Really Ella?

Yes, that is my baby kneeling on the dining room table.  I know it was maybe not the best to snap a pic when she was clearly doing something she shouldn't be, but for the sake of the blog I had to do it!  Addy was totally not a climber, and I always felt sorry for my friends that would talk about their kids climbing onto everything.  And now I am that mom telling the stories about my climber.

She has been climbing from the couch to the end table for a while, we'll look over and she is standing straight up on the end table.  Then tonight she grabbed the stool (which was purchased to help Addy reach things, not for Ella) and hopped up on the chair and proceeded to climb onto the dining room table.  This was actually the 2nd time I caught her up there. Then after dinner she used her chair at the table in the family room and was crawling onto that table before we knew it.  Ugh!

Ella the Bike Rider

 Ella is having a blast riding the tricycle these days.  She doesn't really put her feet on the pedals yet, still not quite tall enough (although close!) but she loves to ride around the neighborhood.  And by ride I mean that she likes to sit on it and be pushed around the neighborhood.  Not sure which is her favorite at the moment, the tricycle might be giving the wagon a run for its money! 

Remembering Rain

When it finally rained a few weeks ago, it was quite exciting.  Sadly, at one point it thundered and Addison asked "what is that noise?"  Not sure if she was just being a 4 year old, or if it had really been that long since she'd heard thunder and she forgot what it sounded like! 

Anyway, took a pic of the girls watching it rain to commemorate the event. 

I Love This Kid

This picture was taken at 9:00 this morning.  Still sound asleep! 

I love the big kid just as much, but she woke up at 7:45.  Fortunately she is content watching TV shows while I continue to snooze on the couch!

Fun with Swanns

The Swann family that is!  Had a great time hanging out and catching up last Sunday afternoon.  It was funny to see the boys vs. girls.  And I think that Tyler really needs a little sister!  He did a great job watching over Ella.  There was no chance of getting a good pic of all 4 kids looking at the camera and smiling, but here is what I got. 

 Kiddie dinnertime!  I think that Tyler is helping feed Ella her mac 'n cheese. 

 This is a cute one! 

End of the night, tired kids vegging out on the couch watching TV. 

Small Garden Success

Not having rain for months on end this summer has taken its toll on the garden.  Keeping fingers crossed for some rain and maybe more garden success this fall!  We did end up with an edible carrot the other day though.  The expert gardener I am planted too many carrot seeds, too close together, so we've mainly had skinny, scrappy carrots because they had no where to grow.  Addy thoroughly enjoyed this one for dinner the other day

Photo Day

First Aggie game of the season, new Aggie skirts for the girls = photo day!

 I had to bribe Addy to come outside and take pictures, but this one makes it all worth it! 

 Miss Ella will not stand still!  

 Michael and his girls watching the game.

Last year I started a family photo day tradition, with the goal being to take a family photo each month.  And apparently I remembered to do it for a few months at the end of 2010 and then in 2011 completely forgot about it.   So here is the 1st official one for 2011 - let the funny family pics begin. 

 This was supposed to be a family pic, but the timer went off before Michael made it to the couch.  I had no idea there was a teddy bear sitting on me through all of these. 

For the Memory Book

And for the record book - it was hot the summer of 2011.  End of August, 5:00 in the afternoon it was 104 degrees.  AND this thermometer is in the shade!

Queso

Our whole family is fan of queso, it is pretty much all Addy wants when we go eat Mexican (which is pretty much weekly).  But Ella is getting into it - in a BIG way.  She has to dip her own chips now.  And not only was she dipping chips, but also chicken and her fingers.  If she had been closer, she would have been taking handfulls of the stuff.  These aren't the best pics since they were taken on a phone, but they show the madness that was our dinner table tonight. 

Big girl dipping her own chips!

"See my cheesy fingers" (and face and shirt!)