4 birthdays old!

Ellie and Reid's mom here....unreal how Ellie is celebrating her 4th birthday today. Where does the time go? Here Ellie is celebrating birthday #1, and that seems like it was just yesterday. I will never forget the moment she was born, and I heard the words, "It's a girl!" I was so thrilled. A little girl! I prayed from that day on that we would be able to have a mother-daughter relationship like I have with my mom. God blessed me greatly by giving me Ellie.

Birthday #2. My how you changed in a year! You were quite the independent little stinker! Your favorite phrase at this time in your life was, "I do it!" And, yes you could most of the time! Your belly laugh makes me laugh, and your unending love of books makes me smile. You love bugs and bath time. You are easy to please but a horrible sleeper. You wear me out, but I love you to the moon and back....always.

3 years old in this picture and what a little lady you have become. You love your princess dresses and your chest filled with dress up clothes. You love playing with friends and tea parties. You love going out to play in the mud. You hate thunder and lightning. You love to eat broccoli and chinese take out! Your favorite thing to watch is Dora or Diego. You love going to church on Sunday. You are my big helper. You frequent the time out chair somedays! You are strong willed and as independent as they come. Daddy and I count our blessings everyday and are grateful that you were given to us. What a gift.

4 years old....today. I am amazed by you. You are so smart and kind to others. You have been such a big girl since Reid was born. You don't see differences in others...you see them for who they are. You love your brother and are such a great helper to me everyday. You have grown up so much in the past year. When you woke up this morning, you asked me the most precious question. You said, "Mommy, do I look taller?" I asked you, "Why?" And you replied, "Well, I am four years old now. I think I grew taller overnight." I smiled....and told you that I absolutely think you are right. You have also grown in the hearts of so many. You are a beautiful spirit and I can't wait to see how you grow this year. Mommy, Daddy, and Reid love you today and always. You are our princess who plays in the dirt with the best of them! Happy birthday, Ellie. We love you!

Birthday Celebration #1

On Monday, Labor Day, we celebrated my 4 year old birthday with my family. It was great. Everyone came to our house for a party and cookout! I won't be officially 4 until Thursday...but close enough!!!! Here I am getting some of my new presents, like books and sidewalk chalk, and art supplies.

Here I am with my new digital camera. I LOVE taking pictures. Now I can upload my own pics. Look for those soon on the blog!

I got some new diapers and food for my Baby Alive doll. Here I am feeding her peas. I LOVE to feed my baby when Mommy feeds Reid.

Reid enjoyed tearing up some birthday wrapping paper himself! I let him in on some of the action!


Here I am with my grandpa. He was making me laugh when we were eating homemade ice cream that Daddy made.

Here I am with Pappy. I had so much fun with all my special family members.

Here is grandma with Reid. It was a beautiful day...and we spent a lot of time on the deck.

Reid checking this whole birthday thing out. He had his eye on ice cream in this picture!

Reid and Great Grandma Wilson. He loves her. I am sorry Grandma Karen for not getting a picture of you!!!!! She was taking pictures when Mommy was...so I didn't have one of her! Love you just as much, Grandma! Sorry about that!
Thanks to everyone for a great birthday. I love my family. I am a lucky girl. Party number 2 with our neighborhood buddies on Friday....more updates soon!

Roughing It...

LOOK AT THIS! My daddy surrpised me by letting me camp out in the backyard last night with him. Mommy and Reid weren't allowed to come stay in "my" tent. Just Daddy and me! Here's where we slept on a big air matress that Grandma and Pappy let me borrow. It took up the whole tent! It was great!

Here's our perfect spot...not too far from the house in case Mommy gets scared without us inside.

We made smores. I've never done this before. It was so fun! We had a campfire and everything!

"This is so good. I love camping with Daddy! Thanks, Daddy for surprising me. I love you!"
...and Mommy and Reid did just fine all night long without us. I can't wait to go camping again soon! Wonder if we can go tomorrow???

Uh-Oh - revisted

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Reid's new passion....

STANDING!!!!! He is so excited that he can pull himself up on his own now. He does not spend much of his day in one place...except for nap time and bed time. Other than that, he is on the move!

So proud of himself!!! ****thanks, Joni for letting us borrow the standing table! Reid loves it as much as Jax did, I think!***

Keeping Busy, Birthday Party Planning, and Getting into a Groove...

Ellie and Reid's mom here...


Sorry it has been awhile since I have posted pics of the kids. I think we are getting into a good routine here since school has started. The kids are up by 7 am no matter the day....their little bodies have adjusted to our new routine, which I am so grateful for.

Ellie will be 4 on Sept. 4 which is unreal to me. We are planning a party with the neighborhood kids (we have 4 others who are all VERY close in age that we always celebrate things with) for next Friday. Guess I should go get the supplies today. That is the hard part about working. No more going to the store at 1 in the afternoon to go grab something. Nope....those tasks are kept for Saturdays now. It's ok. I just have to get adjusted as well! So, big party next weekend. Pinata and all. Oh, boy!



Then, Ellie is one marble away from getting her prize for filling her happy jar again. We promised her a "trip" to a hotel with a pool this summer...but she did not fill her jar in time. So...I have next Monday off from school. I know you city folks with LOVE this one. We have Fair Day. Yes, you heard me correctly....Fair Day. When I first started teaching at this district, I had no idea what Fair Day was. Now, I know. We have a fairly rural district where many kids show animals at the county fair. or show their 4-H projects. This then creates many absences in school for the Fair week....so Monday is always Fair Day for kids....and school is cancelled for all county schools. Ok, let me have it city folks.....laugh all you want! : ) It's ok! But, anyway..on with my story...since we are off, Brian is taking the day off, and we are taking Ellie to a hotel, or "vercation" as she calls it. Reid will stay with my parents. It will be nice to give Ellie some time alone. I am looking forward to it. She doesn't know about this yet.



Reid is doing well. Getting into everything and LOVING to pull himself up. Ellie didn't even crawl until close to a year and didn't walk until almost 15 mos. Not Reid. He is a man on a mission. I have a feeling, he will be walking before a year. He is doing well at the sitter, and loves the attention he gets from Jen. I am thrilled with how adjustments have gone. We are lucky.



School is good....we are getting into the swing of things. Amazing how you bounce back after being gone almost a year. Just like riding a bike, I guess. You just do it....and somehow, never forget! It's nice to be with those I love to teach with. I am blessed with great co-workers.



Well, that's it for now....time to go get ready for the day, so we can go pick out the pink plates and party favors! Until next time.....

Prayers requested please...

Ellie and Reid's mom here. What you are looking at is an accident that involved 2 dear friends of my dad's. They were heading out for a day trip which was abruptly interrupted when the driver of the semi fell asleep at the wheel and went across the road from the opposite side causing this accident in PA. My dad's friends were in the red pickup truck underneath the semi's cab. The driver of the pickup, Steve, was much better off than the passenger, Tom. Steve was released from the hospital with facial injuries and lots of bumps and bruises. Tom was life flighted to a hospital in PA. He was to hopefully come off the vent today and was undergoing surgery this afternoon as well. The accident occurred Saturday. Tom has several shattered bones in his legs as well as many facial issues. He was pinned in the vehicle and I know my mom said his ankle was shattered and hip was also a mess. These two men are such dear friends of my dad (and family). I just ask for prayers for them. My dad is heading out for PA tomorrow to see Tom. I know these families would love your prayers and love during this time. I am amazed they walked away with only the injuries that they had. Thanks again for your thoughts for Steve and Tom.

Here is the vehicle they were in. Gives me goosebumps.....