Many activities today

Sunset hugs from my girl.

Ice Cream on the balcony.

Elli says, "There is a big girl in the baby swing." Funny girl. She loved playing at this park.

Scaring the sea gulls away from this dock. "Bye, bye birdies."

I call this pose, "Cheerleader in Training." Elli has just so enjoyed swimming and playing in the pool and ocean. She has changed so much from just 6 months ago on our last beach vacation. (Also here at Fort Walton Beach) She is like a big girl instead of a baby girl!

Elli joins in a game of shuffleboard. Brent beat me 111 to 34. Goodness.

Brent letting Elli fly her Sesame Street kite on the beach. It doesn't compare to the dragon kites we have seen, but it still looked cute flying over our bag!

Elli likes to go up high, then drop into the water. This picture captures that game and the adorable hat that makes her look like my little sailor girl:)

Rainy Day

We wanted some pictures on the beach or at least by the dunes. It was getting ready to storm but we headed out anyway. The ocean is cool in all types of weather. Sometimes it is fun to see it all wild. The rainbow after the storm was pretty as well. Elli made a song about how pretty it was and thanked God for giving rainbows after Noah's Ark.

We drove out to pick up the fans and lights that the owner of the condo ordered. Elli wanted to ride on the cart still, so she squeezed in with all these boxes. We also went to the outlet malls where both Brent and I found deals on new shoes. We enjoyed kunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise and headed home for naps.

Being couped up inside leads to lots of tickle and wrestle matches. Elli got the giggles really bad after being tickled so much. She was crazy! It was a lot of fun. Brent also put up one fan and one new light.

Here is one of the wrestle matches. Elli does not look like she is winning. She got flipped over and thrown onto the couch right after this. Then, she flew right back off for more.

Castles, rainbow jellies, and mommy time

Heading back to the pool after a couple hours on the beach building castles, playing in the waves, and looking for rainbow jelly fish!

Pool time with mommy today. We played hard and she wore herself out. She was rubbing her eyes and crying because we had to go in for lunch. She was sleepy but wouldn't give in. Poor girl. When her head hits the pillow for naps and bed time, she doesn't move:)

Elli has a book about a fish called Swimmy. In the book, Swimmy finds a medusa made of rainbow jelly. So, when we walk on the beach, Elli is constantly looking for rainbow jelly fish. Here she is checking one out. She said it has red, blue and purple on it. "Very pretty," she says!

Building a castle with daddy again for the sole purpose of crashing. She loves to crash sand.

Daddy-Daughter Day

Giving big hugs to daddy.

She did this countless times. She can't get enough of swimming. Brent was loving the fact that Elli was asking for him over me. I just watched this time around:)

Elli has pigtails and a new suit. She didn't want me to take her picture, but I told her we couldn't go to the beach until I got that pretty face:) This is what she gave me when she turned around. She loved the waves and the splashing. She kept asking Brent to play "in the biggest waves in the world!" We are off to a good start of our vacation.

Fort Walton Beach May 1

We left at 5:30 am and arrived at 6:30 pm. Not bad, but we were all tired. We ran out to the beach after unloading all luggage and groceries. Elli was soaked from the ocean and very sandy after throwing it everywhere. So she took her pants off and ran around in her underwear. Thankfully, there were very few people on the beach. We are snuggling with our bed time routine and then she was OUT!

Preschool Praise April 26th

Elli couldn't stand on stage with a spinny dress and not actually spin it!

This was our first experience as parents watching our daughter sing in front of church for a real program. (This doesn't count the times after service when she performs on stage for anyone watching) She sang well, obeyed Miss Sherry, who was frantic to keep all these kids in line, and gave us all a few good laughs. She smiled and waved each time she saw someone she knew. (mommy, daddy, Heather, Leah, Gonga) She at one point reached her arms out to me and said she needed a hug. This lasted for a couple minutes, but soon she was distracted with singing and put her arms down. I am so proud of her for learning her songs, being brave enough to sing in front of a filled church, and for realizing that she was making Jesus happy! (She had to be 3 before the program. She made it by one day:)

Thank you Sherry and Brenda for making this happen as well.

Michigan Trip

Elli getting ready to open presents!

Picture with a "princess". She was a narrarator in the musical but she has a sparkly dress!

Elli, Brent, Devin/Elvis/Pharoah, cousin Dave. Devin was hilarious and very good as the Elvis-ish character of Pharoah in Joseph and the Technicolored Coat. It was a great production. Elli was a little afraid of Devin, but loved watching him on stage. In fact, she was GREAT through the whole 2 hour performance. We are so glad we got to see Devin. SO funny!

Elli opening a birthday card from her Aunt Jenna. It had money in it so she was very excited.

Loving the trampoline and jumping with Kyle. She wore herself out playing on this thing:)

Jumping high with Nana. It took her a little bit to get used to it. She has a small trampoline at home where she holds onto the handles, so at first she was jumping while holding onto someone's hands. Of course, no one minded. This was great entertainment for all as we sat/stood around watching Elli and playing with her. What did we do for entertainment before Elli?

Happy Birthday Dad

Heathr made this chocolate/raspberry cake from scratch. Very rich, very thick, very yummy.

Elli helped dad with his presents too. Love you dad.

Elli's birthday Party- Cinderella

Running like a lady to get the bottle in the field. Uncle Kyle launched bottle rockets for entertainment and practice. He sells them on e-bay too! The kids and adults loved it.

Opening presents. Look at that pile of wonderful gifts. So many pretty dresses, clothes, instruments, games, babies, books a kite, bubbles, and more!

Taking a bite of the princess cake. When Elli saw it upon returning from a birthday outing with Aunt Leah, she said, "Oh mommy, it is beautiful!"

Posing after her nap, ready for her party. We ordered this Cinderella princess dress and our friend embroidered the number 3 along the bottom. Elli loved it to say the least!

Marble painting with friends at the party. Thanks Aunt Heather for the help and Gary for engineering the drying rack:)

Elli wanting to help me ice the cake and cupcakes. They had glass slippers and princess stamps. She really just wanted to lick the icing, but it was her party. Look at that little finger getting ready to swipe!
It was a great warm day on April 18th. Her party was very fun. The day started with Elli having hiccups, but she told me she had the "bless yous." Then she went to Build a Bear with Aunt Leah to make a pink teddy bear look like a ballerina, which she named Taylor. She actually took a nap when she got home, but, when she woke up, she was ready to PARTY! My sweet girl cried like nothing I have seen for a while when it was bedtime at 10:30. Poor thing said she missed her party. Thank you family and friends for making this party special for Elli and me!

Brent's Birthday

A crew of 18 family and freinds joined us at Texas Roadhouse for Bren't birthday. He is putting on a show for us here on the saddle:) Yee-Haw

Elli helped him open a few presents.

Swim lessons right before dinner. I love this picture of the two of them!

Easter Activities

All the kids in Elli's preschool class checking out their Easter Eggs.

The tutu wearing, egg searching, little Elli on the run. (April 17th)

Easter basket find at Gonga and Papa's house.

The EB hid it in the cupboard where the cereal is kept since that's where Elli goes first when she gets over there:)

The EB left this riddle for Elli's basket this year at our house: "Think of where you wash your hands, there I will be found, When you find me you will jump for joy, but first you must look down." She found her basket under the bathroom sink with these goodies. She was concerned that the bunny took her basket while she was sleeping:)

Coloring eggs with friend Joshua.

The Care Group kids enjoying the loot from the egg hunt at our house. What a fun group of kids:) (April 9)

April 4th Wedding Dress Shopping/Finding

Elli had to try on dresses with Aunt Heather and model them on the platform too.

Not the dress Heather bought, but a close runner up. elli went with her to get her hair styled. It was a fun day down on wedding row in Cincinatti.

More of my favorite Elli sayings

"Can we stay a couple longers?"
"See you to later."
"Mommy, I push this back and froth, back and froth."
"What is that beezer noise?" (buzzer)
"I want a spinny, down dress."(long)
"Mommy, you wear high sandals?"(sandals with a heel)
"Baby, you are so smart." (to her baby dolls)

The meaning of Easter

I have been telling Elli the Easter Story and haven't been sure Elli was getting it. Today, she saw her Easter basket out with eggs in it in preparation for our Care Group Easter Egg hunt this evening. When she got to preschool, she said to her teacher,, "I have Easter Eggs."
Her teacher asked why. Elli responded, "Because Jesus died on the cross." Her teacher then asked, "Then what happened?" Elli responded, "Then he went to see his people."
Okay, so the eggs don't mean Jesus died, but Easter does. And yes, after he died, he went to see his people. One more simple truth of a complex understanding of God's word. Thank you Ellianna.

Eye Troubles

Since Elli was 11 moths old, she has been getting cellulitis, an infection in the skin around her eye. (as seen in the picture) This week she got it again, the fourth time this winter and only two weeks after recovering from another one. So, the doctor referred us to an opthamologist. She went Tuesday to her appt and he wanted to do a CT scan. Elli responded negatively, to put it lightly, to the sedation, and was asleep barely long enough to do the scan. She was fighting the whole time, but thankfully doesn't seem to remember anything. (Much like the incredible hulk, seriously) They are now thinking she has sinusitis which has been causing cellulitis. She is also covered in hives due to an allergic reaction to one of the three meds in her body. She is now taking an antibiotic to help with the sinusitis and benedryl to help with the hives. It has been a week, to say the least:)

Lip-Stache

Elli wanted her Papa to put on this "lipstache" but then was very afriad of him. She then wanted me to put it on and was very afraid of me. We finally talked her into putting it on and looking in the mirror. At first she was afraid and wouldn't open her eyes. (if I can't see you, then I must be hiding?) She eventually looked in the mirror and then laughed. What a funy little girl.

Funny Conversation

Elli was going poopy on the potty and wanted me to sit in the bathroom with her. Here is our conversation:
"Mommy did you toot?"
"No, Elli."
"Did I toot?"
"No, Elli."
"Did I drop something back there?"
"Yes, Elli. A stinky poopy."
"Oh."
My mom had a similar conversation with her earlier in the day. Elli is so crazy!

Healthy fear of Ducks

I took Elli to the park today since it was so pretty. We went to Shawnee Park and played and she fed the ducks. She couldn't wait to see them and play with them. Then we saw the big geese. At first she was happy to see them too, but then, she realized they were not making happy "quacking" noises. They were hissing at her and then they started running toward us. Elli ran the other way and said, "They are chasing us mommy!" I had to explain that some ducks are not very nice. We need to play with the little ducks, not the big ones. On the way home she said, "The little ducks are nice, the big ones are mean."

Swimming Lessons

Elli and Caleb had a great time at swimming lessons. We thought it might be a good idea to have them do something together to maybe help with their "love-hate" friendship:)

Elli is practicing her jumping skills. Love Brent's face!

She looks so big here.

Big smile of happiness and love for her daddy and swimming.

Brent sneaking some kisses from his little girl. They had such a good time together. She cannot wait for more swimming lessons. She is getting better too.