Two BIG firsts....

So here's when Ellenie woke up from her first nap in her crib...

"I did it! I slept in my own bed instead of that little bouncy chair with a kick-stand thing"

"I'm still sorta sleepy since I only slept a little while. Maybe I like the bouncy chair with a kick-stand thing. "

Mommy painted Lillianna's piggy toes!

(After the first coat of a very subtle pale pink)

Lillianna: Um...now I think that we can paint them purple.

(After the coat of purple as shown above)

Lillianna: That's good. Now I think we can do red.

"Dude."

Dude!

a little fresh air

We have missed our walks and our hunt for treasures.

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, we've been back outside, talking and walking.

It always amazes me how much better we all seem to feel when we're outside on a pretty day.

Lillianna swings her arms and starts chattering away the moment we leave the drive way.

She hasn't ridden in a stroller during a walk in over a year...she just loves to walk. Now Ellenie rides in the stroller and Lillianna tells her about the treasures we find.

We only have a few routes - Lillianns doesn't like to deviate from them very much at all. Therefore, we have some of the same conversations at the exact same places at her request. We walk past the mailbox with a picture of cardinals painted on them and...

Lillianna: Look Mom, cardinals!

Me: I see the pretty cardinals.

Lillianna: The brown one is the girl and the red one is the boy.

For a while we had to walk down the alley behind our house every single time we walked. We HAD to because there were two trampolines along that path that she wanted to just look at. In one of her Maisy books, Maisy jumps on a trampoline and breaks her leg (nice.) and so even though Lillianna has never been on one, she is fascinated by them. So we walk past them and point at them and say, "Look at the trampoline."

Although since Christmas it's been, "Maybe I could have one of those for Christmas."

Today's walk again centered around the trampolines because for the first time a owner was jumping on one so we stopped and watched. Which was mesmerizing for one of us. But we also took note of all the wonderful Springtime stuff around us. Lillianna had lots of questions but more factual statements about Spring - like why the trees dropped the wormy things and didn't I think that it was still just Winter.

I've missed our walks.

Wabi-Sabi

The Wabi-Sabi photography critique is still going on over at imollie. I have been amazed at the beauty, thoughtfulness, and creativity of them all. The phtotographers live all around the world so the subjects range significantly and yet there are some similar themes in all of them. It's been a great way to regain perspective on the beauty that surrounds us at all times, especially the beauty that we take for granted. My pics were up yesterday and my talented sister, Courtney, was featured last week (on Tuesday I think). Go check them out and vote too.

Potty Talk

Quote of the week:

Lillianna: But my poop doesn't like to swim.

CreARTive

This week I hosted a painting party with hopes of stirring up some creativity in all of us as we got together to talk and laugh. I think all goals were met.

I was so impressed with my artistic friends who dove right in.

We all painted small canvases using acrylics and different sizes and sorts of brushes...

I had it all laid out which fascinated Lillianna who kept asking if she could paint. Then she wanted to "help get ready" so she laid out some utensils from her drawer...

Here are some of the masterpieces in process:

Thank you Ladies for making our first Sips & Strokes so much fun! Let's do it again soon!

Then the next day, with all the supplies still out on the counter, Lillianna insisted that we paint.

So...

So today I Mod Podged it and promised her that her gorgeous work of art will hang in her room. She really is proud of it.

And I'm so very proud of her.

Culture & Creatures

So 5 Moms, 1 Grandmother, 3 toddlers, and 5 babies in 5 strollers went on a wild advetnure in search of prehistoric creatures at the Botanical Gardens.

Yup, we got culture right here in Small Town USA.

Lillianna and Mary Bibb held hands (all on their own) and led our expedition...

I think I see something...

there in the gorgeous tulips...tiny dinosaurs!

"Can we take one of those home Mommy?"

"Not today."

"But I think we can."

Sarah Laine joined the hunt...

and we found good ol' T-Rex!

Then we found this great "Photo Opportunity" next to the Mama guarding her eggs.

"I'm not into photo opportunities Mom."

Then the three toddlers found the cutest creature of all and decided to all touch it at the same time.

"Ewwwww. There hands tasted like...dirt & dinosaurs. Can we go home now? "

Funlanta

Kuntry Mouse meets City Slicker Mouse

Just three weeks apart, Ellenie and cousin Christopher finally got to meet this weekend!

They loved making funny faces for the camera....

and Christopher loves to smile as much as Ellenie does....

and likes to sleep even MORE than she does...

He's such a doll!

Since it was raining all weekend, Lillianna helped Aunt Shannon out by walking her two, large dogs, Redford & Newman...

I told Lillianna that her Aunt should pay her at least $1 a lap. But she said she loved her Aunt Shannon so much that she'd do it for free...this time.

We also got to see dear friends Stephanie, Stu & Liam.

Liam is so much fun and loves to pose for the camera.
He also loves a good dance party!

So Lillianna got one going with the egg maracas and

boy, did they have fun...

We all had so much fun!

(p)lay date

A Playdate with Emma Hensley & William (not pictured).

Beautiful, adorable sweet emma Hensley
Ellenie: Mom, I think I can see something coming towards me in the corner of my eye...
Why hello there friend!

How many hands can we fit on the paci at once? Ready, set, go!

That was fun! Is it naptime yet?

Very good visit

My how time flies!

This picture was taken in July of 2006 on a special rock at Brad's grandparents house.

We took this one this past weekend. What a big girl! Please don't get so big so fast!

We had alot of fun visiting with family and being outside.

Lillianna got very excited to go fishing with her dad for the first time...

but then wasn't so excited when they didn't bite.

Playing drums on the fishing pole was sorta fun though.

Then we gathered more treasures and lady bug boats.

While Ellenie just enjoyed all the good lovin'