Spring has Sprung, Sick, Spoons and Study Station

Mama Duck had some spring time babies a few weeks ago and Ella and I love watching them grow each day. They waddle around just a few feet from our front door.

Little Ellie J Has been so Sick these past few weeks.

She has been Getting lots of practice with her new spoons and forks.

Last week the old bullentin board in our room fell to the floor and broke. James writes on that thing probably six hours a day. SOOOO my smart/ beautiful sister told me about a new product that her and her hubby just bought on Amazon. So we got it for our Study Station

Its a dry erase board you just stick to the wall and you can have 24 feet of it to put where ever you want. It peels right off and doesn't ruin the paint. I quickly ordered it so James would have it for his next test. The pictures are horrible but it is really neat and I wanted to share. So deal with it.

Water water water

Ella loves the water and getting messy. I can't keep her out of it. James and I try to let her learn a lot through play during the day. My idea of this it letting her feel textures in her food, paint, play in water and dig in the dirt. James just lets her walk straight into the pond and now I spend most of my day casing her out of the tad- pool filled pond that super cool Dad lets her play in. She often prances through the door after walks, butt naked and Dad is holding her drenched clothes.

A typical hot Florida afternoon consists of water play on the porch. Gotta make good use of the old baby tubby! I never ever intend her getting in the tub.....but she does every single time.

You gotta love the saggy diapers at the end of play time

Occasionally I am able to quickly slip her into her swimsuit!

"Play can miniaturize a part of the complex world children experience, reduce it to understandable dimensions, manipulate it, and help them understand how it works."

Island Getaway

James woke up the other day and decided we should take a little road trip to Sanibel Island. So we packed up and hopped in the car. We made it there and after checking into our hotel we headed to the beach. Sanibel is a small island with white beaches and millions of shells all over the shore. We live right by the beach but it's just a more relaxing feel to be on an island and see a different part of Florida. There are tons of little shops and restaurants and my favorite part was driving by the hugest most amazing homes I have ever seen. Ella loves the beach so much and James and I love seeing her so happy. We even saw dolphins swimming in the ocean. It was a great trip and now we are back to reality. Watch the little video if you want to see our trip!

If you want to watch it full screen....click on the four little arrows in the bottom right corner and pause it for a minute to upload.

* ELLA LATELY *

Ella has been a lot of fun sense she has learned to walk. A whole new world has opened up to her. She mostly stands by the door and says bye bye clutching the car keys in her hands. We go to the park or story time almost every day so she get excited to go....but occasionally we end up at the store and shes Pissed to say the least!

She enjoys walking through the stores

( she is usually wearing shoes and not a tutu)

Always finding the best deals on hair care products

Relaxing at the park

Playing the water

Dancing at story time

Making messes

Having good hair days

wearing jewelery

Our friend from church is moving and gave Ella some great new toys for inside and out!

She loves them and plays out there most of the day.

She is starting show interest more in the fridge magnets and less on the trash can.

And for me... I finally learned how to use my sewing machine and made a few pairs of baby leggings for Ella and some for gifts!

BIRTHDAY BOY

Happy Birthday James

He had to spend the whole day at school......but we were excited when he got to come home!

Ella stood and pointed at the cake and whined most of the day, begging for an M&M to magically drop into her mouth

The Birthday Boy requested French toast and homemade syrup for dinner.

Syrup

1 cup buttermilk

1cup butter (thats right folks 2 sticks of goodness)

2 cups sugar

Bring to boil then add:

2 Tb. corn syrup

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

My wish for the birthday boy this year is that I will no longer find this in the fridge!!!

THIS PURSE IS GOING TO BE THE DEATH OF ME!

My child is obsessed with this highly fashionable purse! I don't use a purse or encourage girly things in our home so I'm not sure where this is coming from? I dress her pretty neutral and buy her wooden blocks and animals to play with. And she goes and does this to me.....

• She has to have it all day long
• She screams an obnoxious scream when she cant get the zipper open "by herself"
• She insists on carrying it on her shoulder at all times
• she must have it filled with her cell, mirror, necklaces and wallet and other girly things
• She pulls it away from you sooooo fast if you try to play with it too
• She thinks her toy purses aren't cool any more compared to this big girl purse
• And last but not least........She napped with it the other day!