Homemade Pizza

Ella was my awesome helper for home made pizza night. She rolled out the dough, brushed it with olive oil, added the sauce, cheese and toppings. The pizza was AWESOME!!

The Children's Museum

We had so much fun with Sarah, Libby and Matthew at the Children's Museum. They loved the Play Scape, of course! Surprisingly they both enjoyed the Barbi exhibit. Cole loved sitting in the chair scoping out the "models" and of course the "naked ladies." Ella loved the phones. The Race Car was another huge hit and we couldn't leave without a ride on the carousel. We had such a fun time!

Daddy's Barber Shop

So...in an effort to save money...we have officially opened 

Daddy's Barber Shop

Just Kidding!!!

But really...it turned out really cute!!!

I love it!! Scott was also brave enough to let me lower his ears! They both look great!

Sickies...

I promise that I will get some pictures of some stuff up soon...but for now; you get to hear about our lovely adventures in "sickville"!

Almost 2 weeks ago both Cole and Ella had a touch of the stomach bug. Cole yacked a few times and Ella only once. It may have been short lived, which we are more than thankful for, but it has left a lasting impression. 1st off, it was Cole's first real sickness. He has had a high fever here and there with no other real symptoms and a runny nose now and then; but this was the first time he vomited and has acted like he really didn't feel good. It was SO sad!! We almost wondered if Ella was just reacting to Cole getting all of the attention and then when she asked for the puke bucket...and threw up, I knew that she didn't feel very good. That was her one and only contribution to the lovely pink basin thank goodness. Cole made jsut a few more deposits...but like I said it was short lived.

Then comes Wednesday when Ella decided that she couldn't pee until "the poopy came out." She went 11 hours without peeing! Her belly looked like she was 8 months pregnant! So we called the doctor and decided to try a round of enemas and Miralax. After some results and finally peeing, we went to bed with visions of poop in our heads. The next day brought more of the same, little poop, distended belly, fever and a little vomiting. Off to the pediatrician we went to find out she was FOS (full of s**t)-literally! The doctor could feel a big poop ball on her lower right side. So we did mega doses of miralax and finally by saturday she was cleaned out and back to normal. The weird part was that on Thursday she acted like she didn't feel good...just laying around all day...and she still had a 99-100 degree fever until last night.

The only problem was...I wasn't! I got to experience a little of what the kids had...the stomahc bug. Realativley mild...but nonetheless miserable. And it made me miss Anna's 1st birthday party on Sunday!

The moral of all of this is...I HATE WINTER! I have finally come to this conclusion because I have put together a web of events that have caused this sickness problem. No parties are fully to blame for any events listed;-)

The dad of the girls that go to the same babysitter as Ella and Cole works in an elementary school...where people send there kids to school when they are sick. He got the stomach bug 2 weeks ago this past sunday. His girls, with no symptoms, went to the babysitter with mine on Tuesday. Tuesday night the girls were sick. Wednesday Ella and Cole were sick. BOO!

We went to the Traders Point Christian Church indoor park on Wednesday of this past week. Ella didn't feel great on thursday, which seems inconsistent with the constipation, and the fever didn't fit constipation either. Saturday I am sick. Turns out that 4 other people that were with us on Wednesday ended up sick this past weekend too. See the coorelation!!!!!!

It makes you not want to go ANYWHERE! Or be the crazy mom that is constantly sanitizing your kids hands and every surface they touch! How do you get over being a germ-a-phobe when you have been victim to the sickies!!! And...if you want to know how I really feel about it...I think people are either oblivious or don't care and take there sick kids out in public anyway!! Not to intentionally get other sick, but because they don't want to disrupt their plans or don't think that there kids are contagious or whatever??!! If its the cough, runny nose stuff that is one thing...but the stomach stuff! YUCK!!

Thanks for the rant...I feel better now!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA!!!

Today, my one and only niece, turned ONE!!! Miss Anna Rose is such a sweet little girl. She has the most infectious smile; she lights up the whole room!! We all have had so much fun watching her grow-up and learn. We love you Anna and can't wait to celebrate your birthday on Sunday!!!

Mary Lou...McGrath???

I just think she is too cute!! And really...we probably don't have a Mary Lou on our hands...but she LOVES it!!

Friends

This is Jack! Already a boozer! Just kidding...no children were harmed in the making of this photo.

Look at this cut-tie...Wyatt!! He is SO happy!! I just can't get enough of him!!!

We had some of our wonderful friends over to watch the Butler game and some "friendly" euchre and poker after the game. It is so different now when we all get together...there were 6 kids under the age of 3...with Ella being the oldest and Cole in the number 3 spot. CRAZY!!! Apparently we weren't keeping a good eye on the kids...

***S*N*O*W***

Ella's 1st Snow Angel

Cole and Ella "loving" the 1st time on the sled!

Mmmm...Hot Chocolate

I was called off of work, and our fabulous babysitter was already planning on taking the kids out to play in the snow. SO...we met-up outside and let the kids play! Cole HATED it! I don't know why...he didn't like his gloves, he couldn't walk quite right...he was the kid in The Christmas Story with his arms sticking straight out! But the girls had fun!

Ella's 1st Gymnastics Class

Ella had her 1st gymnastics class at DeVeau's Wednesday night. I really didn't know how she would do...it was a REALLY busy day. It started at 9am with her 30 minute dance class, then straight to school at 9:30 (its in the same building)  School is from 9:30-1:30. Cole and I got to visit with Brandy and then we ran over to Bri and Tessa's house to let the little kids play. Cole had a blast with all of Tessa's toys, including her bright pink kitchen, slide and ball-pit. We arrived a little too late for Tessa though, she was really ready for a nap. She was such a good little sport though...you wouldn't have know anything was wrong unless her mommy told you, or you knew that Miss Tessa is a ball of FUN! But Cole and I really enjoyed ourselves and were so glad that we were able to spend some time with them.

We picked Ella up at 1:30 and it was home for naps!!

Ella had gymnastics at 6p, and it was an hour long! I was nervous!! She proved me totally wrong though! She had a blast!! She found me in the observation area twice to wave, but other than that she payed attention to her teacher and looked really engaged! I am sure that I was quite the sight too...the ONLY parent in the obs area with a camera and Flip video thingy. Most parents were reading or chatting with someone...and there I was...snapping pictures and video taping the WHOLE thing! Her teacher said that she could tell that she was a young three and that this was her first class, but she was making improvements throughout the class. Ella wore her new pink leotard once we got home until we had to pry it off of her to go to bed! Which was at 9pm, an hour past her bed time, and she was still wound-up!!!

Dentist appt.

Ella and Cole both had dentist appointments with Dr. Michelle today. Ellas was first to sit in the "princess" chair, as Dr. Michelle calls it. Good news...NO CAVATIES!!! Thats great news to mommy, who is still fighting the fight to brush her teeth and floss at least every-other night. We are getting new tooth brushes about once a month...for some reason, if we get a new tooth brush she will let me brush her teeth?? Weird? Anyway, she also had her first cleaning, and did great!

Cole had his teeth looked at while sitting in the "prince" chair...as Ella called it. His teeth looked great too! Dr. Michelle did say that Ella, at this point, has the greater chance of needing orthodontic work, because her teeth are touching, which can mean she has a crowded mouth, while Cole's 8 teeth, are spaced apart?!? Who knows!!!

Butler Game Butler Game An

Another Butler WIN!!! We do love those W's!!! This was the first game this year that Anna came to...and she was such a good girl! Cole and her played with their cell phones, and she loved playing on the court after the game. Ella and Claudia loved playing on the teams padded chairs.