Memorial Day 2008

I hope everyone enjoyed the "unofficial" beginning of summer - we sure did! Too bad it was back to jackets and long pants today....

We spent two very relaxing days at Cobb Lake this weekend. Here are a couple pictures of our bathing beauties.

Claire with grandma on the pontoon boat.

We couldn't keep Ella out of the water regardless of how cold it was.

Ella fishing with grandpa and her new princess fishing pole.

8 Months

Claire was 8 months old on Saturday....time goes by so quickly when they are little! She is now in a big girl car seat (facing backwards, of course) - I couldn't lug her around in the infant carrier any longer.

She is starting to stand for longer periods of time by herself, and is getting closer to being able to crawl (just needs to figure out how to be on her hands and knees at the same time).

Our weeekend fun....

One of Claire's favorite things to do is make fishy faces, so Ella decided she needed to do it too. Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful spring weather - Happy May!

We Survived Disney!

However, haven't fared so well since returning home. Claire, Ella and Mike all came down with the flu this week (the reason why it has taken me so long to post this blog entry). So much for spring sunshine and fresh air!

Here's the boat

We had a great time on our first family vacation aboard the Disney Wonder, despite a few temper tantrums and tears. The food was fabulous and the shows were spectacular. The weather wasn't the best while we were on the cruise - temperatures in the 60's and very windy - so we were unable to dock at Castaway Cay (Disney's private island) on Tuesday. We did stop at Nassau on Monday and went to the Atlantis Resort and Acquarium.

Ella at the acquarium

Ella and Alivia with a huge fish

Since we had two days at sea there was lots of time to visit with the characters (Ella was in heaven when she met Cinderella)...

Ella and Micky

Ella and Minnie

Ella, Belle, and baby Cinderella

Ella, Cinderella and baby Cinderella

All of us with Pluto

....and play in the pool.

Mike and Ella in Micky's pool - freezing

On Thursday we arrived back at Port Canaveral and checked into the Carribean Beach Resort at Disney World. The weather was much better, so we spent the afternoon at the beach area and pool. Thursday night we ate dinner and hung out at Downtown Disney.

Ella at the beach in Barbados

Ella on the train at Downtown Disney

On Friday it was off to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot (because MK closed at 7:00 for a Senior Grad Night Party and we wanted to see the fireworks). We rode every ride that Ella was tall enough for, including her very first roller coaster - the Barnstormer in Mickey's Toontown - she loved it!

All of us in front of Cinderella's Castle

Ella in Bruce's (Finding Nemo) mouth

Saturday was bitter-sweet, we weren't ready to leave the warm weather and sunshine (luckily there was more of that back home), but couldn't wait to see Claire Bear (who had a wonderful time bonding time with her grandparents).

Our next vacation, if there is one, will be adults only!

Spring is (Finally) Here!

The girl's and I spent Sunday afternoon playing on the swingset in the backyard - Claire loved the swing and Ella just loved being able to play outside again.


Claire was 7 months old last Thursday. She loves to eat and is clapping, blowing razberries and making kissing sounds. She is rolling both ways and I don't think it will be long before she is crawling and pulling herself up to stand.

Ella continues to try our patience on a regular basis - a note to all the new parents out there: you thought the "terrible two's" were bad, just wait until they turn three! We've been asking her what she wants to be when she grows up - Mike wants her to be a professional golfer and I was thinking a doctor - she says she is going to be a princess.

We leave for Florida next weekend! We will be on the Disney Wonder cruise ship Sunday through Thursday, at the Magic Kingdom on Friday, and then back home on Saturday. It's been a long time since we've been on a vacation, so we're really looking forward to it. This will be Ella's first "real" vacation and plane ride. It will also be the longest we've been away from Claire. Stay tuned - the next blog entry will be all about our trip!

Sisters

On Tuesday we visited the doctors office (seems like the billionth time this winter) for Ella's 3 year and Claire's 6 month check-up. Both girls are healthy and developing on schedule. Ella weighed 29 pounds and was 35 inches tall, still between the 5th and 10th percentile for both weight and height (hence her nickname - Peanut). Claire weighed 16 pounds, 12 ounces and was 26 1/2 inches long, which is the 75th percentile for both weight and length - she continues to be much bigger than her sister and is now wearing 9 month clothes.

Other news: Claire started sitting this past weekend and is very proud of herself. It happened quite suddenly, one day she couldn't and the next she was a pro. She has also started eating solid food and loves sweet potatoes, squash and bananas.

Ella started a pre-school tumbling class at Alpine Gymnastics with Keegan last week called Tumble Bees. She really enjoys it, but isn't as physically adept as the other kids - I'm sure she will improve by the end of the 8 weeks. We are also hoping (praying) it will help with her listening skills and direction following. She looks so darn cute in her leotard!