The Perfect Friday

The last seven days at work were HELL!  Between drug shortages, technical failures, and not enough sleep....it was just plain crappy!

Ella and I dyed Easter Eggs this morning.  This was my first time (maybe once as a kid that I remember).  We had fun and they turned out great!  Ella will for sure load up on protein this week because I'm guessing they taste much better when they are colored!

You just gotta have some sparkle!

I enjoyed a show from Princess Ariel!

We met friends at the park and had a picnic.  PERFECT weather!  The kids and dog did great and I think everyone had fun!

My friend had a connection at a Radio Disney Party and we went with her and Ella got to dance with Minnie.  Stuffed Sully and Mike were a big hit with Ella, but Mike's eye is broken and she's still talking about it!  What an awesome surprise treat!

In the front row following
Minnie's moves!

She loves these guys!

We took Nicky to the vet and he is at a perfect weight and in great health!  I explained the weight loss because Ella doesn't feed him anymore (no more food thrown on the floor).  Dental appointment booked for May! 

Dinner and roasted marshmallows!

Early to bed for all!

I told my friends

On the drive to school today, out of nowhere....

Ella: It's been a long, long time since I did a pokey (had her blood drawn)

Me: yes, it has. The next time will probably when we go to Dallas for surgery.
Ella: I told my friends I'm having surgery to fix my head.

It took focus to not go off the road.  I would have LOVED to have heard that conversation!

She's so grown up sometimes!

Miss Ella - you crack me up!

Yesterday Ella was playing in the patio and then she came running into the kitchen

Ella: Mommy, it's raining and windy, everyone's going to be frucking out!

Me: What? (I always need to hear it again)

Ella: Everyone's going to be frucking out!

Me: Freaking out?

Ella: YES MOMMY, FREAKING OUT! It's raining.

Don't fruck out!

Spring night

Joe and Ella lit the chiminea and roasted marshmallows! I'm so jealous I missed it, but we have many fun Spring and Summer nights to come. I'm stocking up on Smores supplies!

Compassion

Ella continues to amaze me!  Joe is going through a huge process with his feet!  He has crazy issues and is seeing a physical therapist a few times a week.  I'm selfishly so thankful his feet with be fixed and we can ski and snowboard without issues!  I feel horrible because it was the ice skating adventure (my idea) that sent him into a horrible feet attack!
Tonight he was taking the wrap off of his foot and in pain.  Ella ran to him as she said, "It's OK Daddy, I'm here, Ella's here, it's OK".  "Here you can have my sock" (she's resourceful) and she put it on his shoulder and was there to rub his arm and comfort him.  "You'll be OK". 

I love this little girl!  Then later it was HER turn to have a foot problem and we had to comfort her as she went to the "at home doctor". 

A GREAT Photographer

A great photographer knows outdoor venues that are adventures for children.  It's not a photoshoot, but a chance to discover and climb!

A great photographer allows a 3 year old to have fun throwing dirt at him and photographs it to capture true personality!

Thank you for having 2 children and understanding my child!  Thank you for introducing me to an awesome venue for some great photo shoots!

Introvert, really? Are you SURE?

My friend Amanda sent me this awesome book last year!  I suck at reading books!  It's been on every trip with me and in my purse for months!  Ella has been pushing my buttons more easily lately.  I'm hitting a very frustrated point!

The book is about parenting and personalities.  It's similar to the Meyers-Briggs personality test.  You take a test as a parent and then answer the questions to determine your child's personality.  The book gives great examples and tips on how to parent based on personality.  It's an awesome concept!

I know my personality.  I'm an ESTJ.  Extrovert, sensing, thinking, judging.  I don't have a single N in my body (intuition)!  Overall I'm an SJ which makes me a responsible and conservative parent. 

Joe and I each took the test for Ella.  It's hard to answer the questions for your child.  She's different in different environments and we mostly interact with her in the comfort of our home with eachother!  Our results were different.  We each think Ella matches our own personality in her overall 2 letter result! 

The biggest shock for Joe and I (both extroverts) is that our extremely high energy, bounce off the walls, goes on no sleep daughter is an INTROVERT!  Seriously?  As I was taking the test I saw a trend and I knew it was coming, but I'm still shocked!  It took this test to make me realize this big difference between her and I and I think that alone will help me understand her better!

Joe and I don't agree on the rest of Ella's personality and I found a tool online to help us.  I think it's hard in a 3 year old.  I think we'll sit down and take the test together.

We joke that Ella is just like me and I tell Joe, "your daughter is just like YOU"!  But all in all, Ella is Ella and she's her own person and we are going to have to find a way to all work together in our house!

I have more work to do with this book, but I think just reading about the strengths and weaknesses my own personality brings to parenting will help me in the day-to-day frustrations of a high-energy child. 

As time goes on and I figure out more of Ella's personality I can apply the portion of the book to help us develop her specific personality.

The book begins with a letter that your child could write to you. It really hit home for me!

Please understand me!  I'm different from you, and I need to be understood and appreciated for who I am.  I don't feel the same as you do much of the time.  Sometimes I wonder if you are for or against me.  When I am hurt and react or shout, you think of nothing but grounding me or punishing me, and I don't understand.  Why don't you know the difference between hurt and bad?  You seem to be trying to change me like you.  Don't you think I'm a wonderful person just as I am, or do I have to be like you to be wonderful?  I think God did a great job creating me just as I am.   Excerpt from Ray W. Lincoln, I May Frustrate you, but I'm a Keeper

Thanks Amanda!  Colorado friends -- looks like he has workshops in the Denver area!

Buddies

Holding hands patiently waiting for the train

We'll Miss you Mason City Airport!

I'm DEVASTATED!  Delta no longer flies into Mason City.  It was super convenient to fly through Minneapolis and into Mason City and have my family pick us up.  We had such a great routine.  I knew which gates we would be at, the best bathrooms, exactly how much time in Snoopyland, and even our restaurants and ice cream stops!  Those days are GONE!  They have a different carrier, but it's not Delta and the flight times are ridiculous!  We bank our miles with Delta and it's our most affordable option.
I'm thankful for the last few years, but sad to know it's going to be that much harder to make it to see my family!

Can we buy some sleep, Miss Ella?

I don't know how she does it, but she can function on NO SLEEP!  I'm exhausted!  I'm not sure how Joe is functioning today!
I think her allergic rash is on the mend, but Joe and I are going to lose it!

Thank You's....better late than never, right?

I did the first set of Christmas Thank You's right away.  Then we went to Iowa.  Then life happened.  The REST of the cards have been in my purse waiting for me to finish them for OVER 2 months!  They are done and will go into the mail tomorrow.

I'm a real stickler with thank you notes and I know a miss a few here and there....but this was just plain BAD!

Pass the Kleenex, please

These boxes are EVERYWHERE in our house!  We are ALL sick!  It's just a cold, but it's a bummer when we ALL have it and no one is getting any sleep!  At least we're all in it together, right?

On a side note:  Remember that horrible rash Miss Ella had FOREVER?  We tried a new soap and she has a rash and is so miserable!  IT SUCKS!  Gentle, fragrance-free, EXPENSIVE is what you have in your future for health and beauty products, Miss Ella! 

Compliments

They are even more special from a 3 year old. I haven't seen Ella all weekend. Her and Joe commiserated with their colds.

Tonight I walked in and Ella was in bed
She smiled and said, "Mommy I like your blue shirt" as her eyes lit up.

I lit up as well! 

Ellaisms

Although Miss Ella is in Disneyland Withdrawal and has pushed ALL of my buttons all day - every day this week, she's still freaking hilarious sometimes!
She was in her bed reading books to her animals/dolls (barney's).  She CAREFULLY arranges them in her bed and makes sure everyone is comfortable and can see the book.  I told her, "Daddy will be home to tell you goodnight and turn out your light.  I'm going downstairs to do laundry".

Ella:  I HAVE to read all 4 of these books (very seriously).  They NEED to hear them.
Me:  There will be plenty of time, but when Daddy is home it's time for lights out
Ella (as I walked away):  Polar Bear, Polar Bear, what do you hear?
(In hindsight, I wish I'd stayed to listen to more)

Joe arrived home and went in to talk to her.
Ella:  I have do laundry tomorrow.  All these barney's are sick and throwing up everywhere

Her burn is MUCH better.  Her right leg has a faint overall pinkness.  Her left leg still has some obvious areas, but it's healing really well.

She will proudly tell anyone, "I'm growing new skin" very proudly!

She LOVES to watch Beauty and the Beast, it's called "Belle".  She laughs out loud and sings along.  I'm returning it to my friend tomorrow and we'll have to buy it despite it being in the Disney Vault!

She's very into being a backseat driver.  I'm working on convincing her there is the ONLY way to leave our house and get on the interstate.  She insists that I go Mommy's way and she would much prefer we begin going Ella's way.  There is a distinct Ella and Mommy's way on the way home (1/2 block north or south of our house) which is easier to modify than when we leave our neighborhood.

She loves to role play.  Most of the time, she is a doctor who fixes heads.  Her barney's have to throw up a lot and she helps them.  She does like to be a princess in a tall, tall tower.  Play doh has been a big hit as well.  She would much rather read alone than have me read to her right now.

She can write her name pretty well, but there are no other letters in the alphabet as far as she's concerned.  Maybe an S, because it makes a fun sound like a snake! 

She is looking forward to a weekend with Daddy and she has already requested he make her some noodles (and she KNOWS I won't be home)!  She won't bring it up to me.  She jokingly serves me hot noodles and laughs.  We're ready to laugh about it especially since her legs are healing so well. 

It's an OFF kind of day!

I've just been off today.  My plan was Target, then playdate, but I just couldn't get it together!  I laid out clothes for Ella and she chose to dress herself in completely opposite non-matching clothes including yellow socks pulled over her black leggins to almost her knees, pink shirt, silver shoes and blue bow in her hair!  We met Abby and her Mom for a playdate and both girls were pushing eachothers buttons AND mine!

We went to Target and overall Ella was good.  Nothing like a kids meal including a slushie and the free bag of popcorn I had a coupon for to help!

I got to the car with the HUGE cart and there my keys were sitting perfectly on the front seat LOCKED IN!  Awesome!

My new awesome phone was almost dead and I called Joe and he quickly came to our rescue.  Driving 20 minutes one way to unlock my car and head back for a meeting.  He litterally did a drive-by unlock job!  We waved and I yelled Thanks!  A huge thanks to Joe for dropping everything to come to my rescue!

I think I'm vegging out the rest of the day! 

My phone is a DUD!

I'm disappointed that I wasted so much time personalizing this phone.  It won't fully charge!  It's been on the charger most of the last 36 hours and it's still at 50%!  It's internet connection is not ideal.
I really don't have time to drive downtown today and I have Ella with me.  Sit and wait while I deal with my phone does not work for her!  I'll call them later and I guess I'll take it in tomorrow after I drop Ella off at daycare.

Awesome....

Disney Photopass Pictures

It's hard to get family photos when it's the 3 of us, so I knew I wanted to buy the Disney Photopass pictures this time.  I had fun with the Disney editing tools and I think we have some great pictures!

I got a new Droid!

I've been eligible for an upgrade of my phone since December!  My plan was to get the newest iPhone, but I have grown to LOVE Amazon App Store and I constantly use my google navigation.  My Droid Incredible was pretty cutting edge at the time, but it was the first of it's kind and had some quirks I lived with for a long time.

I've been to the Verizon store by Ella's daycare 5 times in the last few months.  The first time was the discuss IPhone vs Droid and the other times were to play with the options and try to decide which way to go next.  Then I was holding out for a deal after they had the BOGO FREE on all the Razr phones over President's day.

I went for the Droid Razr Maxx and it's AWESOME!  It's different, but it's so fast!  I LOVE 4G!  I will never use wifi again after using my 4G and thankfully I'm grandfathered into the unlimited data plan!

My droid incredible was the most life-changing purchases I ever made and I depend on my phone for so much that I think it made this next decision a tough one.

The best was Ella's reaction.  I got a call while driving home.

Ella:  Did you get a new phone?
Me: Yes
Ella:  Does it have games on it?
Me:  no
Ella:  Do you still have your old phone, the red one?
Me: yes
Ella:  Do the games on that work?
Me:  Yes!!!!!

A PERFECT scenario!  My new phone is MINE and I'll carry my old one for her! 

Don't tell anyone, but I think Mr. IPhone is kind of jealous of my new phone!  I'll bring him to the Android side one of these days!!!!

My Little Dirt Magnet

I read blogs about girly girls with the tutu's and cute dresses, but I have a dirt magnet! 
Me:  Ella, how did you get so dirty?
Ella:  I played in the dirt today.
Me:  Was it fun?
Ella:  yeah
Me:  Did Abby play in the dirt with you?
Ella:  No, she stayed clean
Me:  Who did you play with in the dirt?
Ella:  Ryker (with a huge smile)

Awesome!  She was FILTHY!  At least she's having fun!  Nothing compares to the smile and pure joy she shared with me in this story! 

Disneyland Video

We didn't take much video, but here are 3 clips.  Mostly for the Grandma's, just a little bit of Ella personality!

Pinterest has Iowa roots

I'm very proud of my Midwest roots and although most of my co-workers can't find Iowa on a map (I know, we've done the state challenge a few times), they ALL know I'm from Iowa!
I read this article this morning and I do LOVE my Pinterest!  Creator Ben Silbermann is from Des Moines, maybe even more specifically West DesMoines, but my guess is that he lives in California now.

If you aren't pinning, give it a try, if you need an invite, let me know!

Happy Pinning!

Chicken and Dumplings - Dinner Tonight

This recipe was in my email this morning and since I have most of the ingredients and can make it work, it's what's for dinner!

Disney - The End

We loaded up the car and made the walk to Disneyland.  We wanted to hit a few more highlights of each park.  Ella was done.  She was asleep in her stroller before we left Main Street and slept almost the entire car ride to Vegas!

This Disney Trip was a hit!  I love the magic of Disneyland and it's even more fun with a child.  I think we'll wait to go back until Ella is 40 inches and can ride more rides.  It's a close and easy trip for us.  Let me know if you want to join us sometime, but I will warn you, we are vacation GO-ers!  With 6 days we really did find time to relax.  I'm still sad we had to cancel all the planned pool time. 

It's a bummer and blessing that it was low-season.  No crowds, few lines, but less shows, parades, fireworks, etc.  I'm so glad we aren't there this week!  The crowds piling in on Friday stressed me out!  It's California Spring Break!  Both of our Disneyland trips have been last minute and it seems to work out well for us!

Our timeshare was about 1 mile away.  We
walked through the Anaheim Gardenwalk
shopping center and it wasn't a bad
walk at all.  Many great restaurants
and it adds to the benefits of the time share
location.  She had ridden every day
and the last day, she HAD to walk!

I have some great photos of the Monsters, Inc ride for Ella's
photo book

So serious!  She LOVED this ride!

"Uh, Oh, there's Randal!" EVERY TIME from Ella!

The Bug's Land rides are so perfect for her

The Monsters, Inc parade show

Boo and Sully

All of Ella's favorites

Joe claims Ella begged to ride this while I was waiting in
line for Tangled.  She did, she wasn't scared and she
HAD to take me on "the scary ride with the witch".

We waited all week for another princess show.  This time
Ella participated

Always IN the action!

Streamers are always a hit!

Our tired princess

She remembers seeing part of Sleeping Beauty's story
last time and was so excited for this story telling show

Another Disney Day

We went back to Disneyland for a Magic Morning.  Then we went back to California Adventure to catch some things we'd missed.

Dumbo, it's a classic

We waited in line at Pixie Hollow.  This is Rosetta

She really was excited to see Tinker Bell, then we saw her!

Joe and Ella are in the 2nd car!  Ella LOVES the roller coaster!

Phinny Ferb!!!!

She was a little shy, but she
got out and danced with them

She LOVES Toy Story!

One of Ella's highlights!  She says, "Me and Daddy played
a game, we shot water, I won a Dumbo!"

Her prized Dumbo!

"Hi Jake, I watch you EVERY DAY!"