Club Mommy's Car...

Where there's never a cover, the bouncer's name is Daddy and there's always plenty of stale goldfish crackers and warm juice to go around...

Projects Time!!

It must be what they call it at school...whenever Ella and I play with play-dough or draw or paint or put together princess castles made of foam...Ella excitedly claps her hands and says, "Yay, projects time!"

She's pretty creative and really gets into it. Recently we built the aforementioned princess castle and we made a matching crown, necklace and bracelet. There's something inspiring to me about a crafts store...until I'm actually in the midst of glue and directions and insanity.

They turned out nicely and Ella enjoyed showing them off for the camera. And now...Cinderella and her other figurines have a home.

Yesterday we were playing with her little play-dough factory. I was manufacturing balls while she pressed them into the smiley face mold. When we had easily made 20 of the little grinning globs...Ella picked up two of the blue little faces and proclaimed they were sad and crying. I asked why. "Because they're blue," she said. Really? Does she already get that correlation/meaning? It's amazing to me what they pick up on.

Bye, bye summer!

Well July and August have flown by once again. Why can't January and February go that quickly?

Anyway...we haven't been on any trips or vacations and we're just living the monotonous life. We're trying to go away in late September but I'm not sure if we'll have the cash since the deck project went over budget. But it looks great!! And since Daddy did all of the work (save a few days help from family) ...we did save a bundle.

As for Miss Ella...well we're in full on potty training mode. You may recall we've had a potty since last winter when she first showed an interest but that was short-lived. I tried again in June but she happily peed all over herself and continued to play on the neighbors' swing set.

So...recently she gave us the signs again and I went out and bought a six pack of princess panties. I quickly realized I'd need a lot more than that. One day, when I was trying to make a casserole for a neighbor who's been on bed rest for most of her pregnancy, she pooped in her panties four times in a row. But she's doing much, much better now and I dare say we're almost there. We're into our second or third full week and she went poop in the potty all by herself today. I am eternally grateful.

But it has been a long road and I've put off cleaning the carpets because of the phantom pee spots I find here and there. Now I think we're safe so I started calling around getting quotes. One man started talking, in great detail, about the efforts they make in removing "pet spots". I assured him we do not have a pet, just a toddler. His response: "Well human and pet urine is very similar so we should be able to remove any stains." Swear to the good Lord he was serious.

Ella also served as flower girl in Uncle David and Aunt Brooke's wedding. Cousin Trey was the ring bearer and they both did a great job!!