The Little Bits

Bedtime Wish

2010-09-26T19:57:00.003-04:00

Mikayla: I wish I could be in the Bible.
Daddy: Oh, yeah? Why's that?
Mikayla: Because then everyone would read about me.
Daddy: Oh, you want to be famous. (grin)

Chocolate dogs

2010-09-09T21:05:00.002-04:00

Mikayla: I love this dog, it's color is like chocolate!
Daddy: You know, there's a brown dog that's called a chocolate Lab.
M: I would like to eat up that dog!
D: You'd want to eat a dog? I don't think you'd like that.
M: Well, if it was cooked.

Playground antics

2010-08-30T20:27:00.004-04:00

We both like swinging on the swings, and we just found out how doing it with your eyes closed is even more fun! It feels like you're flying! Monkey bars and slides are good, too.

And I started VPK the next day!

2010-08-24T15:10:00.004-04:00

I'm approaching VPK with a more laid-back kind of attitude, but it's cool that I can start going to school like my sister.

I started Kindergarten today!

2010-08-23T14:08:00.008-04:00

I have been so ready to start school! I've been counting down how many days left there were before today. The whole family walked over with me (we can see the school from our backyard), and Daddy even ran back to the house for different shoes because I kept walking out of the new ones I was wearing (I guess they really are too big still). It's also really cool that there are 2 kids in my class that are neighbors, one of them lives right next door!

I'm a graduate!

2010-06-14T00:42:00.006-04:00

Well, I finished VPK, so I'm ready for Kindergarten in August! Mommy and Daddy keep saying they can't believe how fast I got to be old enough to go to school! At our ceremony, we sang (with hand motions), counted (to 100) and read out loud together, and each of us said what we wanted to be when we grow up. I said a famous ice skater. Actually, since we didn't move the tassels over to the other side of our caps, I don't think I officially graduated yet.

My Deep Thoughts

2010-06-12T20:28:00.006-04:00

Daddy was buzzing Elijah's hair with the clippers, and Mommy said Elijah looked like Daddy because of the hair on his arms (that had come down from his head). I leaned closer to Daddy and said, "Give him a bald spot!" You know, to look more like Daddy.

Then I said, "I want to go camping." Daddy asked, "What made you think of that?" I said, "I just think it up."

The picture is what Elijah looked like before, and then after, Daddy finished. (He didn't leave the mohawk look OR do a bald spot.)

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2010-04-29T11:11:00.002-04:00

Because I'm graduating from VPK (pre-school) soon, we're learning a song to sing when we have a ceremony for it. I've been singing it over and over at home to practice (just ask my Mom or Dad). Elijah tried singing it yesterday, and this is what he sang:

take me out to the apple jack
take me out to the flowers
take me out to the hula hoop
take me out to the basketball game

He does pretty well with the phrasing and the music, but he likes to add his own words...

Mikayla, too

2010-04-25T21:07:00.002-04:00

Mikayla: Daddy, I want to be a grown-up.

Daddy: Oh yeah, why's that?

M: Because then you and Mommy couldn't tell me what to do anymore.

D: You know, it costs money to have a house and buy food.

M: I'm going to be a famous ice skater when I grow up.

D: Do you know how many famous ice skaters there are? Not that many.

M: I'm going to change my mind before school when I say what I'm going to be. I'm going to be a police woman. Do they make money?

In the car

2010-04-14T12:42:00.005-04:00

Elijah: Mom, I really want to be grown up.

Mom: Well, it seems like a lot of grown-ups wish they were kids again.
Why do you want to be a grown-up?

Elijah: I want to be taller.

First Day at the Pool

2010-04-02T17:14:00.007-04:00

First day at the pool this year...only the kids got in the water, though. Water's too cold for us or Grandma & Grampa.

What they've been saying...

2010-03-15T20:00:00.002-04:00

Mikayla: Dad, you're going to wear your hat, right? (pointing at baseball cap)
Dad: Why do I have to wear my hat?
To keep your bald spot warm. You have a bald spot, remember?

Elijah: If I have to poop a little, I'll use the little potty, if I have to poop big, I'll use the big potty.

We can decorate the tree fast!

2009-11-28T12:24:00.003-05:00

Here's what it looked like!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38KMU3J5rcg

Mikayla's birthday party

2009-11-22T16:55:00.006-05:00

Photos from yesterday's shindig. Thanks to Chanin Kelly for doing some of the shooting!

Birthday lunch place agreement

2009-11-22T16:53:00.002-05:00

Mikayla, after Mom asked her where she'd like to have us go out to eat for her birthday lunch after church: "Panera!" (surprising, as we expected it to be Cici's).

Elijah: "Sounds good to me."

Some Things the Kids Said

2009-05-23T15:48:00.003-04:00

Mikayla: "I would like some more pizza rolls."
Mom: "Do you want 2 or 3?"
Mikayla, after looking at the clock, apparently for number ideas: "Nine."

Dad, after noticing some things off the dresser we use to change Elijah's diaper, to both kids: "Were you climbing up here?"
Elijah: "No."
Mikayla: "Elijah was, he's lying."
Dad: "Elijah, were you climbing up here? Tell the truth."
Elijah: "No."
Dad: "Were you climbing up here a little bit?"
Elijah: "Yeah, a little bit."

Elijah-talk

2009-03-14T21:51:00.004-04:00

Mom and Dad were asking Elijah questions about who's who, and he began to answer that he loves that person. (Who's that, Elijah? Me love mommy.) Mikayla was sitting next to daddy, and daddy asked Elijah, pointing to Mikayla, "Who's this?" and Elijah said (with a smile), "Me love that one, too."

valentines date

2009-02-16T16:06:00.001-05:00

Daddy was getting ready for a Valentine's date with Mommy.

Mikayla: Are you getting Handsome now Daddy?

Mommy: I hope so.

The New Gift

2009-01-21T19:35:00.005-05:00

TV is on, showing some news.

Mikayla: There is the new gift!

Mom & Dad: What?

Mikayla: The new present.

Dad: (realizing that there had been some inauguration images): Oh, you mean the new president!

Mom & Dad: (Laughter.)

Blanket

2009-01-21T19:34:00.001-05:00

Elijah has two special blankets that are a waffle-weave or thermal. One day Mikayla asked if she could have her "pancake" blanket.

All the new posts

2009-01-09T22:38:00.001-05:00

Here's a link to see all the newest posts.

Playground

2009-01-08T18:44:00.003-05:00

We went to the playground across the street a few times with Grandma and Grampa. We liked sliding Elijah's new soccer ball down the slide.

The day after Christmas

2009-01-08T18:41:00.006-05:00

Grandpa and Gramma arrived the day after Christmas. It was so nice to have them with us. The brought more gifts. Which we loved unwrapping and playing with. I got a princess doll that I tried to sleep with still in the box and some games that Gramma played with us. We also went to our third parade while they were here. It was the citrus parade, and the Michigan State Band was in it.

Christmas Day

2009-01-08T18:39:00.005-05:00

After breakfast we opened gifts. Elijah was very careful in taking off the paper and putting it in one pile. We got lots of wonderful toys! Mom put some chili together in a crook pot then and for dinner we had some friends come over. We frosted sugar cookies, had dinner and played.

Christmas eve

2009-01-08T18:36:00.003-05:00

On Christmas eve we went to Church. In the kids service we pretended we were journeying to see Jesus, we got tinsel halos like the angles and little streamers to wave before the newborn king. (We have played that again were we go round our house searching for Jesus and following the star-mommy plays the part of star sometimes.) That night mom and dad let us open a gift from Opa and Oma -new pjs and slippers. We also put up baby Jesus on our advent calendar. Then after we went to bed mom and dad became elves and brought out our gifts and assembled the necessary presents. We didn't really wake up early and even ate breakfast before tearing into gifts the next day.

Christmas eve, eve

2009-01-08T18:34:00.003-05:00

One December 23rd we decided to bike around the neighborhoods around here and look at Christmas lights. We saw lots of pretty lights. Many "activity" scenes with baby Jesus, a rocking horse with Santa, and a pug was going for a walk with his owner. We passed by my friends Charis's house and on the way back found them out walking. They had passed by our house too.

Recital

2009-01-08T18:32:00.003-05:00

This December I starred in my first dance recital. (Well the first one with more than like mommy and daddy watching.) We had a couple of rehersals and I got to wear my red dress and makeup. It was great fun and after the recital they had cookies and punch! I love my dance class and all my friends in it.

Caroling

2009-01-08T18:30:00.003-05:00

Our neighbors invited us to go Christmas Caroling. We showed up to their house and found 30 neighbors (many were kids) ready to go around the neighborhood singing. It was great fun, kids took turns ringing door bells and then we sang. We wore our matching santa suits for maximum warmth and cuteness. It was very nice. I continue to ask mommy when we can go again!

Night parade

2009-01-08T18:20:00.005-05:00

Parade number two only daddy and I attended. Elijah had a cold or something and stayed home with mommy who wasn't feeling well either. It was a night parade for they had lights. It was fun but a little slow. At one point there was such a big gap between entries that I got out and danced in the street for entertainment.

Christmas Crafts

2009-01-07T13:12:00.007-05:00

You might notice a theme to the next many posts, they're all from December and we kept busy with a number of Christmas events. One thing we love is craft projects. We want to do them every day, mom says she is not that creative. (Secretly she also does not want tons and tons of disposable decor around the house.) We did get to do a few crafts, like tissue paper Christmas wreaths to put on our door, (using a glue stick is guaranteed fun!) and we made some festive people ornaments like ones found in a magazine. Oh and mom let me use pipe cleaners to make a chain and hang on the mini tree in my room!
One night mom and dad needed to do some printing at work for Christmas cards and stuff so we went with them and got to watch a movie.

Christmas in the Park

2009-01-07T12:58:00.004-05:00

We went to Winterpark twice in two days which is a lot! We went to Christmas in the Park where they have a big choir singing songs like the Hallelujah chorus and other classics, and they have lit Tiffany Windows on display. We got there late, had to find parking and were sitting so far away we didn't have a good view of the choir. But we could hear them, were joined by friends, got to dance around, go see the windows when it was over and even get candy canes (the mark of a successful Christmas outing) from Santa and Ms. Claus. It was kinda fun to that a train came into the station there as were were sining and we all waved as the choir sang Hallelujah over and over! Oh and our friends brought wassail and we go to try it. (Its a warm drink with apple and orange juice and some gingerbready spices.)

Singing Christmas Trees

2009-01-07T12:54:00.002-05:00

Later the same day as the parade we went to a big church in town that has something called the singing Christmas trees. They had dancing toy soldiers and trees that sang because it held a bunch of people (not because they were Ents or anything.) It was a nice program but a bit too much in one day for Elijah who fell asleep in Mom's lap and then stayed asleep on the pew for the next 30 minutes. We also ran errands that day and had dinner out and in the end even I could not stay up the whole time.

1st Christmas Parade

2009-01-06T22:12:00.000-05:00

There are quite a few different Christmas parades around here. This one was in Winterpark. We got lots of peppermint, which is what makes a good parade.

Dinner out

2009-01-06T22:08:00.000-05:00

This was a while ago. We enjoyed the bread and salad and such. It was probably after church, since we are nicely dressed.

Nap time

2009-01-06T22:03:00.003-05:00

One day I didn't feel like napping in my bed, so I took all my animals and blankets and put them on the floor. It was a nice nap. Mommy tried to wake me but as soon as she left the room I succumbed to sleep once again. (I'm working on my "s" sound right now so thought I'd throw in a big word.)

Things heard at bedtime from Mikayla

2008-12-29T20:52:00.004-05:00

Some glimpses of Mikayla talking in bed at bedtime:

MJ: I don't have to sleep with Baby Kitty tonight.
Daddy: Why's that?
MJ: Because I'm 4 now! And I'm not afraid of monsters.
Daddy: What if you hear the train?
MJ: That's OK, because I'm 4.

Identifying facial features.
MJ: You have two booger things...
Daddy: Nostrils.
MJ: Two nostrils, but one nose. Two eyebrows, one philtrum, one mouth...

Later
MJ: Daddy, I like your big head. It's so pretty.
Daddy: Thank you, sweetie.

Lots of new posts

2008-11-28T19:16:00.004-05:00

Make sure you check the month of November link, because there are so many new posts that they don't all fit on this one page! Remember that you can click on photos to see them bigger.

Delayed Birthday Party

2008-11-28T18:39:00.006-05:00

We had Mikayla's birthday party the day before Thanksgiving. Dance class was cancelled for the week so all the little ballerinas in her class could come over to celebrate. They made crazy hats, played games, had cupcakes, opened gifts and tried to use streamers to make princess dresses.

Tea Party

2008-11-28T18:38:00.003-05:00

One of Mikayla's gifts was a little tea set. Mikayla and Elijah enjoy pretending they are drinking tea.

4 years old!

2008-11-28T18:30:00.006-05:00

Mikayla can finally tell people that she is 4! It seems like forever that she's been saying I'm 3 1/2 or 3 3/4. We were supposed to have a party on her birthday but mommy felt too sick to pull it all together. We did open presents from Grampa & Gramma, Opa & Oma and Mom & Dad. We also made Chocolate chip pan cookies and she got to blow out candles. That afternoon we got to play drums and see a fire truck at Wycliffe. It was fun playing with the presents and we went to Cici's for dinner. Poor Elijah kept insisting it's his birthday too. Think he'll enjoy Christmas better.

Big Dog

2008-11-28T18:29:00.004-05:00

We found this big dog waiting for its owner to get some food at a store. I think it looks like a small horse, wonder if we could find a small saddle for it.

Helicopter

2008-11-28T18:24:00.004-05:00

Mommy got an email the other day that Jaars had a helicopter at Wycliffe Bible Translators (a mile from our house, and next to Campus Crusade's headquarters) and they were giving rides. So we rushed over there and we got to take a ride. They flew around near our house and Lake Hart. It was very cool. It was our first time in a helicopter.

Tennis, anyone?

2008-11-28T18:23:00.004-05:00

Right across the street from our house are community tennis courts. We have a few racquets so daddy decided he should give us a lesson. It is really hard to hit a ball, but very fun.

Indoor picnic

2008-11-28T18:20:00.002-05:00

A few weeks ago we were supposed to go to a party but we had colds. Mommy and Daddy decided it was not a good idea to expose the babies who would be there to our germs so we stayed home. However we did do somethng special, we had a picnic of our favorite food, pizza, in the living room. I think we ate as much mom and dad, which explains why we didn't need much food the next day.

Shuttle Launch

2008-11-28T18:19:00.004-05:00

We recently saw the last nighttime space shuttle launch. We sat in a parking lot and watched it go higher and higher and light up the night sky.

Dress up

2008-11-28T18:17:00.003-05:00

Mikayla likes to dress up. We found her asleep one day with a princess dress on, a few tops piled on top of that and a winter hat. Warm dreams.

Speech Therapy

2008-11-28T18:14:00.004-05:00

Elijah started speech therapy once a week this month. We like Ms. Jen, she comes with fun toys to play with. Elijah is adding many new words to his vocabulary and stringing a few words together. We are working on clarity; context is everything in understanding what a toddler is saying.

Friends' Birthday Party

2008-11-28T18:12:00.006-05:00

Our old neighbor friends had a great birthday party a few weeks ago. It was at a gymnastics place. We got to balance, jump and tumble for awhile. It was very fun.

More Camping pics

2008-11-28T17:53:00.003-05:00

Camping

2008-11-28T14:07:00.003-05:00

Mom and Dad finally took us camping a few weekends ago. We went to a park just a few miles from home. (Mom thought that way we could go home in the middle of the night if we didn't like it.) We got there and set up our tent and mommy used a pump to pump up the air mattresses. It was so nice in the tent. Then we played on the playground and went down to the lake to look around. Didn't see any gators. Dad bought some firewood so we had a campfire. Mom and Dad cooked us hot dogs, carrots and s'mores. Sticky and yummy! We sat around the campfire for a while and talked about miracles Jesus did and sang songs. Then we went to bed. Elijah kept sliding into the crack between his and mommy's mattress... and we had to make a late-night bathroom run. (It was not too far away and we love using flashlights.) It was cold in the morning. Then we packed up and went to church. Next time we want to bring some friends along!

Movie night

2008-11-28T14:00:00.005-05:00

We got to go to a fall festival at work a few weeks ago. We went on a long hayride, picked a big pumpkin and then we got to watch a movie outside on the big screen. It was a little cold, but we brought our blankets.

Zoo trip

2008-11-28T13:54:00.004-05:00

Right after Halloween we went with a bunch of people on our daddy's work team to the zoo. I got to feed a giraffe, and we petted an emu, and best of all we got to ride on the zoo train.

Hide 'n Seek

2008-11-07T08:27:00.004-05:00

We were playing hide and seek the other day. It was mommy's turn to hide. We couldn't find her. She yelled out that she was "nice & toasty" from her hiding spot. We heard that she was Mike Wazowski- the small green one-eyed monster from the movie Monsters, Inc. So we ran about the house saying Mike Wazowski where are you? We finally found our nice and toasty mommy under the covers of my bed.

Who said it?

2008-11-05T12:00:00.002-05:00

Mikayla, kind of whiny: But that's not fair!
Daddy: Nobody said life was fair.
Mikayla, quietly: Someone said life was fair.

Halloween

2008-11-02T21:35:00.002-05:00

Normally for Halloween we go to a party at our church but they didn't have one this year. Mom and Dad decided it would be ok to meet a few neighbors and go trick or treating. People thought we were very cute.

Birthday parties

2008-11-02T21:30:00.003-05:00

Mikayla was invited to a neighbor's birthday this week, where they said wear your favorite costume. Then this weekend we got to go to our old neighbors birthday bash at a gymnastics place. We did lots of bouncing. (And their were cupcakes.)Fun, fun, fun.

Zoo Trip

2008-11-02T21:28:00.001-05:00

Daddy's team went to the zoo and we got to go. We got to feed giraffes and birds and ride a train. They also had squirrel monkeys and lots of gators.

Friends

2008-11-02T21:23:00.001-05:00

We love our friends. They live close by and this week we went to IKEA together.

Fall Festival

2008-11-02T21:16:00.002-05:00

Daddy went to "biketoberfest" in Daytona and Mommy and our friends went to a festival at a nearby church. We got to ride horses, lots of fun, go in the bouncy house-Elijah didn't want to come out, and play games and get candy. Mommy was a bit disappointed that we didn't take a nap afterwards, as she was wiped out.

Ballet Class

2008-11-02T21:13:00.002-05:00

My parents got to watch me practice my ballet class a few weeks ago. I have lots of friends in class.

Circus Surprise

2008-10-17T16:02:00.004-04:00

Daddy found out that there was a free circus last night at University of Central Florida so we went. There were lots of college students there. The performers were fun and we got to stay up late!

Recital dress

2008-10-17T16:00:00.002-04:00

We got our dresses for the dance recital at class this week. I was so excited to get red! It is a great twirly dress. I need to leave it in my closet until the recital but afterward I can wear it every day!

Masks

2008-10-17T15:58:00.002-04:00

Another craft project.

Biking

2008-10-17T15:55:00.002-04:00

We attached the "piccolo?" to the back of mommy's bike for me to ride. I like riding my pink bike, but this way we can go faster and further. I give mom a boost by pedaling too. Elijah gets the trailer all to himself so we don't squabble during bike rides. Daddy decided he'd form a train with the bikes. (I think he really wants to get a tandem bike for him and mommy; Mommy is not too keen on the idea.)

Old Neighbors

2008-10-17T15:54:00.001-04:00

Last week we finally were able to have our old neighbors over to our new house. It was fun to play with them again!

Sand box

2008-10-17T15:52:00.002-04:00

Mommy put some sand she had leftover in our turtle that had been a ball pit. We love playing in the sand. Shoveling into buckets, smashing it like grapes beneath our feet and throwing it at each other. (Mom is not fond of the last option.) This is a nice outside activity as it is getting past swimming season here.

Decorating Pumpkins

2008-10-17T15:50:00.003-04:00

Last weekend we went to the craft store where they had a special pumpkin decorating time. It was great fun, we got to put on eyes and hair and used pipe cleaners and poof balls. The pumpkins are just pretend so we don't have to worry about them smelling bad. We like doing crafts a lot and would do them every day if mom let us.

Scrap-booking

2008-10-17T15:48:00.001-04:00

Note to mommy: you need to try and scrap-book more than once a year.

Bouldering

2008-10-17T15:46:00.005-04:00

Elijah: 2 years old, great big blue eyes, great smile.
Interests: dancing, building blocks, throwing balls, copying everything his sister does--including "bouldering" (Just practicing for our next time in Colorado I guess.)

Rock-a-bye Mikayla

2008-10-17T15:44:00.001-04:00

We sometimes sing a song to the tune of Rock-a-bye Baby that includes a line, "Cause you are _______, sent from above."

After hearing the song tonight:

Mikayla: What does "above" mean?

Dad: It means that Jesus sent you down here from heaven up above to be our little girl, and Elijah to be out little boy.

Mikayla: Did Elijah get picked from the boy area and Mikayla, me from the girl area?

Dad: Yes, I guess he did. You are a very creative little girl, sweetie.

Strong Jesus

2008-10-17T15:40:00.002-04:00

We were going through the resurrection eggs, that explain about the death and burial of Jesus. The 11th egg has a rock in it.

Mommy: Mikayla, what does the rock mean?

Mikayla: Because Jesus is strong. He can lift rocks, and the sun, and the world, but not people or kids.

Mommy: Yes Jesus is strong, but the rock reminds us how there was a stone rolled in front of the tomb, and how it was rolled away and the tomb was empty.

pause.

Mommy: Where was Jesus?

Mikayla: With the people. He was alive!

Bathing Suit

2008-10-17T15:39:00.002-04:00

Mikayla, looking at a photo of a little girl in a bikini:
Mommy, I want a swim suit like that.

Mommy: Like what?
Mikayla: Separated.

New Bikes

2008-10-06T18:32:00.010-04:00

On Saturday mommy had a big big garage sale and we went with daddy to check out other garage sales in the neighborhood. We actually came back with 4 bikes, a bike trailer, a free set of golf clubs with bag and a piccolo bike-extension thingy. (First dad had bought me a bike without training wheels then he found the Barbie one, so we'll try and sell the other one.) For Eli he got a small one and the next size up both for under $10. I love my Barbie pink bike. It has training wheels so I can go, go, go. I like to practice on the sidewalk. Elijah is now practicing on my old tricycle. Elijah now wants to get a different bike helmet that doesn't make his head look so big.

Beading

2008-10-06T18:22:00.004-04:00

Here I am at Daddy's work, Dad is trying to get a nice portrait out of me. Mommy and Elijah went to a hearing screening for Elijah. He shows a slight loss in his left ear, and will get screened again in a few months. He gets evaluated to see if he will get speech therapy in a few weeks.

Crazy Hats

2008-10-06T18:18:00.004-04:00

One of my favorite things to say is: "what can I do now mom?" It drives mom batty. So she decided to do a craft project with us the other day. We love craft projects. We got more marker on the hats than ourselves, but it was a close call.

Drawing

2008-10-06T18:10:00.008-04:00

I've been trying to practice my letters and mommy was showing me rhyming words. But I love to draw little people. It's also fun to draw with chalk. Mommy reminds me to only draw on the pavement.

Safety

2008-10-06T17:41:00.002-04:00

Daddy had me pose for a picture challenge on safety. I know it's hard to see but I have swimmies on my feet too.

Seeds

2008-10-06T17:35:00.004-04:00

Mom thought we would enjoy watching things grow. We started with some bell pepper seeds. We bought some seeds at the store and some we got out of a pepper we ate. We put them into cans with soil and water, and put them on the windowsill. Up came lots of pepper plants. Then we transplanted them to bigger pots. We also planted green bean, zucchini, acorn squash, tomato and cantaloupe seeds. The plants are growing and there are little flowers on the tomato plant now. I think mommy thinks that if we grow the veggies maybe we will eat them. Jury's still out on that one, but I have been telling people we are growing our own veggies so we won't have to go to the store.

Barn

2008-09-28T10:51:00.001-04:00

Overheard at dinner:
Mikayla: Daddy if we lived in a barn we could leave the door open.
Daddy: OK.

Earlier that day:
Mikayla comes outside and leaves the door open.
Mommy: Mikayla close the door we don't live in a barn.

Never know when they are actually listening.

Nightcap

2008-08-29T20:13:00.001-04:00

Mikayla, while drinking water from a cup in bed, said something I didn't hear clearly.
Dad: What did you say?
MJ: Gulp.
Dad: Honey, please don't talk while drinking. And you don't have to say that, you just drink.
MJ: But, Dad, that's what you say.
(Puts her cup back up to her mouth): Gulp.

On to New York

2008-08-28T10:38:00.006-04:00

After the wedding we drove over to Grand Island, New York, to see Oma and Opa and a bunch of other family. We had fun there, riding bikes in the driveway, seeing lots and lots of cousins, going to see Niagara Falls, going to the zoo, and surprising Oma for her 80th birthday! It was strange to be there without snow but we did get to see Oma's beautiful flowers. The black-eyed snoozens were my favorite. After all the fun we had we came back to Florida and were greeted by lots of rain from a tropical storm. Mommy's been busy ever since trying to finish off some projects on her list. She is compiling a photo album of pictures of Daddy growing up, and she just finished painting the master bathroom.

Where we've been in August

2008-08-28T10:29:00.005-04:00

At the beginning of August we took off for a long van trip to Michigan. We decided to count water towers on the way. Elijah and I were good at spotting them. We counted 97 on the way there. We got to stay at a hotel on the way. We went to Michigan to go to Aunt Jenny and Uncle Kurt's wedding. I was the flower girl, mommy stood up and Elijah got all dressed up too even though he had no official role. But before the wedding we visited Lake Michigan and meet a bunch of Mommy's old college friends. They had kids too so it was fun. We also went to the Parlor which has great big servings of yummy ice cream. We ate up every last bit. (Now Daddy tells us to eat food like we do ice cream.) Grampa also gave us some rides on his tractor. Elijah liked it, I thought it was too loud. Mommy and Gramma decided they needed to experiment with my hair for the wedding. I willingly submitted to having curlers overnight. I thought I looked funny, but everyone else thought they were cute. The wedding was fun, we got to stay up really late and dance and have cake. Aunt Jenny looked really beautiful and I miss her now.

Visitor

2008-07-26T09:11:00.006-04:00

We were in the family room, minding our own business when we looked out the back window and saw this sand hill crane. Maybe someone around here used to feed him. We made noise but nothing seemed to scare him away. Guess he thought, I have a nice sharp beak and I'm bigger than 2 out of 3, I can take 'em. He did poke around in our bug-infested yard for a few moments before walking over to the next house.

Super Mikayla

2008-07-26T09:08:00.003-04:00

Mikayla and Elijah were fighting over a ball and mom got tired of the squabbling.
Mom then took the ball away.
Mikayla: Mommy where is the fishy ball?! (hands on hips)
Mom: It's gone.
Mikayla: (Hands still on hips) It is not gone, it is in this house and I will find it because I am super Mikayla!
Mom, trying not to grin: ok.

The ball remains hidden.

Early Birthday Present

2008-07-23T13:13:00.002-04:00

Elijah: I'm turning two soon and mommy knew I wanted a set of wheels. She hooked me up with this cool blue sporty number she found on craigslist. Sweet. Mom let me try it out for a nap. (After we washed and waxed it of course.)

Elijah's room

2008-07-13T18:17:00.004-04:00

Mom decided to paint my room this weekend. Dad moved my crib into the office so mom could work. Mommy gave me the world, and also a lighthouse and told me I was to be like a lighthouse to the world. My room is pretty cool. I now have Daddy's special model cars in my room. (They are up high on a shelf, but I'll have to see what I can do to get them down.)

Poor Elijah

2008-07-12T09:59:00.002-04:00

Three guesses where I got the shiners. One too many cups of milk before bed. My sister can still take me out. Or I'm sick with an ear infection and pink eye.

Finger painting

2008-07-10T22:25:00.001-04:00

We saw Mommy painting and wanted to paint to. We used our fingers and a big sheet of newsprint left over from the move. Wisely mom had us take off our shirts. Elijah managed to get paint on most limbs by the time he was done. Good thing we have wet wipes.

Fourth of July

2008-07-10T13:42:00.002-04:00

To celebrate America's birthday we went down to Lake Toho in St. Cloud. There were lots of people and fireworks! We got to stay up late to watch them. They were loud but not scary like thunder. Grandpa and Gramma went with us! Mommy and Daddy were very pleased that our neighbors didn't set off fireworks on our street.

We've moved

2008-07-10T13:38:00.003-04:00

On June 20th we finally moved into our new home. We were very thankful for the friends that helped us bring stuff over from the storage space and for the free moving van. It was a long day. We actually didn't get to sleep at our house that night. The next day we finished moving our stuff and Grandma and Grandpa arrived from Michigan. It was great to have them here. Grandpa did a lot of projects for mommy. Mommy did a lot of unpacking. Now we live close to friends and we have a play ground and pool we can walk to. And I have a princess room. Mommy just finished painting the other day. I love it! It has a canopy, and chandelier and pink walls with purple flowers.

Movie night

2008-06-08T13:27:00.001-04:00

Last Friday we went to Daddy's work for a movie night. They had a big screen outside and we sat in chairs. They gave all us kids glow sticks and junk food. It was so fun and we got to stay up really late. We watched over the hedge. My favorite is Hammy the squirrel.

My brother the cutie

2008-06-08T13:24:00.001-04:00

I even help by seeing when he needs diaper changes. He's ripe mom!
And I still love him when he steals my jewlery box and throws my necklaces down the stairs.

Partners

2008-06-08T13:19:00.004-04:00

My brother and I spend lots of time together. Sometimes I call him my friend. We got to play Ms. Theresa's piano together last week, that was fun, I helped him eat pizza at the bowling alley, gave him a push on the play ground and we look for the cat together.

What we've been up to

2008-06-08T13:15:00.004-04:00

You might be wondering what we have been doing. Well we moved again, into another friends condo. This one has a cat, but it hides when we are awake. I went to my last dance class for awhile. Ms. Julia gave us lollipops at the end. We have been catching more rays and spending time pool side. I also went to my friend Charis's 4th birthday where there were some great trees to climb on.

We moved

2008-05-22T10:39:00.002-04:00

Last weekend our friend Molly came over with her mom and we played in our room while other men helped mom and dad pack up our house. Most of our stuff is now in storage and we are staying at a friends house for a few weeks. Then we will most likely move to another friends house. It is nice that these friends have community swimming pools. We are hoping to take some swimming lessons in June. Elijah and I share a room right now and we drive mom nuts fighting over toys. We are also close to Molly and a few other friends, and it only takes dad a few minutes to get home from work! We hope to hear about the house we want to buy soon.

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T19:43:00.003-04:00

We made Mother's Day cards for mommy. I had daddy write for me. Here is what I said: "I love you. Thank you for making cookies with me and for making paintings. Thank you for brushing my hair and brushing my teeth. (I actually usually whine about these activities) thank you for giving toys to people who don't have any toys. (Mommy sometimes says she'll give the toys I don't pick up to people who don't have any and would appreciate them!) Thank you for taking us to the park."
After church we went to Mimi's Cafe. We had a reservation, but it still took a long time. The food was really good, I shared the stuffed french toast with mommy. I think Elijah got really tired. Then I said we should go to IKEA, which is next door so we did. I said IKEA is my favorite place to go after a good meal. We got a few things for our next house, but are not taking them out of our boxes yet.

Day at the Lake

2008-05-11T19:39:00.003-04:00

On Friday Daddy's work had this special day at the lake. I got to play on the playground and splash pad while mommy and daddy had a meeting. Then we had a yummy lunch all together, and then we went on an airboat ride. Mommy didn't like the dock, because it was floating and rocked back and forth while we walked. I think she just didn't want to have to come in after us. The ride was cool, but it was hard to move with our life jackets on. Elijah almost fell asleep on the ride. Later that day we played in the sand. Molly's daddy helped us build a sand volcano?! Oh and we had lots of watermelon. The pic of Elijah is just before he got soaked, and started crying!

Wilson's birthday

2008-04-28T19:35:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago was our friend Wilson's birthday. We went to his party at a park. There was a last minute switch to a different park, one that had a splash pad. We didn't have swimsuits, or towels, but we really wanted to get wet and mom and dad let us. We were thankful that someone else let us use their towels.

Dance class

2008-04-28T18:32:00.001-04:00

Thursdays is still one of my favorite days, because I get to go to dance class. Last week Ms. Julia, our teacher, let us bring our parents to watch all that we have learned. It was fun. Mom took lots of movies and dad got some nice action shots of me. I think Elijah would like to dance too.

Dress up

2008-04-28T18:31:00.003-04:00