What else will happen this year?

Well since the break-in, not too much has happened... thankfully!!

This past week, we had our first trip for x-rays. I have been waiting for this day, seeing as how our daughter is not a girl at all. She is a little tomboy like I was. Always running, jumping, spinning, and playing. Well, last Friday Ellie and I were playing (running actually) throughout the house. She went running into her room and looked back at me and ran into the door frame. She hit it so hard that it spun her around and she landed on her back. She immediately started screaming and would not move her arm. I grabbed her up, sat on the couch and tried to get her to show me were it hurt. She pointed to her wrist and I grabbed our ice pack and put it on there and tried to get her to calm down. Daddy came home soon after and I told him I think she really hurt it. So we got to moving it around and she stopped crying. So we thought she was fine. Saturday, she only complained maybe two or three times. Sunday, she said nothing about it. So Monday comes around and I send her on to school. I did however make sure to tell her teachers what had happened so that if she complains they know what it was from. About 10:30 I get a call from school. Sure enough, she had fallen off the merry-go-round at school and hurt her arm again. The teachers said they would watch her until I got there. Well, this time of year you can't get a sub at all. So poor Ellie had to wait it out until the end of the day. She was fine when I picked her up. Even using her hand!! But I went ahead and took her to the doctor.

I was really afraid that she would not let them take x rays of her arm. She is not one for sitting still. But Ellie was excellent! She sat perfectly still the entire time the lady took x rays!! We only had to wait about 5 minutes for the doctor to see them and send us on our way to the orthopedic doctor. We then went down the road to the TOC and got a cast put on. Again, Ellie was great. She sat still and let the nurse put on her cast. She even picked out the color... purple.

When we finally made it home, Josh was already there. As soon as Ellie saw him, she said "Hey daddy look at what I got." (held up her hand). Josh felt so bad for her that he went to Walmart and bought her some popsicles and a movie. It only took her about six hours to realize that cast are not very fun. At about 12:30 that night, she woke me up crying wanting me to take it off. She has had it a week now, and seems to be doing much better with it. I haven't heard her complaining about it. The biggest thing she probably hates about it is that she can't go on the playground at school anymore (at least until she gets it off). So, its finally become second nature to her now. She is becoming a left handed person. I have noticed in the last two days that she does everything left handed now. But, when you look at it from a softball coach point of view, I like it. Left handed batters are great! LOL!

Well we only have two more full weeks with it on. Hopefully we can all make it!

The worse year to date!!

At 4:45 Thursday afternoon, my world was literally turned upside down. I had left the softball field all excited to get to see the Varsity team play that night. I decided to run home and get Ellie some milk and then go pick her up. I pull into my driveway, open the garage door, and I walk inside.

I drop my things in the floor by the kitchen table and realize that the back door was wide open. My first initial thought was the wind got so rough that it opened the door, but then I saw that the tv was gone and all the lights were on. Panic! My heart was racing. I ran out the door, called Josh (who couldn't really understand me) and I slowly walked back in. It was like I was not looking at my house. I just couldn't believe it. I looked out the back door to make sure that no one was in the house and I walked through, surveying the mess. I walked back out and called 911. I stayed outside until he came. We walked through the house together trying to find what all they had taken. Three tv's, playstation 3, Xbox 360, all the games to both, my mac book, ipod, ipad, and another laptop, and a duffel bag. Everything gone within seconds!

After the police office walked around the house and outside, it was determined that the robbers must have went to the house next to us first (b/c it's for sale), looked in the back window and noticed nothing was there. Then they proceeded to just back straight into our backyard and up to our door. They first tried to get in through the windows because the screen on our bedroom window was torn off and so was the kitchen. Then they kicked down the back door.

The crime scene investigator was wonderful and was able to get several prints from around the house. The robbers left a hand print on the window outside, one on the window of the door and all over the places where these items were at. After he left, we boarded up the back door, and started cleaning. I changed the bed since they had moved the bed, washed our clothes they touched and wiped down the light switches. I couldn't stand the thought of someone touching all my stuff.

Josh and I were able to stay and sleep in the house last night. Mom and dad went and got Ellie from school and kept her overnight. It was a very scary situation. I am thankful that I didn't have her with me, and that we were not at home at the time. Like I said, earlier all our things can be replaced.

Ellie's 3rd Birthday

I can't believe that it has been three years!! WOW! Time flies. Since her birthday is always during the "cold" season, we can't have her party anywhere but inside. We can't have it at our house because we have such a huge family not everyone can fit at one time. So I did a little research and found this cool place. The Little Gym. They said they would do everything for us (set up, clean up etc...). I just brought the food and cake. It was wonderful!!!! I really enjoyed myself because I didn't have to do anything! The girl came out and helped brought everything in, set up everything, fixed the plates, cleaned up, and took everything to my car!! How wonderful is that! But the big kicker.... the kids had a blast!!! I mean a blast!!!!!! They didn't want to stop for a few minutes to go eat and get a drink. As soon as they were all done, they went right back in there. We decided that they were having so much fun that we would just wait to do gifts back home. Glad we made that decision. They just had sooo much fun. We are definitely doing this again!!! Here are just a few pictures of the day.

First Snow of 2011

After having snow for Christmas, I was surprised that we had it again a few weeks later!! I love the snow!! Seems like we never got it as a kid, so I am loving it now. I'm trying to get Ellie interested in it, but all she seems to want to do is eat it! At Christmas she would go outside and grab a handful of snow and just stuff her face!! So this time, I was smart. I sat a bowl outside and caught more than the bowl full of snow!! It was overflowing because we had so much snow!! I couldn't believe it. Josh and I looked outside about the time it started and thirty minutes later everything was covered!!! I loved it!!

I have also loved the time off!! We had only a week and a half off for Christmas so this extra time off is pretty sweet. Josh went to work today because he was getting a little stir crazy, but I'm not yet. I am loving this time with Ellie. We are still potty training and it is really getting to me that she will not get it on a consistent basis, but we are trying. Being at home like this is helping. She is finally knowing that she has to go (and may go just a little in her pants) but realizes it and goes potty. Hopefully in a few more days she will get it completely. It has also been helpful that we have been off because she developed pinkeye!! We haven't been able to get out to the doctor, but thankfully the nurse called in some eye drops and Josh was able to stop at Walmart and get them for us. Her poor eye is so red and irritated, but I pray this eye drops help and clear it up before we have to go back to school.

Well, here are a few pictures of our days in the snow!! Enjoy!

Josh creating a snow angel

Knee deep in snow!

Driveway, layer of ice, layer of snow, small layer of ice on top

My favorite picture of them ever!

WOW lots of snow!!!

Don't drive on the roads!!!

Christmas 2010

Well, it's about time for me to update my blog. So far, it looks like I'm on a month to month update. Hehe!

We had an interesting Christmas this year. Ellie is starting to understand Christmas and what Santa is all about. I never got the chance to take her to see Santa or get her picture made, but I haven't done that in the last three years so why start now?... We had a great time at all our Christmas gatherings. We missed Christmas at PePaw's (Josh granddad) because of the snow and ice that were on the roads. He decided that it was too dangerous for all of us to come out, so we spent Christmas morning at home. Ellie got up and found all her toys!! Santa had left Ellie a Barbie Jeep power wheel, all the princess barbies, lots of movies and games, Mr. Potato Head, and lots of other things. Ellie really enjoyed the Jeep because she wouldn't open any of the other gifts!! After we played for a while, we headed outside to play in the snow. Ellie was reluctant at first but when she got out there she loved it. I put her in her new boots our cousin got her and her new jacket. She was toasty!! She made snowballs and had a snow ball fight with me and Josh. For some reason, she decided to try to eat the snow!!! So before we went in for the day, I had to get her a small bowl of snow for her to eat. She kept saying, "It's water." I still don't think she understands.

Here are a few pictures of our wonderful Christmas gatherings. By the way, did I mention that we had our first White Christmas!!!??!! It was beautiful!!

My Life with Ellie

While playing in the living room:
Me:"Ellie I love you so much!"
Ellie: "I love you more!"


After getting on to her for walking away from me in Walmart and not listening when I told her to come back:
Ellie: "You being mean to me mommy. You stop it. (spanks my bottom) You be nice."
Me: After trying not to laugh... "Ellie I didn't want you to get taken from mommy. You don't spank me either."
Ellie: "I love you mommy!" (Hugs me)

After asking Ellie if she was ready to go to the beach:
Ellie: "I go put my shoes on." and she walks to her room and gets her shoes on.

Opening up the video cabinet:
Ellie: "What you wanna watch mommy? You want to watch this one. Right. You watch this one."
Me: "Are you sure I want to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks?"
Ellie: "Yeah, I'm sure."

Playing soccer in the living room:
Ellie: "Mommy do it like this. (bounces the ball then kicks it to me)
Me: "Okay" (I copy)
Ellie: "Good job mommy. Okay daddy it's your turn. You go over there behind mommy's tummy.
Daddy moves beside mommy.
Ellie: "No daddy. Let me show you how to do it." She then comes over and puts daddy in FRONT of mommy and shows him how to kick it.

While taking a bath:
Ellie: "Okay Brobee, it's time for your bath. Gus Gus, where are you? It's bath time. Oh, come here Gus Gus. It won't hurt, it's just a bath."

While wiping Ellie's nose I told her "Ellie your nose is running away. Oh no, we have to go get it. Where is it running to?"
Ellie: "It's running to Granby's. Let's go get it."
We run thru the house and I luckily catch it before it goes out the back door.
Ellie: "Thank you mommy."
By the way, it's surprising easy to put a nose back on. LOL.

Cancun, Mexico

Hola! Como Esta? (did I spell all that right?)

During fall break this year, we had the amazing opportunity to travel to Cancun, Mexico!! I have never been out of the states so this trip was really exciting for me. Josh, Ellie and I traveled with the Anders' clan. After a rocky start, the week ended up great.

We woke up at 3am (yes 3am!) Got ready and finished packing. We waited until we had the car packed to wake Ellie up. Well, she of course fought us. We whined and cried until we got into Huntsville. Then she said "we go ride on the big plane?" She was pretty excited about this trip too (daycare said she couldn't quite talking about it). Well, we get to the airport and unload our luggage. Josh calls Tony to see where they are at, and they had to turn around to go back for their passports! Definitely can't forget the passports on this trip! So, Josh helped me get the luggage inside and Ellie and I waited in the chairs for everyone else. When they arrived, Tony followed Josh to his work to drop off his truck. The rest of us got in line to check in. I think just about everyone was flying out that day because it was busy! As we were standing in the security line, we noticed we only had 45 minutes until our plan was scheduled to take off. This frustrated me and Josh because there was a pretty long line to get thru. But we made it and got on the plane. Well, Ellie had to have a seat since she was a paying customer. So the flight attendant moved some people around to let us all seat together (because we were spread out). Once we moved just about everybody, we then were told we were on a delay. Our 6am flight didn't leave until 6:40! I was hoping that we could make our next flight.

We made it to Charlotte, NC and was able to cross almost half the airport and make it to our next flight. They were already in line so we didn't get much rest. This was the biggest plane I had yet to get on, so it was exciting. We all sat together again. This plane ride was much longer flight and I was praying Ellie would take a nap. She finally fell asleep about an 1 or so before we landing. While on the plane we had to fill out customs papers. We were in the back of the plane and all they had left was Spanish reading cards!! But with the help of a friendly neighbor that had an English version, we were able to get it done. It took us a while to get thru customs, but we didn't get checked!!

If you have never been to Cancun airport... WOW! There are so many people hounding you for travel things, car rides, and everything else you can think of. It was a little scary walking out of the airport! I had Ellie in my arms and was holding her for dear life!! We made it to our van and the driver was excellent in packing it with all our luggage! This van fit 10 people (we had 9) and he still was able to put in about 14 pieces of luggage!! We made it our resort and they had us on the wrong side, so we all sat outside and waited while Tony went to fix it. He came back about 30 minutes later and said we all had to go over to get our bracelets and keys. So we waited on the bus for lobby to lobby and went to check in. After another 30 minutes, we finally got in!! But, instead of going to our room... we went to eat! It was 3 pm and we hadn't had anything all day but the little bit of snacks they feed you on a plane. Needless to say, we were all hungry!!

Other than our long first day, the week went by really fast!! We stayed at the pool alot since that was Ellie's favorite thing. We ate, and ate, and ate some more. We went to town twice which was nice but a little scary at times. No lines on the road and no clear path to drive thru was scary!! We saw a few shows throughout the week like the Michael Jackson impersonator, Salsa dancing, and fire dancing. Those were all really nice.

I hope that someday we can make that trip again. There was so much to do and we didn't get a chance to do a lot that we wanted. I highly suggest that if you can ever go, please go! It was so worth the trip!!