Quiet Weekend

We did not do much this weekend, Ella has quite the case of Terrible Two's, so I try to limit our public appearances. We did attempt our weekly breakfast at Cracker Barrel, but the service was exceptionally non-existent. Ella decided to entertain herself and all of the other diners by getting out of her chair and making a mad dash for the "country store", causing me to have to abandon our table (and belongings) to RUN after her. When I caught her, and was as mad as I could be she just giggled and laughed like we were playing a fun game. As we were checking out, she told me, "you can put me down now I won't run away anymore". I told her I didn't believe her, the cashier thought we were so funny. My only saving grace has been the portable DVD player she (I) got for Christmas. She becomes, so engrossed in what ever the selection of the day is, I can usually get somethings done. I took this picture on the way home from school one day (I know, its only a twenty minute drive, but it keeps her from begging for bug juice* all the way home). She looks so cute with her monkey head phones.




*Bug Juice- I don't know how they get away with calling it juice. It doesn't have juice in it- just sugar, water, coloring, artificial flavors, oh and they toss in some vitamins and minerals so they can write that on the packaging. Ella once drank one so fast she threw up, you would think that would quell her desire for the stuff.

Ella loves parks!!

Ella loves to climb, run around and show her independence. What better place to do that than at the park. We went to the park with Grandma and Grandma Jo Jo a couple of weeks ago and Grandma Jo Jo took theses pictures. We also went to a larger park this weekend with Ella's Nonnie (Michael's Mom). It is so interesting to just watch her figure things out. She will climb up things that are probably meant for kids twice her size and age, she always figures out a way. I have always tried to instill independence, but I now know I was overly successful. Ella's most used sentence is, "I will do it all by myself". It sometimes takes a lot of patience to wait on her to put her shoes on or get into her seat "all by herself", because we are usually running late and if she would just let me help we could be on our way. But in the end we are both rewarded with her success. It is a proud parenting moment, when you witness your child accomplish a new thing, even when it is just climbing to the very top of the playground, and you know she is so happy to be standing there waving at you.

I love Rockband!!

One of the Christmastime highlights for me was playing rock band at my friends' house. No, a twelve year old boy has not taken over my blog, it is still me. Holly invited some people over Christmas evening and it wasn't long before Jeff busted out Rockband. A few Maragartitas later and I was convinced that I was, indeed, the most awesome lead singer ever. The game even tells you when your "AWESOME". I have no singing talent whatsoever, but I was still somewhat successful at this, which only fueled my fire. I couldn't stop talking about it for days, and I still think about it periodically and smile (hence this late post about it). Holly or Jeff if your reading this I think it is time to reunite "Fallen Puppy", (our band name) I think I am having withdrawals.

Here are some pictures. See how much fun it is. Look at the smiles on the faces of the adults. To keep the kids involved (we couldn't possible give it up long enough for them to play) we dressed them up as rock stars and let them sing back-up.

What you talkin' 'bout?

A while back I put this picture of Ella in the sidebar with the caption "What are you talkin' 'bout?"

I didn't really elaborate, but then I found this....

I searched a little harder and found this. It is perfect. The picture of Ella was taken around Thanksgiving (those are baked beans she is making), and she had been saying "what are you talkin' 'bout?". Close enough right. Now I just have to figure out where she has been watching re-runs of Different Strokes.

Christmas

Christmas was wonderful. It was so much fun to witness the excitement of Ella's Christmas morning. When she saw that Santa ate his cookies and noticed all of the presents under our previously empty tree, she turned around and looked at me and said, "Santa was at my house, he ate his cookies". It was like being a kid again.

We started our Christmas festivities on Christmas Eve at the Candlelit Service at church. I can tell she is growing up because she is getting much better at sitting still for longer periods of time. She enjoyed all of the singing, and asked a little too loudly during one of the solo's "Who's that making that noise?" We then went to Grandmas house for snacks and eggnog. It has always been a tradition in our house that you are allowed to open one present on Christmas Eve after church. Ella opened her gift from Grandma Doris, a pink velour track suit.

On Christmas morning everyone came to our house to open presents, then we went to Grandma and Papa's house to open MORE presents, we must have opened presents for 4 hours. Everyone got everything they wanted and we had plenty of new stuff to try out. I am still trying to find the time to put some music on my new Ipod. We had a great Christmas dinner and as Ella once told me "we found some big naps". It was a great day and we were very happy that Grandma and Grandpa Dickerson were able to come all the way from Pennsylvania to spend time with us.

Kid's Academy Presents...

Ella's daycare held the annual Christmas program earlier in December. They draw quite a crowd. Ella had a very full cheering section, Grandma Doris, Grandma Jo Jo, Papa Art, Grandma and Papa along with Uncle Amos and Aunt Kristen all joined Mommy and Daddy. Ella's class sang and mostly danced to Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer and Jingle Bell Rock. For a couple of weeks prior to the performance I started coaching Ella on Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, I felt confident that she new the words pretty well. Little did I know the main focus of this performance was the dancing. The kids jumped around and shook their jingle bells, it was very funny and adorable.