Catching up

 I have been slacking lately, or maybe I have just been busy? We have been spending A LOT of time inside so that definitely cuts down on my picture taking. We are definitely ready for warmer weather. Ella talks about Holiday World almost every single day. She can not wait until we can go again this summer. 

Ella has been doing really well in preschool. She still enjoys going and seems to enjoy spending time with her friends. She really loves her teachers. I love them too. They are both wonderful and exactly what she needed. This past Thursday Timmy the Tooth came to visit, and a dental hygienist who talked about the importance of brushing your teeth. It was so cute and all the kids loved it. Ever since Timmy the Tooth came I have had no problems getting Ella to brush her teeth. This couldn't have been better timing either, because Ella has her first dental appointment this Thursday. 

 She is also still enjoying gymnastics. Her six week session will be ending pretty soon, but we will be signing her up for another session. She looks forward to it each week. 

We  recently made a trip to CMOE. Ella really enjoyed it. We went to CMOE, lunch, and Target. That is a great day in Ella's book. 

We also went to CMOE with some friends last week, and we will be meeting the Morrison girls there this week. We love our membership:)

Adam and I went to Nashville for our anniversary. It was a nice little break. We love staying at the Opryland hotel. It's so quiet and relaxing. 

Sweet Brody turned 6 yesterday. Some people may not believe it, but he really is the sweetest dog there is. He just has a big attitude sometimes:)

 Other then that our life has been pretty uneventful which is just how I like it!

Happy 7 years!

Today is our 7 year wedding anniversary. We are not doing anything special. Ella has the stuffiest nose and hasn't had a good nights sleep in two days. I don't even have anything good to make for dinner, because I don't want to drag her out to the store.   This is our life after 7 years! :) 

I think it has been a great seven years, and it's only gotten better with time. It's definitely not always easy, especially when you throw a child in the mix. I know we both get on each others nerves at times. There have been many nights where we have went to bed mad at each other, but we always seem to work things out. 

Adam is a great husband to me, and I appreciate him more than he knows. He is very trustworthy and respectful. He is a very quiet person, but he can make me laugh harder than anyone I know.  He encourages me and supports me. All these things are reminders of why I married him in the first place. 

I am glad I can say it's been a great seven years, and I definitely look forward to many, many more happy years with him!

Gymnastics

Today was Ella's third week of gymnastics. She LOVES it. I didn't think she would love it this much, but she does. She looks forward to it each week. She was even so excited today she was trying to cut in front of other kids. haha. I got her a leotard and leggings to wear, and I think she looks super cute in them! She looks like such a big girl!

I took my camera today so I was able to get some good pictures. 

Hotdog roll!

 Trying to patiently wait her turn. She was a little overzealous today. 

 I have no idea what that little girl is doing, but these kids are so entertaining to watch. 

Ella's favorite thing is the tumble trak. It's like one of those blow up bouncy houses. She loves to jump down it. 

Big Girl Bed

Ella has officially switched to a big girl bed. Hallelujah! This has been a long time coming. We tried to switch Ella's crib to a toddler bed twice, but she FREAKED out. She was terrified, and it just wasn't worth it. For the past two years she has been sleeping in her baby bed, but the mattress has been sitting on the floor inside of the bed. She loved it, and I was not going to mess with her great sleep habits. I have recently noticed that Ella was just about the length of her mattress. I knew that it was time. I was worried, but I just hoped and prayed it would work this time. 

We ordered bedding this past week. She wanted Avengers bedding. I wanted to get something that she could use for years to come. I did get her Avengers sheets in hopes that would help with this transition. We got her mattress last night, and made her baby bed into a full bed. When I got her baby bed I never thought of the day that we would turn that bed into a full bed. I seemed to think she would stay a baby forever, but here we are. 

Ella was so excited about her bed and did really great at bed time last night. She crawled in bed as if she had been sleeping in it forever. We followed the same routine, and she went right to sleep. She did wake up at 5am this morning, but I think it's only because she has a runny nose. Tonight, she went right to sleep again. I always worry about transitions with her, but they always seem to go smoothly. I have realized that if we wait until she is ready things tend to go a lot smoother than doing things when we are ready. 

My baby is such a big girl, but she will always be a baby to me. :) 

Gymnastics

Ella had her first gymnastics class at the Y this past Monday. I signed her up at the beginning of December so she has been anxiously awaiting her first class. 

At first she wanted nothing to do with it. She sat on my lap and hid her face. After a few minutes she warmed up and jumped right in. Parents just sit and watch which I enjoy. It's much easier to take pictures this way;) 

This was Ella's favorite part!

Doing the bear walk 

Ella really enjoyed herself and has been talking about how much fun gymnastics was all week. Next week they are bringing out a new piece of equipment that they compared to a bouncy house. I am sure Ella will love that!

The BEST of 2012

January

 We celebrated Adam's birthday at an Icemen game with the Ice's. Adam said he didn't have to smile for the picture since it was his birthday. 

February:

We had unseasonably mild weather, which was great for playing outside!

Adam and I celebrated six years of marriage! We were supposed to go to Nashville, but I was sick. Bummer!

Brody turned 5.

I ran the coldest five miles of my life! 

 Valentine's Day

 We celebrated my mom's 60th birthday!

March

First zoo visit of the season!

 We played in the rain.

 Run of Luck

 80 degrees in March!!

We visited baby goats at Poppy and Nana's house. I wish I could have brought one home with me.

Out to lunch with Alison for her 30th birthday

Owensboro 10 miler 

 Alison's surprise 30th birthday party

April

Easter

 I turned 30!!

We met Leslie and Olivia at the Louisville zoo. 

Viva Las Vegas!!

 Adam spent an entire week's vacation building Ella's swingset.

 It was totally worth this smile. 

I completed the Nashville Country Music 1/2 Marathon.

May

We went to opening day at Holiday World.

 Mother's Day

Played in the hose for the first time this summer, and Ella looked cute in her bikini.

Holiday World with Leslie and Olivia

 June

At the zoo with new friends

Holiday World with Daddy

We celebrated Autumn's 3rd birthday!

We celebrated Sarah's 30th birthday! 

 First time at Scales Lake

Father's Day

 Holiday World, Again!

Fun at the zoo

Tried to keep cool in the crazy heat!

July

We had fun at Burdette.

We celebrated the 4th of July with the Ice's!

Adam and I went on a belated anniversary trip to Nashville. We came home to Ella, who come to find out had an ear infection.

 Ella got over her second ear infection of the year.

 Ella got her face painted for the first time at the Vand. Co. Fair.

 We spend the weekend in Louisville for the Color Run.

 Color Runners!!

August

Holiday World with the Morrison girls:) 

YMCA 5K

The Andreae's came to Evansville to visit and help Adam with a home project!

Last Scales Lake visit of the summer:( 

Holiday World with the Andreae's 

Ella decided to go down the slides by herself! 

One last girls trip to Holiday World with the Morrison's.

September

Day out with Thomas! Ella's stomach bug hit that afternoon, and Adam took the longest way home from Nashville known to man!

Ella started preschool! 

Florida!!

October

First preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch.

 Sesame street live!

My best friend found out she was pregnant, and I couldn't be happier!

Our last Holiday World trip of the year! 

 Preschool field trip to the fire house. 

Halloween!

 November

Disney Live!

Thanksgiving, Polar Express, and the circus all in one fun filled weekend!

We prepared for Christmas!

December

Visited with Santa and hung up lights!

Took a carriage ride through the Fantasy of Lights 

Ran the Jingle Bell 5K and got my best time yet. I hope to beat that in 2013.

 Christmas Dinner with the Ice's. 

We took the girls to see The Nutcracker

Ella turned 4!

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Leader day!!

Ella's preschool Christmas party!

Christmas 2012

We played in the snow!

What a great year it has been! We are blessed beyond words. In 2013 I plan to spend less money, stress less, eat healthier, run more, and keep enjoying life!