So since I don't know how to make YouTube videos appear in my blog, you'll just have to follow this link to see Ellie hugging Kip. At the beginning of the video you can her her nasty cough. She has had RSV all week and a mild case of pneumonia. She is feeling much better, but still sounds terrible.
I'll post some birthday pictures later this week. Ellie had a nice party with some of her friends.
Oh, and if you are a Blogger, can you tell me how to insert the actual YouTube video here (instead of just a link)?
Friday, February 12, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Early Birthday Present
We decided that since this weekend's weather was supposed to be so beautiful we'd give Ellie an early present. Her birthday isn't until Thursday, but thought she would enjoy a few extra days with her new bicycle. The bike is a gift from Grandma Cheryl and Grandpa Bob as well as Tim and I. Ellie loves it!
This is also the post in which I learn how to embed video. Grandparents, enjoy!
This is also the post in which I learn how to embed video. Grandparents, enjoy!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Taking Flight
Here are some pictures of Ellie with her friend Avery, who was over for a playdate this morning. They were breaking in the capes I made for Ellie's birthday party next weekend. I love that in order to "fly" the girls need their tongues sticking out!
And while they were flying through the kitchen, this was filling the air with yummy smells. Homemade granola:
And while they were flying through the kitchen, this was filling the air with yummy smells. Homemade granola:
Friday, December 18, 2009
US Virgin Islands
Just before Thanksgiving we spent two weeks on St. John in the US Virgin Islands. We had an amazing trip, and while there were certain events we could have done without, overall it was just fantastic. Ellie is still talking about it daily, wondering when we can go snorkeling again.
Be warned that there are tons of pictures in this post. I thought I'd better make it worth the wait for them :)
Ellie at the beach for the first time.
Tim, Ellie, and Grandma W. at Maho Bay (Day 1)
The owner of our villa, Dr. Bob, was pruning the plants one day and gave Ellie this palm frond to play with. She was in heaven!
Ellie at the beach the first day.
View from Maho Bay.
In the ocean for the first time!
Ellie and Grandma W. at Trunk Bay.
We went out to dinner one night at "Miss Lucy's," a charming little place right on the beach. It also happened to be overrun by Miss Lucy's goats :) Ellie was thrilled. She fed them sea grapes and had a blast until a grumpy older goat got impatient and butted her, causing her to fall backwards, because she wasn't feeding him fast enough. A few tears were shed, but overall it was a nice evening.
Waterlemon Bay (yes, that is waterlemon, not watermelon). We saw lots of stingrays there, a couple of sea turtles, lots of fish and coral, and starfish. It was definitely the best snorkeling we had, although all of it was quite stunning.
Salt Pond Bay. This beach is at the end of a short trail. Ellie was pinched by a large hermit crab at the trail head. It was completely our fault, and we felt horrible about it. Having had hermit crabs as a child, I assured Ellie it was safe and fun to hold them. The first one she held was nice enough, but then I gave her a very large, old fellow. He was not so happy about being held and clamped on to the pad of her hand and held on for dear life (quite literally in his mind, I am sure). It took five minutes to convince him to let go. Ellie screamed the whole time, but was very cooperative about holding still so the crab would relax and let go. She had a couple of small lacerations on her hand and they finally just healed over a week or so ago.
After the crab pinching incident, but before she became covered with biting ants... Not the best beach experience for her, but the snorkeling was quite unique here with lots of colorful coral.
Vew from our villa.
The view.
Trunk Bay.
Trunk Bay.
Trunk Bay
Potentilla bush flowers.
A Very Large seed pod.
The best way to get sand off a two-year-old? Dunk her in the ocean naked.
The owners of our villa had this great raft that had a window in it so that Ellie could "snorkel" too. She saw lots of coral, fish, a stingray, and a turtle this way. She loved it!
Salt Pond Bay
Annaberg Sugar Mill ruins
Windmill ruins at Annaberg.
Be warned that there are tons of pictures in this post. I thought I'd better make it worth the wait for them :)
Ellie at the beach for the first time.
Tim, Ellie, and Grandma W. at Maho Bay (Day 1)
The owner of our villa, Dr. Bob, was pruning the plants one day and gave Ellie this palm frond to play with. She was in heaven!
Ellie at the beach the first day.
View from Maho Bay.
In the ocean for the first time!
Ellie and Grandma W. at Trunk Bay.
We went out to dinner one night at "Miss Lucy's," a charming little place right on the beach. It also happened to be overrun by Miss Lucy's goats :) Ellie was thrilled. She fed them sea grapes and had a blast until a grumpy older goat got impatient and butted her, causing her to fall backwards, because she wasn't feeding him fast enough. A few tears were shed, but overall it was a nice evening.
Waterlemon Bay (yes, that is waterlemon, not watermelon). We saw lots of stingrays there, a couple of sea turtles, lots of fish and coral, and starfish. It was definitely the best snorkeling we had, although all of it was quite stunning.
Salt Pond Bay. This beach is at the end of a short trail. Ellie was pinched by a large hermit crab at the trail head. It was completely our fault, and we felt horrible about it. Having had hermit crabs as a child, I assured Ellie it was safe and fun to hold them. The first one she held was nice enough, but then I gave her a very large, old fellow. He was not so happy about being held and clamped on to the pad of her hand and held on for dear life (quite literally in his mind, I am sure). It took five minutes to convince him to let go. Ellie screamed the whole time, but was very cooperative about holding still so the crab would relax and let go. She had a couple of small lacerations on her hand and they finally just healed over a week or so ago.
After the crab pinching incident, but before she became covered with biting ants... Not the best beach experience for her, but the snorkeling was quite unique here with lots of colorful coral.
Vew from our villa.
The view.
Trunk Bay.
Trunk Bay.
Trunk Bay
Potentilla bush flowers.
A Very Large seed pod.
The best way to get sand off a two-year-old? Dunk her in the ocean naked.
The owners of our villa had this great raft that had a window in it so that Ellie could "snorkel" too. She saw lots of coral, fish, a stingray, and a turtle this way. She loved it!
Salt Pond Bay
Annaberg Sugar Mill ruins
Windmill ruins at Annaberg.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Santa Claus
We made our annual $25 donation to Santa today. We stood in line for at least 45 minutes (the Big Guy is quite in demand this year) and were rewarded with (and by "rewarded" I mean "shelled out lots of dough") these pictures.
Josh and Jordan: You may recognize the hair bow and shoes. :)
We got back from our trip to the Caribbean almost two weeks ago. I'll get pictures from the trip posted this week!
Josh and Jordan: You may recognize the hair bow and shoes. :)
We got back from our trip to the Caribbean almost two weeks ago. I'll get pictures from the trip posted this week!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Snow and Halloween
Well, Ellie is sacked out in bed after a successful evening of trick-or-treating. She wore a kitty costume my sister made for our niece 12 years ago. Brigette is trying to dig out a picture of Kieron wearing it for a side-by-side comparison. Ellie really wanted to wear her cousin Eddie's old lion costume, but it was too small. We had awesome Halloween weather, which was a nice change from the 15 inches of snow we had earlier this week.
Here are the pictures:
Halloween, reverse order (because that is just the way Blogger is being tonight...)
So tired by the end...
With Jamison the Dinosaur (who she refers to as her brother, by the way).
Here are the pictures:
Look at the size of those snowflakes!
Halloween, reverse order (because that is just the way Blogger is being tonight...)Enjoying her candy:
So tired by the end...
With Jamison the Dinosaur (who she refers to as her brother, by the way).
Friday, October 16, 2009
Playgroup
Ellie had a couple of friends over this morning. We had a good time making "oobleck" and it entertained the little ones for over an hour. It did take me a good thirty minutes to clean my kitchen afterwords, but it was worth it! Avery and Jamison are both 3 (about 7 months older than Ellie) and it is so interesting to watch her learn things from them.
Hugs from Jamie:
All three of them watching the rocking Hallmark Christmas Dog bark Jingle Bells. Great-Grandma E. gave this to Ellie on her first Christmas and she still hasn't gotten enough of it (I may have though... :)
See the condition of my kitchen floors? What a teacher will do for "sensory experiences!"
Avery attempting to make hand prints.
Jamie is so excited!
If you have never made oobleck with kids before, and you have some to make it with, it is worth doing. Oobleck is not quite a liquid and not quite a solid. When compressed it will form a solid, but when let to sit it becomes a liquid and will pour. If you really want to add an educational connection, and your kids are about 4 or up, read Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Suess first.
The recipe:
It is basically equal parts cornstarch and water (colored water if you want to get creative). Add the water slowly; you might not need it all. If it gets too runny just stir in some more cornstarch. You can save it (uncovered, or it will get moldy) for a week. Just add more water to reconstitute it as needed. Have fun!
Hugs from Jamie:
All three of them watching the rocking Hallmark Christmas Dog bark Jingle Bells. Great-Grandma E. gave this to Ellie on her first Christmas and she still hasn't gotten enough of it (I may have though... :)
See the condition of my kitchen floors? What a teacher will do for "sensory experiences!"
Avery attempting to make hand prints.
Jamie is so excited!
If you have never made oobleck with kids before, and you have some to make it with, it is worth doing. Oobleck is not quite a liquid and not quite a solid. When compressed it will form a solid, but when let to sit it becomes a liquid and will pour. If you really want to add an educational connection, and your kids are about 4 or up, read Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Suess first.
The recipe:
It is basically equal parts cornstarch and water (colored water if you want to get creative). Add the water slowly; you might not need it all. If it gets too runny just stir in some more cornstarch. You can save it (uncovered, or it will get moldy) for a week. Just add more water to reconstitute it as needed. Have fun!
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