Do you want to take a nap?

"No nap today momma, I'm not tired" said Elley.

Three 2 year old milestones

My little Elley is becoming such a big girl. I'm excited for all the new things she is doing. This past summer we have accomplished 3 big milestones for this big 2 year old.

For those of you that know Elley well, you know that she loved her binky. I've even posted cries for help in getting rid of that thing. Like any mom, I wanted to do the right thing and take it away at the right time...but when was that? First of all, I just want to note, that I said I would never give my kids binkies....but that was before I had them. They day Elley was born the nurse that was testing her hearing stuck a binky in her mouth and that was it! She loved it so much that we caved and she became a binky baby!

So, back to my question.......when is the right time to take away a binky? At one? After the baby comes? At two? After our vacation that requires a 7 hour car ride?

Well, one seemed too young, and I didn't want to take it away before Molly came along....in case she had a hard time adjusting to a new baby. At age 2...it was my only saving grace, and that car ride would of been a living hell without it.

So, after that 7 hour car ride this summer we decided that it was time. My niece Jordan came and stayed a week with us this summer and she had the great idea of letting her buy something with the binky. One night we went to the mall and made our regular stop into the Disney store. Of course Elley went crazy looking at all the princess stuff. She found a Sleeping Beauty make up bag with all sorts of make up, nail and hair accessories. She loved it and didn't want to put it down. That night we talked about that princess toy and how fun it would be to bring it home. I told Elley we could go to the store the next day and she could buy it with her binky. I talked to her a lot about this, explaining that she had to give the lady her binky for the toy. Elley seemed to understand and even put other binkies in the garbage. The very next day Elley asked about the princess toy and again we talked about giving the lady the binky for the toy and Elley seemed okay with it.

That night we put the binky in a baggie and took a trip down to the mall. She immediately ran to the toy she had seen the night before and said, "let's buy it momma." It was a miracle, this was really going to work. we walked up to the counter and I told the check out lady what Elley was doing, and this lady really helped with our process. She scanned the toy and then said to Elley, "that will be one binky please." Elley loved it! She handed the baggie to the lady and the lady handed her the new toy which was like a purse and needless to say, Elley carried it around the whole mall and even to church the next day.

Now I'm not going to sugar coat this whole situation and say that it worked perfect or that there we no tears later that night, because it wasn't tear free! That night, when all the excitement of the mall and the new toy was coming to an end, reality set in for this big 2 year old girl. As I was putting her to bed she asked for her binky. We then talked about her toy and how she gave her binky to the lady. I gave Elley her blanket and even let her sleep with her new toy. At one point she even told me she didn't want her new toy anymore and she just wanted her binky. It was a rough couple of nights and a lot of talking about buying the toy with that binky..... but we made it and she hasn't asked for it since.

Here are a few pictures of Elley with her binky in the baggie

Getting ready to go into the mall




Another HUGE milestone for us was potty training. This one has been a long process. It's nice to look back and have it all behind us. Don't get me wrong, she still has her accidents but it's so nice only having one girl in diapers

We "started" potty training when she turned 2. What I mean by "started" is we talked about it, got books about it, and tried sitting on the toilet. We really started getting serious about it in late spring/early summer. It was nice potty training in the summer for those days when she went #2 in her paints, we could just hose her off outside. The joys of potty training...yuck!


And now the last........A BIG GIRL BED!!! What an exciting night this was! Molly has been sleeping in a port-a-crib in our closet since she was born. There really wasn't a rush to get Elley into a bed. In fact, a friend of mine gave us a toddler bed but Elley didn't really want to sleep in it so I never pushed it. This summer I bought Elley a bed frame at a garage sale but never got a mattress. Elley wanted to set up her big girl bed but mommy and daddy kept putting off buying a mattress. Well, it was time for Molly to move upstairs so we went down to Costco and got Elley a mattress. She had so much fun putting her room together with me. She loved moving her toys around and making her new bed. I even got a little choked up just looking at her new room. After we made her bed she said to me, "okay momma, you turn off the lights and get out because I'm tired."

Here are a few pictures of her new room

I love this little girl!!!

More Of Our Trip To Washington

The best part of getting together with our family is, just being able to spend time with them. Adam and I have been very blessed to have the families that we have. Another great blessing for us is that we get along with each other's families. I have GREAT in laws and I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Adam has GREAT in laws too.

I know it's been a few months since we went on this trip, but like I said.....I took way too many pictures and I must share them.

It's not very often that we get together with Nate, Shelli and their family. It was so nice to spend some time with them during this reunion. In fact, a few days before we left we decided to take their oldest daughter home with us. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving when they will travel out this way to spend that holiday with us.

Here are some pictures of Uncle Nate spoiling Elley and Molly

Uncle Nate giving Molly and few pointers so she'll be nice and ready in 15 years

OOut to dinner with the family. Nate is making faces at Molly and she is making faces in return

There's a little taffy shop in Leavenworth that we stop by just about every time we are there. We usually let Elley pick out one or two pieces. On this day, Uncle Nate handed her a bag and said, "fill it up Elley." I don't think Elley really realized what Nate was telling her to do....so he helped her out a little.

Look at all those choices....so yummy!!!

She thought she was such a big girl because she got her own bag of candy.

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Aunt Maggie! We love and MISS you so much.

This summer while in Washington we got to spend some time with Aunt Maggie. Elley was so excited because for a good month before going we told her that Aunt Maggie LOVED princesses....and in fact, Aunt Maggie was a princess! I would tell Elley that Maggie also loved to do pretty nails. Elley would say to me, "Mommy, I love Aunt Maggie....she a princess?" Elley and Maggie did pretty nails and also made a princess crown, wand, and purse.

Well, today is aunt Maggie's birthday and we wish we could hug her, and love, her and sing to her. We love you Princess Maggie and hope that your day is filled with lots of birthday wishes! Can't wait to see you again!

Family Reunions: Part Four- Leavenworth

So, I'm finally getting back to our family reunions.....a month later!

After spending 3 days with my side of the family, it was time to hit the road to see Adam's side. We got to spend about 5 days with them and had a lot of fun during that time.

Here are a few pictures of our first few days there. We made a trip into Leavenworth and a trip to a local petting zoo.

Petting Joker! Elley was a little scared of Joker but talked about him for days asking if we would see Joker again.

Adam, Molly, Grandma Pat and Uncle Jay...walking around downtown

Here we are outside the petting zoo/produce stand. We took two family pictures.....the other one Molly is looking away. At least we are all looking forward, never mind Elley's finger!

Feeding the goats with cousin Mason

Cute little cousin Mara

The lamas

No real meaning to this picture....just thought it was cute

To Be A Kid Again

Is summer not all about Otter Pops and kiddie pools? Don't you remember eating Otter Pops outside all summer long? Some of the funnest memories I have of the summertime, in some way or another, involve an Otter Pop and a pool.

Well, now it's time to pass those memories onto my kids!

Here are Elley and Ella enjoying the two things that make the summer complete.

ring around the rosey, pocket full of posey

Ella fell and Elley didn't

Ella is one crazy girl when it comes to jumping into the pool......and look, she still has her Otter Pop in her hand.

come on Elley....that was one wimpy splash compared to Ella

Taking a break.....working on their tans.

told you she was crazy!

Family Reunions: Part Three- Sliverwood

I was so excited for this day! On the second day of our trip, we went to Silverwood theme park and Boulder Beach water park. There's just something about amusement parks and rides that makes me feel like a kid again. Its places like this where memories are made, and what better people to make memories with, than your family.

I was mostly excited to take Elley here now that shes 2 and can ride some of the rides. I was excited to see her reaction and to see what kind of rides she liked. I loved seeing her run to each ride and asking to go again and again.

Here is Gavin. He makes the cutest faces for pictures!

Macey and Elley


Jordan and Macey


Elley and daddy

Shaune and Tanya enjoying our picnic lunch, which was soooooo yummy!

waiting in line for the favorite ride.....the carousel. For days after going to Silverwood, Elley talked about the carousel and the names of the horses she rode on.

Elley, Louden, Ashley, Macey, and Shayla

Look at that face

Elley and Gavin having so much fun