What I Did Today

1. Woke up at 6 am because I am a light sleeper and always wake up when Nathan gets out of bed no matter how quiet he is.
2. Since I was up, decided I would do my bible study.
3. About 5 minutes into it, Ellery woke up unusually early.
4. Went into Ellery's room and to my shock her left eye was partly swollen shut due to a mosquito bite she got from the night before. A few things went through my head including "wow, she looks a little alien-like","poor thing, I wonder if she can see okay?", and "shoot, this better clear up before pictures next Tuesday!". She didn't seem to be bothered by it, so I gave her some motrin and continued with our morning routine.
5. Made Ellery a breakfast of eggs and fruit, as well as pack her a lunch for school.
6. Got both E and I dressed for the day which went unusually smooth despite a minor tantrum over our differing shoe choices.
7. Drove Ellery to school and watched her excitedly place the fruit she brought for the class fruit salad into the teacher's bowl.
8. Walked back to my car a little sad that she didn't say bye or seem at all bothered that I was leaving her for the morning (although I know this is a GOOD thing).
9. Went to pilates...love it!
10. Went to the galleria to purchase a few necessary items and a couple unnecessary items.
11. Scarfed down a huge slice of veggie pizza.
12. Drove to pick up a couple of things I was having monogrammed at the Monogram Store.
13. Couldn't find a single parking spot so decided to come back to that errand later.
14. Realized that the picture outfit I had purchased for E needed off-white tights.
15. Drove to BabyGap because surely they have every color of tights. Thought to myself you just left the galleria dummy!
16. Went to BabyGap and no off-white tights. Sales lady told me to put white tights into a cup of tea to obtain the cream color. Decided against that idea immediately but purchased a few on sale items and one item that I convinced them needed a damage discount. Go me.
17. Went back to my errand at the Monogram Store and this time found a parking spot.
18. Thought to myself that I really needed to get to the post office before I pick up Ellery from school but maybe I could squeeze in a really fast trip to Whole Foods and Beauty First.
19. Bought apple juice at Whole Foods (the only kind E really likes).
20. Bought a round brush at Beauty First and thought really hard about purchasing a wonderfully smelling holiday candle.
21. Rushed to the post office to pick up a package I was not home to sign for the previous day.
22. Waited in line at the post office.
23. Was told my package was back out for delivery.
24. Went by my mail box to see if the mail had been delivered for the day - indeed it had. No package.
25. Decided I would take matters into my own hands and find the post man.
26. Spotted him down the street - "How lucky is that?", I thought.
27. Ran over to the post man (It is nearing time to pick up E from school and can't be late) waving my US Postal note.
28. He says it is his half-day and he doesn't have my package. But Phil the other mail carrier might have it.
29. I ask him if he could radio for Phil but it seems they don't do that kind of thing.
30. He tells me where I might find Phil and also tells him I owe him. (I am thinking I don't owe you a darn thing, you ARE my mailman.)
31. Pray that I am able to find Mr. Phil.
32. Spot the mail truck and Phil! Phil saves the day, gives me my package, and saves me a dreaded trip to the post office with Ellery tomorrow.
33. Pick up Ellery.
34. Spend an hour at the park with Tiffany and Madikate.
35. Try on part of Ellery's picture outfit I bought her and realize I have the wrong size
36. Decide to venture back to the galleria because I am psycho like that and don't like returns hanging over my head.
37. Get to the galleria and buy E a cookie so that we will have a peaceful shopping experience.
38. Return my item.
39. Let Ellery get a good look at Santa and Mrs. Claus all the while shocked that they are at the mall in early November.
40. Remember that I need cream tights.
41. Go into 5 stores with no luck. Revisit the tea idea.
42. Find the tights in the last place...woo hoo!
43. Drive home in 5 o'clock traffic and have to use the restroom.
44. Get home and make Ellery dinner.
45. Bathtime.
46. Bedtime.
47. RELAX....well sort of...I have a couple of tasks that I would like to accomplish before bedtime (one being watch last night's Project Runway).

I don't know why I decided to give everyone a run down of my day. I just found myself laughing throughout it! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thursday! Here is a picture of my sweet, swollen girl:

A Year ago Today...

Today Ellery is 17 MONTHS old! Wow...how fast the time has gone. Some of Ellery's favorite things are stickers, coloring, stamps (especially Gymbo ones), Boz, climbing and sliding, cleaning up, brushing her teeth, being outside especially in her new cottage, books, airplanes, dogs and animals in general, "singing" songs such as "Old MacDonald" and "The Wheels on the Bus", being with familiar friends and family, and of course her paci and lovey. What a difference a year makes!!

It's laundry day!

Actually every day feels like laundry day at our house. I have a bad habit of starting the laundy and not finishing it. I will blame it on the fact that Ellery's room is right by the laundry room and I never want to make too much noise while she's napping.

This has nothing to do with laundry but here is a cute picture of Poppy and E eating icecream together at the lake last weekend. Drinking the last drops of the icecream came very naturally to Ellery - must be in the genes!

HELLLOOO

Hellllooo blogging friends! Sorry for no updates this week! This past weekend we went to Austin to see my grandparents. They enjoyed spending time with Ellery and Nathan and I enjoyed a little relaxation time not having to be on our toes 24-7. It is an understatment to say that Ellery likes the lake - she LOVES it, everything about it. She kept saying "boat" and grabbing my dad's finger to pull him outside so they could take a boat ride. One time my dad (Poppy) thought maybe she just wanted to play inside the boat, but not a chance. She wanted to GO!
This week Nathan and I were able to attend a huge gala for Boys and Girls Country on Tuesday. It was outstanding, with about 1500 people in attendance. My parents have been involved with the organization for awhile and it is a truly wonderful one. It gives many children the opportunity to live with a Christian family and experience "home" because for various reasons they are unable to live with their biological parents. And the guest entertainer was none other than Bill Cosby!
And to top of our week, I ventured out to the Nutcracker Market today for about 6 hours! My mom was so gracious to pick up Ellery from school and let me knock out most of my Christmas gift list. Most importantly, however, it was just wonderful to sneak away with a friend and have fun! What a gift!

And because most of you really just want to hear about Ellery, one of her newest words is Hellloo! It is adorable. I have tried to video her saying it so I could post it, but she doesn't do it on command. She also got an early Christmas gift this morning - the Neat and Tidy outdoor cottage. She was so surprised and excited when we took her outside to see it this morning. The girl just loves being outdoors and for the past month or so has been amusing herself with pine needles. Hopefully this new toy will bring her just as much excitement!

Cute Little Ladybug

Last night was so much fun! Ellery was just adorable and she actually seemed to enjoy wearing her costume. I wish you could have seen her in person because pictures just aren't quite as cute.

First stop was the Fall Festival at church. Ellery really enjoyed all of the toddler activities including bobbing for ducks, coloring, playing with the parachute, and the Nemo moonwalk. I didn't know she was big enough to even get in one but I ended up having to go in after her because she didn't want to come out. I can't wait until she can really jump around!

The Fall Festival was a cowboy theme. Here is the ladybug saddling up.

Here she is headed to another moonwalk for the older kids.

Yeah Madikate has arrived!

Is that really Madikate in that duck
costume? I had to feel her face to make sure she was real!

My antennas must have scared my friend!

Bobbing for ducks

Yipee found the duck with the star on the bottom!

Look I might be a wrangler like my Lulu!

Next stop was to Lulu and Poppy's house for a surprise trick or treat. Lulu came with us to the Fall Festival and we couldn't let the night end without seeing Poppy. We were glad to find out that he WAS giving out candy this year instead of canned vegetables and raisins(hahaha inside family joke). Finally, we went to another friend's Halloween party to continue the festivities. Ellery was a trooper and I can only imagine what her little toddler mind thought about all of the dressed up children and adults.

Her classroom at school celebrated with cookies and a costume parade. The toddlers don't dress up (could you imagine changing diapers in a costume?) but they were able to see all of the older kids. Here is a picture taken right before we left that morning. Thanks for the shirt Aunt Sherry!

Happy Halloween from the Kellys

My sister just emailed these pictures and I had to share.


Her husband, Taylor, is on the right....WOW




Their dog Bailey as a police man...



And Kenzie Lou as the itsy-bitsy spider...

Call Me Betty Crocker

Whew today was a day spent almost entirely in the kitchen, minus a few hours spent at Gymboree and the grocery store. Did anyone see Jessica Seinfeld on Oprah discussing her new book, Deceptively Delicious? Well, I was completely inspired even though I already own several cookbooks for kids, including Sneaky Chef, which is sparking a little controversy.

I received my cookbook in the mail on Saturday and it blew me away. It is so well organized and starts with the basics, such as what the heck does a butternut squash look like and how do you cook such a vegetable?? I say that because I was perplexed at the grocery store looking at all the varieties of squash available. I really had to ask for help. Poor Ellery probably was thinking my mom is a real loser when it comes to grocery store knowledge. :) At one point she put her head on the shopping cart handle bars she was so tired from shopping.

I compiled a menu for the week and got to work. I spent the afternoon making purees - carrots, yellow squash, butternut squash, and cauliflower just to name a few. The concept is that you have fruit and veggie purees stored away and then you can just whip one out to put into a recipe. Because everyone wants their kids to eat a little more spinach and broccoli. Something about a healthy meal makes me feel like a better mom.

Sweet Ellery decided to sleep for 3 1/2 hours this afternoon leaving me even more time to prepare dinner - spaghetti with homemade meatballs and sauce. This may sound simple but it was full of healthy additions - carrots and butternut squash. As I was making the meatballs (which included ground turkey) I could not tell if they were cooked through or not and I was scared to try them and even more terrified to let Ellery try them. Nathan had called earlier and said he wouldn't be home for dinner so my taste tester was not available. So...Ellery ended up with just spaghetti and sauce tonight and guess how much of it she ate? Zip. Zero. Nothing. We resorted to the regulars - peas, hot dog, and strawberries.

Nathan did try out the meatballs later and really liked them. So maybe I will pack them in Ellery's lunch tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, I have a batch of cookies in the oven right now that I promised I would bring to her school for their Halloween party. While I am committed to cooking more healthy meals at home, I am SO over being in the kitchen!! I am already thinking about which restaurant we can hit for dinner tomorrow.