Our Little Monster turned 2....here's how we celebrated

Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

For those of you who don't know, summer has been a little hectic around here!

We took a trip to Lake Tahoe for my family reunion in June, an amazing trip with an amazing family. Cori (Chad's sister) got engaged while we were there...so fun to be in on the big surprise. I got a call from Stephen and Clark (Chad's dad and Cori's fiance) the week before we left asking for help picking out a ring. Clark, Elliott, and I went on that fun excursion and then had the ring shipped to my FABULOUS Auntie Karen in California. She (after a comedy of errors with the UPS guy) drove the ring to Tahoe for us. By the time Clark proposed, my entire family....well, really everyone there with the exception of Cori and Marla (my mother-in-law) were in on the secret. The weather and resort were amazing, definitely a place we could go back to.  I'm in the process of getting all of the pictures from this from everyone organized so look for a bigger post with lots of pics later.

When we got home, we jumped into planning Elliott's 2nd birthday party (which will be a post in itself when I get the pictures from the photog), and looking for a home for Trish and the kids, and also looking at homes for us while getting our house ready to go on the market. Our house is currently listed (which means the bulk of my day is trying to prevent Elliott from making it messy), and we are hopeful it'll sell quickly.  We've put offers on 5 homes now only to have them be outbid in very odd circumstances. I'm confident that God is slamming those doors shut for a reason and will bring us the perfect home...although the emotional roller coaster has been trying.

But, before we left (in May...I think) we took family pictures with the **insert any complimentary adjective here** Nine Photography. I wanted something different and fun...so we went all out 1940's!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday (on a Saturday...meant to post this earlier this week, but time slipped away from me)

Easter Weekend Egg-stravaganza (get it?!?!?)

We had a very busy weekend...after being stuck in the house all week with croup, Elliott was ready to party on Friday evening. We went up to NRH2O and attended the Me & My Monkey Concert with Mar Mar, Pa, G-Boo, Mustache, and The Newman Kiddos (forgot to upload pics from my phone so this is all I took out there)...

The weather was actually better than expected after a very windy week. Saturday Chad's band, Bravo Zulu, played an outdoor all ages benefit concert. It was so fun to take Elliott to see Daddy on stage, however, it was crazy hot and windy as the storms blew in. The awning over the band blew over right before they started their first number. Lots of fun groupies came out (G-Boo and Mustache, GiGi and Robert, Big Bob, Missy, and Rick, Trish and the kids, Jake, Uncle Ray, Mean Aunt Cori and Uncle Clark, and, of course, Mar Mar and Pa) and all went to eat after (no pics from that, but it was a DELICIOUS meal at Chuy's and Elliott did so good....probably because it was air conditioned).

 

 

Then Chad and I went and partied at the Barnhill's for Amber's birthday, while Mar Mar watched out Punkindoodle...and I had so much fun, that I didn't take a single picture. The next day was Easter and we packed it full of fun. Started our day by picking up Precious and heading to Gram's and Nic Nic's for Easter Egg Hunt #1. My mom had streamers rolled out in the yard for the kids to follow (that way they all ended up with the same amount of goodies, and it helped them find the eggs). Elliott really enjoyed the ring pop she found in one of her eggs before I took all the candy out and gave it to her cousins. She also got bows, clippies, and some cute summer clothes. Trish (Auntie) and I purposely dressed the kids to match, but, of course, Elliott wouldn't let us take her picture with the cousins.

Then it was time for us to head to Mar Mar and Pa's for Elliott to do her Easter Gift Hunt from Mar Mar and Pa, and open her Easter basket from Mommy and Daddy. This girl is beyond spoiled, it was almost like Christmas!!! She loved EVERYTHING, so at least she's appreciative, right?!?!?

That wore her out, so she took a quick nap with Daddy while Mar Mar and Pa got together our yummy Easter Dinner. 

Then Auntie and the cousins came over, and Uncle Ray for another Easter Egg Hunt.  I found talking eggs for each of the kids to find, and Mar Mar and Pa had tons...and tons, of eggs with all sorts of goodies, and a stuffed carrot for each of the kiddos (with clothes, stickers, and hats). Mean Aunt Cori and Uncle Clark were there with their babies, Dumbo and Tigger, to add to the madness that is my awesome family!

Such a busy weekend!!! We might have overdone it since Elliott and I ended up back at the doctor today and she was diagnosed with a lower respiratory infection...poor girl can't catch a break, but boy did she live it up this Easter. In closing, I leave you with the kiddos picture with the Easter Bunny we took a while ago. Unlike Santa, Elliott LOVED the Easter Bunny and kept poking him in the face saying "bunny hop hop".

The Cox Family Came to Visit

I'm going to share just the pics for now (and beg Chad to finally write another part of our blog).

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Elliott's BFSB

Here's some more cuteness of Elliott and her BFSB, Best Friend Since Birth, Briley. If the videos post correctly, ignore how stupidly excited Melissa, my best friend, and I sound about how cute our girls are.

 

 

Babysitting Briley

 

I finally got to help out Mel and Daniel and take a shift with their little cutie. Briley is Elliott's BFSB (best friend since birth), and they have such a cute little relationship already. They play really well together, half the time is spent chasing each other and giggling/screaming. They had a very busy morning, a great lunch, and somehow (lots of prayers answered) I was able to get them both down for a nap....AT THE SAME TIME, IN THE SAME BED....GOING ON AN HOUR NOW!!! (Keep in mind, I'm lucky if I can get Elliott down at all and usually she takes a very late nap after I struggle with her for at least an hour). So much fun!

It's been a while...

Elliott's Self Portrait

Elliott keeps me busy! She has been such a happy (although still very high maintenance) toddler. We are a little stir crazy from being cooped up indoors, and Elliott is ADDICTED to Caillou. (I used to not even turn the TV on during the day, but this winter broke me of that habit. I plan on trying to reduce her TV watching as the weather improves, and get her outside and out with people.) Our friends Tina and Hutch's oldest turned 3, her party was a good way to burn off some of the crazies after all the snow. 

I'm also currently working on creating a letter of the week curriculum to begin with her when she turns 2, I'll enroll her in pre-school at 3, so this is my way of getting a head start on all of that. Chad, of course, thinks I'm a nerd. Elliott is almost 17 months now. She loves books and puzzles. She is still a vegetarian (90% organic, we do our best)...I may join her soon. I hate the idea of not letting her eat off my plate and having to fix multiple meals, and maybe it'll make me healthier. She is a talker, is constantly making noise...it's even getting to where I understand most of it. She has a large vocabulary, but struggles with words 3 syllables and up. She counts to 2, and says "A B C" for anything with letters. Yesterday she held up the letter M puzzle piece and said "M," I got really excited and held up a letter B to which she said "B," but the next four letters I held up (D, F, H, and X) were also "B"...we'll get there! She is not into wearing her bows right now, which breaks my heart, but loves Daddy's hat. 

Chad turned 30 at the beginning of this month, the same week as the superbowl. He was so excited when they announced it 4 years ago, but then it was so crazy icey that it wasn't as party-like around here as we had hoped. My best friend Mel and her husband watched Elliott so we could go out with family and friends to a nice dinner (Reata's)...and I could not be more proud of my baby girl. This was only the second time someone watched her other then Mar Mar or Auntie, so I was really concerned it was going to get ugly. But, she loves her BFSB (best friend since birth), Briley and had such a good time. 

 Now if we could just tackle Elliott's odd sleeping schedule and get her out of our bed!