Here goes nothing!!!

So, looks like once again I fell of the blogging train for a VERY long time...two years to be exact.  Well, here's hoping that I can stick with it this time.  As most people know, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our second little girl!!! Ella is so excited to be a big sister...well, at least most of the time.  She's started to ask us why we wanted to have another kid.  Could be a very interesting transition for all of us!!

Well, its about my bed time so I'll leave you for tonight with a picture taken this past July at my parents house in WI!! 

I'm back...we'll see how long it lasts!!!

Spring cleaning at its best!!! Ella is such a great helper.

A beautiful spring morning...this has been such a crazy spring thus far. I'm hoping for no more snow this year!!

Ella's New Sandbox/Pool

Our completed project!!! We're such weekend warriors!!!

Loving some dirt

Swimmers take your mark...go!!!

Good form, Daddy is so proud!!!

Loving that dirt. Thank goodness for such funny kids. After a day like we had today, she certainly made me laugh tonight!!

How I Spent My Weekend...

I had so much fun this year with my gardens, we decided to increase the space!!! This past weekend we spent digging out two new beds for me to use next year!!! I'm so excited to try new fruits and veggies next year!!! I am so proud of our handy work...Ella was such a big help too!!

Perfect Moments

We have been so lucky with the weather this week. It has been absolutely amazing. Ella and I have eaten almost all of our meals outside. Tonight was especially incredible. Drew, Ella, Lily and I sat out on the deck for a few hours tonight. We have been so lucky with our incredible yard. We discussed how hard it is going to be when/if we ever move from this yard...the house is a different story.

Our awesome apple tree!!! I made applesauce, apple cake, and apple bread this week. It was the craziest thing. I walked out to the backyard, picked some apples then came in a baked...too crazy for words!!!

Say "CHEESE."

Poor Lily!!!

Mommy's Helper

Ella and I made an amazing dinner tonight...Balsamic Chicken with Mushrooms!! Ella "cut" up the mushrooms for me. She really loves helping in the kitchen!!

Baby Zoe

Sweet Baby Zoe!! Ella let Baby Zoe wear her hat today. Huge deal for us, Ella struggles with sharing her things. I was so proud for the 10 seconds it lasted!!!

Snuggle Baby Zoe. I brought a blanket out on the deck for Zoe to lay on while we read books, well, of course Ella needed to lay down and snuggle too.

We working on our "gentle fingers." My sister and I have decided that Ella is quite the scrappy kid. She plays so hard. We're having to work on being very careful of our small friends.

More snuggles!!!

Feed Mo-Mo

Ella still adores her Mo-mo. Yesterday, she came running into the living room "Mo-mo bib, Mo-Mo bib on." I followed her into the playroom to find Elmo sitting in the baby highchair getting ready to eat. We put Elmo's bib on and Ella fed him lettuce...I'm so proud. Such a healthy girl!!!

Snuggle Colby

We always know when Ella isn't feeling so hot, she's so cuddly!!! Uncle Colby was the one she chose to cuddle with this time!!

Ella Goes to the Farm!!!

Drew and his parents took Ella to the Farm last weekend. Poor mommy had to work!! They had a blast!! Ella loves all the animals. Its funny, she talks about the goats all of the time, but when she is actually there, she's a little freaked out by them!!

Ella's Best Friend!!!

I have been trying to download videos on this for years. I think I have finally figured it out. This is a video of Ella playing with Lily. It starts off so cute so I had to put it on the blog. However, it does end a little inappropriately. This is a slightly PG-13 video!!

Ella Regresses

We started watching our friend's little munchkin a few weeks ago. Baby Zoe was not quite 3 months when we started watching her. Ella has decided she likes the infant carrier better than her big car seat!!

Just Too Cute!!!

I actually took this picture 8/28/09...she needed to wear a coat in August. No, we didn't move, we're still in Kansas City!!! I really lucked out this summer. I think we had maybe 2-3weeks of the brutal heat, and that was it!!! I loved it. Can't wait for cool weather to stay.

Disney's A Christmas Carol Train

Yesterday, my friend Meghan, her daughter Nora, Ella and I took a little trip down to Union Station to see the Christmas Carol train. Ella is absolutely obsessed with trains right now, thanks to my dad!!!! Of course, it was the hottest day we've had in a while. We were a little disappointed that the inside of the train wasn't more kid friendly, but Meghan and I really enjoyed it!!!

Pool Baby!!!

This was the same day as the previous post. Ella swimming on her own. Can't tell by her face if she was actually enjoying it or not!!

Nana and Papa's Pool

All of the cousins hanging at the pool. Amazing to get all of the kids looking at the camera at the same time!!!

Our sweet little nephew Nathan!!

All of the kiddos with Drew and Aunt Leslee.

Swimming wit the big kids. Ella is the one with the yellow floaties!!!

Pool baby!!!

Hanging with the Fam!!

The three littlest having dinner at a big table together!!!

All of the girl cousins reading together!!

This was the first time Ella had ever been in a ring before. She was so proud of herself!! Swimming from Daddy to Papa.

Our big cousin, Adele, jumping into the pool. She has become quite a fish this summer!!!

Buh-bye Nora!!

Since April, Ella and I have been taking care of our friend's daughter, Nora. This was our last day with Nora. She and her parents are moving back to Omaha in September. We are going to miss them so much!!

Our little swimmer!!!

Ella has gotten so brave. She loves jumping in!!!

Swimming with Daddy.

Auntie Mimi is so much fun to play with!!!