Leah's New Do

Leah is sporting a fresh new look - check her out- what a beauty!

Valentine

Would you be mine?!  Oh yes, yes!! Pick me, pick me!!

Every year, the girls and I do a photo shoot for Dana as a Valentine's Day tradition.  Last year, I opted out- being sick and still prego.  This year, this gem of mine would hardly keep still, so this is all we got.  The older girls are both in school so that makes it hard to get them both together when Dana isn't here, so this year was a bust. I am pretty excited about next year, though- and have a folder aside of fun ideas for them- plus Elaina will be so much bigger and will hopefully sit still!! 

Anyway, Happy Valentine's Day!!

Progress

Alex has been playing basketball this winter for parks and recreation. His team is doing really well- they are the only team to have beaten each of the other teams. It is really fun to watch these boys play and excel on the court. Alex has progressed a ton this season.  He was a leading scorer some games, had many assists in others and has gotten really good at passing and defending. We love watching him play and really learn the game.  There has been some drama this year, from their coach bailing, and Dana helping step in, to many arguments with the referees, and other coaches. I think they sometimes forget that this isn't the NBA Finals, but 6th grade rec ball!  I hope the kids see the difference and embrace just having fun. Alex is saving for a hoop for our front driveway so he can work on perfecting some shots.  I am happy he is excited about playing and doing so well.  His last game is on Saturday, then we have a break until his travel baseball season starts mid May. He will play about 35 games on that team, so he is really going to love that.  Dana is the coach.  I don't mind, though, baseball is my favorite sport to watch him play. We are excited.  Scratch that- I am excited, I think the girls aren't that happy!! Here is a montage of him playing this weekend.

Speaking of progress...not only is Elaina walking around, she is getting faster and faster.  She is growing like a weed- at 10 months, she is weighing in at 20 pounds 14 ounces and is 27 inches long! What a girl! What a chub- just like the others! We cannot get enough of her- she is so fun. Yesterday, after she was "done" with her oatmeal, I went to get a rag for her face.  She grabbed the bowl off the table with spider arms, I suppose, because it wasn't even close to her, and before I knew it, this is what I found...

She was so proud and happy at that moment. Look at that face! She was loving it! Hilarious. 

Smart Cookie

Elaina is smarter than the puff container- she figured out how to open it in a matter of seconds. She gets it from her mom!!

New Ride

Last week when it was semi-warm, Dana put together Elaina's new wagon and we took it for a spin! She stayed buckled in the entire time! I am shocked! Now that she walks, she will hardly sit still! I think having Celeste ride with her didn't hurt! I am looking forward to many new rides in this wagon for her! Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!!

Getting Around

Elaina is on the go...getting around so much and into so much! She can pull open cabinets, drawers, and her new fascination is finding the cat! She will go to great lengths to find her, and when she does, she just giggles and giggles. So fun! This is such a fun time for her- she wears herself out so easily- she is sleeping 10 - 12 hours each night and eating real food all the time. Where has the time gone? She will be 10 months on Sunday! I really don't like that she is walking this early- she doesn't understand boundaries and danger nearly as well as if she would walk in a few months. But how can you resist this face?!!

Early Spring

Today Buckeye Chuck predicted an early Spring! So excited! It is sunny here today, though not as warm as yesterday, but I will take it! Just for a fun pic today, to make you smile, I thought I would post this: (You're welcome!)

500th Post, and Spring in February!

Holy Cow! I just saw that as I was logging on to do a post for today! I didn't know I was that close! I just finished and received my 4th Blog book from Blurb.com last week- it was the biggest of all of mine- 360 pages with over 800 photos! It was a great year for pictures!!

Today was a great day for pictures, too! It was over 60 degrees outside here. We took full advantage of it- we went to the park and played on the deck and driveway, and later, Dana put together Elaina's new wagon and we took it for a walk! 

This is making me so anxious for Spring!

A Girls Get-a-Way

This weekend, the girls and I went to my Grandma's house! It has been since the funeral of my Grandfather that I had been there, and the girls hadn't been in a long time either. It was so wonderful.  My mom and Aunt Lori drove with us in the van and we had a great time- laughing and talking the entire time- it made the drive so much easier and faster! We were only there about 24 hours, unfortunately, but we still had a nice time. My sweet Grandma's memory is nearly non existent at this point, and taking care of her is somewhat exhausting, but worth every minute.  She loved on Elaina and could not stop talking and playing with Leah and Celeste.  I hope to get up there again in the summer- when the weather is not cold and snowy like it was this weekend!!

All she does is walk now!!

The girls were Jessica and Melissa's helper at Jess's shower- she got some super cute girl stuff!

The sun rise on the farm is breathtaking!

The girls thought this was hilarious!

My beloved girls with their Great-Grandma!

Oh how I love her!