WaterWorks 2010

Yesterday was our last day at WaterWorks, a.k.a VBS, at our church. Ella Ann did fantastic each day (we missed Monday since we were at my parent's house) and had zero trouble with me leaving her in the sanctuary each morning with all the kids while I headed over to a different building to handle the snacks for the morning. She had SO much fun and she really enjoyed "visiting" me during snack time and each day she would yell over to me, "Mommy! I am having SO MUCH FUN!" I was thrilled she was having a blast because I figured we would have a rough go of it since this would be her first year without Mara Kate. She asked each day if Mara Kate was going to be there so I know she missed her terribly but she really had a great time with all of her other friends including her twin, Anna-Kate. I say "twin" because when Janelle, her mom, and I talk about the girls we feel like we are talking about the same kid. Both are very independent, strong-willed, always want to wear a dress or a skirt, t-shirts are a no-no, a bow is often mandatory and, of course, they are attached to their Mama's hips! Ella Ann told me she played with Anna-Kate every day and had so much fun with her. It was fun to watch her during the closing assembly because she would cheerfully sing all the songs and attempt all the motions. I would get Rane out of the nursery so he could run around and listen to the music as well, which he really liked.

I really enjoyed the week as well because I got to chat with my friends for 3 solid hours, Ella Ann was having a good time with her friends and Rane was well taken care of in the nursery (and did very well all week may I add). Being that I was on the snack committee I was in the same room as the adult snack table so I thoroughly enjoyed eating good food all morning long! I didn't get to spy on Ella Ann much because I was busy with the snacks but I did take a few pictures of her one day.

Working on her craft with Natalie.

Sitting with her class.....I was spotted so she is mid-"Mommy!!!"

Concentrating on the hand motions.

Sitting with Anna-Kate outside.

Lining up for kickball. I stayed to watch to see if she would actually participate and when it was getting close to her turn to kick she snuck out of the line and sat on the sidelines. It's okay, I never enjoyed sports either!

She was so excited to see me at snack time! I will be sad when the day comes when it's not cool to see Mommy.

Off to Grandpa & Mimi's House

Last Thursday the kids and I packed it up and drove to my parent's house. Rane, of course, was horrible in the car both to and from our house but it is never, ever a picnic to ride in a car with him so it was to be expected. We got there early afternoon so we had all day Thursday through Sunday to play, play, play....or at least they all played and I sat! My Dad had his annual weekend trip to St. Louis with a bunch of his friends and couldn't cancel so he left Friday at lunch but was back home by lunch on Sunday. Ella Ann missed him terribly, but we were crazy busy while he was gone. My Dad had the golf cart from the lake (Barkley Lake for my non-Kentucky readers) at home so Ella Ann was all about that! My poor Mom took her for a ride about 4 times a day all around the neighborhood. I got on a couple of times and held Rane so he got in on the action as well. Once my Dad got home on Sunday he got out the Rhino from the storage room and drove Ella Ann around in that too. She much preferred riding that since it goes pretty fast (seat belts are a must) and they went off roading (the yard). The golf cart was a kiddie ride compared to that! She loved all the excitement with the outdoor vehicles!

On Thursday and Friday we just ran errands and took it easy around the house. We went to dinner Friday night and Rane was not happy so it wasn't exactly an enjoyable meal, but at least we got out of the house. On Saturday morning we headed to Evansville, Indiana for some shopping and to meet up with our Aunt Sue (my late grandmother, Honey's, sister) for lunch. Aunt Sue hadn't met Rane yet so we were happy they finally got together! Ella Ann was so excited to see Aunt Sue and she asked if she could sit by her during lunch. I know that made Aunt Sue's day to have a 4 year old so interested in her, drawing pictures for her, talking with her and holding her hand as we left the restaurant. Rane wasn't too happy at lunch either because it was his nap time but it was all worth it to see Aunt Sue. He slept all the way home and then another 1.5 hours once we got home so he was one happy camper after he woke up! That afternoon Gary and Gayla drove over and spent some time with the kids. Ella Ann enjoyed playing with Papa and Rane enjoyed cuddling a lot with Nana. That evening my Aunt Bee, who lives across the street, came over for dinner. Once again Ella Ann was pumped to have her over and asked to sit by her at dinner as well. Aunt Bee played dinosaurs with her while Mom and I worked on dinner. Ella Ann loved every minute of it. (So were we busy or what on Saturday??!!!) After dinner Ella Ann and Rane were dancing in the kitchen and Rane fell and busted his lip wide open. I called Spencer to see if he thought I should take him to the ER for stitches because it wouldn't stop gushing blood and of course since he said he wasn't there to see that it was my call. Great. So I decided against the stitches because once it stopped bleeding and I was able to really look at the two big slits I thought that they would heal fine. It was gross though!

Once Grandpa arrived home on Sunday it was all fun and games for Ella Ann. They went to Dairy Queen and got their ice cream cones, rode the Rhino and played in the little pool. That afternoon my dad's cousin Cindy, and mine, and her husband, Ed, stopped by on their way home from the lake (they live in Evansville) to meet Rane and see the rest of us. It was great spending a little bit of time with them and catching up.

Needless to say, my kids were absolutely WORN out by the time we headed home Monday morning. Both went to bed early last night and fell asleep quickly. VBS started at our church yesterday so today was our first day. Ella Ann had a blast!!! I was thrilled she had such a good time and was just fine and dandy without me around....finally! I am on the snack committee so I get to see her for a little bit during the morning and she was excited to show me her craft and the pictures she had colored. I will forever be on the snack committee from now on! I simply prepare snacks and serve them. This also means I am around the lovely snack table for the workers as well so I just sit around and eat and chat with everyone for 3 hours! Rane is in the nursery so I feel like I am on vacation!

Riding on the golf cart.

The one picture with Grandpa.

Playing in the pool.

Rane loves his blanket, I mean LOVES it.

The frosted cookie that spoiled Ella Ann's lunch at the mall in Evansville.

Mom took the kids for a ride on the carousel.....the highlight of the trip to Evansville for them!

Waiting for Aunt Sue at the restaurant.

Saying "cheeeeeeese" to each other. They love to make each other laugh all the time now.

Chatting it up with Aunt Sue.

Sweet boy. Mom just picked him up out of his bed that morning and he was still all wrapped up from head to toe in his blanket, which is how he sleeps every night....like a mummy. You can kind of see his busted lip in this picture. Unfortunately this is the end of the pictures. I failed miserably to snap any pics of the kids with Gary and Gayla, Aunt Bee and Cindy and Ed. Geez!!!

It's A Growin'!

Our garden is producing some first fruits...yeay! Spencer planted so many vegetables in hopes that a few will grow because the soil in our backyard is awful, even though he mixed it with good soil that we bought at Home Depot. We don't expect a lot of produce from the garden because of that but if we get a few vegetables then that is just fine! Ella Ann helped Spencer plant the garden a couple of months ago, which was very fun for her. It has been a learning experience for Ella Ann in patience and hard work and when she first saw a green tomato she was ecstatic! I ate our first tomato a couple of days ago and it was wonderful! From what I can remember we have planted basil (I use it in our Italian dishes), cilantro (use in our Mexican dishes), yellow and red peppers, 3 big tomato plants, one Roma tomato plant, cucumbers, squash, lettuce and watermelon. Spencer's family had a huge garden when he was growing up and they grew everything under the sun so he has a green thumb and knows what he's doing. When we make our permanent move in a year and a half we will have a big garden in our backyard every year....that's our dream at least!

Even though this pepper looks ready we are waiting for it to change color.

Cucumbers

Squash

Tomatoes

We also have these beautiful flowers growing in our backyard and they are spectacular. I have no idea what they are, even though I've seen them before. Anyone?

Fernbank

Yesterday Ella Ann and I had a last minute mommy/daughter date. Spencer was home glued to the television watching the World Cup all day so while he kept Rane I took Ella Ann to Fernbank Science Museum. We had been once before when I was pregnant with Rane and ever since then she has been asking to go back. Honestly, it really wasn't THAT fun so I couldn't understand why in the world she wanted to go back! A couple of weeks ago I got a "Welcome to the neighborhood" packet....ummmm, like almost a year late, that had a bunch of coupons in it, one that was a free child's admission to Fernbank. Well that was Ella Ann's golden ticket!

She was so excited to go and she was excited that it was just us girls for the morning. I am glad we decided to go on a Saturday because the museum was all parents and children, unlike last time when we went during the week and it was quite boring, and they had all kinds of fun things to do for the kids. As soon as we got there she received a dinosaur tattoo and we played dino tic-tac-toe. After that we headed for their newest exhibit of geckos. Wow, it was super neat! We saw every kind of gecko lizard on this earth! I didn't realize there were so many different kinds and Ella Ann and I had a great time looking at them and reading about each one.

A very fun thing for Ella Ann that we got to do was sit in on a musical show. Mr. Gregg's Musical Madness was playing on Saturday so for 30 minutes Ella Ann was singing and shaking it like it was her job right down front! Mr. Gregg won the parent's choice award for his newest cd, so of course I was suckered in to buying it for her. He had a bag full of instruments, all kinds of silly songs to sing and funny things to say to all the kids. At the beginning of the show he asked all the kids to come down front to help him sing. I figured Ella Ann would give me that shy look and say she didn't want to go down there but I don't even think he was done with his sentence before she was bolting down the isle to get down there! I was so proud of her! She had a blast!

After that we explored a few more exhibits and then did a couple of dinosaur arts and crafts in the children's area before we headed home for lunch. Ella Ann really had a good time and I had fun just watching her learn and spending some one-on-one time with her.

Outside Fernbank.

Getting her tattoo.

Singing and dancing with Mr. Gregg.

Little Fish

Yesterday Ella Ann started two weeks of swim lessons. She goes four days a week for a half an hour in the afternoons. The afternoon couldn't come fast enough for her! She has her swimsuit and towel laid out by 8 a.m. and by the time we pull in the parking lot, after asking a million times if we are almost there, she is squealing. To say she loves swim lessons is an understatement. She is thrilled to be there and her teacher, Miss Bridget, is the best. Another great thing is that her friend from school, Mary Francis, is in the class with her. Yeay! I am good friends with her mom so her and I enjoy catching up while the girls swim. She has a little boy a few months older than Rane so we have to deal with them sitting in the stroller, after being awoken from their naps abruptly to get to the lesson on time, and wanting to get into the pool oh-so badly. Good thing for Rane it's only 30 minutes! I don't know if we have found what Ella Ann enjoys and is good at as far as "sports" goes but I have never seen her so excited to take part in something. She is actually pretty good and today the teacher only took her life jacket (looks like a backpack but I don't know what you call it) off for her to swim. I was so proud! :)

This morning we met my friend, Janelle, and her three kids at the zoo. Unfortunately it started raining as soon as we arrived but after the rain stopped the skies were beautiful and there was hardly anyone at the park. It was great! Her 4 year old, Anna-Kate, and Ella Ann are very good friends so Ella Ann was beyond the moon to see her buddy today AND another one this afternoon at swim lessons! We had a fantastic morning with Janelle and the kids. We took our time seeing all the animals and stopped to feed the kids lunch. What a dream day for Ella Ann!

I took the swim lessons pictures yesterday. The class is all girls and they were learning how to kick.

There she goes! Swimming across the pool with a fanoodle.

However, before she becomes a true fish we need to get her to be okay with splashing water and going under!

I don't think any of them liked water being splashed in their faces!

Unfortunately after the rain stopped I forgot to take anymore pictures so all I have is the backsides of the kids. Oops.

I even let my little animal out amongst the others for a few minutes since they are kindred spirits!

Anna-Kate, Ella Ann and Ryan checking out the warthogs.

Silence

Sorry for our blog silence as of late. We have had an eventful week last week and Spencer was in Toccoa all weekend with the computer so I was out of touch (how do I survive??). Anyway, after we got back from Destin I had to go back to my dentist to have my root canal, that I had about 3 weeks ago, completed. Man, it is the worst! I have to go back again two more times and after that I will be the proud new owner of a lovely crown. It sure is exciting to get old! I blame it all on my babies. They say that being pregnant sucks all the calcium out of your body so hence the teeth problems. Ohh well, they are worth a root canal any ole' day!

My best friend, Jana, who is in every sense of the word to me a sister, had her second little girl, Evelyn, this past Friday. It was all great immediately after the birth and then she started showing some serious problems. To make a long story short, she was diagnosed with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertensive Newborn (PPHN) disorder and her heart was a big problem as well. To get the complete story read Jana's blog. She was transferred to the NICU at Egleston, a hospital right by my house, Friday night. Jana followed with her mom (Kane came with Evelyn) on Saturday. I met them at the hospital Saturday afternoon to see Jana and mainly just give her a hug. I haven't heard from Jana today but as of yesterday Evelyn was taken off the ventilator and was breathing on her own! God is so amazing and we have watched Him work a miracle in little Evelyn. She was barely alive when she arrived at Egleston so to have her already off the ventilator can only be attributed to God's healing hand and to that we are so grateful! To watch Kane and Jana suffer through all of this has been heart wrenching. I want nothing but the best for them and of course wanted them to be able to take home their healthy baby from the hospital after she was born. Unfortunately that didn't happen and they may be in Atlanta for a little while. I am happy to be so close to the hospital to be able to help out in any way possible.

So with that said, I have been a little busy! I have zero pictures for you, sorry, but I should be taking some boring ones soon....since we lead such exciting lives around here and all! Ella Ann starts swim lessons this afternoon and they will be 4 days this week and 4 days next week. She is SO SO SO excited!