Day 3, Tuesday March 8 Tulum ruins and Abierostar Resort

Well the kids are ready for the tour of the Mayan ruins!
Very cool to see such old structures. They sure did know how to build back then!
Elli was very good at finding beautiful things. She especially would point out the pretty flowers.
There were iguanas everywhere. I love the picture of this one posing for our shot of the ruin temple.
The beach was gorgeous! Such a beautiful spot.
It was a small hike down, but totally worth it.
Leaving the ruins through the cave. So glad we took Lance and Lana up on the offer to join them.
Lana got a coconut to drink. It was refreshing and actually good. Elli liked it too:) She said a little later to Lana, "I am so thirsty." She got another sip:)
The boys and Elli at the beach at Lance and Lana's resort. It was a beautiful place and we had a great time playing:)
Lana wanted pictures with the birds so we were feeding them nachos. Here is Devin with a swarm. Elli was terrified at first, then wanted a chance when she saw they were not going to attack her.
Cousins:)
A family shot as the sun was going down. Love that it was still warm, except the wind:) So much fun just playing together.
We had dinner together at a Japanese steakhouse. Elli was awake long enough to see the big fire, then she went to sleep with Lima who was zonked out in the stroller. Elli did get to participate in a kids program event with some dancing and games up on stage. She loved it:) Another great day in Cancun.

Day 1, Sunday, March 6, 2011 and Day 2 Monday in Cancun

Elli did a great job taking care of her own suitcase. She even learned to get on and off the escalators by herself. Such a big girl.
She asked me for a sucker for take off. I took this picture after I dug it out of my purse:) She slept most of our second flight, from Atlanta to Cancun.
Devin slept on the balcony each night. He loved it!!!!
Before our tans:) The pools were warm this year. We even went in on Sunday night when we first got there, in the rain. Elli said she was going straight to the pools when we got there and not even the rain could stop us!
Posing in her new suit and matching hat.
We all loved the slide. Here is Elli going down on her tummy with Devin catching.
Mexican buffet. Absolutely delicious! They had a pinata for the kids, but needed help from the parents, so even I got a turn:) Elli loved the candy and ended up sharing with others. I love her sweet spirit.
The Mariachi band played for us that night. Elli loved the girl, as you can see she is beautiful and sparkly! Elli followed her all night giving her money for a tip and sharing her candy with her from the pinata. I will share another story at the end of the week about her, Arisbeth is her name. A great first couple of days in Cancun for sure!

All things girly, March 4, 2011

We, mom, Elli, and I, got our hair cut by Candy at Heather's house. She did a great job and how very convenient. Let me know if you need a good stylist!!!!
A random picture of Elli with snowman. He went with us to get our nails done. Fitting for the coming of spring, right?!
Drying her nails. She looks so big here!
Interested in the girl doing her nails.
She thought she was SO big because she got to sit in the big massage chair while getting her fingernails and toenails painted.
Since Elli was able to stop biting her nails long enough for them to grow out, and since her infected nail is all better, we decided to get our nails painted. She was quiet excited and picked out a nice outfit for the occasion:) She picked out the brightest two pink colors she could find for fingers and toes. Then she asked if the girl could paint pictures on her nails. She got two flowers, one for each thumb:) She was quite proud of herself and enjoyed it all, except for waiting for me. But then, a little girl came in who was waiting on her mommy and they played very well, and quietly, together:) What fun memories. I am excited for more days like this to come!

Family Night at Leah's

Gonga and Papa holding their babies. Sweet times.
Little Wesley.
Little Luka. Fun night:)

My Cinderella

Have I mentioned how much I dislike my kitchen floor? It doesn't come clean by just mopping so about once every other month, I scrub. Elli decided she wanted to help me.
This is what I found that night. So sleepy after working so hard to help her mommy. I love these sleeping pictures of Elli. They remind me of her looks as a baby.

Family Skate Night, Feb 24, 2011

Madilynn wanted to skate with me, so we made our way around the rink several times, just like this:)
Elli showing Brent her new skills. Rebecca was a good friend and helper.
The girls were cheering for Brent as he skated around.
I love this shot of Elli. She put her skates on and then tried to make her way to the rink. So cute. By the end of the night she was doing well. I don't remember how I learned to skate, but helping Elli was so fun.

Some reasons why being Elli's mom is the best job ever!

1. She prays for others, including just about everyone we know who is pregnant or wanting to be pregnant.

2. Elli tooted at the table and when I asked her what she should say she replied, "Ahh."

3. Elli asks me to be a horse nearly everyday. She feeds me, brushes my hair, rides on my back, and pets me.

4. She dances to any music and does cartwheels all the time!

5. She thinks she is in charge when we are not at home, trying to take care of others. (especially at church)

6. She learns quickly and surprises me with her amazing memory.

7. She comes up with amazing stories. For instance, one evening on the way home from church, the clouds were covering the moon and I got a running commentary which included things like, "The moon is putting on a show. Someone is on the moon. Jesus is on the moon and he is putting on a show for me."

8. From the story above I am reminded of another reason, Elli relates everything to Jesus!

9. She is funny and makes me laugh, often.

10. She really is an answer to our prayers

Friends

Travis and Madilynn playing guitar together. This guitar is almost as big as her!
Elli playing guitar with Travis. They played and sang "Jesus Loves Me." Not sure Elli is ready for the stage, but her little voice and face was so sincere.
We went to see Lily cheer and Andrew play basketball with Upward. What a fun morning. Elli loved watching her friend and I think her friend loved being watched by Elli:)
I asked Lily to jump or do something big for me. She said she wasn't allowed, but she managed this:)
Andrew is really getting the hang of basketball. Here he is blocking a shot. Arms up!

Valentine's Day Preliminaries:)

Roses from Brent to me, cookies from me to Brent. (my Grammy's peanut butter cookies with added chocolate chips for Brent's liking:)
Elli with her Valentine plates from her Gonga and Papa.
She loves presents.
Her face is cracking me up with all those smiles.
Elli loves presents and she gets them often. Every holiday delivers a surprise or two:) Papa and Gonga got Elli two heart shaped plates, some hershey kisses, valentine sandwich bags, and some fingernail polish that smells like cotton candy when it dries:) What a special little valentine we have here.

Tucson, Westin LaPaloma, Feb 5-9, 2011

Brent's favorite hole. He likes the view of this hole overlooking the course and the mountains in the background.
Getting ready to tee off. The club and resort are in the background.
For me:) This is a shot of the pool area.
Brent and his friend Bill from work went on a golf trip in Tucson. They played 126 holes in 5 days. (three whole days and two half days) They had a wonderful time, great weather, and lots of golf. Brent said there is nothing like waking up and knowing all you have to do that day is play golf:) We are happy to have him home, but I am thankful he had the opportunity to do something he loves.

Just because I think she's cute:)

Look at the dogs by Elli. Fergi usually camps out here as you can see the top of her head. She anticipates something falling. Sometimes Elli gladly helps out. The other dog is a ceramic dachsund (sp?) A couple from one of Brent's nursing homes fell in love with him and then with Elli when we visited. They bought her some gloves after her surgery and asked Brent to give her this dog after learning how much she loves animals. I love that Elli set that dog by her for dinner just like Fergi:)

Yes, Elli is wearing a swimsuit to eat dinner and it is snowing outside. Funny girl she is.

Playing with Fergi

Fergi likes to play with Elli as long as she is not trying to hold her, pet her, hug her, etc:)
This goes on time after time. Elli throws the toy, Fergi runs to it, Elli grabs it back, and Fergi chases her onto the couch. Love Elli's giggle as she plays.

Elli's first "date."

Elli and Brent have had "daddy-daughter" nights before. But this time, he asked her if she wanted to go on a date. (Background-Brent and I had a date night night earlier that week and Elli wanted to know what we did. I told her we went to dinner and even kissed. Back to date night) When Brent asked her, she got really embarrassed, put her hands on her face, and shook her head "no." Then she said, "Do we have to kiss?" Brent laughed and told her no since she was his little girl and she changed her answer to,"I guess so" with an eye roll:) I asked Elli what they were going to do and she said she needed to get flowers. So, Brent brought home flowers, she dressed up in this little dress, they went to "BobDevins" for pancakes, the theater to see Yogi Bear in 3-D(Elli sat on Brent's lap the whole time), then went back to "BobDevins" for dessert. While eating dinner apparently Elli spotted the peanut butter sundae and told Brent they should get one after the movie. He agreed:) All said, they had a great time, Elli thought she was the most special girl alive, and Brent wants to do it again:)