The Day We Almost Went to the Bean Supper

The Bean Supper is a Fourth of July tradition that's been going on in Mustang since way before we even moved there back in 1990. We used to go when I was younger and we've been a few times since we moved back from Texas. Kyle's regional meeting usually falls on the same weekend so we were excited about going this year. That is, until we saw that it was going to be 105 degrees with 20-25 mph winds! We decided to cookout at Mike and Des's and watch the fireworks since you can see them from their house. We ended up having a great time! And it was nice to have a place to go in and cool off.

Des made the girls these matching 4th of July dresses. I'm glad I took these pictures when I did because Ellie's only lasted about 30 minutes and Haven's lasted about an hour. Luckily, I brought Ellie a backup!

Sadie, Haven, and Ellie

Cute dresses, Aunt Des!

She even got them matching bows and we gathered enough hair for Ellie to wear hers!

Sweet kisses for her mommy!

Feeding the geese

Ellie actually never gave the geese any bread. She just ate it herself!

With Phinn

He is such a cutie and was so sweet with Ellie! He kept kissing her and holding her hand. :)

Ellie and Rooney were amazed by this huge bucket of golf balls.

Watching the fireworks

Great Wolf Lodge and Father's Day

This past weekend we went to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas for Kyle's annual regional meeting. We had a blast! Although we couldn't do everything at the waterpark since Ellie is too little, we were able to have a lot of fun with her in the kiddie areas. She really enjoyed the pool, fountains, and lazy river. She also liked playing with the other kids there. There was also a little show each night with animals and music. She really like that. She's very into animals right now, so she was constantly pointing out all the bears, wolves, and deer in the hotel. We will definitely go back to Great Wolf Lodge when she gets old enough to enjoy all they have to offer.

Ellie's first pedicure! (She didn't really have a pedicure. I just bought some quick-dry polish and waited for her to fall asleep!) Her pink toenails are precious!

Ellie and I were killing some time while Kyle was in a meeting. Love this look!

This is the face she makes when she says "UH-OH!"

In her wolf ears

First day at the waterpark

They wouldn't let us bring in her floatie, and yet this was the smallest lifejacket they had for her to wear. She couldn't even move in it, much less swim!

The indoor waterpark

Ellie takin' a nap and having a snack in the shade!

Another one of my favorite faces!

On our way to dinner

Watching the show after dinner

Every day we were there Ellie would get up, have breakfast, then go back to sleep for 2 hours! This trip just wore her out! Of course, I had nothing else to do so I napped with her!

With her new pink wolf

Day 2 at the water park- Ellie was a little more comfortable in the water this day.

These are the other 2 girls that were born just days before Ellie.

At last year's regional meeting they were all about 6 weeks old.

Dropping Ellie off before the awards banquet. The theme was Cowboys and even Ellie joined in by wearing a jean skirt that matched mine and a pair of boots. She looked so cute!

Yee-Haw!

We had fun, but we were also happy to get home!

Unfortunately, Kyle had to spend half of his Father's Day on the road, but we did get home in time for him to hit some balls at the driving range and cook out some steaks.

Happy Father's Day!!

Ellie at 1 year!

I'm a little behind with this post, but we've been so busy lately! Ellie had her 12 month appointment on May 17th. Dr. Moore said everything looks great! Her iron was a little low and since we're switching over to cow's milk we've started her on vitamin drops. She had 2 shots and had her finger stuck for the hemoglobin test. She didn't even cry when the nurse stuck her finger! She's a pretty tough little girl. Here is what Ellie is up to at 12 months:

-She weighed 20 lbs. 13.5 oz. (50th percentile- down from 95th at birth) and was 28 inches long (around the 25th percentile). She only gained 1 inch in height from her 6 month - 12 month appointment. I think we've got a shorty on our hands!

-She wears size 12 months clothing, size 4 diapers, and size 3 shoes.

-She points at everything: food she wants, the neon lights in the gameroom, Kyle's fish that is mounted in the gameroom, outside, etc. When she points and waves to the fish she says, "-ish." And when she points outside she says, "side."

-In addition to bellybutton, toes, and nose, she can point out her ears, eyes, and head. She also says, "eyes."

-She loves bracelets, necklaces, shoes, and purses, and also dirt, rocks, and playing outside.

-She will empty out my purse in 2 seconds flat, no matter where we are. She has also started going through random purses that are down on her level. I'm worried we're going to end up with someone's keys or wallet one of these days!

-She loves to eat! She really loves all types of fruit, applesauce, graham crackers, macaroni and cheese, tortillas, cheese, and beans.

-She likes books and has started to bring them to me to read to her. She really likes books that have different textures, flaps, and other things she can play with and move.

-She loves her baby doll she got for her birthday. She rocks her, pats her, kisses and hugs her. She also likes to bounce her and share her drink with her.

-She started shrugging her shoulders all the time. When we ask her something and she doesn't know the answer or if she hears Kyle or me say the words "I don't know," she puts her hands palm up and shrugs her shoulders. It's so cute!

-I've been taking her places to be around other kids her age. We've been to Gymboree, the pool, and we went to the baby storytime twice this week at the library. She's really enjoying the library once she warms up a little bit. She is still a little shy and holds on to me for dear life, but I think she'll start to loosen up as we go back each week.

I'm so proud of the toddler Ellie is becoming. She's such an awesome baby. We can take her anywhere and do anything with her. She just hangs with us no matter what!

Swimming and playing in the sprinklers with Jasmine, Jaiden, and Jett.

Playing at the lego table at the library. (She's trying to share her blocks.)

She wore herself out this day. She fell asleep while eating dinner.

Ellie and her baby doll.