Princess Aeriel...

did not disappoint.

Princess Dance Camp

While my sisters and brother all excelled in sports, I was the one that was in dance classes for most of my childhood and 'tween' years. I LOVED ballet and was a pretty darn good tapper if I do say so myself. I am now passing the torch to my Ellers. This week Elle is in "Princess Dance Camp". She is in absolute HEAVEN. It is just one week long for a few hours a day but those few hours are pure happiness for her. I don't know what she loves more...the camp or getting ready each morning in her ballet gear complete with her 'I love Dance' bag. We saw that bag about a month ago in a store and she knew it was THE ONE to hold her ballet shoes to and from class in. Funny thing is I still remember what my 'dance bag' looked like that I used when I was growing up. I can even still smell it if I close my eyes. Vinyl, pink (of course) and with a large compartment for my tap shoes and then with a smaller, almost secret, space for my ballet shoes on the side. Funny how those little details are the things we remember. Elle is no exception...you can see how she holds that bag with pride. Each night we wash her leotard, tights and skirt and she carefully puts it all in her dance bag so she knows right where everything is in the morning. Today when I picked her up from class they had put full make-up on all of the girls. Wow. I do not know how I am going to get her to wash her face tonight. Tomorrow she, along with the other little girls, will dance for their moms. Elle chose to be Aerial from The Little Mermaid for the big performance. Needless to say, I signed her up for the Fall.

Beach Day

My cute Elle at the beach. Thank you to my brother, Jake for being our professional photographer for the week.

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July. My sisters Megan and Josie and their families and my brother Jake came to visit us in California (missed you, Briar). I forgot how tiring it is just being 9 months pregnant. I don't think I picked up my camera even once while they were here. These pictures were all taken by my brother (thank you, jake). Josie is pregnant too so we were quite the pair around town with our big bellies chasing after our little kids. It was soo fun seeing everyone and I already miss them. We went to the beach, to the pool and Elle and Gwen were able to play with their cousins. I am glad Jake got a picture of what it seems like I do most these days...sit! A super fun week with grill dogs at the beach, snow cones (elle's favorite) and a firework show at the park. To my family...hurry back!!!

Del Mar St.

I've mentioned before about our Saturday afternoons. Jon stays home while sweet Gwen naps and Elle and I head out on the town. This is our special time together. I always ask her where she wants to go and it is ALWAYS the same answer. "Mama", she says, "take me to Del Mar St." Close to our house and down by the beach. A favorite place of mine too. So surreal to now live where I vacationed every summer of my life as a child. I love that the same sounds and smells of my childhood are now hers.

We have our little routine...

First to Billy's for lunch and we have to sit by the fountain so that she can endlessly throw pennies in. I asked her what one of her wishes was today and she said, "if I tell you, it won't come true but I will say it has to do with a diamond castle". Cute. We then head to the little chocololate shop. The ladies know her in there and are so sweet to her. She always gets one solid milk chocolate heart. Always. I get the dark chocolate caramel and then we sit and eat them on the chairs in front of the store. Only then, am I allowed to browse my favorite boutiques with her. I know Del Mar St. will always have special memories for her but more than anything I hope what she remembers most is how much I LOVE spending time with her.

Happy Father's Day

We had a wonderful Father's Day. Jon had breakfast served to him in bed compliments of Elle and Gwen and was also given his gifts. Elle gave him his favorite candy (Reeses Pieces) tied up in a bag with a big ribbon around it and Gwen presented him with a picture of herself in a frame she painted. How grateful I am to be married to a man that honors his role as a father. He is amazing with our girls and they light up the minute they hear the garage door open at the end of the day. That sound means one thing...daddy's home! I think the first photo speaks volumes for the love they have for eachother.

These men are three of the most treasured people in my life. My own dad, my Jon and his dad. How lucky we were to spend father's day together at our home for dinner. I feel truly blessed that my little girls have a daddy and 2 grandpas as such amazing examples of loving, kind men in their lives.

Two Piggies

Gwen wants to do everything Elle does. She mimics her every move. I was doing Elle's hair yesterday in the style we refer to as "two piggies". Gwen then brought me two rubberbands and said, "my two piggies". She wanted her hair just like her big sister. So here is Gwen's "two piggies" debut. Barely enough hair to make it into the rubber bands but we made it work and she felt beautiful. Elle was sweet and made a big deal about it for her too. They both looked adorable.

Tummy Time

I am now 33 weeks pregnant. Elle and Gwen are fascinated with my growing belly. Gwen just pokes at it and laughs. Elle asks endless questions about what is really going on in there. Yesterday afternoon Jon blew up balloons for them and they were cruising the house with them in their shirts while giggling non-stop. It really was pretty funny. Elle and I saw an advertisement on TV the other day for a show entitled, "I didn't know I was Pregnant". We were dying. What?! So that is our new joke. Periodically throughout the day I will show Elle my tummy and say, "I don't know Elle, what do you think....do you think I am pregnant? Hmm, not too sure, maybe just too much for dinner"? We think we're pretty funny.

Preschool Graduation

I can't believe it. My little Ellers is done with preschool. We had a little class party and presentation this afternoon. As we were driving to the party Elle said, "Mom, are you going to cry because I am growing up too fast"? Well, I didn't cry but I must say somedays I sure feel like it. She really is growing up so quickly right before my eyes. She has loved every minute of Miss Marie's class. I am so grateful to her teacher for giving her an amazing start to her school years. These little girls have been together for the past 2 years and have really solidified their friendships. I am excited to see them all enter Kindergarten next year together. Kindergarten...here we come!

Tubby Time

At our house, bath time is called tubby time. After dinner tonight we headed upstairs for the ritual. Elle was in charge of the bubbles and completely took advantage of her job. They had bubbles coming out of their ears (literally). So many things they do these days remind me of my own childhood. I have a picture just like this with two of my sisters in the tub. We would play a game called "carwash". My dad would get us all in the tub and then he would put his hand out and we would pretend to pay him 50 cents. He then would do the fastest wash job you have ever seen. Super fun and now as a parent I am aware of how efficient it was. We were out of there in no time flat and had fun at the same time. So, tonight I was the car wash attendant and they each paid me 50 cents. Quite a bargain if I do say so myself.

Princess Leia

Elle went to a Star Wars themed birthday party today. The invitation said to come dressed as a character. Elle has actually never seen Star Wars (we are going to have to change that) so we looked it up on our computer for her and she chose to be Princess Leia (of course). Jon and I got creative and we used things she had in her closet. Her belt is one of my necklaces and her very favorite part was her hair...the two buns. She thought that was pretty darn fancy. Ellers was soo excited and she looked adorable.

The Cookie Monster

What do you do with a (VERY) grouchy two year old at 4:30 in the afternoon? Why, make cookies of course! It worked like a charm.

Memorial Day

Fun day. A picnic lunch and lots of swimming at the pool. I know the girls had a blast. As we were packing our cooler and they were in their swimsuits, I can not begin to explain the excitement they had. You would have thought it was Christmas morning. And why were they so excited? No one can do pool tricks with them as well as their daddy. He had them spinning and jumping and splashing like nothing I could ever come close to. All while I sat my 7 1/2 month pregnant self under an umbrella. Delightful! I wish he could stay home with us everyday.

Snack Time

This basket sits at the end of our couch and is where I keep quilts for the girls to use when they watch tv. Most mornings now however, they hop in themselves and watch their cartoons from inside. Elle says we need another one because it is too squishy for both of them to fit in it at once. Elle, I am on it.

Mama and Ellers

Couldn't sleep again last night. Pregnancy does that to me. I fiddled on the computer a bit, went and gave kisses to my sweet Gwen in her crib and then crawled into bed with my Ellers. I know I write about this a lot but really, there is nothing sweeter than your sleeping child. All warm and rosy cheeked. A few nights before she crept into bed with Jon and me. I asked her what was wrong and she said, "I just missed you mama". I gave her hugs and kisses and took her back to her bed where she fell right back to sleep. Last night as I snuggled her, I ended up falling asleep next to her only to have her wake me with a kiss this morning. She had a happy and surprised look as to why I was in her bed with her. I looked up at her and said, "I just missed you".

Elle the Orator

Elle was assigned to give an oral report on maple syrup farms in her preschool class.  I know...oral report when you are four years old??  However, she did LOVE  doing it and even loved the poster that we (I) made.  Her number one request was that it have glitter on it and let me just say, she was sure to point that out to her class several times.  Jon surprised her and took off from work to meet us at her school to watch her deliver her report.  She did a great job and was too adorable for words.  Right as she finished, she ran to me and whispered in my ear, "mama, I was really nervous up there".  I reassured her of how well she did and she sat on my lap for the rest of the presentations.  This is the first of many school projects I am sure and we were so proud of her.  

note:  elle added the leopard print cardigan on top of her floral dress as we were walking out the door so that she could look "extra fancy" for the big event.  Is that cute or what?

Big Girl

I sure love this little girl.  She goes to a little preschool program just one day a week for a few hours.  She LOVES it and loves that she gets to take a lunch box just like her big sister.  She is soo proud of this Hello Kitty lunch box.  You can see it in the way she is admiring it.  Too cute. Whenever I drop her off I tell her I love her and that I will come right back to get her when she is done playing.  That makes her happy and she runs off to play.  The cute thing is that every time I pick her up, the first thing she says is, "mama back!" and then hugs me. I tell her that mama will ALWAYS come back for her.  I hope as she grows older she will know that no matter how far apart we are from eachother that her mama loves her and that I will always be there for her and that I will always "come back" for her or more realistically (as she gets older) she can always "come back" to me.   

Friday Fun

This fun little water play-area is at our neighborhood pool and is one of our favorite places to go.  Elle calls it the "waterpark" and Gwen calls it "splash-splash".  They beg me to take them there daily.  The girls were in heaven and so was I. Between this and the beach, I think we are set for the summer.   

Mother's Day

Before I had Elle, I was a first grade teacher.  I loved, loved, loved it.  Such a fun and rewarding job.  At the end of the day all of the moms would stand outside my classroom window and wait for me to open the door to let their little ones out.  As much as I loved being in the classroom (I really did...and still miss it at times), a part of me was also envious of all the  mommies on the other side of that glass.  I wanted to be a mother.  As far back as I can remember, I have always yearned for this....even as a little girl I would hold my baby dolls and pretend they were real.  I know it is not like this for lots of women but it has always been true for me. Lots of days I feel overwhelmed and feel just warn out from the day in and day out routines of this whole mom business.  However, I have actually never felt that what I am doing is in vain or not of importance.  Often, I feel like I can't stand to unload that darn dishwasher one more time, or deal with a child's tantrum.  It gets old, BUT I do feel blessed that I have always felt in my heart of hearts the importance of my role as a mother.  There is NOTHING I would rather be doing in this life than being Elle and Gwen's mom.  I whisper in their little ears daily how much I love being their mommy.  I want them to not only hear those words but to feel those words in their hearts.  It is true and for this blessing, I am so thankful.  

I had a wonderful mother's day.  I think my very favorite gifts were the ones Elle brought home from preschool.  A hand painted picture frame with her cute little face in it and a little book that she filled in the blanks on.  And to record it, this is what she said...

My mommy's favorite thing to do is to snuggle me.

My mommy makes dinner for me.  She makes good noodles.

My mommy's hair is yellow and her eyes are green.

This is a picture of my mommy and me on Del Mar Street. (one of our little favorite places elle and I visit on our saturday dates).

(The pictures she drew were just priceless and I have already stuck it in her baby book)

Jon was too good to me.  He brought home a big bouquet of all white flowers.  He said I know you like all the same color flowers and all the same kind with no filler...(I have taught him well).  So thoughtful.  The necklace I am wearing in the pictures was also a gift from him that he gave me with the cutest card where he traced both of our girls' hands on the inside.  With a husband like Jon, my job of being a mom is made much easier.  He has always made me feel appreciated and loved.  This I am so thankful for.  

And on this mother's day, I am officially 7 months pregnant with our third little girl.  At my sisters' requests, here are a few pregnancy photos to prove that this weight gain is not in vain. There really is a baby in there...I promise.  I am one blessed mama.