Last Weekend

We had a really good weekend! Alan and I both had ALL weekend off!! We have just hung out around the house. (Ella hasn't felt very well though. She is getting a tooth, and her allergies have been horrible!)

This is how Ella started her weekend. She found her bouncy seat from when she was a baby. It was funny to watch her get into it! She would "slip'n'slide dive" into it so it would bounce.

Saturday morning Ella and I went up to Chick'n Quick to visit. ...I know, my own plant wasn't running so I had to go to another one!! lol. It was really good to see everyone. Ella decided that she wanted to try on Alfred's golf shoe!! She made herself a seat on his bookshelf.

She got really mad that she couldn't get her boots off!

We also got Babe's whelping box set up. This is a picture of her from last Sunday. I think we will have puppies in the morning!!!

Hope you have a good Friday!!!

-- Amanda

Tennis

We decided to play tennis tonight. This is the first time we have played tennis this year, and I decided that Ella needed to have her own racket. Yes, I realize that this means at some point this summer it will probably be used as a weapon... hopefully she will choose Alan instead of me!! (Although if she has my coordination, it won't matter because she won't be able hit anything with it anyway!!)

We had LOTS of fun!!

--Amanda

Going to the Lake

We decided to take the boat out on the lake today, and we had SO much fun! The weather was wonderful; it was so nice to get outside and enjoy it! Also, Alan and I got a slip at the marina today, which means, I don't have to drive the boat or the trailer anymore! I am super excited; this is going to be a wonderful summer! Before I post today's pictures though, I wanted to post some old pictures of Ella at the lake.

Summer of 2009

This is Ella when she was three months old. Look at those skinny little legs!! It is hard to believe she was that small. She loved napping in the boat.

Her life jacket made the perfect pacifier holder.  

Summer of 2010

Ella and Grandpa riding the jet ski!!

Summer of 2010

Ella and Papa.

Ella and Gran.

Ella was driving the boat for Daddy! She knows how to use the throttle to make it go faster, but she doesn't like to slow down. She can honk the horn, too!! Her biggest problem is that she can only turn right... I am sure she will have lots of practice this summer!!! 

 

This is just a random picture of me, ha ha, I didn't get to take any pictures with Ella.

I am sure there will be many more lake pictures this year! We are looking so forward to getting to play in the water with Ella. I am sure she will love getting to ride the tube!

 Earlier in the week, Ella got into my closet, and this is what happened...

It was absolutely adorable to watch her walk around in 4.5 inch heels, and she was really good at it!! (She gets that from her mama ;-)!) At least she has good taste, you can't go wrong with D&G slingbacks! lol!!

Of course, I have to post my favorite picture of the week. As if you couldn't tell, Ella makes the rules at the house, and she has become very bossy. Alan and I can't help but laugh. She is hilarious. This is a picture of her telling me to be quiet.

Have a fantastic week!!!

--Amanda

Catching Up

After being verbally abused for not updating my blog at appropriate time intervals… I am finally updating my blog. :-)

On February 26^th, My mom, Ella, and I went to Morrilton, AR to visit my great-grandmother. We stopped for gas on the way down there, and of course, we had to get the necessary “road-trip snacks”. For me this usually includes the chocolate Hostess cupcakes with the icing filling – I know healthy choice, right?? Well, when Ella was picking out her snacks, she picked a banana (?!?!?). I am really glad she makes better choices than I do!!!

She LOVED it!!!

Since then we have eaten bunches of bananas. Usually, the first thing out of her mouth when we get home is “Mama, nana”. As I said, I am glad she is making better choices than I am!!

On Thursday, my dad was admitted to the hospital with a pulmonary embolism. We are very thankful he went to the doctor when he did!! He is on medicine, and hopefully will be able to come home later in the week. Today, Ella and Grandpa had a lot of fun!! Some of my parent's friends brought all kinds of snacks up to the hospital. Yesterday, Abby (my niece) made Ritz crackers with spray cheese and peanut m&m’s for us. (…yes, it was fantastic...). Today Ella and Grandpa left out the crackers and m&m’s – they opted for straight squeeze cheese. (Yuck!!) She quickly had Grandpa trained to squeeze the cheese!!

Dont you love the cracker stuck to her shirt??

YUMMY!!!

Last, I need to rant. Ella goes to Coleman’s Children Academy on American (…yes, there is a reason I am being so specific). Let me just start by saying I feel like I have very realistic expectations of what daycare is going to be. I understand that no one will ever care for my child the way I would. I understand that she will not have someone’s undivided attention. I also understand that she will get some bumps and bruises. During our time at Coleman’s we have had some “interesting” events. When Ella was about 3 months old, she was given another mother’s breast milk. A few months later, I went to pick Ella up, and three kids had been left out side after they walked from the other building. Of course, these were just “one-time accidents”. I was promised that everytime something happened. Well, Friday morning, one of the teachers called me to tell me that Ella had been bit by another child. (Again, something that is to be expected when you go to daycare.) Here is my problem, she proceeded to say “It didn’t leave a mark, and Ella didn’t even cry.” No big deal, right? Well, when she was picked up, they “tried to find” the bite mark on her sides and ribs. There was no mark. You can imagine my astonishment when I saw this:

Seriously?!? I know she cried about this, and obviously, it left a mark. In fact, it broke the skin. My issue here is not that she was bitten. That will happen at some point. My anger is about the fact I was lied to. If they would have called, told me she got bit, it might leave a mark, and that she cried, I would have not been so upset. That makes me question everything they tell me!! Needless to say, Monday morning, I will be looking for a new daycare!

Here is my favorite picture from the week:

 

Thanks for listening!!! Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour tonight!!