Project 52: November 16-22

Sunday Snapshots:

 

Make room for Mimi on the bench!!

Declan does such a good job of looking at the camera and smiling....but he gets so into saying 'cheese' that he shouts it so loud and moves his head into it while saying it.  Then Elliana says he is being too loud...haha

my argyle men--Declan thinks it is SO cool when he can match daddy!

I always carry the baby around in the laundry basket when I go up and down...Declan didn't want to feel left out

into everything:)

We went to the zoo this week.  The animals were so active and we were able to see the newborn baby orangutan!

The kids have been asking pretty much since Colt came home if they could push him in the stroller.  I finally said yes:)

 

This week for tot school we focused on the color orange so I got the extra Chinese lantern left from Raelynn's birthday party so we could send it away...

 

We took a trip to Petsmart this week (what a fun trip in itself! Even if we didn't buy anything!) to get three fish.  The kids didn't know what we were doing when we went there and they were so surprised and so so happy!

 

Once we got home we put them in their bowls (from the dollar store...this entire trip only cost us $3.55 but their joy was priceless!!) and asked the kids what they wanted to name their fish.  Without hesitation, they gave us names. 

Declan's is Dora (I think he was remembering Dori from Finding Nemo)
Elliana's is Green (Apparently she needs some practice on her colors)
Raelynn's is Sarah (A perfect name for a fish, don't you think?)

We went to the Picture Show to see Dolphin Tale 2.  The kids loved it!

She asked me if she could pull, I didn't think she would actually be able to!

While playing at the park, we were running around in the field and found dandelions.  I taught the kids how to blow them off and we had fun doing that.  Now whenever we see them Raelynn calls them "lions dens" and it takes me a minute to realize what she is saying. :) Declan liked stomping on them!

 

Friday we made a trip to the airport to pick up Papa!

 

 

 

Saturday was the last home ASU game.  I was finally able to go to a game! It was fun to take the kids and nice to leave Colt with Mimi and Papa. 

Elliana is two!

Elliana turned two on November 10.  We celebrated another year of life with her on Sunday at Freestone Park.  The cousins had fun playing at the park and after lunch and gifts we had the kids ride the train.  It was a fun time!!

 

It takes two grandmas to feed Colt! haha:)

 

 

Pinata time!!

Rae may need a little help with her form

 

 

She was so excited to see Minnie on her cupcake!

I absolutely love this picture! I copied it from a friend who posted it on facebook.  Even though it is blurry, I love how it captures the joy of Declan and Raelynn singing to their sister!

 

 

Cousins enjoying the cupcakes

it looks like Elliana enjoyed hers! :)

Big brother helping clean her up:)

 

 

 

Fun on the train:

Elliana's birthday was on Monday.  We started off the day at Joe's Farm Grill for "Joe's Big Breakfast"

don't mind the bed head:)

Each meal Elliana got to blow out her candle and we sang to her.  She was soaking it all up!

For lunch we went to Joe's BBQ and then walked over to Liberty Market for dessert!

 

Such a beautiful girl!

We walked to a local frozen yogurt place in our neighborhood after dinner.  We were pleasantly surprised that on your birthday you get a free 8oz! So we will be making that a regular part of birthday celebrations now:)

Do you think she was excited?

Two fun days celebrating our sweet Elliana. She is so beautiful and full of joy. She has grown leaps and bounds in one year. 

Elliana is SUCH a mimicker and I think that has helped her develop so well and fast. She speaks in seven word sentences and has been doing that for a few months already. She can count to twenty! She LOVES shoes and accessories and has learned how to put her own shoes on. If it's quiet and we don't know where Elliana is, we know she is at the front door switching her shoes. If she finds a hat in the house she is sure to put it on as well. She has started to undress herself and has even gone potty in the toilet! Her favorite drink is by far milk. She would drink milk any time it is offered to her. She still isn't a huge fan of fruit but eats what she is served and obeys with a happy heart. Something very sweet about her is how polite she is always saying thank you and welcome. She also always asks for permission to do most things, like run or let go of my hand if we are walking. She is still a very big drama queen, falling over at the slightest touch and usually follows it with an ear piercing screech. It's hard to keep a straight face when she is asked what happened and she tells us "dec-an pushed me!" Words would never do it justice, her expressions are just so funny. She makes sure to reinact it for us too. But she is quick to forgive and loves her family very much. She loves sharing a room with her big sister and singing songs with her at all times if the day and night. Her favorites are "Round and Round the Garden", "I've Got the Joy Joy Joy Down in My Heart", "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Believe", "Days of Elijah", "Amazing Grace" and "Wheels on the Bus"...oh and I almost forgot..."Let it Go"

We are so blessed to have her in our family and so grateful for each year God has given her.