Just another Tuesday

It has been so wonderful having a high chair! Ella never really cared about sitting in one and I never HAD to have her sit in one. Jack however is a different story. It's been so much easier to load the dish washer and bake knowing that he is up and thus unable to climb onto the dish washer door and pull all of the silverware out and so that I don't have to hold him at bay with one leg while trying to take something out of the oven. Both very unsafe things. Happily not a problem anymore!
With the addition of the high chair we have been allowing Jack more foods to test out. This mess is a twinkie and a chocolate cupcake. (you know the one with the white frosting loops on the top) & (these are not things that we usually have in the house. With Ella being on fall break we are just going crazy!)


He's started doing this thing with his mouth. It's almost like he's whistling. It's so cute!
Had to get cleaned up after all of that!

He loves to drink from the faucet. He puts the whole thing in his mouth. Silly boy.
He knows how to pose- protecting all of his "special" things.
New food idem number 2. Pickle.

Enough said.
Of course a picture of Ella too! While Jack napped- after the inevitable sugar drop- Ella and I watched Sleeping Beauty! She has always wanted it and was so excited when it was coming out on DVD! What's a movie without popcorn and grape soda!?

CULVERS

I LOVE CULVERS!

No really, I love Culvers. If I could eat there everyday- I would. They have them all over in Wisconsin where I grew up. I try and eat there as many times as I can whenever I go out there. Last time I went 5 times. Not enough. My family often calls me while they are there just to rub it in, because they know how much I love the food there. So the other day my Mom called me from Culvers (I thought maybe just to gloat) she saw that they have a Culvers right in Mesa! I couldn't believe her, no really, I didn't. I had to go look it up online. Sure enough. It's only been there since May. (These is another one somewhere in Phoenix)
It's not all that close to our house so I wasn't sure when I we would actually get to go. But tonight when I forgot to turn on the stinkin crock pot and dinner wasn't cooked like I thought, I gave up and decided that I just couldn't go any longer without getting my favorite..........
CHICKEN STRIPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, they are SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!

There are many many many good things there though. Their butter burgers, yum! Their custard-delicious! My favorite is the chicken strips with the Culvers root beer!

Ella was so excited that she got this ice cream with her kids meal!

If anyone every wants to go- I'll go with you! If you don't believe how good it is, I'll go with you and show you! I love Culvers!

Random of Ryan

I'm not sure if you can see this very well- But this is a scorpion... in a water bottle... on my kitchen counter. Uhhh... I wasn't thrilled when Ryan brought this home to show us. He found it in his model home. He did NOT find it anywhere near where we live. He claims he wanted to show Ella so that she would know what to look for and know what not to touch. I think that he just enjoys freaking me out. He killed it with bug spray and threw it in the garbage about 10 seconds after I took this picture.
Ryan's a great Dad. Ella's been watching a lot of "the suite life of Zach and Cody". Now she always wants to play hotel. Tonight she wanted to play "hotel" with Ryan. He said only if there was a spa in the hotel. So she gave him a hand message and then whipped out the polish. I didn't think that he was going to let her- but he did. What a nice Daddy to let his little girl paint his finger nails sparkle blue.

Picture Happy!

It's finally starting to cool off here so I have been taking more pictures. My good friend Lauren and her little girl Grace came with us for this shoot. I love that Ella has long, straight dark hair and Grace has short, curly, blond hair! So cute!

To see even MORE of this shoot go HERE!

Baby Boy Bath

He loves his rubber ducky!

10 Months Old

Jack- Jack is 10 months old! It's getting closer and closer to his birthday. He's growing up and learning so many new things everyday. He loves to clap his hands, dance and wave hi! He loves to follow everyone all over the house. He's a master at going both up and down the stairs. He loves to getting into the bathroom and pulling the entire toilet paper roll onto the floor and into the hallway. He loves feeding himself and loves to help me in the kitchen by pulling everything out of the cabinets and drawers. He's such a little trouble maker! But, when I look back on life without him, when I look at all that time we prayed from him to come and be a part of our family- I think how I am so grateful for him and his sweet little spirit. What a joy he is to our lives!

Pictures

After watching conference today the kids and I didn't really have anything to do. It was raining a little outside but I thought I would try and get some pictures of the kids. I found a new favorite spot! Ella's such a trooper to put up with me. I swear I almost never tell her how to pose, she always just does whatever she feels. She's such a little diva!

To check out more go HERE!!!!

DAD

This morning Jack woke up (yes, he was in our bed) he sat up turned around, pointed at Ryan and clear as day said- "Dad!"

Jack has been saying hi, mama and dadda for a little while now but this was the first time that it was so direct and clear. When Jack said Dad- Ryan's eye's flew open. Ryan had the biggest smile! A proud Dad! Jack loves his daddy! Lately Jack has only wanted Ryan. When Ryan leaves for work Jack looks all over trying to find Ryan. When Ryan comes home jack can't wait for Ryan to pick him up! They love each other so much! My sweet boys!

Ella & Dylin

This week was Gymbucks! Anyone who really knows me knows that I LOVE Gymboree! Ryan had the day off and came with me (while Ella was at school) to use my discount coupons. He even picked out this shirt for Ella. I'm so glad that Ryan is such a good Father and loves his children and wants the best for them. He always wants to be involved in what their doing- even picking out their clothes.

This week was parent teacher conference for Ella! Ryan and I were a little worried. Although she has made huge improvements since the first of the year we were still worried that she was still a little behind. However the teacher said that she's doing GREAT! (I'm so glad that Ryan was able to come too. He was much more worried then I was) Ms. Jacobson said that she loves having Ella in her class. That she's always positive, listens and has a great personality! It makes Ryan and I feel like we must be doing something right (or we are just extremely lucky) to have such a smart and wonderful good natured daughter! We are so blessed that she is ours.
Yesterday Ella's friend Dylin came over to play! They go to primary together and they are in the same kindergarten class. They played so well together! It's so wonderful that Ella has made some great friends here.

High Chair

After much thought and looking around (craigslist, walmart, target) I finally broke down and bought Jack a high chair. He wont sit in his jumpy anymore and his bumbo is too small.

He LOVES it! He loved being able to pick up and eat his own food.
He's started sharing things!
He's so sweet!

Jack's walking videos!

Here are a couple videos of Jack walking. They are actually from a few days ago and he's becoming even better and faster!