Anna & Eli's Journey

Anna Goes FIshing

2010-09-27T23:55:00.001-05:00

Anna and Eli are visiting her grandparents this week. Today, my mom took Anna fishing for the first time. She had a blast. She wasn't sure about eating them, stating "Blah, that's gross." But ended up eating quite a bit for dinner after helping cook them.

Tailgating, Football, and Fun

2010-09-20T10:25:00.000-05:00

I Love Them

2010-09-13T17:32:00.000-05:00

This picture took my breath away - with his beautiful hazel eyes and his sweet chap stick lips.

Oh how I love these two kids!

Nature Center Fun

2010-09-05T21:19:00.000-05:00

There were seriously hundreds of frogs that went hopping when we walked by. The kiddos (and Daddy) were on the lookout.

That flower was HUGE!

That is one seriously brave turtle!

Burial at Sea - Part 2

2010-08-17T22:57:00.000-05:00

It doesn't take long for fish to meet their demise around here. Not sure what we're doing wrong, but clearly it's something. Eli's fish (Nemo II - they're so creative) died the day after Anna's fish (Nemo). These are pics from his "burial".

After flushing Nemo II down the toilet, Eli went to the kitchen and asked "Where's Nemo?" as if he had no recollection of just flushing him. Gotta love him!

Burial at Sea

2010-08-15T08:36:00.001-05:00

Anna's fish (Nemo) died during the night. When I told her, her response was "Oohhhh Neeemmoooo." We decided to give him a 'proper' "burial". Here are pictures from that.

I asked her if there was anything she wanted to say. She said "Why did you die Nemo? I love you and miss you."

Slide Baby, Slide

2010-06-24T20:36:00.004-05:00

A big thanks to Michele for inviting us over to her mother-in-law's to go swimming. We had a blast and as an added bonus, we go to laugh our heads off at Anna and Eli being launched off the slide. It was great. See!?

Happy 3rd Birthday, Eli

2010-06-17T17:24:00.007-05:00

Happy Birthday to my favorite little boy. The little boy who no longer is a baby. The little boy who who loves trains, planes, trucks, and dinosaurs. My little boy who is now 3.

I love the way you think the movie is called Cocoahontas instead of Pocahontas.

I love your little laugh and your sweet smile.

I love how you love Puggles and insist that you're not moving up to Cubbies.

I love how you love your sister.

I love that you think that some day there can be a baby in your belly.

I love how your prayers are always "thank you for daddy's work, church, amen."

I love that you're all boy, that you'd rather go barefoot than wear shoes, and that getting dirty doesn't bother you.

I love how you only want mommy to put you to bed and how you insist on goodnight kisses before I leave - kisses on both cheeks, my nose, forehead, and chin.

I love the little quirks about you - like how you like a certain pillow and only want to sleep on it.... without a pillow case. How it bothers you when anyone touches your food or tries to steal a bite.

I love that you love life. That you wake up wanting to be left alone but somehow still crawl into bed with us and snuggle for awhile.

I love how when we ask you what you learned about at church, your first response is always "cheese balls!"

I simply love you.

Happy Birthday sweet Eli. Mommy, Daddy, and Sissy love you.

And now, pictures from his dinosaur birthday party.

His birthday cake we made (I cook it, make and dye the icing, and Mark decorates it).

All finished

Eli and his friends

The Birthday Boy

Patiently waiting to open presents

His big present - everyone was excited. Any guesses?

Of course - a dinosaur!

"Come here boy"

Summer Has Arrived

2010-06-12T20:22:00.008-05:00

Summer has arrived... and so have the summer pics. Enjoy!

Mr. Cheese

Getting ready to play in the sprinkler

His expressions crack me up

Kaitlyn and Anna

They love the waterpark

This is what Eli looks like after 20 minutes outside in the heat....

Running in the sprinkler to cool off

I love the way they love each other

The lake we recently visited

On the paddleboat at the lake

Daddy and Eli on their paddleboat

View from the boat

He was hot, had sand on his face, and hated his life jacket.

Dragonfly I saw on our walk

My beautiful Anna

He was fearless, kind of scary!

What Friends Will Do

2010-04-22T18:34:00.007-05:00

Once a week, me and my best bud get together at one of our home's to chit chat and let all the kids play together. Since we're the best of friends, so are our daughters, who are 7 weeks apart. Today was an ordinary day, much like all the rest. But ended up anything but ordinary. See what I mean?

What Friends Will Do - Cut Each Others Hair

We quickly called to get them hair appointments.

Anna went first - per Kaitlyn's request

And the results ended up not being that catastrophic. We of course prefered their hair the way it was, but if I've learned anything, you have to roll with the punches. And today, we got a huge punch in the gut.

Official Easter Pics

2010-04-05T08:45:00.000-05:00

Another Easter Egg Hunt

2010-04-05T08:41:00.003-05:00

We took the kiddos to another Easter egg hunt here in town. They had a blast and of course, scored some more candy (mostly tootsie rolls). Here are a few pics from it.

It's Easter Time!

2010-03-27T12:35:00.006-05:00

Today was our church Easter egg hunt. I love how they always bring everyone together before the hunt to tell everyone the true meaning of Easter.

As usual, the kiddos had a blast and scored lots of candy.

Getting ready to leave

He didn't want his picture taken.....

Waiting for the whistle to be blown

Thousands of eggs, literally (est. 6000)

I guess he thought he needed a break

Showing off her loot

I love this one, with Eli in the background

"I wonder what's in here?"

Spring is in the Air

2010-03-11T13:20:00.005-06:00

Waiting patiently (and obediently) to go outside

I guess they didn't hear me when I said "Stay out of the mud puddle", ahem.

Gumballs or as he says "Look Mommy, nuts!"

Sidewalk chalk!

Eli's choo choo train

This was Anna's castle...

And her princess

Daddy-Daughter Date Night

2010-03-06T21:05:00.008-06:00

Daddy and Anna had fun on their date night too! After the family dinner at Chili's, they went to the movies to see Alice in Wonderland! Here are a few pics from their date, minus Anna in her 3-D glasses. Daddy forgot to take the camera in.

Daddy and Anna

Aww!

Mmm, strawberry lemonade!

Mommy-Son Date Night

2010-03-06T21:01:00.007-06:00

Me and Eli had a night out while Daddy and Anna had a date night too. We started at Chili's for a family dinner then went our separate ways. Here are pics from mine and Eli's night, which was very low key seeing as how he's 2. But hey, does it get much better than Baskin Robbins' icecream!?

Be sure to stay tuned for pictures from the Daddy-Daughter Date night.

Me and Eli at Chili's

Enjoying his 'World Famous Chocolate' icecream.

Mmmmm

Mommy's peanut butter and chocolate icecream!

Us!

"What's going on here? Where's all the icecream?"

"Aww man!"

Happy 4th Birthday Anna - Part 2 (the Party)

2010-02-28T13:25:00.011-06:00

Here are the pictures from Anna's Princess Party. All of her friends dressed up as princesses too. And Eli?? He was a fireman!

Princess Anna (Belle)

These lasted maybe 5 minutes until she was ready for them to be off.

All the princess dresses - just in case someone needed one or wanted to be multiple princesses throughout the party.

Their placemats.

The kids table.

Her princess castle cake.

I love the detail that Jennifer put into this cake. It was so sweet of her!

And what's a castle without the princess (note the "A" on the crown)?

All but 1 of the beautiful princesses and my handsome Eli.

L to R (My nieces Morgan and Rebekah, Anna, my niece Topanga, Eli, and Kaitlyn)

All of the big girl princesses

L to R (Emma-Claire, Anna, Rebekah, Topanga, Kaitlyn)

The birthday girl

Make a wish!

Silly Eli.

A Princess Picture Frame

Lipgloss and Cinderella!

Daddy's Girl

Mommy's 'Lil Cupcake

Happy 4th Birthday Anna - Part 1

2010-02-28T07:30:00.007-06:00

Happy Birthday, Anna!

We love the way when you laugh, you light up the whole room.

We love how you love your brother, even when you have him in a headlock or are tattling on him.

We love how you're big brown eyes can melt our hearts and lift our spirits.

We love how you always ask for "green yogurt" and think it's a new day after you wake up from nap time.

We love how you're so matter of fact. When asked if you want to watch "Cowgirl Dora" you responded "That's not a cow!" How observant you are. She in fact was riding a horse.

We love how you love to tell the Bible stories you're learning.

We love how you see everything and then imitate it, like attempting to stand up to pee because "Eli did it".

We love how you love us and that we can barely get seated in the van without you saying "You haven't buckled up yet!".

We love your love for all things girl - dresses, shoes, purses, and of course, lip gloss.

We love that you love church, your friends, and your family.

We simply love you.

Happy Birthday, Anna - to the sweetest 4 year old we know.

These are pictures from our celebration at home. Pictures from her party to follow.

She LOVES to take pictures, so what better than a new camera?

Daddy showing her how it works.

Her new dress (for Easter)

Spaghetti Schmagetti

2010-02-21T05:32:00.000-06:00

What can I say? They love their spaghetti!

He loves taking GINORMOUS bites

He knows how to get the job done!

See? I told you!

Evidently, they both love big bites!

And silly faces!

When Face Meets Pavement

2010-02-20T18:26:00.002-06:00

This is what it looks like when a toddler falls face forward off a bouncy ball onto the sidewalk.

Happy Birthday Jesus

2009-12-25T07:13:00.002-06:00

A few weeks ago I was talking to Anna about the true meaning of Christmas. That it's really about celebrating Jesus being born. She was so excited and asked "Can we make Him a birthday cake?" From this statement, we decided to start an annual tradition of a Happy Birthday Jesus party. Here are pictures from our 1st party.

Getting ready to make the birthday cake.

After making the cake, we took time to read an age appropriate account of the birth of Jesus since the Biblical account is always read at my family's house on Christmas Eve before we open presents.

Here's what we chose.

What do each of you do to celebrate the birth of Jesus?

Christmas Service and Children's Bowling Party

2009-12-21T06:48:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was our church Christmas service. Here are pics of the kiddos before the service.

Yesterday was also Mark's work Christmas party for the employees' children. We, of course, took the kiddos. Here are a few pics from that.

While we don't do Santa, we don't mind them having their picture made with him. They just think he's like any other character or mascot.

Eli's not too fond of Santa, or other characters for that matter.

He's warming up a bit.

There we go!

As Eli says "Panta Cause"

Taken by Anna

Another picture by Anna (yes, I was there)

Father-Son moment.

Two of My Favorite Christmas Pictures

2009-12-20T09:44:00.000-06:00

Admiring the Tree

Their fake smiles crack me up.

Christmas Lights at the Zoo

2009-12-18T07:26:00.001-06:00

Who doesn't love Christmas lights?! What's even better? Christmas lights at the zoo!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Bubble

What's better than a carriage ride through the zoo?

A Carriage ride with your family!

He cracks me up. I love his little smile!

My Little Hula Girl Ornament

2009-12-17T09:47:00.000-06:00

Anna was recently in our church Christmas play performed by the children. All the children played different kinds of ornaments. The preschool girls were hula girl ornaments. Here are a few pictures from her big day.

Anna and her friend, Kaitlyn

Doing her hula dance

Still dancing