Chirstmas

In picture's because I LOVE my new camera and haven't stopped taking pictures all week!

ince I received it!

Overheard

Ella snorting: "Mom, I have piglets in my mouth!"

Sunday Will Come

Sometimes it is hard to know what to say when someone dies. How do you convey your grief in mere words? How do you convey your sympathy in a few phrases? That is where Christ comes in. He know exactly how we are feeling and can convey his love through more than just words. How grateful I am for His Sacrifice and Love. Its been six years since I saw my brother. Six years since we talked, laughed, cried. Six years since I held his hand and kissed his bald head. Six years since he told me over and over how much he loved me. Six years since we said goodbye. After he died I dreamed that we were all in a golden wheat field, my parents and the rest of my siblings. Dressed in white and we were running towards Stephen, he was running toward us and when we met it was a joyous reunion. Though we will probably not be in a golden wheat field, I know that we will see him again. It is that knowledge which got me through the grief of his passing and that knowledge which gives me the hope to live and be happy. So to Stephen, I miss you, I love you and you better believe I will see you again!

I thought this was a good post

So I will share it with you.

Lots of Pictures

Some Halloween activities. Elizabeth Cleo and I made caramel apples. So Good! Ella dressed up as Fancy Nancy and loved the whole knock on a door get candy concept. Today I cut Ellas hair. It was getting really long and she hates when I brush it out. Since it is so curly it tangles very easily. This is actually her first real haircut. My friend barely trimmed the front when she was a baby but other than that we have let it grow. She looks older to me. It was a but emotional for me. Sometimes I am not ready to accept that my baby girl is not a baby anymore.

potty trained

(I forgot to post this a few weeks ago when it actually happened.) Ella is potty trained! Hooray! We gave up diapers when we moved. She doesnt even use diapers for bed or naps. I love it! Oh and dont ask how I did it because seriously, I didnt do a thing. This was all Ella's choice. Hopefuly all of our children are this easy!

The life of a hard working Man

Charles has been working a lot of overtime. Because of the rat problems Ella stayed at my in-laws for a few nights which meant Charles didn't get to see her for about 3 days. Last night we called Charles at work before Ella went to bed. As soon as he got on the line she says, "Daddy do you remember me?" Charles: of course I remember you, are you going to bed now? Ella: Yes, are you at work daddy? Charles: yes but I am coming home now! Ella: laughing Don't be silly daddy! We all had a good laugh. Today she has been enjoying some quality time with Daddy and loving it!

I smell a rat!

Well, our blissful newly moved into a wonderful house life came crashing down around our ears this last week. We have Rats. inside the house. IN THE KITCHEN. Disgusting,abhorrent, atrocious, awful, bad, base, beastly, contemptible, cursed, despicable, foul, grim, grody, gross, hairy, heinous, hellish, horrible, horrid, loathsome, lousy, nauseating, obnoxious, odious, offensive, repellent, reprehensible, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, rotten, stinking, terrible, vile, wretched rats. The screen for under the house was left off by the owners for the first two weeks we lived there. They put it on on Saturday. The smell started on Sunday The chewing was found Monday. The sounds started on Monday and the stink became unbearable on Tuesday. We cant even live there right now it is so nauseating. It makes me sick to breath that air. The owners sent and exterminator who put down traps. That was Tuesday. This is a wily rat who isn't about to get caught in a mere trap. Today they are sending someone under the house. I am going to request that we get a cat and that out rent is reduced for the month since WE CANT EVEN LIVE THERE. If you would like to know more about rats click here.

Change

We have been busy! We have moved to a lovely 100 year old bungalow with a great backyard. We love it! With this move Charles and I have decided that we are going to take a break from the internet. I will still get on at the library or at my in-laws but we are not getting it at the house at least not this month. We will see how it goes. I think it will be nice to take a break, already we have seen a difference in the things we do, We dont feel this need to be checking different websites all of the time. The sad part is that I wont be updating my blog very often so you dont get as many cute pics of Ella . :( Guess you all just need to come visit our new home instead! :) Here's to change!

Yesterday

Was just about as good as the day before

Luckily, so far, today is a lot better.

Today...

Was a day.
Ella woke up dressed up and decided she wanted "snacks" for breakfast. (Snacks to her mean something super fun like raisins or fishy crackers.)
I secretly took her blanket and washed it. Two minutes later she figured out it was gone. Then she realized where it had gone.
Meltdown.
I distracted her with the camera...


Went to Costco.
Melt down. Almost kicked some poor bystander with her foot.
Luckily Aunt Emily was there to save the day. Ella just loves her! If I say, Ella lets go over here she yells NO! If Aunt Emily asks the same thing she says with a smile, Ok! Love it :)
Go home. unload, Put Ella down for a nap.
Girls afternoon out!
Come home....

I had a small moment of panic when I walked in and saw this. I knew that I would have gotten a phone call from Carla if she had gotten seriously hurt but I ran upstairs just to see her for myself. Thankfully she doesn't even have a bump or bruise. She was climbing it and somehow when it tipped she got caught in the triangle it made when it hit the bookcase. When I was holding her I had the distinct impression that she had been protected because of her prayers. Every time she prays, Ella says please bless us to be safe. This is just another testimony to me that the Lord listens to all of our prayers, especially those of the little children.
I fed her dinner, gave her a bath and then put her to bed.
Charles hadn't come home yet (still isn't, poor guy) I hadn't tried to move the dresser without him. I decided to go check on Ella. I knew that no matter how tired she was the allure of all that stuff might be to tempting to stay in bed.
Went into her room. Ella is trying to cut her blanket up with scissors. I told her that she wouldn't want to hurt her blankie by cutting it. She started to cry and told me, "I want to hurt blankie!"
Took them away tucked her in. Left.
Checked again five min later. She had gotten pens pencils and highlighter and colored on herself.
Took those away and decided that the stuff had to be moved tonight. Everyone pitched in and we moved the stuff to the hallway...

I tucked Ella in again and turned out the light.
A few hours later I went in and found her like this...


Yes, that is highlighter on her chin. I will wash it off in the morning.
It looks like she was sitting and then fell backwards asleep. She was snoring loudly. I guess she has had a pretty exhausting day...

(Check out the wall... oh boy. We need to move before Ella does anymore damage to this poor house. I guess when all is said and done, if I am still laughing at the end of the day things are alright. :)

I Never know

just what she will be wearing when I get her in the morning... :)

Well...

She is ready for the day! :)

Our Week

Full of fun, projects and r&r. Loving it! Ella planted some sunflower seeds in May and they are starting to bloom! I made her a sunflower skirt from some scraps so she got to pose by her flower in her skirt. I have been busy getting ready for camp. It is only five days away! The pennant banner is for our cabin. It was really easy to make and is a really cute decoration! Strawberries were on sale for 88 cents a pound so I made freezer jam and bottled some strawberry lemonade concentrate. Bottling was a complete waste of time, next time I will do it in pint size jars instead of quarts. Ella and I have been goofing off just hanging out and going on some adventures to the beach. I am glad it's only July. I am so not ready for the end of summer!





I finally was able to make her two french braids look presentable. Lots of practice went into that!

Watch and laugh

Its kinda funny...

Prayers

Ella is pretty cute and sweet when she prays. We went to the zoo about a month ago. ever since she prays, Thank you go to the zoo...

We spent the last week house sitting for my fabulous sister in law Judy. Charles was able to just work from his laptop saving him a long commute. This meant that every time he had a break and during lunch he came out and played with Ella and the dog. They would go out into the backyard and roll around in the grass. Ella had a lot of fun. Charles has been working a lot so she hasn't seen a lot of him. After the first night she prayed all on her own without any help,

Thank thee my daddy stayed home and played today.

Such a thoughtful sweet girl!

Just a friendly hello

from your neighborhood spider girl.

The Echo

’Twas a sheep not a lamb
That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,
A grown-up sheep that strayed away
From the ninety and nine in the fold.
And why for the sheep should we seek
And earnestly hope and pray?
Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:
They lead the lambs astray.
Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,
Wherever the sheep may stray.
When sheep go wrong,
It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.
And so with the sheep we earnestly plead
For the sake of the lambs today,
For when the sheep are lost
What a terrible cost
The lambs will have to pay.

C. C. Miller

Silly Ella

Last night we had just finished Ella's pre-bedtime routine, instead of hoping into bed like normal she sits down and says nonchalantly, So guys what do you want to do today?

Charles and I stared at each other and then started laughing.



Love this girl!

Good Morning!

Trek

The Youth at church are going to trek around in the wilderness of California for three days while dressed in pioneer era garb. I am making said pioneer garb. Here are the bonnets.
Charming, no?





Let me tell you those girls are going to be outfitted well!

Good Books.

We read a lot. When we go to the library we usually get 15-30 (sometimes more) books. I remember as a kid going down to the library once a week and getting at least one novel for each day of the week. Then we would stay up late and read them under the covers. I love reading with Ella and finding good books can be a challenge. She adores Fancy Nancy books but I needed a break. These are some favorites from the most recent library trip.


This is a book I am trying to find. I keep forgetting to ask at the library...

What books do you like to read?

You all need to make some of these today.

Seriously, so good!

The little green monster

That's what Ella looked like after she found the green permanent marker in the living room.


Oh boy...

Fruit...

It's in season, and let me tell you we are having fun canning!

Cactus Spring I- Pad App Book

Remember when Amy and I produced and animated an I-Pad book? Well It is in the Apple App store, and it was featured for a couple days on under the "New and Noteworthy" section. Pretty awesome! So if you, or someone you know has an i-pad, i-phone or i-pod touch. Please go buy it. I think you'll be happy you did!

To purchase click here

Zoo and other matters...

My camera served me faithfully for the last 7 or so years but it died last month and we still havent bought a new one. Sad, very sad. I blame my lack of posting on that fact alone. After all I do realize the only reason anyone checks this blog is for cute pictures of Ella so I figure why post without pictures??? I stole Carla's camera for a few things. I love her camera. Perfect pictures every time.
I just love the faces Ella makes when I take pictures. Classic.













Possible the ugliest cupcakes I have ever made. Seriously, I was lazy in decorating so the grass looks like a green worms instead of grass. Oh well, they were a hit for the Camp Kickoff and certification activity.