Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

When Scott and I first got married I got the great idea that we should paint clear glass ornaments together. He is pretty creative and I thought he could paint a clever snowman or some mean polka dots. We were newlyweds and at the time didn't have any ornaments for our first Christmas tree. After all he loved me and would do this great project with me wouldn't he? Now of course I would never dream of asking him to do this now. Are you kidding me? I laugh at myself for asking him to do this almost ten years ago but he did what I asked him to. He decorated an ornament and after a few minutes handed it to me. He had written in gold paint pen "Happy Halloween." I couldn't believe he did that and at the time I was so mad at him. He told me,"Ten years from now Michelle you will really think this ornament is funny and you will probably even like it." Well it is almost ten years later and every year when I decorate my tree I get to that ornament and I have to admit it does make me laugh. I do hang it in the back though. I don't think people would understand an ornament that says "Happy Halloween." I really do love it. It reminds me of a simpler time in our life and that I shouldn't take myself so seriously, especially this time of year! This is just one of the many reasons I love Scott, funny guy! That and the fact that he stands in line at 6:00 in the morning at Toys R Us for a toy hamster that is sold out everywhere just to put a smile on his kids face or maybe his wife not sure which. Thanks for reminding me not to sweat the small stuff and for putting a smile on my face!

A First Hair Cut

On Friday Ella had her first haircut. It had gotten so long that she needed a little trim. I really think she had some split ends from all the sticky stuff I have had to brush or rather rip from her hair. I was really curious as to how she was going to do for Ms. Rebecca. Cole got his hair cut first and then Ms. Rebecca asked Ella if she was ready to sit in the big chair and Ella said, "Yes!" She was so excited and was smiling. She really loves to do whatever Cole gets to do. If I need her to take medicine as long as Cole takes it too then she does it with no problem. Before we knew it Ms. Rebecca was all done. She then sprayed Ella's hair with "princess glittery" which Ella really liked and Cole thought was pretty cool too. When I see pictures of her up in the chair I can't believe how old she is and how fast time has gone by. Rebecca saved her little pieces for me to put in her baby book. Here are a few pictures.

Cole waiting patiently.

Thanks Ms. Rebecca!

Halloweenie

Last night we celebrated Halloweenie at Nana B and Papa Lewis' house. I will say the kids are getting to be the perfect age to trick or treat. No one had to stay back home with a baby, nobody fell asleep and we made it around the whole neighborhood. Cole's bag was so full of candy that he couldn't carry it toward the end. He just walked up to the houses without it. This is one of my favorite family traditions!

Darth Vader and a Lady Bug

Parker and Dalton (guess you can't be a superhero forever)

Papa tried to scare the older boys.I know that's you, Papa!!

Playing until it gets dark enough to trick or treat.

Everyone's heading out. Dalton stepped in a pile of fireants and had to run back inside to change clothes.

Parker and Ella waiting to get some candy.

Ella loved trick or treating. She couldn't believe all the candy she got. Now if I can just get her to understand candy is not for breakfast.

Two Today

Ella turned two today. She is growing up so fast. Her little personality is starting to come alive. She can really be funny sometimes. At her birthday party she would push her nose and say look Aunt Lisa "Honk." She is such a girly girl too even in the midst of all these boys. She loves to wear tutus, necklaces, and bracelets.

Ella at two I love the way...

• You sing every song that comes on the radio at the top of your lungs. Even the Sponge Bob Square Pants theme song. My favorite song you sing is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.


• You yell "What" to me when I ask you what you are doing.


"What?"

• How you mix all your colors up and how most of the time everything is pink, even black.



• How you say "yessss" in a high voice.



• You love Cole and follow him around. You even keep him company in time-out. When he goes to school you are so lost without him. You sit in your carseat and call for him, saying, "Cole where are you? Here I am." "Where are you?"




Cole is in time-out here.


• You swing your arms and wiggle your hips when you walk.


• Everything is a bracelet toy rings and even my cookie cutters from my kitchen drawer.




• You call my name over and over getting louder and louder if I don't answer you until you are yelling "MAAAAMMAAA." Even when I am standing right in front of you.
  
  You brighten our day more than you will ever know. You are my Ella Grace, Daddy's "E" and Cole's Lady GaGa. We sure love you! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!
  
  
  

Nine Years Ago

Nine years ago today, I married Scott. At 25, I had no idea what a great husband he would be. All I knew was that I sure did love him and that it felt right. Nine years later things are a little crazier (mainly me) but it still feels right. I ask him all the time how I got so lucky and he always says because I gave the skinny guy a chance. But really I never saw a skinny guy, just a sweet, funny, genuinely good person... my soul mate. Love you Scott! Happy Anniversary!

Thanks for being the best dad to Cole and Ella! They have no idea how lucky they are!

Mondays

Mondays use to give me a dreaded feeling in the pit of my stomach. It was back to a busy work week for me. Now that I am home Monday is Monday. Feels the same as Tuesday. And now Mondays bring tutus and soccer practice. Here are a few pictures of Ella before her dance class on Monday mornings. Not really dance, its more like a mama and me kind of thing. Cole also just started playing soccer on Monday evenings. We are so lucky because one of his friends, Ethan is on his team and they have really enjoyed seeing each other.

Ella loves dance. It is the most girly thing that she has ever done and she totally deserves it after all of the transformers she's had to hear about.

Cole's team is the Beetles and he will be wearing the number 5.

Cole and Ethan

Cole's fans!

Oliver Beach Trip

I am so behind on uploading my pictures from my camera. I have almost 2,000 pictures that need to be developed and put onto a disk. Here are a few pictures from our beach trip with the Oliver family in August. Unfortunately it rained a lot of our trip but we did get a few nice days. Cole and Ella's favorite thing to do was swim at the Coral Bay Club and of course they also loved hanging out with Nana Wina and Papa Rudy. We did get to take the boat out and even saw wild horses and found a few sand dollars. Here are a few pictures. I'll post more later.

The rain did take us to the aquarium. We got to see a live dive and learned lots of interesting facts. Cole said the funniest thing when we got back. His Uncle Dave asked him what his favorite part of the aquarium was and he said the shark with 9 feet. You see the diver said the shark was 9 feet long in the aquarium so I guess Cole thought he had 9 feet. I mean really. Did he honestly think the shark had nine feet?

Rain, rain, go away!!!

This night we got to go out to dinner "Kid's Themed Night" at the Coral Bay Club and Cole played Bingo for the first time. He really enjoyed it. Ella was running around like a wild woman. I had to take her home before she broke something expensive.

So glad the boat has rails.

Preschool 4 Year Old Room

Today was Cole's first day in the four year old room at preschool. All the way up to the door he kept saying how nervous and scared he was and how he didn't really want to go to school today. I told him everyone is nervous on their first day. It was just because he didn't know what to expect. When I picked him up he was talking on and on about how the class' cookie was stolen and they had to look for evidence or I think that's what he was talking about. Cole has not taken a nap all summer but he took one today so that lets me know they kept him pretty busy. Oh I can't help but think this is my last year at home with Cole. Where did four years go? They just flew by. Ella went to Miss Beth's today and she ran right in like she had never even left. She will go on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. She has a friend there close to her same age and they are so cute together. They both speak gibber jabber. When I picked Ella up she was playing dress-up and having a ball. I didn't take my camera in but I will have to take pictures soon.


Open House pictures with Cole, Ella, Scott and his new teacher.

First Day pictures

Last T-Ball Game

Cole finished his last t-ball game of the summer. Afterwards the team had a cookout and each player got a trophy. Seeing Cole get his trophy was so exciting. You would have thought the thing was made of gold. Yes, he was a little young to play this year and he did lose some interest in the outfield and probably tested Scott's patience a time or two but the whole experience was good for his self-esteem and he did learn to run to 1st base after hitting the ball.

The coach pitched a few to Cole at the last game.

Cole is telling me here that girls are not allowed on the field and that I need to get off. (Notice he has girl teammates.) I think it was more like I was embarrassing him.

Cole's biggest fan - Ella- She didn't leave his side and tried to go up and get his trophy with him.

First Baptist T-Ball 2009