Brave Mama

Last night I went out and met some mommy friends for chocolate fondue. Now for those of you that really know me, know that this is a big deal. This is the first time I have gone out after I put Ella to bed, ever! In 2 years and 9 months! She slept the whole time so Daddy had no worries, and I had a great time. I will definitely be doing this again. Yeah for me, I am learning how to let go a little bit and take time for myself. I use to think I was a great mom if I sacrificed everything for Ella. Now I realize I am a better mom when I take care of myself, and nurture my needs as well as hers. We all benefit from this, because when Mama's happy everyone is happy! 

Now to start going out with my husband again, that is next on my list!

Painting Diva

             

I'm not sure what Ella likes more, painting on paper or painting on herself. She usually starts of on the paper and then slowly moves to her body. She starts with her hands, painting her palms and slapping hand prints on the canvas. Then she moves up to her arm and this day to her arm pits and face. Maybe she is going to be an artist like her Daddy.

Duckman & Piggie Update

Day 4: We have hair sprouts. 

Piggies curly hair is a bit slower to grow.

Posing for the camera.

More updates to follow

In the Garden

Oh how lovely the garden is growing.

 Here is one of our beautiful heirloom tomatoes. 

Growing quite nicely, if I do say so myself!

Ella picked our first zucchini the other day. 

We cooked it with dinner. 

It was very tasty. Ella took a bite and said, "no thanks".

 Guess she's not into the zucchini, oh well

 at least she had fun picking it.

Here it is!

She does love her cherry tomatoes. 

She eats them as fast as they ripen!

Duckman & Piggie

Meet Piggie & Duckman, 

I'm sure you can figure out who,is who. 

We are going to watch them grow hair.

Here is Miss Ella planting the seeds. 

She decided Duckman will have straight hair, 

and Piggie will have curly hair.

Mission Complete. Now too watch them grow!

Favorite Word

Lately Ella has been using the word NO a lot, in perfect two year old fashion. So last night, as we were beginning the bedtime routine, she ran in her room yelling "no,no,no,no" for 'no' apparent reason. So I came in and asked her what her favorite word was, expecting her to tell me it was no. She thought for a moment and said "um, cabra-cadabra (which mean abra-cadabra). I laughed, a little surprised, and asked her what abra-cadabra means. She thought a moment and replied "um, means it's time to eat?". Funny girl!

After all this we settled down for stories with Daddy. In the middle of the second book she stood-up and let us know that she was pooped(her exact words) and she needed to lay in her bed. Troy and I thought this was pretty funny, and were excited that the bedtime ritual was a short one(for selfish reasons).

                  

4 Days of Fun

Ella's cousin and my nephew Connor spent 4 days with us last week. We packed in as much fun as we could. Here are our 4 days!

Day 1: We spent the morning at the YMCA pool in Santee. The pools there are awesome! They have a kids wading pool with a little play gym in the middle, and a big water slide that looked like a lot of fun, unfortunately it was not open this day (bummer).  

            

Later this day we went to the craft store and picked out, you guessed it, crafts. Connor made a shirt with an iron on patch and we made some sun-catchers.

Day 2: Sea World! 

                    

Day 3: This day was spent at Coronado beach. We had so much fun I didn't take any pictures. Here's a visual; It was a gorgeous 75 degree's, there were white puffy clouds in the sky, and the sand was soft and fluffy. Ella ran around us in circles pretending to fall every few feet into the sand. Connor and I played a game of beach ping pong, minus the table. Yummy beach snacks were enjoyed, and a giant hole was dug (by Ella and Connor). Then we de-sanded with beach powder and said our farewells to the beach.

That night Troy and Connor went to Boomers for miniature golf, games, and go-carts. A fun boys evening, I stayed home with Miss El and enjoyed quiet girl time.

Day 4: Connor was flying home this day, so we were mellow. The morning was spent at the library and craft store (more patches for his shirt). Then we packed up his things and hung out in the back yard until it was time to go to the airport. 

                   

Now that Connor is gone Ella asks every morning were he is. To back up a bit, when we took him to the airport she was very upset that she could not get on the plane. I explained to her that Connor needed to go home to him Mom and Dad because he missed them. So when she asks me were he is if I say "at home in Phoenix" she tells me very loudly, "No MOMMY, he's with him Mom and Dad, uncle Chris and Auntie Mimi," I respond with, "oh yes you are right." This happens several times a day. What can I say she loves her cousins!

4th of July

We had a really nice 4th. We went to a barbecue at a friends house. Ella had fun playing in the pool, running around, eating cookies & cake, and playing wii guitar band(not sure if that's what it is called, but she loved it). Her favorite part was playing with our friends cat Nacho. She is the coolest cat, almost like a dog. She let Ella lay on top of her and bring her toys. At one point I peeked in  and the cat was surrounded by Thomas the trains, she didn't mind one bid. I think she kind of liked it. If we were to have a cat I would want one just like Nacho.

After that we went to a party at a playgroup friends house. They have a great yard that goes out onto a cliff that over looks Mission Bay. So we all perched ourselves out there and watched 6 different fireworks shows. It was a perfect way to end our fun 4th of July day! 

Sunscreen

I was in the office yesterday and Ella called out to me to let me know she was putting on her sunscreen. I thought it best to investigate and see what was happening. As I walked into the room I see her rubbing the remains of her tofu egg salad lunch onto her arms and face. She said, "see mommy I'm putting on my sunscreen!" she was very proud of herself. So I went along with it for a little while, snapped some pictures, and then we cleaned her up. Fun was had by all, here are some pics. 

The Garden

We started our garden a little late this year. We weren't sure if we were going to do it at all, since we were thinking about moving. But we went for it, and I'm so happy that we did. Ella is really into the garden, she loves looking for ladybugs, and seeing all the babies blooming. We have baby roma tomatoes, baby cherry tomatoes, and 2 baby heirlooms, we also have some baby pablano pepper's. I can't wait till we are eating fresh tomatoes' from the garden!!

ex-STINKED?

Miss Ella and I were having a conversation in the care today that lead to the topic of Dinosaurs. She is really into dinosaurs, it went like this:

Ella: I like to ride on a dinosaur.

Me: There aren't any real dinosaurs anymore. 

Dinosaurs lived here a long time ago but now they are extinct.

Ella: Stinked? what that mean?

Me: The dinosaurs lived here long long ago ,but now they are gone, there aren't anymore real dinosaurs, they are extinct(this was my best 2 year old explanation on extinction).

Ella: Oh yeah they stinked, I don't need to smell them anymore, they stinked

(as she sniffs her nose).

Man this girl makes me laugh!!