The fun continues . . .

So, as predicted, Ella really got into the birthday festivities, especially when they continued for a few days. Every morning she would want to sing "happy birdie" when she woke up, which was completely understandable! The day after her birthday, added to the excitement of Gramma being here--Gramma's bag finally arrived, and with it, a lot more presents!

Homemade tap shoes from Aunt Megan! Super!

Fun new books from Gramma and Granddaddy!

An awesome cat piano from Uncle Mike, Aunt Nicola, and Cousin Isobel which immediately produced some funky dancing.

Some food for the kitchen that you can really slice, and a sweet little chef's outfit from Uncle Joe!

Turns out the knife from that set is also good for opening presents.

The presents were great!

And then the next day we had a little birthday party! It featured bagels and boogie-ing, which you all know Ella loves.

After it was all over, we just enjoyed our party decorations, presents and music a little longer.

Ella is 2!!

What a day we had today! It was filled with family and friends, fun, delicious food, new toys, lots of warm sunshine, gajillions of renditions of happy birthday songs in various versions, and lots of general birthday cheer (and the obligatory few excitement and sugar induced meltdowns). We started off with the big reveal of the play kitchen, which turned out to be completely eclipsed by the happy birthday banner at first. But the appreciation of the kitchen definitely increased with time. And wow those pretend cupcakes are a hit. Not however, as much of a hit as the real chocolate cupcake. More about that later.

We spent the morning playing at the park with friends, then walked to the Mexican restaurant to have lunch with Daddy. After that, it was naptime. And when naptime was over it was time to pick Gramma up from the airport. Her plane was just a smidge late, so we got to watch the planes take off for a few minutes. Ella loooved it. We will be back there. Gramma was greeted with lots of smiles and hugs and silliness. Then we went to the grocery store where the girls got to ride in a car cart. Then Ella got to choose her own cupcake from our favorite Mad Hatter Bakery for her birthday cake. "Chockitt!" was the obvious and emphatic choice. And we heard about nothing but chockitt cupcake from the time it was paid for until the time it was consumed. (We did sneak a little ravioli in in that time period : ) ) Ella loved the cupcake, and Nora thought it looked pretty darn good too.

Happy birthday beautiful Ella! We are so blessed to watch you grow!

3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693 . . .

It's Pi day again! This is the day (3-14) where math lovers and pie enthusiasts join forces to celebrate. I belong in the latter category, let me make that clear. But beyond being a holiday where you eat pie (what could be better?) this day will always be special to me because on it, 2 years ago, I went into labor with my first baby darling. That day was definitely crazy, full of anticipation, and intense. Last year, Pi day found us getting ready with anticipation and mild craziness as we set up presents and tried to believe our tiny baby was going to be a big one year old. This year we are up to to similar tricks. Paul is building a play kitchen (in between stretches of fixing the server at work. Thanks for your contribution, server. : P ). 

The happy birthday banner is hung. 

And I have just got done wrapping a few things. It's like a mini-Christmas eve. : ) Except the children are not nestled all snug in their beds. Say hi, Nora!

We tried to pump Ella up for the big day as she was going to bed tonight. I told her, "Tomorrow we are going to play with friends and eat cake and see Gramma and open presents!" This was greeted with acceptance. "It's going to be your birthday!" Paul added. "Nooooo, noooooo." moaned Ella. I sort of identify with that. But I think she'll get more into it tomorrow. : ) 

What big sisters are for

Snuggles

Presence through presents

We live very far away from our families and that is the pits. But one fun thing that helps us stay close is the little package Gramma sends to Ella and Nora for their month birthdays each month. It is so exciting to get those little packages in the mail!

She always sends a nice letter.

And this month, we got some cool little yarn dolls!

 Thanks Gramma! We love getting these little presents!

Kisses

Cheeeeeeeese

Teeth

 You know what's hard to photograph? Baby teeth. The only fortunate thing about it is that when you have been bugging a baby to try to get her to show her teeth for a while and she finally says, "waaaaahhh!" tada! Teeth visible. But not a cute picture. And poor baby, as if cutting your first teeth weren't enough trouble for a little person. All that said, here are some pictures of Nora's new little teeth that have just broken through. The cute ones do not display the teeth. The bad photos do show them fairly clearly. So here you go. Cheerios here we come!

Toddler theology

Today, Ella picked up my Bible off the table and brought it to me saying, "Mommy Bible." Then she opened it looking for "baby." Her children's Bible has pictures of several babies: Moses, Jesus, and the little children who come to Jesus. Since her language has been getting so much better lately, I thought I would try to teach her a little about the Bible. She noticed all the words, and started randomly saying the letters she knows, "a, e, l, r . . ." I tried to explain that the Bible tells us about God. "Do you know who God is?" "Baby cooow," she responded. I did try to correct the baby cow thing, "well, no, God made everything," but maybe it's still a little early. : )

Little helpers

Sometimes actually helpful, sometimes at least occupied without making a big mess, sometimes making a big mess, and sometimes definitely dangerous, Ella is majorly into helping these days. Also, Nora can hold 2 brooms at once, quite advanced for her age too, I'd say. : ) It just gets better and better as they get bigger, even though it's more challenging too.

The activity room

We are back in business! Today I did my inaugural sewing project in the new house. It is so nice to have my sewing machine set up again. Somehow it makes it feel like I'm really home even though we've been here 4 months now. What did I make? A little throw pillow cover that involved no cutting and took about 15 minutes. Perfect. : ) But now I'm all geared up for the dress order I'll be sewing next week.

Want to see the rest of the room? It's great because there's space for a little play area for the girls. They dig it.

It feels so good to have this room functional! For so long it had been that room that you don't go in because you just about can't, due to all the junk in the way. It was always "the activity room" in my mind. But for a while there, some had taken to calling it "the storage room." Hopefully it's purpose will be clear to all from here on out. I should also mention that in the side of the room I'm shooting from, Paul has some of his activities too. But somehow shelves of tents, bike equipment, and fishing stuff didn't call out to me to photograph them. Just my taste, I guess, sorry Paul!

In other news, Ella has learned "smile" and "picture." Our sweet and funny cousin Isobel has been cutely mugging for the camera for ages, but Ella has just figured it out. Sort of. Frequently she'll say "Picture. Smile." and then crouch or lay down on the floor while looking tentatively at the camera. Then she always wants to see of course.

Nora's a bit more natural at this stage of the game. : )

My funny girls.

Toddler fashion

Ella do you want to put your pants on?

No Mommy, no pants.

OK well how about your sockies, your feet are going to be cold?

No Mommy, no sockies. Neak-uhs.

Nora's baptism

 Nora was baptized on Sunday. She wore the same special dress that Ella did (and I did!). It was sweet for many reasons, but one memorable detail was Ella holding her hand while we were waiting on stage--the second newest member of our family's part of the covenant community reaching out to welcome the very youngest (Ella is so deep, right?). Having our babies baptized is such a reminder to me of why God has given us these precious little girls. They are for us, in a sense, but ultimately they are for him. By putting them in our family, he has given us the responsibility and joy of bringing them into his family. What an amazing thing and a high calling!

Oh, you again

Regular visits from the stomach flu were an unexpected part of motherhood for me. I used to expect to be sick to my stomach somewhere around once every 5 years. Ella is not 2 yet and this is my third stomach flu since she was born. (On top of and totally separate from morning sickness. I am really honing my puking skills.) My dear babies bring me these things and what can I do but pick them up, baby and bug together. Poor little Ella was miserable with this thing yesterday. She would cry "no no no no no" whenever she was about to throw up, and made several pitiful little declarations of " I sick." It was a non-negotiable, and was really somehow sweet also, that I was able to snuggle her and hold her most of the day. So. Today is my day on the couch. I'm in for it. But thank God, Paul is here for some non-negotiable sweetness today. I don't know what I'd do otherwise. Same day airfare, Mom?

So, I do have a sick picture of me, that I took to go along with this one, but guys, I just can't post it. Come take care of me when I'm sick sometime (shouldn't be long!) and you can see me in all my pale, sad, and listless glory. But I cannot put it on el internet. But here is a picture of the little one who came to comfort me with a sympathetic "Mommy sick."

This was written yesterday. But thankfully today we are back to playing. 

As for the dishes and the laundry, they should recover mid-next week I expect. 

Still funny

Funny hat is still funny. Really funny. In fact, having somebody else to share it with makes it even funnier.