Sunday, September 25, 2011

Ella's TWO

My baby girl turned two on Friday. My peanut is a firecracker who certainly keeps me on my toes all day long. Ella is definitely not one to shy away from danger or risk. She will be the first to climb the counters, slides and anything else that makes me a bit nervous. She's also my baby girl who takes pride in always making people laugh and doing just about anything to accomplish her goals.


Happy 2nd Birthday Ella!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

First Day of Preschool

My girl started preschool this year. She was excited about starting school, but as the day neared she was a little nervous. Here she is on the first morning. (Don't you love her orange ensemble). She wouldn't wear her favorite dress for a week leading up to the first day of school in fear that it wouldn't be clean to wear to school.

At school.
Since she's been in school for a couple of weeks now, I can safely say that any jitters are long gone. She has quickly warmed up to her teacher after learning that they share the same favorite color. (She also likes that her teacher says chop!chop! to keep on schedule).

She's made lots of new friends and is a bit bummed when the weekend comes and she doesn't get to go to school. (Although that usually passes quickly, since she sees her best friend Syd on most weekends).

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Apple Picking with Friends

It's that time of year again when we tend to go apple picking every other weekend. Grace is by far my most productive apple picker. Lydia might be having a productive day if she can manage to pick more than 5 apples. Ella's apple picking habits make Lydia seem like the hardest worker ever. Ella sits and waits until someone gives her an apple or two.

Grace wastes no time getting to the picking.
Time to line up all the kids for a group pictures.
My girls... Ella wasn't about to pose for a picture while she had an apple to eat.


I had to help Grace get a bag of pears.
Then Grace took over as the photographer. I love looking at her pictures. It's a great perspective coming from her 3 and a 1/2 foot perspective.


Grace running to get the camera again...

Monday, September 19, 2011

Sisters

Since Ella's move out of her crib and into the toddler bed a few months ago, Grace and Lydia go get Ella when she wakes up some mornings.

Other mornings, I find the three girls jumping on the bed or tearing clothes from the closets while the assemble outfits for their days. Usually when Grace and Lydia leave and don't return with Ella within a few minutes, the girls are up to trouble.

A few weeks ago, I went into them climbing onto each other, then they all fall off and roll onto the floor. From downstairs, I could heard lots of crashing and falling to the floor, then a bunch of giggles while they would scramble back on top of each other and topple over again. I was all set to create a little order and get the girls dressed.

Then I saw this....
So I let them do it for the next half hour while I enjoyed my coffee while it was still hot.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Soon!

I promise I will catch up soon!!

Somehow, I was thinking that this was going to be the easiest fall ever! Grace was going to be in school 3 mornings a week. Then I envisioned Lydia and Ella taking long afternoon naps so I could get the house clean and dinner made every afternoon. Boy was I wrong. Once those long summer days came dwindling down, so did Lydia's afternoon naps. Ella's lengthy 3 hour naps slid to just over an hour. So much for finding order in my chaotic life.