Just a few quick pics

We have the suitcases out, the laundry is being folded and we are getting ready for a big trip. Tomorrow, we are heading down to Atlanta to see DeeDee and Papa. Mike is going to play with my Dad in a golf tournament all weekend and Mom, Ella and I are going to have some bonding time of our own. We are also super excited that we are going to get to see Amy, Jason and meet baby Abby for the first time! On Monday, Mike and I are are flying out to California for a couple days to celebrate our anniversary while Ella and Dakota stay and play in Atlanta with DeeDee and Papa. We are so excited about visiting San Francisco, hiking in Yosemite and wine tasting in Napa! Definitely will have lots of pictures to share from that but before we head out, wanted to post some pictures from the last week. We had a super busy weekend and I actually hardly took any pictures but here are a couple I captured.

On, Sunday, we went to watch Mike play soccer and actually broke our back luck curse and his team won and Mike scored a goal! My parents got Ella a soccer jersey from Barcelona last year when they were on the cruise and this is first time she was worn it and I think she looks pretty darn cute in it but she definitely need a bow in her hair so people know she is a girl!
Ella is all about the pool and water table ever since we have pulled them out a weeks ago. She is also obsessed with swim suits and goes into her room and pulls then out and puts them on over her clothes. I think she is ready for the beach!

This picture was actually from last weekend but I forgot to post it so here you go. All the girls climbed onto the bench themselves.

After the soccer game and a nap on Sunday, we headed over to Addie's 4th birthday party/ice cream party. Ella didn't really care for the ice cream but loved the m&ms and sprinkles! I didn't get any pictures of the birthday girl or eating her ice cream but did manage this one with Ella and Wesley in Wesley's hot pink convertible! It won't be long until they are driving for real, scary thought!

One of Ella's new favorite things to do is to "walk doggie." She immediately grabs Dakota's leash and follows her around the house trying to put it on, we help her and then outside and up the street they go. Ella must listen to us a little too closely because we hear her saying "heel doggie" or "sit doggie" all the time.

Dakota is usually pretty tolerant and lets Ella take charge and walk her up and down the street.

It's official. This girl loves shoes! Putting them on (herself of course), taking them off and repeat. And her favorite is finding other people's shoes and putting them on. She will find her friends shoes while playing at their house and has to try them on or find Mom and Dad's shoes and put those on.

She is like a magnet to shoes, she can hunt them down anywhere and put them on and try walking around in them.

And she doesn't discriminate either. She will wear Mommy's or Daddy's shoes, they are both equally fun.

I think we are in for big trouble as she grows up!

And if you noticed the scratches on her nose and chin in the pictures, yes, that was from a fall she took on Saturday while at our annual neighborhood party. Trying to act like the big kids and sit in a big kids chair and she lost her balance and fell sideways onto the pavement and scratched her nose. I think it has been much worse for Mike and I then her, she doesn't seem to mind and when I open the neosporn, she says "chin chin" because she knows I am about to put it on her chin. I guess these little bumps and bruises come with the territory but it still breaks my heart.

So, off to do more folding and packing. I know we are going to miss our little one like crazy while we are gone but it will be nice to get away also for a couple of days and we know Ella will be spoiled rotten while we are gone.

Beep Beep

Watch out, someone is off and driving. And I think she likes it!

And this car even comes with a cell phone holder so she never has to miss a call from Barbie. But remember, no texting while driving.

One of my favorite things is of course shopping and my second favorite is finding a good deal while shopping and Ella's new toy was definitely a good deal. They have a couple large children's consignment sales in Charlotte a year and they have fantastic finds on barely used clothes and toys. I went with my friends this past weekend and got Ella some adorable spring and summer clothes but steal of the day was this Cozy Coupe.

All of the kids fight over the few cozy coupes in the neighborhood and so when I spotted this one for only $12, I was sold. Of course it has a couple scratches but I think that means, a lot of kids already had a lot of fun with it and are now ready to pass it down for someone else to have fun. It was perfect to have this weekend because we had a rainy and cold weekend and the car provided a lot of hours of fun. Once the weather turns warm and sunny, we will move it outside. Now, I just need to find room in the garage to store it.

Another fun find I found while I was actually in the line to check out was this fun dog. We all know how much Ella loves her real doggie and this one is super cute and even barks.

And just like her other doggie, she immediately hugs and kisses her plastic one also.

I thought Dakota might bark back or not like this new dog but she doesn't seem to be fazed by it.

What else do you do on a rainy, cold weekend? Eat popcorn and watch movies of course! And this little girl loves her some popcorn! She would eat the whole bowl if we let her!

Well, we are off on an adventure this weekend! We are heading up to cold Rochester, NY for my Grandma's 85th birthday party. Ella and I are flying up Thursday and then Mike is joining us on Friday night. Not sure how I am going to manage flying with Ella on my own but hopefully the portable DVD will help. I am sure the other passengers are going to love listening to that the entire flight.

Happy Fat Tuesday everyone! We just got back from having a mini Mardi Gras dinner with the neighbors full of yummy shrimp and grits, cornbread and crepes. Mike and I are being pretty ambitous again this year and giving up all sweets for lent. Hope we make it and down kill each other from sugar withdrawl.

Man's (Little Girl's) Best Friend

About 4 1/2 years ago Mike had this crazy idea of getting a puppy. I can't say I was 100% on board because I knew who would end up taking care of the dog. At the time, Mike was working 80 hour weeks and house training a puppy didn't fit into those hours. But after about 6 months of begging and showing me the most adorable pictures of puppies, we got Dakota. Half lab/half beagle and all crazy and wild but she is the sweetest thing. She was our "baby" for almost 3 years until we brought home a new baby and our first babies world was rocked. At first, she was so sad and depressed and wouldn't even eat her food. But she never tried to hurt Ella and has always been super protective over her. As Ella has grown and been able to play with Dakota and more importantly been able to feed her from the high chair, they have definitely formed a strong bond. Wherever Ella goes, she wants her doggie right there next to her. Case in point, we inherited this awesome wagon from our neighbors (yeah for neighbors that have too many toys and we get the extras!) and we took it out for a spin this weekend.

But it's not fun to ride just by yourself when your doggie can ride along with you. And sweet Dakota obliged like she does most of the time to sit and take a spin around the neighborhood.

This is the scene most nights after dinner. We finish up and then play before bath time and bedtime. And that means, all 4 of crammed into the tiny play room that used to be a dining room with toys and games and books everywhere. And these two always getting into trouble. Dakota chewing on a toy that Ella gave her, how does she know she can't play with it? Ella gave it to her after all? Then the tackle/hugging begins. Starts off innocently enough, just hanging out playing next to each other...

Then the swoop in by Ella, giving her a kiss...

And then a bear hug! These two definitely have such a sweet bond and although most days I tell Mike that the dog is driving me crazy and I can't take another day of her and then this happens and to watch them play makes my heart smile. I have read the studies and heard all the research that children that grow up having animals and loving animals turn out to be more compassionate, loving, etc and I am hoping it turns out in this home. At least before the dog hair drives me seriously insane.

And here are some more random cute pictures from the past week. As mentioned previously Ella doesn't like bibs anymore but with her more adventurous fork skills, we needed to find something that would do the trick. A neighbor actually told me about these great smock/bib shirts that are long sleeve and do the trick.

Only 1 week in but seems to be working so far and check out that face with spaghetti all over it. This girl loves her pasta and tomato sauce so I am hoping these new bibs will work. And when the fork is just taking too long, use your hands, they are much quicker!

How cute are these two best buds. Wesley wanted to give Ella a hug.

Just hanging out together! Ella saying "cheese" for the picture.

It was another warm and sunny weekend here. In fact, it hit 80 degrees on Sunday so you know we hit up the park for some swinging. Ella is not a fan of the baby swings but prefers to sit on our laps on the big swings.

Daddy is a little under the weather this week, another bad head cold so during breakfast this morning, we wanted to send him a picture to cheer him up and hopefully make him feel better. Honestly, I can't remember a day when all 3 of us have been healthy at the same time. Bring on spring and less germs please!

A couple times a week if it's a good and healthy week, I go to the YMCA to workout and Ella plays in the childcare area. She had a real love/hate relationship with it when we first started going and I never knew when they were going to call me and tell me to come get her but lately it has been all love. She always has a great time playing with her friends and new toys. After we leave, we pass right by the racquetball courts and usually someone is playing and Ella always get a huge smile and says "ball ball." So of course, we stop and watch them play.

It is usually older men and they are always so sweet to the kids and hit the ball up near on the glass and all the kids laugh and smile. Ella will knock on the glass and wave hi! She would sit there and watch them for awhile if I let her, maybe a future racquetball star in the making??

So, that is our life. A lot of loving on Dakota and trying hard to learn the meaning of gentle and nice so we stop pulling the doggie's tail but somehow no matter how much abuse she gets, Dakota always wants to be right by Ella's side. I guess she will take the good with bad, with abuse also comes lots of hugs and attention. Have a good week everyone!

Best Friends Forever

This is how it usually starts, Ella spots one of Dakota's toys or tennis balls and runs to find her doggie. She then drops it to the dog and they start their own little game of Catch me if you can! Dakota will grab the toy and run around the house with Ella in close pursuit after her. Stop, wait for me!

Then, Ella follows her upstairs where they both take a little break, usually Ella will hug/tackle Dakota and they will start all over again!

(P.S.-Check out Ella's new "Ugg" boots for the winter and no they are not real, do you think I would really buy her real Ugg boots for Charlotte?? But she does look insanely cute in her new pink boots!)

There is a such a special bond between these two. I don't think Ella could love a "human sibling" anymore than she loves her "furry sister." Right when she wakes in the morning until she goes to sleep, she runs around looking for Dakota, says "doggie" 200 times a day, points out all the other doggies on a walk and feeds her lots of food.

She also loves to come up and hug Dakota but she hasn't quite mastered "gentle" yet so sometimes it is more like a tackle! Mike and I were just saying tonight that she never runs up to us to just give us a hug, only her best bud Dakota! And, Dakota will have her moments when she doesn't want Ella pulling her ears or fur but most of the time, she just endures it. I mean it's a pretty good trade off for all the extra food Dakota is getting these days and she is sure to sit right next to Ella during meal or snack time. I have the leash all ready, let's go for a walk!

Besides, hanging with her best doggie, we had such a fun and finally healthy week! Mike had off a couple days for Veteran's Day and the weather could not have been better so we took advantage of it and spent a lot of time outdoors.

One thing I love about Charlotte is all the parks and playgrounds that are so close to us. We went to a different park everyday and they are all so much fun!

Enjoying the sunshine and beautiful fall colors!

Picking leaves out of the tree with Daddy!

On Saturday afternoon, we got together with our neighbors to watch the VT/UNC game. Tracey went to UNC so it was a little bit divided but luckily VT pulled through with the victory! Ella was all decked out in her VT gear including socks but after the win, we put Allie's Rutgers jersey on and she looked so adorable, we had to post this picture. I think it is time for this one to get a Virginia Tech jersey of her own!

Put me in coach, I'm ready to play...today...