Memorial Day Weekend

This year we skipped out on our usual trip to New Mexico and just stayed home for Memorial Day weekend.  We just cooked out, played in the backyard, took Ellie to the zoo to make up for missing it on her birthday, had a lemonade stand with Grandma, Haven, and Sadie to raise money for the tornado relief fund, went to church, and did some shopping.  We had some other things in mind (like swimming), but it was so windy on Monday!  Saving that for this weekend.

 Playing on the playground at the zoo

 Riding the carousel

 Swinging

This girl would swing for hours if you'd let her.  We had to remind her that we could swing as much as we want to at home . . . we came to the zoo to see the animals!

Jackson keeping cool by pouring most of his water out on himself. :)

 The okapi, giraffes, and zebras are never out when we go to the zoo, so we were excited to see them all out and about on Saturday!  

 Jackson napped through the most exciting part . . . 

Ellie feeding Ellie!  I was so surprised that she actually fed the giraffe herself.  I figured she get up close and freak out and make Kyle feed her.  When they asked the giraffe's name, Ellie was happy to hear that it was also Ellie!

 Traditional picture we take every time we go to the zoo.  This time Ellie was tall enough to reach without Daddy holding her up!

Feeding Daddy some dippin' dots.

Playing in the water

Ellie would look for rocks, bring them over and lay them on the side of the stream.  Then she "organized" them (her words) from largest to smallest.  I think she has a touch of OCD.

She couldn't believe I was letting her play in the water in her clothes!

On Sunday, we went to Grandma's and the girls set up a lemonade/cookie stand to raise money for the tornado victims.  We weren't getting much action on the street corner so they went door to door.  They did a great job!  I was very proud of them!

Grandma and her grandkids!

Grandma made all the cookies.  Aren't they awesome?

How could you turn down these sweet faces?

We enjoyed our 3 day weekend!  

Ellie's Birthday

My poor baby was sick on her birthday.  She woke up on Monday morning (the day before her birthday) with a fever.  She had to miss school, her birthday celebration, and gymnastics.  She slept most of the day, and only complained about her throat hurting first thing in the morning.  I prayed she would wake up feeling better on Tuesday, but this was not the case.  Although, she did try to convince me she felt fine because she really wanted the picnic at the zoo we had promised her for her birthday.  I felt so bad for her!  After a dose of ibuprofen, she seemed a little better so we went to lunch and Target so she could spend a gift card she had gotten for her bday.  She's never gotten to go shopping before and just pick out whatever she wanted.  She grabbed a shopping cart from the toy department and loaded it up!  She got a play-doh kit, some goggles, a Littlest Pet Shop toy, and a new sippy cup.  About that time, her fever started creeping back up and we headed home.

I hadn't been able to look in her throat, but I got a flashlight and finally got a look when we got home.  She had about 10 white blisters on the roof of her mouth!  I felt so bad!  I immediately called the doctor and got her in.  They did a strep test (which caused her a lot of pain), but it was negative.  It was a virus called Herpangina.  She hasn't been sick since Christmas, and she had to get a yucky virus on her birthday!

She had to miss school again on Thursday since she hadn't been fever free for 24 hours.  Finally, she was all better on Friday.  

Here are some pictures of the sick birthday girl.

Opening presents.

All she asked for was a boy baby doll.  She named him Charlie.

She also got some new Dora pajamas and sunglasses.

Playing with bubbles on the porch that evening.

The silver lining of a sore throat:  all the popsicles she wanted!

 Still wouldn't blow out the candles . . .

Happy 3rd Birthday, Ellie!  

So sorry you were sick.  :(

Ellie turns 3!

I can't believe my baby is 3 years old!  In my mind, she is officially a little girl now.  Not only can I tell by her age, but also the way she looks, talks, and acts.  I've been watching some videos from a year ago and can't believe how much she's changed.  At 3, she is already 1/6 of the way through her childhood.  I can't bear the thought of it!

Before I have an emotional breakdown, let me get to the party!

We had her party last Saturday at Chuck E. Cheese.  She had a blast, but absolutely despises direct attention.  This is generally a problem when it's your birthday party.  She didn't want for us to sing to her.  She wouldn't go up in front with the other birthday girls and dance with Chuck E. Cheese.  She wouldn't blow out her candles.  She wouldn't even open a single present.  But, it was her party and she cried when she wanted to.

My beautiful birthday girl!!

The cupcakes

 Playing Games

Eating Pizza

"Uh-oh.  People are looking at me."

 Opening presents

Ticket Blaster

She got the magic ticket!

After the party, everyone came back to our house and Ellie got her present from us:

A bounce house!

 Ellie and her friends ate hotdogs, played in the bounce house and on the swing set, and totally wore themselves out until she just couldn't hold her eyes open any longer.  It was a great day!

I'm so glad she had fun at her birthday party, because on Monday morning she woke up with a sore throat and fever.  It was supposed to be her birthday celebration at school, but she had to miss it.  The next day was her actual birthday, and we had promised her a picnic at the zoo.  Poor baby had to miss that, too.  After a trip to the doctor and some more rest on Wednesday and Thursday she is finally feeling better.  I'm so sad she had to be sick on her birthday, but we're going to make it up to her.  We're having that picnic at the zoo ASAP!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Elliott Rose!

We love you so much!!