Josh’s 9th Birthday

We decided to kept Josh’s b-day celebration low-key this year.  He invited 3 friends over to eat pizza and watch Wreck It Ralph.  They had lots of fun!  There’s never a dull moment with 9 year old boys running around :)  Josh wanted dessert pizza instead of cake. 

Sunday he opened presents after dad got home from his morning meetings.  His presents were mostly books: Calvin and Hobbs, Captain Underpants, Bad Kitty, Paper Airplane making book, Origami Book, etc…

Sunday night we had the cousins over for cake.  Aunt Tanya brought over some green mustaches which the kids loved!

Happy b-day Josh!  Hope you had a great day.  I love watching you grow up and am proud of who you’re becoming.

Random Thoughts.

I’m way behind in blogging.  Darrin’s parents come home from their mission on Wednesday!!, and I’m hoping to be caught up before then.  We are going to see them this week which we are super stoked  about.  So much to do to get ready!

Spring has sprung in Oregon.  The daffodils are in bloom and the trees are flowering.  I just love this time of year!  We’ve had several warm (in the 60’s) days where we spend lots of time outside at the park. 

A couple weeks ago Ella was obsessed with her tongue.  She was always sticking it out.  She’s kinda over it now, but the pics crack me up.  In other news her 2 top teeth broke through this week! 

Andrew brought home these from school this week.  He’s such a sweet boy…so good at taking care of others.  He’s always taking care of Ella and carries her around like a doll. 

If I found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, I would give it to my brothers. 

On March 19th Josh had his basketball team pizza party.  He was awarded a medal for participating.  Even though the Phantom Falcons didn’t win many games, they had fun together, and Josh definitely wants to play again next year. 

We had a great time listening to General Conference today.  The kids were pretty quiet and let us listen for the most part.  Ella ate a late lunch cause she took a long morning nap.  I looked over at her, and she was just smiling away at me with her sippy cup.  I just love her.  She’s such a cutie!  I love her age right now.

We’ve been doing lots of tummy time lately.  She’s still not moving, but rolled over yesterday after not doing that in awhile.  I think once she starts to figure it out, it will happen fast cause she’s so old.

I found out this week that this dear friend is moving away.  I hate it when that happens.  You will sorely be missed, friend.  You have been one of my closest Oregon friends.  Love you girl. 

Well, hope all is well with all of you!  Hopefully you’ll see a lot more of us in the next couple days as I get caught up!

XOXOXO

Ella-9 months

My mom told me today that I started walking at 9 months and 2 days.  Ella is no where close to that, but she has learned a couple other cute tricks this month. 

She claps all time.  She will also put her hands above her head when you say soooo big!

She’s scared of the blow dryer.  And all strangers. 

She eats whatever we are eating and loves all fruits.

She has started sleeping through the night (Hallelujah!) and takes 2 naps a day.

She still just sits, but in the last couple days, I’ve seen promise of her having a desire to move and get things.  So we’ll see.

She figured out how to drink water out of a sippy cup and thinks she’s pretty cool.

Her top two teeth are sooo close to breaking though.  She’s been so wet and drooling a ton, so I’m hoping they’ll poke through soon!

She LOVES grandma and grandpa’s doggie and makes cute sounds whenever she see him.

She likes it when we sing at church and often “sings” loud with us.

Happy 9 months baby girl!

Random.

This is what Ella looked like last Friday night.  By Saturday she looked TONS better and by Sunday there was no trace of the hives.  I couldn’t believe how fast they went away.  Her ear infection never came back.  She’s been teething, but we can handle that :)

Ella was totally fascinated with Darrin’s mouth.  She’s since discovered her own tongue, and she’s constantly sticking it out and playing with it. 

Lately we’ve been playing Wits and Wagers Family Edition with the kids.  They love it!  It requires everyone to have a tissue to wipe off their answer boards.  On this particular day we left the tissue box a little too close to Ella.  She had a ball emptying the whole box while we weren’t looking!

Josh’s latest obsession is making paper things: paper airplanes, Origami, fortune tellers, etc…  He’s gone through so much paper in the past couple months, it’s crazy.  And at any given time, there are probably 10 paper airplanes on the living room floor.

Paper frog

Paper crane

The weather has been amazing (read: sunny and in the upper 50’s) the last couple days.  We’ve been outside ALOT playing at the park, basketball, soccer, baseball, and riding bikes.  It’s been so nice to get some vitamin D.  Too bad it’s supposed to start raining again tomorrow and not stop. probably ever.  We enjoyed it while we had it :)

Why does my little girl have to grow so fast??

Josh has his last basketball game this week.  And Andrew starts spring soccer practice.  It’s just going to keep getting busier!  I love seeing the kids get older and becoming great people.  It’s so fun!  Josh turns 9 a week from today, and we’re excited to celebrate! I’m feeling thankful for great kids and a husband that is awesome and who I don’t give enough credit to :)  Love you baby.  Thanks for riding the ride with me!

Reaction to meds and a wolf badge.

Well, as if Ella hasn’t dealt with enough lately, yesterday she came down with hives all over her body from the antibiotics.  Poor girl is so miserable and itchy.  She’s on Benadryl, but she’s still super fussy.  The dr. checked her ears today and said they weren’t all the way better, but we’re hoping they clear up by themselves, so we don’t have to put another drug in her system. 

 

Cutie pie before the rash started.

Luke thought it was awesome to sit next to Ella in the shopping cart at Costco.

Last night was the Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts.  We had an awesome spaghetti dinner.  Each of the wolves were asked to give a one minute blurb about astronauts that were Eagle Scouts.  Josh talked about Neil Armstrong.  

Josh received his wolf badge.  He worked hard to get it and was pretty proud of his accomplishments. Way to go bud!

In other news, Josh made his first basket at his basketball game tonight.  He intercepted a pass from the other team, took the ball, dribbled to the basket and made it!  It was a beautiful play!!  He was soooo excited!!  Well done Josh! 

Ella-8 months

Happy 8 months little girl!

This little girl is a pretty serious one, I decided.  It takes a lot to get her to smile, especially when there is a camera involved. 

Ella you are definitely feeling better since you started your antibiotics again on Thursday.  You still have that cough that you’ve had for probably a month now.  Hopefully the ear infection will go away for good this time.  I’m ready for you to be your happy self again!

When you were sick you didn’t want to eat anything, but I think your appetite is coming back.  You like the step 3 baby foods as well as anything we’re eating.  You almost have the pincer grasp thing down.  You can pick up bigger things, but have a harder time if it’s smaller. 

You are still stationary.  When we try to get you to reach for toys or things, you have no desire.  No thing is worth having if you have to go get it.  I’m afraid you’re showing symptoms of princess syndrome all ready.  I’m trying to work with you everyday on the floor doing tummy time, standing, and rolling.  I’m not sure it’s helping, but time will tell.

You love all things girly.  You are the only baby I’ve had that actually likes to get their fingernails cut.  You sit so still when I do it.  You like to sit on the bathroom counter and watch me put on my makeup and do my hair.  You’re pretty tolerant when I do your hair.  You still love bathes.

All this being sick has made you an ultra momma’s girl lately.  Even daddy won’t do most of the time. 

You are sleeping great not swaddled.  You still wake up once a night, but that’s about to disappear once you feel all the way better :)

We’re so blessed to have you Ella girl.  Love you.  So glad you’re mine!