Happy Anniversary

Married 5 years...today.  I love you.

"Whatever Our Souls Are Made Of, His And Mine Are The Same"

Emily Bronte

Salad Bowl

When Elle was little she would get out the salad bowl just to sit in it.  Jon thought of the great idea to slide her across our kitchen floor while she was in the bowl.  She would just laugh and laugh and laugh.  Elle can't fit into the salad bowl anymore but it is the perfect size now for Gwen.  The other night after dinner, we put Gwen in that same bowl and played the same game with her that we used to play with Elle.  She loved it too and her giggle as she was sliding across the wood floors was priceless.  The top two pictures above are of Elle at about the same age Gwen is now.  The bottom two are of Gwen.  I never think they look much alike but now that I put these four photos together, I realize how similar these two little sisters look. Too cute. 

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall...

Gwen was admiring her beauty in the mirror.  The minute Elle saw the sweet moment, she couldn't stand it anymore and ran up to her and started making funny faces.  Gwen adores Elle.  It is really amazing considering how often Elle knocks her around.  No one can make Gwen smile like her big sister, Elle.  

Fancy Nancy

Elle's very favorite book is called Fancy Nancy.  She LOVES it.  She asks me to read it every day and refers to Nancy as if she is a real person.  Nancy is Elle's  personal heroin.  If Elle had a personal motto it would be, "what would Fancy Nancy do".  Nancy is a little girl who loves all things "fancy".  Some things Elle has learned from this book: gold is fancier than yellow, patent leather is fancier than regular leather, Nancy gets everything with sprinkles on top because it is well, just fancier! Dresses are fancier than pants and the more bows in your hair the better.  Elle frequently tries to get me to put matching bows in my hair to look fancier when we leave the house.  Her favorite thing to do is to play dress up and to dance.  She has a little plastic cd player in her room and cranks up the music and dances.  The funniest part is that I supply her with the music selections.  She doesn't know any better yet.  In the pictures I took above, the girls are dancing to Neal Diamond singing, "Cherry, Cherry".  Classic

The Sweetest Sound

Today marked a milestone.  Jon put Gwen in bed with me this morning before he left for work.  While we were all snuggled up Gwen looked at me and said, "mama".  I almost started to cry.  It has been rumored that she has uttered this word before but I had never heard it.  She has said "dadda" for months and it is so sweet.  Whenever she hears the garage door opening she gets a big grin on her face and says, "dadda dadda dadda" anxiously waiting for him to walk through the door.  I know that it has nothing to do with love and everything to do with speech development but boy did I want to hear "mama".  Every day I would put her hand on her chest and would say, "gwen" and then I would put her hand on me and say, "mama".  I guess those adorable, chubby little lips were finally ready to make the "m" sound.  I have to think there is no sweeter sound than your little one saying mama.  

Sleepover

Last night Elle had her first sleepover.  She spent the night at her friend Brinley's house.  Elle was absolutely thrilled!  She decided it was important to take her "monkey suitcase" and packed all of her favorite things in it.  She was set on including her toothbrush, Dora the Explorer toothpaste, a comb and a tiny little cup from her play kitchen so that she could use it to get water from the sink after she brushed her teeth (so particular!).  She continued to pack her suitcase full with her blanket and a book she wanted read to her before bed.  Brinley's mom, Christy, came and picked her up and off she went.  The house was a lot quieter without her here and Jon and I missed her (a lot) but she did not miss us a bit.  I guess that's how it should be.  She had the time of her life. Christy sent over the photo of them all snuggled up before bed.  I am so happy she has such a sweet little friend to grow up with.  

One Girl's Trash Is Another Little Girl's Treasure

Elle moved on to a two wheeler bike and Gwen couldn't be more pleased.  The pink tricycle is now ALL HERS.  During the day she takes it in circles around our garage.  Sunday night Grandma took her for a cruise up and down our street before bedtime.  Even Uncle Syd got in on the action.  He was trying to teach her a few moves.  We may have to wait until she is a little older for the wheelies.  

Keep Calm and Carry On

I saw this poster online, snatched it up and had it matted and framed.  Is there any better saying for a laundry room?  I took this photo proudly after finishing 3 solid hours (minus one quick carpool run) of weekend laundry.  It seems to just accumulate magically.  Before I can blink, the laundry bags will be full once again...waiting for me to start the whole process over again.

Training Wheels

Last summer for Elle's 3rd birthday, Jon gave her a tricycle (the first picture above).  It is the cutest thing ever.  She has LOVED it!  We were watching Elle ride around on it in the front yard and I mentioned something about a two wheeler for Elle.  That was the end of the conversation but I should have known better.  A few days later, Jon came home and had Elle go out to the front yard and close her eyes.  She was so excited thinking he maybe brought her a lollipop or some licorice.  Instead of opening her eyes to candy, she opened them up to a new hot pink two wheeler with training wheels.  She was thrilled but also surprisingly nervous.  He took her down to the path next to our house and was so patient with her as he taught her how to use the brakes and to steer.  Gwen is excited too...now she doesn't have to fight for her turn on the tricycle.  Elle has had the bike now for a few days.  Jon came home from work early tonight so that he could take Elle down to the park to ride it where it is flat.  This is what I love about him...he gets it.  It's really not about the material things in the long run.  Some day she probably won't remember the color of the bike or how it sparkles in the sun.  What she will remember is the time that her dad spent with her as she rode it.  How blessed our little girls are to have such a sweet daddy.

Happy Easter

We had so much fun today.  Jon and I woke up to Elle running into our bedroom jumping and yelling with excitement, "we have to see if the Easter Bunny came"!  It was so early especially since I stayed up way too late getting everything ready.  The girls set off down the stairs.  I wasn't quite sure if Gwen was old enough to be excited but the minute she started digging through her basket she just couldn't stop laughing and smiling.  It is so much fun to be the parent and to sit back and watch your children be so happy!  Elle was thrilled that the Easter Bunny drank all of the hot chocolate and ate all of the carrots she had left for him.  The big hits were their slinkies and the pez dispensers.  We headed off to church and we were so rushed that I didn't get pictures of the girls in their Easter dresses.  I will save that for another day.  After church they discovered the hidden eggs in our backyard and set out to find them.  The day ended with tubbies and Elle got out the bunny and ducky towels to wrap them up in.  The Easter Bunny must be very tired tonight.  I am sure he is now resting where he lives (according to Elle) in the North Pole. 

One More Sleep

We measure days around our house in terms of "sleeps".  How many times do we have to go to bed before...whatever fun thing is coming up.  Elle and Gwen are excited for the Easter Bunny's visit to our home.  Elle woke up this morning and asked, "how many more sleeps until the Easter Bunny comes to our house"?  I was happy to report, "only one more sleep"!  She knew it was soon because yesterday one of my favorite friends, Heather, had an Easter Egg Hunt at her home.  Elle loved looking for the eggs and Gwen was perfectly content to sit in the shade and devour all the yummy sweets.  Gwen opened the eggs and ate the candy just as fast as Elle could find them.  We have a busy day today and lots of things are on my to-do list to get ready for tomorrow.  However, there is one important thing that Elle will NOT let me forget.  We have to stop at the grocery store to get the Easter Bunny carrots and hot chocolate.  According to Elle, the Easter Bunny will be sad if he doesn't have both.  He loves hot chocolate, right?

Daddy Daughter Date

Jon called the house today from work and when I answered the phone he asked to speak to Elle.  I handed the phone to her and watched as her little face lit up.  He invited Elle on a daddy daughter date to go to dinner and to see the movie, Horton Hears A Who.  She was soo excited all day long!  When it was time to get ready she made sure that we had matching bows for her hair and even asked to put on some of my perfume.  It is so sweet to see how much they love eachother.  I still remember my first daddy daughter date.  I was 4 years old and my dad took me to see the movie Lady and the Tramp.  Just like Elle, I was thrilled and even remember the shirt that I wore...a white shirt with little yellow flowers on it.  How fun it is to see Jon carrying on this same tradition with our girls.  Before long he will be calling home to speak to Gwen.