Anyone need......

...a great cleaning buddy???? Works cheap and aims to please.

Just following direct orders....

Ellie's orders to me today...."Mommy, I feel like 4 ponytails.....not 2." Ok, Ellie....there you go!

I'll give you one guess....

... of what Ellie's favorite animal is.

The distinguished look x two

Reid sporting Dad's glasses (he walked out of our bedroom wearing them this morning. He does this kind of stuff totally on his own...no staging necessary!)

And look who else liked to do this. Funny thing is, Ellie was 22 mos. in this picture and Reid is 20 mos. in the top picture. Doing the same things around the same time. Brings back memories of when Ellie was so small. What goofballs I have!

How do I choose????

I took the kids out to the OARDC (if you aren't from around here, it is an agricultural school that has beautiful grounds and gardens for perfect picture opportunities) to meet with Scott Ferrell to have the kids pictures taken yesterday afternoon. It was on a whim, and I can not believe the beautiful shots he got of Reid. Ellie, yes, I can believe it...she is easy. Reid, not so much! I said that I was fine with him having a rock in his hand at all times, because it made picture taking easier! I would love for you to go to Scott's site and take a look at our proofs. Now, keep in mind, nothing has been altered. He can close in on any shot for close ups or whatever we need. If you have some time, I'd love your thoughts on our proofs. I have my favorites....how about you?

Go here http://scottferrellphotography.zenfolio.com/ and look for the recently added photos with our last name. The password you will need to get in is Ellie. Go see what you think!!!!!

Bonded by cleft, yes....but TRULY bonded by FRIENDSHIP!

We are lucky enough to have a GREAT family that lives in our town who I have grown to love over the past 2 years. We became connected to them because our youngest both share a cleft bond. I am so thankful for them. We got the kids together for a playdate at the park and picnic. Reid and Makenna played nicely and Hannah and Ellie love to play together. You can visit their blog at http://ferrellfamilyfun.blogspot.com/. Thanks for such an awesome day! Love you guys! Here are the 2 trouble makers!!!! Makenna and Reid....bonded forever.

Hannah and Ellie loving their play time together.

Reid's newest trick...hanging from ANYTHING!

Smiley guy in his glory.

Makenna, Ellie, and Hannah...the 3 amigos.

Isn't this picture pretty??? Scott (Hannah and Makenna's dad) is a photographer. He took this picture of Ellie and enhanced it for us. So pretty. Feel free to visit his site if you need any photos taken! http://scottferrellphotography.zenfolio.com/

Loved our day!

Diva Day

Ellie LOVES to play "Spa", and yes, she calls it this. Wonder where she got that from??? She loves to play make up, get her nails done, and get her hair dolled up. When Reid napped today, Ellie and I literally played "Spa" for over 2 hours. Quite the diva, don'tcha think???
Ellie before her spa treatment. (isn't her hair getting long??? She is growing it out and checks to see if it has grown any each morning....I kid you not!)

Ellie after her spa treament by Mommy.

Wooooo-Eeeee! Check out those eyes with shadow on them! I just love her lashes! Someday, she will appreciate them, I am sure.

Oh, and of course, I needed some spa treating, too!!! Ellie did me up real nice! I bet you can picture it. I hope you can picture it....because I am NOT posting my spa makeover! Sorry to disappoint you all! Just picture nails done up (and all skin around the nails in a 6 inch radius), eyes done up with HOT PINK shadow (LOTS of shadow), purple lip stick with a lovely bronze gloss on top (which I think did touch my nose in some spots), and about 25 hair clips all over my head. I was looking mighty nice. I was just praying that no one would come to the door and need me for any reason. Then again, with kids...this is my normal!!!

Ellie's nails, caked with that kids-type nail polish that is so thick it could work as a double to road tar. Yep, she loves it!

My darling, diva.

Down on the farm

We have family friends who have an aunt and uncle who live on a pig farm. They have new piglets, and we got to go see them yesterday!
We were told to wear boots into the barn. Reid looks pretty stylish with his winter boots here, shorts, and no shirt. Really, we do dress him when we go out in public!

Here you go! A pig and her piglets! The kids loved them!

They also had a great swing to swing on. Even Reid got in on the action!

Ellie absolutely loved the swing. She could have stayed on it all night long, I am convinced.

Ellie and her friend, Reece. Thanks Reece for taking us to "your farm". We had so much fun with you!

Kiddie City

I took the kids to Kiddie City over the weekend to play. Ellie took her neighborhood best buddy, Ryne, and away we went. For those of you who don't know what Kiddie City is...it's basically a kids sized town with working stop lights that they can ride their bikes on and just have fun!
Don't count Reid out of the fun. He can't ride a bike yet, but he's got pushing his airplane around down to a science!

Ryne and Ellie

Ryne and Ellie

Reid taking a breather after mowing down all the kids that were in his way. You don't mess with Reid and the airplane. If you think I am kidding....come visit us sometime. It's true!

Ellie and her beloved Barbie bike. A great day for all!

Zoo day again...

With a zoo pass, I want to get my use out of it, so we headed out this morning lunches in hand, stroller in the van, kids excited, and GRANDMA, too! It was a great morning to go, and it was nice to have Grandma along. (sorry, Grandma....no pics of you because you were always trucking after Reid!!!)
Ellie on the saddle. She loves horses and this is one of her favorites at the zoo. It's a little town from long ago with all kids sized fun!

Reid loves the bell....no one around him likes him clanging the bell...but he could care less!

Turtles....Reid's new word as of today!

My Ellie posing for Grandma's camera.

Mommy and her two sweeties! Thanks for a fun day, Grandma!!! Love you!

When the cat's away, the MOUSE will play...

My mom and dad took Ellie for the day yesterday and for a sleepover. Ellie was so excited. So, it was just Reid and I for the day. We were playing outside yesterday, and I could NOT figure out what he was trying to say to me over and over. He was getting impatient and I told him, "Show Mommy," and he went over to the shelf in our garage and pointed to the sprinkler. I think he was trying to say "water" but it just wasn't coming out right! So, we got out the hose, put on a swim diaper, and let the little guy live it up!
Easy way to help yourself to a drink!

Just scoping out the scene.

Check out those meatball legs!!!!! I am sure he will love this picture as a teenager!

"Catching" the water to dump on Sophie.

Wet Sophie.....and little mischief maker in the background.

Can you sense the orneriness?????

And after a hard night of playing in the water, you must treat yourself to a little juice. I hope Ellie had as much fun as we did.

Lovey-Dovey

I love the split second moments like this when I can show you all how much Reid ADORES his big sister. Makes my heart smile!

Swimming with Sarah

Ellie was invited to play at a friend's house over the weekend. Sarah is a good friend of Ellie's from preschool. They have a lake at their house and Ellie had a great time playing with her good friend. Thanks, Sarah!!!!!

My little swimmer! She was looking for the crocodiles since Sarah told her she has seen them in the lake before. Yikes! Ellie wasn't scared....she was mad she never found one!

Sprayground Fun!

Ellie at the Sprayground having so much fun. She LOVES going there!

Reid was not sure....and chose to eat fish crackers instead of trying out the water.

But, the crackers did not last long. Reid decided to see what this place was all about. He loved the "moving water" as Ellie calls it. Hopping from one area to another.

It didn't take long for him to get totally in on the action. This was taken right after some "moving water" got him in the face. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time....or maybe it was the right place at the right time!

Love the tippytoe pose! He is so happy he can't contain himself!!!!!
Ellie taking a break. The Sprayground is hard work, you know???
Figuring out how this all works.
No fear...as you can see.

Such a fun day!

Talking Time

As you will see from the video, Reid LOVES to eat. I thought this might be the perfect time to get him to say some words for you all. I think his D sound and P sound are coming along nicely. See what you think....

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Flower Child

My Ellie and her flowers. She loves them. My garden is quite pitiful because she picks everything she sees. In fact, at the zoo she couldn't understand why she couldn't pick the flowers she wanted to take home. Here she is after picking 3 of my day lilies....so we made the best of it and used them for hair accessories and one to hold, of course!

From bad to worse....

Bath time started out fine.....
Then we got out the bath crayons....and Ellie drew a mustache on herself.

...then a goatee....

And some glasses....(she even drew the side pieces all the way back to her ears...you will see in later pics)

And then, this happened. She went wild.

Then, Reid being an innocent bystander got involved whether he wanted to or not. (notice the purple in Ellie's hair??? That's from the glasses!)

What a Don Juan Reid is with his new look. Ahhhh....cleaned up and feeling more like himself! Much better!

Zoo Day!

The sun is shining today (which is hasn't been doing too much of this summer), so I made a quick decision, packed some lunches, and the kids and I headed out to the zoo this morning. This was Reid's first time....and he loved it and did sooo well!
Here he is infatuated with the goats. Yeah, I know. Of all things at a zoo to be intrigued by....but that's ok!

Ellie wanted to pose by the flowers. Actually, I think she really just wanted to climb the big rocks to get up to the flowers for me to snap a picture!

They had a little town set up there all for kids. Ellie loved it and was riding "Mia" her horse here. At least that's what she told me.

After 2 hours Reid started getting the glossy-eyed look. And Ellie was looking ornery about the same time!

So, we decided to ride the train (me included which was true fun to get in and out of!) which the kids loved. After that, we ate our picnic lunch and headed home. It was a great way to spend the morning. Oh, and the best part....the kids are both napping simultaneously and have been for the past 2 hours! I think we should go again tomorrow!!!!!

Going D"owww"N and Ca-Ca-Ya answers....

I forget how quick Reid is. He is lightning quick. And things happen before I even have a chance to react....like this.
The poor kid! I was putting shish-ka-bobs together for dinner at the counter and Reid was on the other side of the counter. He climbed up in the kitchen chair to sit and I praised him for sitting. Within 0.34 seconds, he was up on his feet. I reacted and said, "No, Reid. Sit down please." Before I could get around the counter to take him off the chair, (he thought this was funny...because Mama doesn't run!) and jolted himself forward which tipped the chair OVER onto the floor. His forehead hit the bar stool that was in front of the chair at the counter.
And this little shiner is what he has to show for his hard fall. I really thought an ER trip was going to be in our future tonight....but the swelling seemed to go down as the night progressed, and he acted fine. I don't know how much of this "boy" stuff my heart can handle!!!!!

And thanks to you who tried to guess the Ca Ca Ya new word. I loved hearing what you all thought! Sorry that no one got it, though. Ca Ca Ya is MOTORCYCLE. Crazy, huh? Popsicle also sounds very similar. It much be the cycle/sickle part....I have no idea. But, it is consitent EVERY time. He will hear a motorcycle and all of a sudden scream, "Ca Ca Ya!!!! Ca Ca Ya!!!!!" Of course, Reid....MOTORCYCLE!!!!! Thanks for playing! I am sure there will be more vocabulary stumpers to come.

Ca-Ca-Ya

Yep.....the title of this post is Reid's new word. I'll give a prize to anyone who guesses it....Grandma's and Grandpa's....no cheating since you all know already!

I will give you a hint....the true word that Reid is trying to say is actually 4 syllables not the 3 that he pronounces. I doubt I will be giving away any prizes...but what do I know??? Let's see what you all think.

I'll post the answer in a couple of days. Good luck!!!!

Vacation 2009 in pictures

Ok, folks...seriously, I took 293 pictures in 8 days. I obvioulsy can not post 293 pictures here, nor would I want you to have to weave your way through that....so here are some highlights of our trip to Rhode Island in no particular order (because I really should be attending to the LAUNDRY!) It was such a wonderful trip (with a few Reid stresses!), but a great time away with family. Here is our trip in a nutshell!

Ellie's quote, "I'll just get my feet a little wet." 10 minutes later she was sitting in the ocean water while the waves were splashing up all around her.

Brian and Reid....taking it all in.

Ellie and Reid seeing the ocean waves. Ellie being so helpful by taking Reid's hand. (maybe she did that to drag him along! She couldn't wait to see the water!)

Reid's first look at the ocean. (grasping tightly to Grandma's hand!)

Ellie and Reid's new friend they made. She is a surfer and let the kids stand on her board.

Reid making footprints in the sand

Ellie at Point Judith making Mommy nervous!

Point Judith lighthouse

Reid is enjoying his chocolate milkshake

Reid liked the sounds the sea lions made at us!

Holding a real starfish

Ellie at the aquarium in Connecticut

Ellie eating crabcakes for the first time!

Grandma and Reid at the wedding

Pappy and Ellie cutting a rug!

Pap Pap and Aunt Sue with our " new" Uncle Dave at the wedding

Mommy and Ellie at the wedding

Reid took some naps in the car...and I guess he likes it dark!

Ellie and her cousin Jason (Sue's son). This was their first time meeting each other!

Ellie lounging with Uncle Aaron

Ellie at the ocean.....the 50 something degree ocean water. As you can see, it didn't bother her one bit!

Reid found a shell. (well, he helped carry the shell that Dad found!)

Brian and Ellie at the ocean.

Uncle Aaron lives in a town named Manville. Yeah.....we rolled our eyes at this one, too!

Ellie seeing Uncle Aaron's house for the first time.

When you are on the road for a long time, Daddy buys you snacks to keep you busy. Snickers bars and pink lemonade....yum!

Brian driving.....the whole 12 hours

Yep...construction got us. We were moving here...barely...but some.

Reid did some light reading on our trip.

It was a great trip filled with many memories. So blessed we were able to go. And yet, so nice to be home, too!

We're HOME!

I will update with pics later....we made it home safe and sound...and now I am in the depths of laundry. When I find my way out, I will post some pictures. How to choose, I have no idea.....I took LOTS! Missed the blogging world....and am glad to be home. More to come soon!