Is there such a thing as too much?

Having practiced on 47 tubes of chapstick in all flavors and colors,

Ellenie has really perfected her application technique.

One night, her "meek up" was particularly stunning

so we let her see for herself in the bathroom mirror...

As I said...stunning.

The look quickly grew on her...

She has now decided she is ready to take customers.  Makeover anyone?

Simon says

Simon says, "Look like a fish."

Simon says, "Give your cheeks a hug."

Simon says, "Pose like a babydoll at a tea party."

Simon says,"Look at cute as you can."

Olympic training

This afternoon we were outside enjoying Spring-like weather.

Just one week ago...

we were ice-skating!

Mississippi style of course...on the frozen water in our side yard ditch!

Grass is always greener...

The light at the end of the tunnel

So we made it through the week of pneumonia and croup.

oooooooh! exciting! wish you could have been there? what was it like?

Let's see...

It had LOTS of time inside the house.

LOTS of hand sanitizer.

LOTS of pajamas.

LOTS of medicine.

LOTS of whining and crying.

LOTS and LOTS of coughing.

Not alot of

running,

yelling,

singing,

laughing

or sometimes sleeping.
Not alot of eating.

Eventually, a few smiles broke through...
and I sighed with relief that it was almost over.
So I'm just going to ignore my sore throat...

Ellenie's official unofficial birthday

One year ago last week, my baby girl turned one.

We were moving to a new town on her birthday,

so we had a small, sweet, simple birthday party the night before.

She loved it.

So did I.

It was a room full of love without all the stress of a big party.

Moving day fell on her first birthday...
and the BSC National Championship Game fell on her second.
Brad and I were celebrating her birthday and cheering on Alabama way out in California.

So we pretended that her 2nd birthday was this week.
She'll never know...RIGHT?!
I got over my guilt that she hasn't had the elaborate birthdays her sister has had
because I know she has LOVED her birthdays...as sweet and simple and full of love as they have been.

So she was the Birthday Princess ALL DAY!
Even with the croup (luckily she didn't feel too bad until the day after) she was very happy.

She got to eat her favorite breakfast,
watch Dora anytime she asked,
& lick the bowl of her cake batter.


The Birthday Princess with her royal scepter.

She even got to open her presents early!

She and her sister loved her tiny Princess carriage, I mean, 4-wheeler.

Her favorite gift, by far, was La La's contribution to Ellenie's latest addiction:

"apdick" or "meek-up"

A little gloss goes a looooong way in this girls heart.

And a long way all over her forehead, cheeks, nose, and lips.

She loved our singing and she loved her cake.

Do you see how close her lips are to the flame?

Well, to my horror, .2 seconds later they collided!

That's right, she stuck her face in the flame!

She did have a cinge spot on her upper lip but nothing a little aloe and some blue ice cream couldn't cure 2 minutes later.

Truly, no evidence of it except on video! (I don't want to watch!)

My dear Ellenie,

At two, you are too cute for your own good. You are confident, snuggly, and full of spirit.

You love your family - you love the comfort of your Mommy, you love your Daddy to rock you, & you love ANYTHING your La La does with you.

You suprise us each day with all that you say.

"I ove ou too" and "I ove ou so uch" have been the ones that melt my heart.

You love feel like a big girl and keep up with La La.

Then the next minute you protest me calling you a big girl,

insisting, "I not big girl, I a baby. I Ellenie."

You love family, chapstick, and anything sweet. In that order.

You love Dora the Explorer and never get tired of her. (I do!)

You love to be barefoot, love to be read to, and love to hear La-La sing.

You now stand at my knees with you arms stretched high,

saying, "Hold you" just like your sister used to.

You are too good to be true.

And we love you.

SO UCH!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Back to reality

So I tried something new with my last two posts... I tried posting them from my iphone after loading my pictures on my computer at home. It didn't work so well...I couldn't add text. I'd be ok with just pictures if it weren't two pretty significant events - Christmas morning and sweet Ellenie's birthday. I had a good excuse though - I had to do them on my phone because I wasn't anywhere near my home...

or anywhere near the freezing temperatures!

I was enjoying this view!

And taking this in:

while cheering the Tide on to victory:

Brad and I got to go to California for the BIG game!

The girls stayed with Aunt & Ya-Ya and had a BIG time of their own.

Pops & Sue-Sue came with us and helped with have a super duper BIG time!

It was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of a trip that couldn't have been better in any way.

We were so excited to get back and see our little girls.

Today, bundled in my hat and scarf, running from the car because it's so cold, taking turns giving medicine to the girls who have pneumonia and croup...it's hard to believe that I was on the beach just three days ago. So hard to believe.

Whew hoo!! My baby is two!!

Christmas morning

Sweet everythings!

It was such a fun Christmas!

Busy for sure but with two little girls - everything was super magical...

even making messes.

Thank you Marshall for the Ginger Bread kit - we (especially Ellenie!) LOVED it!

Oh! So for the first time ever in my life, I opened my Christmas present BEFORE Christmas!

It was a new camera! Can you tell a difference in the pictures above? How sharp and clear!

I am in LOVE with it...Just can't wait to learn all the bells and whistles.

My first shots with it:

Uh - hello 86 eyelashes! Let me count each one!

Now maybe I won't miss the moment, the smile, the look that goes by so fast with these two.

I won't have to ask, "Could you give her a kiss again?" or "Smile one more time...please!"

Thank you sweetheart for the best gift you could have given me!

Cookies & Connor

When we made it to Nashville, Aunt Corky had Christmas in full swing.

So we got started with some Gingerbread cookies...

Connor, who was supervising, suggested,
"Ummm...Poly and I think those could taste even better if you embellished the top."


So the girls added sprinkles...not messy at all.

Like the rest of us, Poly ate too many cookies...

so Ellenie shared her blankie with him to help him feel better.

The next day was the BIG day - Connor's Birthday Party Day!

It was a pottery painting party where everyone got to paint a Christmas ornament!

Lillianna got right to work on her masterpiece!

Ellenie worked really hard on making the most perfect color of muddy brown.

Then it was time for singing...and blowing...and wishing....

and eating...or waiting.

Overall, it was perfect! For a nearly perfect little boy!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY CONNOR!

WE LOVE YOU!