Fun at the Mall!

Well, we did it - made it to the mall and back with both babes - ha! I guess that's due in part to the fact that Gam met us at Hamilton Place today. We had a blast just being out in the holiday crowds. We went to the Toy Store, of course, and Ellie & Fisher both wanted everything they put their hands on. Unfortunately, the only thing that Ellie is asking Santa for this year is some $30 Rudolph critters from Toys R Us. I keep trying to explain to her that that's not a reasonable request b/c her mean momma would pack those babies up after Christmas and she would have, what, three, maybe four days to play with them. I mean, really, what am I supposed to do? Santa usually brings what she asks for, and, thankfully, she only asks for about 2 presents from him. Whew!
I think I enjoyed my trip so much because I was like the coupon queen today. Didn't buy anything I didn't have a coupon for, including lunch! Ellie had a coupon for a free kids meal from Chick-Fil-A and Mom had coupons for us to get a free sandwich - whoo-hoo!! Spent a buck-50 on a drink! I love a good deal. And that's why I've got to take one of Ellie's presents back to Target - found a better deal online. One good reason to not wrap presents too early in Dec!
We had so much fun this afternoon at home. Finally got all the Halloween boxes back out in the attic (I know, pitiful), along with most of the Christmas boxes so that we could play in the playroom upstairs. That is the easiest place for us to play b/c I can shut the door and trap Fisher up there! There's no escaping!!! Probably shouldn't have done this, but for some reason I brought a bag up from the garage (yes, there's still plenty of boxes and bags that I still need to go through since we moved in 2 years ago!) for Ellie of some of her stuffed animals that have been in storage since she was three. I told her that we weren't keeping all of them, which went over really well! She said if she had to get rid of them she wanted to give them to Arden - so look out, Christy, here they come - ha!!! Just kidding. I told her that I'm sure Arden has plenty of animals. They just take over your home and there's no good way to store them. They're going to go silently, one at time. Shhhh.....don't tell Ellie!
Well, we're going to Mom's to help her decorate her tree tomorrow - yea! Ellie loves the holidays. She is so much fun!

Bonfire/Weiner Roast

Ellie & Arden

Ellie & Lily

Ellie finally mastered the Zip Line!

First time on the Zip Line!

(not sure how Blogger gets these pics all out of order)

SWEET GIRL!

We just got home from one of the best family evenings we've had. Well, I say "family," but it was just me and Ellie. Jeff and Fisher had a guy night and it sounds like they had a pretty good time, too. Jeff took him to the mall and to Amigo's for dinner. Of course, Fisher just had a cereal bar, but you would have thought Jeff had given him a candy bar. That was his first one and he gobbled it up and then was doing his sign for more! So Sweet!! Anyway, I was a little nervous about their outing b/c Jeff has never taken Fisher anywhere just the two of them, but they made it! Yea. And, too, I can really tell that Jeff and a great time with little Fish! He's used to spending some one-on-one time with Ellie b/c I've encouraged it a lot, but not so much with Fisher. I think he enjoys it more when they're able to communicate more with him probably b/c it's easier.

Anyway, back to our evening..... We went to the Carsons for a Bonfire, weiner roast, smores, hot chocolate, etc. You name it, we ate it. I'm actually feeling a little belly ache from all the goodies. It was super cold, so we layered up, boggin', gloves and all. Ellie did much better with the fire this time and didn't act nearly as scared of it as she was last month when we went to Fall Creek Falls, which was great. Of course, she really didn't have an interest in getting close enough to the fire to cook her hotdog, so that ended up being my job.

They had a zip line set up as well (at least I think that's what it is called), and Ellie tried it very cautiously the first few times, but by the end of the evening she was ready to do it all by herself. She's so much like me, very cautious about stuff. I'm trying to help her get rid of that trait. I don't want her to be so cautious that she misses out on doing stuff like I did. She needs to experience life to the fullest!!

The big hit of the evening was a magician that the Carson hired from Dunlap. He was great and really entertained Ellie. The best part of the evening for me was watching her try to perform magic tricks. May have to find her some little magic kit for Christmas. She really was too funny!

I'll post some pics when I download them to the computer!!

A Sister's Love

I am so lucky to have two very beautiful and awesome kids. Ellie loves Fisher like no other. And, of course, Fisher is quite fond of his sis. I so hope that their love for each other continues through their life. I can't imagine a life where they hate each other! Yesterday Ellie was sitting in Fisher's glider rocker reading some of his books (b/c you know whatever the other one has is better than what they have) and Fisher crawled over to the rocker, stood up and started climbing up there with Sis. So I helped him get in the chair and she read to Fisher for about 15 minutes. He never got tired of it. He did want to be the one turning the pages, though! SO SWEET!

Quick update from the gastro doc: Fisher is 50% on the growth curve now for weight and height! Yea! He said Fisher looked great. So awesome. Fisher is now 33 1/2 inches tall and 26 pounds! He's going to have to start walking soon. He's so heavy!! But it's time to start on even more chunky foods like hot dogs, chicken bites, grilled cheese and come off the milk/Pediasure a little bit. He's only supposed to be getting about 8 ounces of milk and day and I'm giving him 18! It's funny how you forget everything you did with your first baby! I should have kept a better journal then so I would have it to reflect back on. I'm not very good at just going with the flow. Hmmmm..... something to work on.

Yoga

Yoga is just for me, I think. Anyway, I've just went a couple of times and it is so -- well, I was about to say so much fun, but is exercise fun? Not really. But the time seems to go by really fast and I'm sore afterwards, so mission accomplished. I've taken a Beginner's class that I really enjoyed and thought I was ready for the Power Yoga Basics class on Saturday. Not quite. That's me, though, wanting to get the best use of my money. Power Yoga = more soreness = quicker muscle definition = calmer mind. That's not really the case, though. I was a little stressed in the class (ha) and a little light headed. So I'll be taking the beginner's class a few more times. One of the driving forces for going on Saturday is they had a Yoga class for Ellie at the same time. Of course, she didn't want to go, she didn't know anybody and wanted me to stay in her class. When did this mind-set happen where she is timid? Well, I guessing since school started this year. She's changing some and not all for the better, buy I won't go there now! Anyway, she loved the class and wants to go back again, but she's going to have to wait until I'm up for a Power Yoga class - ha :-)

Ellie

Well, it seems that Ellie is sick again. It's starting to really drive me crazy!! We've been dealing with this for about 6 months now. We've been to the doctor several times, even went as far as going to an infectious disease doc (which was a very scary place) with nothing conclusive. The last time she was sick like this was in October, Columbus Day. She runs a low grade fever, has body aches and threw up last time. Thankfully, we've not had to deal with her throwing up today, but who knows what the night has in store. I've decided to start a journal so I can keep up with how she feels on a daily basis so that maybe I'll have something concrete to go to the doctors with. A friend on FB suggested that her tonsills might be the cause of the problem. Who knows? It's so hard with little ones to know what's going on with them. That is probably the most frustrating thing about parenting. I thought it would be easier when she was older and could tell me what was hurting, but, no, it's not. Sometimes I wonder if she's complaining just to complain or if it really hurts. It's crazy.
Other than than, we had a great weekend. Got to go see Madagascar 2 with Ellie and Jeff (Fisher took a nap @ Mom's). It was really fun. Then Ellie had a sleepover at Gam's and I got some girlfriend time with my friend Andrea. We went and got our toes done, went to the pet store and got Shelly a new home with a heat lamp and dinner. We had a great time. Thanks, Andrea, for being my friend!! Get your blog up and running, Girl!
Well, I've got to be in court @ 8 in the morning, so I better get to bed. Hopefully Ellie will let us both get a good night's sleep. Nite nite.

Thankful

I'm thankful for so many things in life, but right now I'm thankful for my Small Group at church. They have become such a huge support system for me that I'm not sure what I would do without them. Sometimes I feel that life is just passing me by way too fast and I'm just sitting on the sidelines watching as it unfolds, unable to stop it. I think a lot of it has to do with Ellie starting school this year. I just don't have the time with her that I used to. We used to play board games at night, read books, play outside, make cookies, paint toenails, take baths, etc., and now we don't do any of that. And I mean that - can't even find time for a bath! How ridiculous is that. She hasn't been bathed since Sunday. Isn't that some form of child abuse! I mean, really. Who gives their child one bath a week? Certainly not me - how did this happen? I'm not even getting a decent dinner on the table at night. I swear, I think Ellie has already eaten more fast-food meals in her lifetime than I have. I need the tables to turn a little bit.

So yesterday, thinking I can fix this problem all by myself, I was seriously considering not going to SG on Thurs b/c I feel like that's something I can cut out of my schedule to free up some time. How crazy is that? Of all the things I do during the week, for some reason that's the one I feel like I can let go of? Thankfully, Kristen was going to catch a ride with me, and I couldn't let her down, so off we went, and I'm so glad I did. I really needed the fellowship tonight. Our group is so awesome and I feel so blessed to be a part of it. Thanks, Kristen, for the chat on the way home. You're an awesome woman and I'm so glad you're my friend!!

TRICK OR TREAT

THE HULK!

BALLERINA WITCH!

Gam made this outfit for Ellie this year. She wore it to school on Halloween!

We had such a blast last night Trick or Treating!! It was definitely our best year ever!! Ellie wanted to trick or treat with a friend, so we went to Avery's neighborhood and it was awesome. I have so longed to live in a neighborhood that really got in the spirit of the holiday with decorations, but it's just never happened. We are the only ones in our neighborhood with any decorations out. So it was fun to be in a neighborhood with lots of decorations, lots of kids and LOTS of treats! Ellie and Avery had such a blast running from house to house. Fisher and Ethan were in their red cars, but we just couldn't keep up. Ellie got to where she would ask the person at the house for a piece of candy for her brother and then bring it back and put it in his treat bag. Finally, Fisher gave out and fell asleep as I carried him. He was exhausted. I think Ellie could have gone all night. She has talked of nothing else today and is already planning for next year. It is so funny how kids seem to live from season to season.

We've got one more party tonight - Trunk or Treat at Church. I must say, I'm ready for the decorations to come down, get everything back to normal just in time to drag out the Christmas stuff. Time flies.

And as for the green witch --- Ellie made me do it!!!! She wouldn't let me put any paint on her. She wanted to be a pretty witch, and that she was :-)