Also when I change her diaper I tickle her. I say "Do you want me to tickle you?" And she shakes her head yes so I tickle the low part of her belly that her diaper covers, she's really ticklish there and cracks up. Last night she was walking around diaperless tickling herself making her goofy tickle noise "getsch getsch getsch" and laughing.

Doug always says to her "Hey what's that there on your foot?" And acts like he's going to inspect it and then says "It's a tickle!" and tickles her. So now she does it to herself and to us.

She has these two tiny baby dolls, about 3 inches or so and she loves them, she walks around with them, if she has only one she will often go get the other, she seems to always know where they are. Sometimes she nurses them, sometimes she makes me hurse them. It's really cute but sometimes I get tired of nursing dolls!

She also loves animals. She loves the cats and the dogs. She lets the dogs give her kisses and feeds them her food often! When she sees them she always exclaims "oooohhh" it's really cute and it's like she has never seen them before. She even loves the bird and we watched a turtle for a couple weeks at Christmas and she would often go watch him too.

She mimics almost everything she sees Ellie do. Ellie sometimes acts goofy and bangs her head on the bed and Elyza always runs over and does the same thing. After playing Wii Fit for hours at MIL's house she was Hula Hooping like the big kids. Even now a few weeks later if we ask her to do the hoop she will wiggle her bottom. When Ellie does cartwheels she puts her head on the floor and her hands next to her head and does her cartwheel.

Elyza is a sweet little girl and I am proud to be her Mama and excited to see who she grows up to be.

Cake or Donkey Ass?

2009-01-12T12:27:00.001-08:00

Ellie and I tried to make A-Cake-In-A-Mug which I DO NOT recommend.

It was putrid. Ellie wouldn't even taste it because it smelled funny. And when I tasted it I said that it tasted like donkey ass, not that I have ever tasted donkey ass, but if I did I would imagine that it tasted like this.

The next day Ellie asked Doug "Do you know why that recipe is in the garbage?" Doug says he doesn't know. Ellie says "Because me and mom made chocolate cake and it tasted like donkey ass."

I bet you didn't know...

2009-01-10T20:41:00.000-08:00

Today we were driving out of our neighborhood when we saw the landscapers and Doug comments on the color of the garbage cans.... yellow. He said that he has never seen a yellow garbage can before.

This is when Ellie said: "I think they are brand new." Then she says: "I bet Obama decided to change them to yellow."

He's going to be in charge of really important things you know, and I bet you didn't know that one was the color of garbage cans.

Snow

2008-12-16T09:08:00.000-08:00

We rarely get snow but this last weekend it snowed and the kids loved it, even little Elyza.

Yes, that is Ellie eating snow in the picture where she is face first on the ground. Snow is her favorite food! And that is why Santa is bringing her a snow cone machine for Christmas!

I can't wait to take them to Steven's Pass in a couple of weeks, they will have a blast.

Sister Kisses

2008-12-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

Elyza's Baby Quilt

2008-12-09T08:56:00.000-08:00

I finished Elyza's baby Quilt, so what if she's almost 16 months old! I started this before she was born, it was nearly finished for so long, finally I bought the fabric for the back, a pink chenelle with embossed hearts. I just love the colors and the entire quilt is so pretty! She will get it for Christmas this year and I hope she loves it when she gets older.

Goodbye Reese, we will miss you! Love, your Family

2008-11-27T07:25:00.000-08:00

Last night Reese suddenly died.

Cassie and Ellie wrote a song together:

I don't want you to leave me forever.

I want you to stay forever and never leave me.

I want to talk about you to my friendsYou were my fluffy bunny.

You were the first bunny friend and I want you to die when I die.

It was Cassie and Ellies bunny friend Reese.

To Reese

From Your Family.

We are not sure what happened, Cassie had fed him clean food and water..he was fine!

Then a bit later Ellie came out of her room and said "I think something is wrong with Reese!"

I said "Why"

She said "he's laying on his side.

"As I was getting up I said "Oh, bunny's sleep on their side." They sleep like cats kind-of.....

So I went in there and he was DEAD.

He was only about 1 or so they said when we got him a little over a month ago.

Ellie said right before that he was squirming on his side (her description) I assume he had a seizure or something.

We love you Reese and we will miss you :(

Tomorrow we will bury him on our friend's property and have a little memorial for him.

Questions...

2008-11-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

Do cats have armpits?

Do Vampires have blood?

Are flies smaller than fairies?

These are some of the questions that Ellie has been asking me lately.... so do YOU know?

Obama

2008-11-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

CHRIS MCGRATH / GETTY IMAGES

I am totally stoked that Obama will be our next president. Not only did he win but he won by a landslide. I was not a big fan of Obama but I am a lesser fan of any Republican and of John McCain. This means hope and change for our country, something we really needed. It is also very exciting that the U.S. has finally elected someone besides a white man. This is B-I-G.

Ellie had already been rooting for Obama even before I suggested that I was. I explained to her how big this is and how exciting this is that he was elected but at 5 1/2 she doesn't really understand. But I am happy that just maybe my kids will grow up in a better America.

Obama's speech last night:

Our elections barely closed last night and John McCain was giving his concession speech. In so many ways this is wrong, it makes the west coast feel like their vote does not matter. But the state I live in consistently gives their electoral votes to Democrats.

McCain's speech last night was actually very nice. He did a terrific job and he said some powerful things. I think his concession speech was the thing he did the best during his whole campaign.

And now meet Simon

2008-11-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

We also got a new kitten, a male tan and white kitty. He is really sweet and playful and we just love him. He was an early birthday present, we got him on 10/25. I named him Simon. The only time he's not so sweet and cute is when he's attacking Elyza when she's sleeping. He ONLY wants to play! lol. Lilkittyy tolerates him now, he isn't hissing and growling by the sight of him... but he won't play with him either. Grumpy old man! The other night Simon was so cute. A large hand mirror was laying on the bed and Simon was getting the kitten. His favorite bed is one of the cloth diaper accessory baskets, goofy kitten.

Meet Reese

2008-11-03T10:42:00.000-08:00

Over a week ago we adopted a holland lop bunny. His name when we adopted him was Cooper. Well, we can't have TWO Coopers so we renamed him Reese, because he looks kind-of like a peanut butter cup. I don't really like renaming pets but it was too awkward having two with the same name. He is 1 years old and is very sweet and not very shy. We let him out daily and he seems to enjoy being pet and cuddled.

Cute things that Ellie says - I

2008-10-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

She's holding a lady bug and she says "Why is my lady bug not crawling?"
I say "He's probably afraid."
She says in the most appalled voice "Afraid of WHO!?!?"
She can not imagine why a little tiny lady bug would be afraid of her, she loves him so much she would never hurt him.

Watching a Bosley Hair commercial..
"Mama, do you think Daddy wants hair? Maybe he should go there."
For the record, Daddy doesn't want hair, he shaves his head, he's not going bald.

Watching Cash Cab there are two obviously gay men in the cab (I didn't say anything.)
When it ends Ellie says "Do you think they are married?"
I say: "Who? Those men?
She says "yeah."
I say "To eachother?"
She says "yeah, do you think they are married to eachother?"
I told her "yes, I think they are probably married, why did you think they are married?"
Ellie: "Because they both have glasses."
Hu? Ok, goofy kid. I think she had the intuition that they were gay but wasn't sure when I asked why she thought that, so she threw the glasses in there?

She calls the new kitten Salmon instead of Simon.

Older ones...

Nov 2006
One day a friend was sitting with her for 10 minutes while I finished up at work and she said:
"I love my Mama."
R said: "Yeah, you have a pretty good mom."
E: "Yeah, I really really love my Mama."
R: Smiles and nods
E: "I really really really really love my Mama."

In the loudest voice possible, borderline screaming:
"Mom, Mom, I really have to tell you something!"
"What's that?"
"Raisins are healthy for us!"

We are house/dog sitting for 10 days and yesterday when we were coming over here I told Ellie that Phoebe was going to be there, who is Diane's sister (my SIL) and then I asked if she remembered her.
She said "Yes..."Then she said "Is she human?"

My friend brought her baby over and Ellie wanted to hold her... so she was allowed but with help..
Then she said "Someday I am going to grow real big like you and my mom, THEN I can really hold the baby."

We were trying to jump the car Ellie started freaking out and crying and asking "Why is Daddy taking all of our gas!!" She knows cars need gas and she knew the car wasn't working and saw the cables hooked from the van to the car.

Dec 2006
Ellie was telling Cassie how she was going to be 8 someday too and Cassie was telling her after she's 4, 5, 6 and 7... and then Ellie says: "Cassie, guess what, when I am 8 you are going to be 3!"

We did Christmas with Cassie early (because she's at her mom's for Christmas) so we let Ellie open a couple things too and they got roller blades... So they were out rollerblading and Ellie was having trouble at first and she says: "Cassie, when I was 8, and when I grew bigger, I used to do this all the time!"

"When I grow up to be a teenager I am going to marry daddy and get a baby in my belly."

Jan 2007
Ellie was at work with me and a co-worked took her potty. She was in the stall and her and another co-worker were in the bathroom and they hear her grunting... then she anounces really loudly "I really need to eat more vegetables!"

One night Ellie and I were going to lay down and she was going to sleep on the outside of the bed and I asked her to sleep on the other side so I could get up easier and she said: "Will you look at me?" (Which meant face her while laying down because I switch side back and forth)
I said "Sure baby"
Then she said: "can we touch?" (which apparently meant snuggle )
I said "Of-course!"
So we layed down and cuddled and she said "It makes my heart feel good when we touch."

Feb 2007
"Mama, can we get the healthy food for the dogs?"
"I don't know what you mean baby"
"You know, the kind with vegetables!"

"Mama, does your work stay up"
"Do you mean does it close?"
"No, does it stay up all night?"
"I am not sure what you mean, it doesn't stay open all night."
"No, I mean your work family, do they stay up all night?"

"Oh mom, my poop is really yucky today, come look!"

"Mom I have crumbs in my butt"

Ellie had a penpal named Hero and the other day we were watching Animal Planet and they were at the Denver zoo and I said "Look, it's the Zoo in Denver, that's where Hero lives"
And Ellie looks at me really confused and scrunched up her face and said "Hero lives at the zoo?"

Mar 2007
In the middle of the night the other night Ellie yells really loudly (while sleeping)"Nattie is upside down!" (the dog)

"What is that, yogurt?"
"No it's mayonaise."
"Why are you putting mayonaise in your yogurt? I don't want mayonaise in my yogurt!"
I guess she was stuck on it being yogurt.

The other day DH farts and says "Ellie did you hear those barking spiders?"
Ellie laughs
I say: "What did those spiders crawl up your ass?"
Ellie says: "No it IS Daddy's ass!"

The other day Ellie said: "You are the best mom ever.... in my WHOLE LIFE!"(She thought adding in my WHOLE LIFE (with emphasis) was adding more meaning to it )
Then I said: "You are the best daughter ever"
Then she says "In your WHOLE LIFE!"

Apr 2007
Almost everynight Ellie watches the "Goodnight Show" on Sprout and everynight at the same time they read cards that people send into their kids. And it's Ellie's favorite part.
And everynight Elmo sings a Birthday song as if singing to the kids.
And Ellie always says: "it's not my birthday dude" (and she uses a funny voice when she says it.)

I told Ellie "I love you all the way to Mars and back!"
She promptly responded with "I love you all the way to Pluto and back!"

For easter she got a set to make balloon animals. Well at first we weren't so good at it except making snakes and I made one into a hat and it had a piece that stood up on the top and Ellie puts it on and says "Yay, a penis hat!"

Ellie was farting all day and Doug made a comment how I don't freak out on her when she farts (I yell at him to leave the room.
I said: "Her farts don't gross me out like yours."
He said: "Oh yeah, because her farts smell like roses."
Ellie: "No, my farts smell like hot dogs."

Ellie sings all the time and when she sings The Little Red Caboose she says "The little red aboose chug chug"

We were in the kitchen and Ellie said she would carry my plate of food. I told her I would carry it because it was hot and she should just carry hers.
Then we sat down to eat and I took a bite and she said "Is your hotter than hell?"
( I did not say hotter than hell in the previous conversation)

Ellie got upset because we didn't do something we wanted to do today.
I told her "It's bedtime the sun is going down, we can try to do it tomorrow."
She says while crying "No, the earth is turning, why did you say the sun is going down?!?!" (she knows how night and day work)

I told Ellie that Daddy and I were going to a place just for grown-ups and that she was going to go to Grandma's house. At first she was upset but I told her that Daddy and I really needed to spend some grown up time together.
She says: "Ohhh... so you can dance?" DH and I DO NOT dance and we have never danced together, not even at our wedding...
but rather than explaining this to a 4-year old I said "Yep, so we can dance."
Then she says: "And have dinner?"
This must be what grown ups do on dates, dance and have dinner.

One night eating strawberries Ellie took a chop stick and speared the Strawberry and says: "Hey, I know, this is just like when you cook rats on stick on a fire!"
(Shrek-as I found out later) So we cooked all of our rats over the bowl (they sat on speared chop sticks) and we weren't allowed to eat them until they were cooked.

Ellie is fascinated that she's growing hair on her arms and frequently she will rub her arm and look at it and say "I am so glad I am growing hair!"

May 2007
I went to the doctor today and when I came home I took off my clothes and I was laying on the bed with just my underware on and a blanket over me.
Ellie says: "Can you wear some clothes?"
I say: "I don't want to put on clothes right now.
"Ellie: "Did you go to work naked?"
Me: "No I didn't go to work today I went to the doctors this morning."
Ellie: "Did you go to the doctor naked?"

Ellie was convinced she had a penis. She thought her clitoris was a "small" penis and wouldn't not believe us it wasn't...UNTIL... my friends little boy peed in front of her in his yard the other day and for about three days she asked all kinds of questions about why his penis looked differently from hers.

June 2007
After I had leg cramps the other day Ellie tells this story:"When I was Mama's age my leg cramped really really bad. My leg was going like this (making a squeezing hand movement) and it hurt so bad I cried"

July 2007
I told Ellie the baby will be here in about 40 more days or so and she said "40!!! I can't wait that long!!!"

Aug 2007 before Elyza was born
We put some cloth diapers on Ellie's baby dolls the other day and then she runs into the room and says "Hey mom, I need a fire passer!"

Ellie had two cabbage patch dolls (one was mine when I was a kid, one hers) and she came in with them and said "Can you babysit my baby for me? I was pregnant twice so I have two twins, a boy and a girl." So I tell her sure. She then says "He's a little bit whiny but he will be ok."

Sept 2007
"I'll have one of those things that looks like a donut but they aren't a donut" (a bagel)

"Mama, the spider that is living in the spider web on my swingset... I comanded it to be my best friend."
ME: "Yeah? Did it listen?"
"Yes, I told it that it could live there, but it didn't want to get held though."
"I haven't had spider friends in a long time, that's why I let it live here. M's mom would kill it, but I would tell her NO! She's my best friend." (M is the neighbor)

I was nursing Elyza and Ellie said "I want a baby boy now."
I laughed and told her we needed to wait awhile before having another baby and then explained how we didn't get to choose if we got a boy or a girl.
Then Ellie said "How are you going to take care of two babies?"

"I know! The big dipper looks like one of our measuring tape cups!"

Ellie says "American States" like "that's the American States flag." Or "We live in the American States"
I said "I don't know, that's hard!"
Then Ellie said "With that boob" and pointed to the boob I wasn't nursing Elyza with.

At first Ellie called a pacifier a "Fire Passer" Now it's a "Pire Fasser"

Guitar = rocktar
This is how I found out:"
I am a fairy with pink wings and black rocktars."
"ok" (not really listening) " wait, what, you have black what?""Rocktars."
"What is a rocktar?"
"you know" (makes playing guitar motion.)
"oh, a guitar?""yeah"
Then she said guitar once and then started calling it a rocktar again.

Feb 2008
This hot dog is damn good

My poor baby girl!

2008-10-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday lilkittyy scratched her on the hand and by evening her hand ended up all puffy, red and purple and infected. The doctor put her on an antibiotic and told us to take the bandage off today.

AND... her hand looks worse.I just took off the bandage the doctor put on last night. I told Doug I would do it and we just got home and I just got it off. There was blood and puss all over the bandage.. the doctor thought it would be ok since it had already scabbed. I squeezed some puss out, as much as she could tolerate (not sure if I should have done that..) Even her little fingers are red and swollen. Poor baby...

These were just taken tonight.

Elyza Kisses!

2008-10-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

Today for the first time Elyza kissed with her mouth closed making a smacking noise. I know she did not do this yesterday! It's so cute and so fun to watch her transition to a big girl!

On a sad note lilkittyy scratched her this morning (just because he's grumpy and old!) and her hand ended up all puffy, red and purple and infected. She's now on an antibiotic and we will take off the bandage tomorrow and clean it up some more and make sure it looks better. Poor baby girl.

He just wanted a little taste of....

2008-10-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

BROCCOLI......

I bet you thought I was going to say Kiwi!

Lilkittyy has no interest in catching the bird, but this morning he desperately wanted in the cage so he could eat the broccoli I had just put in there for Kiwi.

And Bingo was his Name-O

2008-10-15T16:21:00.001-07:00

Elyza loves loves loves Ellie's MP3 player.. would it be inappropriate to buy 16 month old an MP3 player for Christmas? LOL

Elyza listening to Bingo, this is one of her favorites...

Short Version

Longer Version and this one you can just see how dang cute she is..she sings and then gets distracted by toys..

More Kiwi

2008-10-05T15:50:00.000-07:00

So now he's into flying and landing on our heads. He likes us but doesn't like our fingers. He's too cute. All of these were taken today.

He was on Ellie's head for quite awhile, and then someone got jealous.... Lilkittyy had no interest in the bird, he was just simply jealous and wanted to get Ellie's attention too.

Meet Kiwi

2008-10-03T15:11:00.000-07:00

We adopted him from someone in our hs group who had taken him when his original family moved and their cat kept trying to kill him and had already killed his mate. He didn't even have a name, his name is now Kiwi.

Ellie kept telling him on the way home... "I know we are going to be really good friends"

We can't really handle him but maybe when he gets used to seeing us more he will let us, he wasn't handled much and they had him rigged up in a spare room to keep him away from the cat so he's not used to much interaction right now.

He loved his spray bottle bath today.

And I think he likes me...I think he likes me I opened his cage door and he came out on the side of his cage. I slowly went over to him and I was talking to him and I could tell he wanted to jump to me, so I stepped a bit closer and he jumped and stood on my boobs and just looked at me all curiously and was happy there. It was sweet.

His very large condo, lol

He was attacked by a cat and now they said he keeps picking at his feathers in that one place so that's why he has the gray downy feathers showing.

Waahhhaaaa...spooky cute!

2008-10-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

Playing with a flashlight... they are so dang cute!

Lovey Bird

2008-09-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

We are adopting a love bird on Thursday. He comes with a nice large cage and everything he needs. I am pretty excited to have a bird again. We had one right before Ellie was born and I was overwhelmed and tired and felt like I was not going to give her enough attention so a friend took her (and still has her) who had two other cockatiels.

I hope he loves his new home and people.

Inspiring

2008-09-05T10:03:00.000-07:00

The Shelterbox

Home for 10 people ... in a portable box

Article below:

HELSTON, Cornwall, UK (CNN) -- A huge cyclone struck Myanmar in May 2008. It was the largest recorded disaster in that country, killing more than 130,000 people and leaving millions homeless.

Since 2001, Tom Henderson's organization, ShelterBox, has supplied aid to more than 600,000 people.

"We were one of the first aid agencies into the country, delivering our ShelterBoxes," says Tom Henderson, whose relief package and organization of the same name has aided more than 600,000 victims of disasters of all scales worldwide since 2001.
Designed to help an extended family survive for a minimum of six months, the lightweight, weatherproof box contains items such as a 10-person tent, blankets, basic tools, water-purification tablets and containers, a multi-fuel or wood-burning stove, mosquito nets and other items tailored to the particular region in crisis.

The "ShelterBox is designed to be small enough so two people can carry it -- but it has to be large enough to get equipment in for 10 people," Henderson explains.

"It's a simple package of aid delivered to the most needy people in the shortest amount of time."
The ex-Royal Navy search-and-rescue diver says the idea behind the ShelterBox came to him "literally in a heartbeat" while watching the news in 1999. Henderson was struck by the footage he saw of relief workers dropping food on the ground to victims of a disaster.

"I decided there and then that I would try to make a difference in a more sensible and dignified way," he recalls. "I went to my study and I got a piece of paper out, and I wrote down 'shelter,' 'warm,' 'comfort,' and 'dignity.' And that's where it started."

Though Henderson says people thought he was crazy, he searched around the world for the products he knew would work. In 2000, he brought his idea to the local Helston-Lizard Rotary Club, where members adopted the cause. In January 2001, the first 143 ShelterBoxes were flown to earthquake-ravaged Gujarat, India. Since then, the ShelterBox organization has responded to more than 70 disasters in 46 countries.

"If people have lost everything why should they lose their dignity as well?" asks Henderson. "So we were very keen, as well as delivering aid, to give people back their dignity, put them back in control." Watch how ShelterBox helps victims of disasters around the world »

The secret of its success is two-fold, explains Henderson. ShelterBox is nonpolitical, accepting no funding from government agencies, and is a worldwide network with communication hubs near every potential disaster site via Rotary International. This allows ShelterBox to respond within 72 hours of a disaster anywhere in the world, subject to customs and local political barriers.
According to ShelterBox, each box costs £490 (roughly $870), including all materials, packing, storage and distribution to recipients around the world. Donations from the UK public and money raised from Rotary Clubs worldwide help fund the boxes.

Watch Henderson reveal the items in a typical ShelterBox »

"Nobody can buy our boxes, they are only available for free," says Henderson.
Although Henderson does not travel to drop off boxes or choose where they go, he says he remains motivated by the thought of the millions of people that need help every day, and that if ShelterBox stops delivering aid, people might not survive.

Watch Henderson tell the story of a mother and her baby in a ShelterBox »

"The goal for me was these people," he says. "I had pictures in my mind's eye... [like] children dying in the snow after a disaster. We want this to last for years to come, not just to get them through this disaster, [but] as a springboard for moving forward."

Stories that Henderson hears from the field remind him that ShelterBox is doing just that. Recently, a woman in Kenya gave birth to a baby girl in a ShelterBox tent.

"The ShelterBox became a crib for the baby. And the blankets became blankets for the baby," says Henderson. "It's a huge feeling of pride and satisfaction when these sorts of things happen."

Get involved: ShelterBox

Cool Present from Grandpa

2008-09-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

It was a present for Elyza, but all the girls love it, even the big one! No, it's not a buffet table for Elyza...this is what Daddy likes to call it because the baby eats sand (yum!) It's a sand and water activity table. We put it out on the deck. The first day Cas and Elyza played in it, Ellie was sick and sleeping with a fever. Now Ellie and Elyza are playing in it.

Happy Birthday Miss Elyza

2008-08-24T23:59:00.000-07:00

Miss Elyza turned ONE today! I can't believe my little sweetheart is already one.

Happy Birthday my little preincess. I love you little one...

Eatin Cake...

I feel like she is so close to walking. She is standing up and letting go more and more. The other day she started to take a step and then decided against it. I think it was coming to her naturally and then mentally it freaked her out!

Here are some pictures from her birthday weekend.

Chillin'

Hey You!
Big Sister

Me and Daddy

Ellie and Natalie

Peek-A-Boo

Proof that Cassie WAS there (she scowls at most pictures these days!)

Sister makin a pool

Yum, fiber Seaweed
So serious
Yum, Watermelon, real food
More dinner

Flowers and cake, they spelled her name ElyCa,I guess C sounds like Z...

I fixed it but it was kinda funky Clean
Asian chicken and rice for dinner
Cake!

Presents - All but one used to be Ellie's old toys we kept, perfect!

That's one way to open a present...

Baby Wearing

2008-08-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

I did not know about all the cool kinds of ways to wear your baby when Ellie was little. I had a snuggli and that really kinda sucked and my arms just can't hold a baby for that long, they hurt.

Well, I now know of so many ways to wear your baby now. I have three slings, one that I made myself. I have a Ring Sling, a Pouch Sling and a Mei Tai. Lately Elyza has been riding in the Mei Tai my back with a high back carry, rutsack or backpack style. The pouch (for hip carry) and the ring sling are good for quick trips, like into and out of the grocery store. The Mei Tai is good for carrying her, like when we went to Jordan Bridge and when we walk long distances.

Yesterday all my slings were slung over the car seat, I like to keep them handy, and they looked very pretty all lined up. So I took a photo, above. The top is my ring sling (Maya Wrap), the second is the pouch that I made myself and the third is my Mei Tai that I bought on ebay for about 1/2 the cost of a new one.

I have always been attracted to natural parenting, from the start, I didn't even know there was a community of Attachment Parents and Natural Parents even though this was the path I was on. Since then, 5 1/2 years after becoming a mother I am emerged into all of this.

The Natural Child Project, Top Ten Reasons to Wear your Baby

I firmly believe in baby wearing. Here are some MORE great resources for baby wearing...

The Baby Wearer
ASK Dr Sears - Baby Wearing
Wear Your Baby
Baby Wearing Conference 2008
Wikipedia - Babywearing

The mom

2008-08-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

Jordan Bridge

2008-08-17T18:28:00.001-07:00

So, we've only lived here for 3 1/2 years and we are still discovering cool new places around here. On Friday I was trying to find some parks where we could swim and I found online with the Snohomish County Parks, Jordan Bridge. It's a really cool park, and a cool suspension bridge across the river to get to the park/swimming area. We went there both Saturday and Sunday for about 4 hours each day. It's really beautiful and we had lots of fun.

Elyza on the beach

View of the water and the bridge

Ellie chilin'

Elyza in her soon to be pool. We built a pool for her with rocks and dug out the sand.

She eats sand - yum!

Cas getting rocks for Elyza's pool

Ellie showing me a rock she found (we came home with a bunch of rocks...

I wonder where she gets it from?)

Elyza in her forming pool

Cassie & Elyza

Elyza in her finished pool

Ellie dumping more water in Elyza's pool.

This is one of my favorite pictures

Ellie sitting on the beach

2nd favorite picture

Look at all that hair! Miss curly Q

Lyzie

Eatin' cherries

Cherry face

Miss Ellie

Ellie walking up the stairs to the bridge, going home...

Cassie and Ellie crossing bridge

View from the bridge

Look who was tired

And someone else was tired too...

Ellie woke up when Dad was in the grocery store, so I harrassed her with the camera

Ohh Elyza

2008-08-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

So yesterday she dressed herself... she got a pair of my dirty underware and put them on. Not on her head, but more like a vest, one arm through a leg hole, around her back and the other arm through the other leg hole... then she crawled around the house wearing them.

And today she stood at the dog food bin and fed herself and the dogs, dog food. She would take a bite for herself and then throw the dogs some pieces, take a bite for herself, throw the dogs some pieces.

My bite

Your bite

She is learing, growing and changing SO MUCH everyday!

Unexpected Milestone

2008-08-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Elyza can climb stairs. We've never even given her the opportunity to climb them but apparently she can I had a bunch of stuff from Costco to bring in so I set her at the bottom of the stairs (the living space we use is upstairs) and I went up and put a few things in the fridge. I figured she was ok, it's just a hall down there and nothing to hurt her or to get into. Then I hear this whining and it's really loud, louder than it would be if she were downstairs...I walk over to the stairs and she is at the top of the stairs, standing up holding onto the gate. Totally freaked me out, she could have fallen back down the stairs and I had no idea she could maneuver up the stairs... she can't even walk yet!

Elyza and Mommy Day

2008-08-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Today Elyza and I get to spend the day together, alone. Ellie is at Nana's, she spent the night last night, and Daddy is working, So Elyza and I get to spend the day together.

We woke up at 8:00am... well she woke me up at 8:00am! We played, had breakfast, played, had a shower... and then I brushed my hair, then Elyza brushed her hair. I threw the brush on the bed after I brushed my hair and she went right for it and started to brush her hair.

She also does this cute little grunt and makes fists and pretends she's mad... you can hear and see that in this video too.

Earley Learning

2008-08-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

So we...well...I decided to start a blog about what we do each day while homeschooling. It will hopefully help me keep track of what we are doing, because sometimes I feel lost, and to also track our progress. It is my way of record keeping, at least for now. Washington state does not require you to officially start homeschooling until the age of 8, but I might as well get into the habit of keeping records.

So here it is... Earley Learning I have also permanently linked it on the side bar.

Puppies...

2008-08-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

I was not the one who thought getting a puppy was a good idea. Nope it was not me. In fact, I was the one who said...

Puppies are cute and everything but they eat your stuff, they poop and pee in your house, they jump on you, they bite you and the lick you, the whine and they bark and they are well... puppies.

So, not it was not me who said getting a puppy was a good idea, I was totally against it.

We are watching a friend's puppy while they are on vacation.

Max is cute and all of that, but he's such a PUPPY! And he nearly ate seaweed last night. Santa (thanks Dar) already repaired the Seaweed my OWN puppy ate when she was still a puppy. And I just can not have another seaweed tragedy in my house.

I am the one who said puppies are not a good idea, now I am the one who has the puppy!

Glad that is off my chest, again!!

Marshmallows Anyone?

2008-08-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago while driving by a hay field I told Ellie they grew marshmallows there, teasing her of-course because the big round bails of hay w/white covers on them LOOK like giant marshmallows.

So a couple days ago she sees some in a field and some bales not covered in plastic yet, so brownish looking and in the same field some with some of the covered ones... and she asks Doug

"Daddy, did the sun toast those marshmallows like we toast marshmallows on the fire?"

** I did not take the photograph of hay bales above

July

2008-07-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

July has been a busy month and I have not updated regularly. Here are some photos from this month. The first photo above is Cassie at the children's museum playing with their cool board. It is a picture of the board, she is actually next to me and her image is reflecting onto it. It changes and is really fun to play with.

There is a video way towards the bottom.

Ellie finished up baseball in July.

Children's Museum

Watching the 4th of July parade in Arlington

Grandma Susie's and Grandpa Mark's

Sweet Ellie when she was sick

Natalie and Cooper cuddling

Elyza helping with laundry

(I carried her downstairs to get the laundry because she didn't want to leave me and I had to carry her back up like this, otherwise I couldn't carry both)

Smiley girl

Children's Art Festival, Mt Vernon

This was fun, they had lots of art activities, face painting, "big rigs" the kids could get on and see. The fire department, police department had booths so that was neat (and lots of other sponsors like local businesses, the library etc.)

Valentines performing pigs were there and some other performances like juggling, magic, etc.

Ellie got to go up on stage for a magic card trick

Video of Ellie on stage:

Sleeping, last night

Christian the Lion

2008-07-22T12:03:00.001-07:00

Christian was a lion purchased in 1969 by two Australians living in London, John Rendall and Anthony 'Ace' Bourke (sometimes erroneously cited as Ace Berg) — from Harrods department store.

Rendall, his girlfriend Jennifer Mary, Bourke and Unity Jones cared for the lion as it grew too large to remain their pet. After meeting Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, who starred in the film Born Free, Rendall and Bourke agreed to have Christian sent to Kenya with the assistance of conservationist George Adamson — in order that Christian be rehabilitated into the wild at Kora National Reserve.

Watch his story...

More info on Christian:
Christian the lion who lived in my London living room

Elyza Swims

2008-07-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, well not really, but Elyza has no fear of the water. Yesterday when we took the girls swimming we let Elyza "swim" back and forth between Doug and I. She was happy to do it, her face was emerged and she held her breath. She's obviously too little for instruction but we let her be under for a couple of seconds and she moved her arms and kicked her feet until we pulled her up. She did not sink and she was able to keep her bum up. Then she giggled and smiled and was immediately ready for more.

We have been taking her swimming since she was 5 weeks old but this is the first time we let her try to swim and she loved it! I don't think she will be sitting in the little fishy boat anymore! She was mad when we tried to put her back in.

Cassie and Ellie can of-course swim. Ellie, at 5, can swim the distance of an olympic size pool and has been able to swim since she was three. She also knows that if she gets tired she can turn to her back and float or swim on her back.

I think we have a little family of fish!

Ellie's latest hospital stay

2008-07-20T12:00:00.000-07:00

This was the 5th time Ellie had been admitted to the hospital and her 5th UTI. As it turned out she was on the wrong antibiotic, as I had suspected. We knew she had a UTI on Thursday July 10th when she said it hurt to pee, it took her over an hour to pee about 1 tsp and it had blood in it. I took her to the ER where they agreed she had a UTI and gave her an RX for an antibiotic. She started throwing up very early Friday morning and had a raging fever. By Thursday afternoon she was in her pediatrician's office where she got a shot of antibiotics, well actually two shots. Poor girl.

By Sunday she was not better. I took her to the ER Sunday morning where they had her cultures back from Thursday and said that she was on the wrong antibiotic, gave her an IV and admitted her so she could receive IV antibiotics and fluids. She spent three days in the hospital. The doctor didn't want to let her go until she could keep her fever under 101.5 without meds.

Now we have to go back to Children's to see the urologist again, more tests and see what they have to say.

She is a trooper though, she handled it all well and didn't try to pull her arms when they did the IV. She did scream and cry, but kept her arms still.

Please keep Ellie in your thoughts and prayers.

Why!?!?

2008-07-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

Last week was Ellie's best friend, Gavin's birthday party. We missed it because Elyza was sick. But she got him something REALLY special, something he really wanted, but before he even knew he wanted one she picked it out for him. It is a Webkinz, the snake. It was ordered ahead of time and then he was exposed to Webkinz (by Ellie) and he desperately wanted one... good thing we already ordered one!

So today we were going to have a special party for him at our house. We were going to decorate, have cupcakes and dinner, hot dogs, maybe even some potato chips! And play pin the tail on the Webkinz.

Last night I noticed that Ellie was in and out of the bathroom, she said she was trying to poop. Then she came and got her dinner plate and tried to bring it into the bathroom. I asked her again what was going on, was she having a hard time pooping or was she having a lot of poop, etc. She told me, when I try to poop I keep peeing and it hurts really bad when I pee.

Because she has urinary reflux and has had 4 urinary tract infections in the past I knew she probably had an infection. I got her to pee in a cup, it took about an hour to get about 1tsp, but when she did it was clearly cloudy and had blood it in. So then I knew she had an infection.

I called her pediatrician who said that as long as she wasn't overly uncomfortable and she didn't have a fever we could wait and see her in the morning. This is what I decided to do.

That was until she started crying, saying she hurt and her side hurt and pointed to her kidney area. It was also her left side which is the side her reflux was on.

So I brought her to the ER, and well, as I suspected ahem, KNEW she has a UTI and I am glad I brought her last night. It was actually quick for an ER, about 2 hours.

When I got there they asked me why and I just said because she has a UTI, I did not say I think she has one. At first I think the guy thought I was just full of myself at first, but then when I told him why (her history and current symptoms) and when her urine sample came out pink they knew I was right.

And even the doctor was kinda like, well, we have to go with procedure (like waiting for the lab etc) but we pretty much know what is wrong. They gave her a dose of antibiotic last night and then a RX.

When we got home around midnight I gave her some motrin for the pain, she was saying she hurt alot. By 4am she was puking and had a fever over 103. She still have a fever at 6am even with more meds and has thrown up 3 times in 2 hours.

I am glad we brought her in because at least she's had one dose of antibiotic and they already have the urine sample and the culture started just in case this antibiotic doesn't work. Once she spent 2 1/2 days in the hospital on the wrong antibiotic via IV (because they just use one that typically works for UTI's and typical bacteria until they have the culture back which takes like 2-3 days.) Then she spent another 4 days in the hospital on the right antibiotic (that was 3 years ago.)

So send her some prayers and good vibes. She wanted to have the party still, but then told me she wanted the volume off on the TV. So I know she could not handle it. Their party will hopefully happen tomorrow once her antibiotics kick in.

It's summer-time

2008-07-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

We have a very small yard that needs a lot of work and only have a metal swing set and not alot of playmates. Ellie loves loves loves playing outside and loves playing with other kids. Doug and I were talking and I told him that I often don't take her to the park because she always wants to stay for hours and I feel bad not staying for hours and frankly it's B-O-R-I-N-G for me when I take her alone. I admitted that I should just take her a couple times a week for at least 30 minutes and at least she'd be going more.

So Doug and I made a deal with Ellie last Sunday that we would try to take her to the park at least 4 times a week (at least twice each) and playgroup days count for me, lol, as long as she would not get upset or argue when it was time to leave.

So far it is Wednesday and she has been to the park three times now, Sunday we took her together, Monday I took her for about an hour by myself and today Doug took her for about an hour and a half - 2 hours by himself - and to a water playground even!

What a nice compromise for a 5-year old eh? And now that Elyza can at least swing and crawl on the grass it's not so bad for her either. She loves the swings and loves to crawl on the grass.

Dot

2008-06-27T19:33:00.000-07:00

Doug's grandma passed away today. She has been very sick for a very long time. We knew the time was close. She had been in and out of the hospital.

Here are some poems I like and want to post for her.

Seventy-six times have these eyes beheld the changing scene of autumn.
I have said enough about moonlight,
Ask no more.
Only listen to the voice of pines and cedars when no wind stirs.
~Unknown

All Return Again
It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do not die,
but only retire a little from sight and afterwards return again.
Nothing is dead; men feign themselves dead,
and endure mock funerals and mournful obituaries,
and there they stand looking out of the window, sound and well, in some new strange disguise. Jesus is not dead; he is very well alive; nor John, nor Paul, nor Mahomet, nor Aristotle;
at times we believe we have seen them all,
and could easily tell the names under which they go.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Peace my heart...Peace, my heart, let the time for the parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain into songs.
Let the flight through the sky end in the folding of the wings over the nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be gentle like the flower of the night.
Stand still, O Beautiful End, for a moment, and say your last words in silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp to light you on your way.
~Rabindranath Tagore

I am not there

2008-06-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die.

Mary Frye

A Time for Everything

2008-06-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3.1-8: A Time for Everything

Cassie's Streaky Hair

2008-06-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

That's what she and Ellie call it. She got her hair highlighted blonde and red. It was a birthday gift from Grandpa Dan (my dad) but her mom said she had to wait until school was out.

Before & After

There was a girl in there about Cassie's age who was very jealous. At first she was asking her mom if she could dye her hair and holding up different colors. Her mom said no to all of them and told her she was too young. Then the girl kept getting closer to us and staring at Cassie. Then she started talking to Ellie and by the end she was right next to the sink within inches of Cassie while her hair was being rinsed. I kind-of felt bad for her.

Happy Birthday Doug!

2008-06-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

I told Doug he was not getting anything for his birthday, but in reality we surprised him with a tattoo. He has been wanting to get the Chinese symbols for the girls' chinese zodiac's, Cassie is a Tiger, Ellie is a Ram (or goat/sheep) and Elyza is a pig. (in order of age in the image to the left)

Throughout the week he kept bugging me saying that he wanted a tattoo and I kept telling him no. I had already put down a deposit, made an appointment and bought him a gift certificate. So on Saturday after Ellie's baseball I told him Cassie has her appointment to get her hair done, so we grabbed a pizza and sat at the park for a quick lunch. After lunch we gave him his card and gift. So I dropped him off at the tattoo house and brought Cas to get her hair done. The scary part is that Cassie's hair took TWICE as long!

I will have to update with real pictures of it on his arm.

No Handlebars

2008-06-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

This is one of Ellie's favorite songs. Handlebars by the Flobots.
It's actually a really good song wiht a good message if you listen to the words.

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

Look at me, look at me
hands in the air like it's good to be
ALIVE
and I'm a famous rapper
even when the paths're all crookedy
I can show you how to do-si-do
I can show you how to scratch a record
I can take apart the remote control
And I can almost put it back together
I can tie a knot in a cherry stem
I can tell you about Leif Ericson
I know all the words to "De Colores"
And "I'm Proud to be an American"
Me and my friend saw a platypus
Me and my friend made a comic book
And guess how long it took
I can do anything that I want cuz, look:

I can keep rhythm with no metronome
No metronome
No metronome

And I can see your face on the telephone
On the telephone
On the telephone

Look at me
Look at me
Just called to say that it's good to be
ALIVE
In such a small world
I'm all curled up with a book to read
I can make money open up a thrift store
I can make a living off a magazine
I can design an engine sixty four
Miles to a gallon of gasoline
I can make new antibiotics
I can make computers survive aquatic conditions
I know how to run a business
I can make you wanna buy a product
Movers shakers and producers
Me and my friends understand the future
I see the strings that control the systems
I can do anything with no assistance
Cuz I can lead a nation with a microphone
With a microphone
With a microphone
And I can split the atoms of a molecule
Of a molecule
Of a molecule

Look at me
Look at me
Driving and I won't stop
And it feels so good to be
Alive and on top
My reach is global
My tower secure
My cause is noble
My power is pure
I can hand out a million vaccinations
Or let'em all die from exasperation
Have'em all healed from their lacerations
Have'em all killed by assassination
I can make anybody go to prison
Just because I don't like'em and
I can do anything with no permission
I have it all under my command
Because I can guide a missile by satellite
By satellite
By satellite
And I can hit a target through a telescope
Through a telescope
Through a telescope
And I can end the planet in a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust
In a holocaust

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

I can ride my bike with no handlebars
No handlebars
No handlebars

Green bean brows?

2008-06-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Remember the Banana uni-brow?

Well the other day it was green bean eyebrows. Thankfully I did not get green beans stuck to my face by this creative little 5-year old.

She was eating green beans with dinner tonight and she put them up and said "Our eyebrows are shorter like this except brown."

I am so glad she compares her food to eyebrows.

Look Who's Standing!

2008-06-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Elyza has been pulling herself up for a bit over a week now. She mostly does it on me or Doug, sometimes on other stable objects (like the bathtub!)

She is not quite ready to cruise on things yet, but she loves to stand up! She is still up on her tip toes alot and needs to learn to balance better. But she's so proud of herself when she gets herself up!

Pat-a-cake

2008-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Elyza has been doing pat-a-cake for a while now, but until today she would only do it with someone else's hands (or feet!) She would take our hands and put them together, or her feet, or a baby doll's hands. It was pretty sweet.

But the other day she did it with her own hands. She doesn't quite have clapping down but it is what she is doing, because she starts putting her hands together when you start singing patty cake.

She is such a doll.

The photo above: Ellie likes to put Elyza in this bucket and scoot her around the house. Elyza loves it! The other day she put Cooper in there with her. It was pretty cute.

Father's Day

2008-06-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

Father's Day was yesterday. We started off the morning early, well at least I did. Miss Elyza decided 6:30am was a grand time to get up, it really wasn't! I finally got my butt out at about 7:15am and started breakfast. I made Doug sausage, biscuts and gravy. I made myself a bit of potatoes and some scrambled eggs. Ellie at eggs and sausage, Cassie ate eggs and biscuts with jam. Miss Elyza ate some of everything. Everyone was happy.

Then I told DH he needed to cut his hair, it was getting long, like almost 1/16 of an inch (lol) but Ellie didn't want him to, until he told her she could cut his hair. So Cas played with Elyza, I trimed the dogs and Ellie cut Daddy's hair.

For dinner Doug's Dad, Angie and his brother and sister came over. We grilled flank steak and asparagus, portobellos, pineapple and teriyaki chicken (yes, all of that was grilled.) We also had potato salad, pasta salad, ungrilled pineapple and watermelon.

I framed the picture of the girls in the tulips and they made him cards. That is now tradition, a framed picture of the girls in the tulips. It was a nice day, I hope!

Imperfections

2008-06-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Why is it that you wanted me more on
the night I was leaving
than you ever wanted me
before?

Does pain bring people
closer together than
pleasure?

Are we more afraid of
living together than of
dying alone

Does distance unite people more deeply
than familiarity?

Is it as though our hunger
is to be hungry and
our real need is
to be missed

It's no accident that the songs
that sell the most
are sad.

-Merrit Malloy

Sketti anyone?

2008-06-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

Elyza had her first Spaghetti dinner last night. When I say FIRST spaghetti dinner I mean I put the noodles and sauce on the highchair tray and let her have at it.

Needless to say she loved it! She is getting very independent with eating and she loves to feed herself. She is almost 10 months old and we pretty much let her eat whatever we are eating. And so far she eats pretty well.

I am going to have to dig up pictures of Ellie's first spaghetti dinner's too.

More pictures you ask? Me? Never!

As you can see she gets progressively messier. . .

And of-course video's. She was starting to get fussy before I remembered I didn't take videos!

I just realized that my last blog about Elyza it was about her eating watermelon. I swear she does other things besides eat, I think anyway. And I promise next time I blog about her it won't be about eating.... well... I promise I will try to make it about something else other than eating!

Makin' dinner with Mama

2008-06-13T06:00:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday night Ellie helped me make brownies and then she helped me make dinner. It was a really nice time cooking with her. The whole process actually kept her attention the whole time. She's getting SO big! She even did her chore of emptying the utensil container for the dishwasher. You can still see the chocolate smeared on her face from licking the spoon when we made brownies.

She was so excited because I let her use a sharp knife to cut up mushrooms. She told me a thousand times that the next time I need mushrooms cut and I have to watch the stove and I can't cut them I can come get her, i don't have to ask Daddy. Then she told me "I know I told you this a thousand times mom, but the next time you need mushrooms cut....." God she's adorable. She did a good job chopping mushrooms too and I will of-course let her help with chopping next time too. I have a great little helper. I love the person she is becoming.

Uni-what?

2008-06-12T06:00:00.004-07:00

Ellie came up to me the other day and stuck a banana on my forehead (see above)

Then she said "Some people have eyebrows just like this, except they are brown."

Where does she get this stuff?

And for the record we are not making fun of unibrow's, I could have one if I wanted to.

Basic Math

2008-06-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm old-fashioned

I still believe that people

can stay married

for the rest of their lives

as long as they do it

with one person

at a time.

-Merrit Mallow

Give me away

2008-06-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

When I die if you need to weep
Cry for your brother or sister
Walking the street beside you
And when you need me put your arms around anyone
And give them what you need to give me.

I want to leave you something
Something better than words or sounds.

Look for me in the people I've known or loved
And if you cannot give me away
At least let me live in your eyes and not on your mind.

You can love me most by letting hands touch hands
By letting bodies touch bodies
And by letting go of children that need to be free.

Love doesn't die, people do
So when all that's left of me is love
Give me away.

-Merritt Malloy

Ellie's Beau - Snippet Número Dos

2008-06-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ellie took this photo the other day so I had to use it. Gavin doesn't even like his picture taken, but he would probably do anything for Ellie.

She has him wrapped around her little finger. While I am not sure if it's intentional I think she knows it. The other day they were playing and overheard is "Ellie, just tell me what you want to play, how I can make you happy." Isn't that what every girl wants to hear?

I found a little ring the other day and I asked her if it was hers. She decided that it was hers and Gavin gave it to her when they were three, and she is going to wear it and love it F-O-R-E-V-E-R, I must say that she has had it on now for three days, which is a long time for a 5-year old. They barely knew eachother at three so I am not sure where that came from. She calls it a stone heart ring as it has little hearts on it that she says look like stones.

When we were leaving their house a couple weeks ago he told her that he wanted three, yes three, kisses. She did not want to kiss him, perhaps because I was standing there. As she gets older she learns sexuality and right now she's unsure of that. So she gave him a hug but when he tried to kiss her she turned her head and ran away.

And then the other day (the slug day) he wanted a hug and a kiss. She told him her hands were too dirty (from holding the slugs) and she couldn't hug him. He cried, I think it was a pretend cry, but I am not sure she knew this. But still she wouldn't even hug him. But then the next day they played again, and when we were leaving I turned back to see if she was following me and she was giving him a hug AND a kiss.

Silly little kids, they are so cute.

Original Ellie's Beau entry.

I've learned

2008-06-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. The same goes for true love.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many years you have lived.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.

I've learned that two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned that the people you care about most in life are sometimes taken from you too soon.

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved, The rest is up to them.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

Miss Elyza's Watermelon

2008-06-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Just in the past week or so Elyza has been feeding herself. It's so fun to watch her grow. Something just clicked one day and she started picking up food to feed herself. Before that she would put my hand to her mouth when I was holding food and open her mouth for food, but never pick it up and eat it.

Last night Ellie and I were eating watermelon. I bit off a tiny piece and gave it to her, she spit it out, she wanted a big piece. So I gave her a big piece and she munched on it and loved it!

Here is Miss Elyza having a big piece of watermelon..

TA-DA . . . The Playroom

2008-06-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

First it was Cassie's room, I painted it for her 3 years ago, it was multicolored, Fuscia, blue, green, yellow and purple.

The the "people under the stairs" used it for awhile, still painted as it was before.

After that the room was trashed. The floors was nasty, way nastier than before. The walls were colored on and nasty, there was even food, yes food on the ceiling.

We decided that since Cassie had no desire to sleep downstairs we would make it into a playroom. We did every last bit of work ourselves.

We ripped out the carpet and laid laminate. We primed and painted. Primer although sometimes seems like a waste, it's cheaper than paint and we had to cover the darkly painted walls. We painted a chalkboard with chalkboard paint on the wall. In case you didn't notice it is supposed to look like an old sign, we were going for a semi-pirate theme. We plan on painting a sun and some greenery on the wall and a pirate skull on top of the chalkboard pole.

We also changed it from having a cheapo ceiling fan to a nice light. A ceiling fan where kids are going to be playing, rough it not the wisest idea.

We brought in a play and slide structure from outside. It has a trampoline, another slide, toys, the carebear couch, the sit and spin, all that big stuff. The toys are in the closet, but we removed the doors.

Not quite finished with all of our plans but we love it so far and the kids can play in there!

BEFORE/DURING:

AFTER:

Live like you were dying

2008-06-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

He said: "I was in my early forties,
"With a lot of life before me,
"An' a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
"I spent most of the next days,
"Looking at the x-rays,
"An' talking 'bout the options an' talkin’ ‘bout sweet time."
I asked him when it sank in,
That this might really be the real end?
How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?
Man whatcha do?

An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

He said "I was finally the husband,
"That most the time I wasn’t.
"An' I became a friend a friend would like to have.
"And all of a sudden goin' fishin’,
"Wasn’t such an imposition,
"And I went three times that year I lost my Dad.
"Well, I finally read the Good Book,
"And I took a good long hard look,
"At what I'd do if I could do it all again,
"And then:

"I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

Like tomorrow was a gift,
And you got eternity,
To think about what you’d do with it.
An' what did you do with it?
An' what can I do with it?
An' what would I do with it?

"Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
"I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
"And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
"And I watched Blue Eagle as it was flyin'."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
"To live like you were dyin'."

"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."
"To live like you were dyin'."

Even if you are not a country music fan then just read the words, they could change your life.

A friend and I were talking the other day.... oh you know the usual topics like... the crap they put into the stuff we eat (or should we say the stuff they want us to eat,) what we do to our bodies, modern medicine, etc., when we realized that out of the 4 adults in that house, all under 35, only one of us would be alive today without modern medicine. Two of us would have died from cancer, and the other the during childbirth.

So this is coming from one of those who would have died from cancer. My situation although a bit unique and almost an after-thought of "hey that tumor we removed, yeah, well, it was cancer..." was still life-changing. And now more than 5 years later I still remember that day like it was yesterday.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been revisiting my past in many ways, thinking about those lingering "what-if's" remembering those I have known, loved, lost and those whom have been by my side through it all.

I have recently learned a lot.. about life. About lessons of love, fear, anger, respect, loss, forgiveness, trust, friendship, courage, maturity/youth... I have learned alot about myself. I am a stronger person for that. The road to learning those lessons is not always pleasing, it's a hard long path, but today, knowing what I know now, I am looking forward to the day when I learn more of life's lessons.

I have had some recent healing on a past relationship, I was able to say some things to that person that I regretted not saying before and I found (and said) some things that I didn't even know were in me. I came to terms with feelings I had been avoiding. I gave forgiveness. I chose to remember the best in someone who hurt me. I realized that I can love without being "in-love" and that it's okay to do that. I believe that if you truly love someone you never stop loving them. You can fall out of love with someone, but you do not stop loving them and it's ok to admit that, it's ok to feel that way. I believe that fear should be thrown to the roadside when you care about someone. Honesty in yourself and others is important when it comes to telling someone how you really feel, and what you want & need from them. I have visited the lessons life has taught me thus far and doing so I have become more thankful for the wonderful things I have in my life.

I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter, and I gave forgiveness I'd been denying. I have lived like I was dying.

And someday I hope YOU get the chance to live like you were dying.

A handful of. . .

2008-06-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

What say you?

I know you are dying to find out what Ellie has a handful of.... yeah, that's my adventure seeker, tom boy, I am not afraid of anything little 5 year old girl.

Here is a closer look...

And there you have it, slugs... 4 of them, that's all she could fit in her hands, she wanted to hold all 6 that she found. but mom wouldn't pick any up to put in her hands and she couldn't get the other two with a handful of slugs.

Thanks Tiara for the suggestion she should take them home, but they are ALL yours! I told her when we see you next she could play with them.

Oh how I love her. . .

2008-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I found this photo the other day. Last summer Doug found this scenario in Ellie's room.

We weren't sure if we should be disturbed, or laugh... we chose laughter.

And again today it made me smile.

The Shiner

2008-06-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday at a friend's house Ellie being, well, Ellie jumped off the top of her slide. . . where her head met a pile of slate. Yes it was on purpose, would you expect anything less from Ellie?

I have to admit, when Gavin came in and told me Ellie was hurt I didn't even move my butt from the couch where I was folding Tiara's laundry. I thought she might be acting a little dramatic since that's how she had been the past few weeks. Tiara and Nichole went out and came back in, and Ellie had a huge huge egg on her head already. We iced it and the swelling got a bit better. And in a matter of minutes she was playing again. These pictures were what it looked like Saturday, 4 days after it happened.

This IS the same girl we are talking about who said "Look mom no hands!" on the swing last summer, then flew off and broke her arm... less than three weeks before baby Elyza was born.

She's mobile...

2008-06-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

Elyza is mobile now.. she does an army crawl, on her chest, using mostly with her arms to pull herself along. She's so stinking cute.

Puppy Love

2008-05-31T19:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-05-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-26T06:42:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-25T17:47:00.001-07:00

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

It's almost summer!

2008-05-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-12T18:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-09T06:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-08T06:52:00.000-07:00

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 . . .

2008-05-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-06T12:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

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. . .