Hello Hello Hello!!!! Wow I have been busy. So much going on and finally getting caught up on everything. Well I am making some progress and not feeling as overwhelmed. With all my chores and boring stuff on my to do list we have also had some fun...
First things first... HAPPY 8 MONTHS TO BABY ELLA!!!!!!! (this was on the 12th) Ella and I had a nice day together and we took a little boat ride with Daddy who was doing a little boat work. It was really nice out and Ella seemed to enjoy it. Well she doesn't like the life vest and she can not sit when she has it on. I have to hold her up off of her bottom. If you sit her down she gets very grumpy. Its just so darn cute though. I really hope she loves the water as much as her Daddy and Chesney do...
1)Happy Birthday Baby...
2) Boat ride... 3) Ella & Daddy...
The weekend came and we did not worry to much about chores and such. ( I can always catch up during the week... right??? ) Kyle spent the weekend with his Dad to have a NO GIRLS weekend so we had an ALL GIRLS weekend. Poor Ben, stuck with all four of us girls. Austin used her new apron that Aunt Judy made for her. It is so cute on her. She helped Ben make soup for lunch on Saturday and on Sunday we made some yummy French Toast for breakfast...
4) Chef Austin... 5) French Toast...
Then we went to the ZOO!!! It was a perfect afternoon. This was Ella's first time and she really seemed to enjoy it. I had not been in about a year and a half. I had a great time with my girls. The first thing we did was head to the Giraffe's. On the way there we stopped at the Rhino and that thing was running. Normally they are rolling around in the mud but not this time. When we got to the giraffes it was perfect. There were a bunch pretty close so you could watch them and there was one that was up at the deck eating snacks from all of the people.The girls got some giraffe crackers and got to feed him/her. We went on to see the Kangaroo's and to the bird area. I really love the bird house there. In the first section we were feeding the birds with seed they put on sticks. Then in the next area you feed the birds with the cups of nectar. As soon as we walked in there the birds came all over us and Austin was not crazy about that so she went out to sit with Grandma. Chesney and I had some fun in there. We had a million birds all over us and I was trying to help her feed the birds, hold Ella and take pictures all while birds are climbing over us and fighting each other for this stuff, but it was great. These birds just come right up and walk around on your arms. I wonder what Ella was thinking with all of this??? We walked around some more and saw lots of other animals and the girls fed the deer, but we all had out eyes on the trees. The zoo just opened a new zip line / obstacle course. So as we are walking around there are people flying over us up in the trees. It looked pretty cool and Ben is just itching to go back and do this.
We got Ella a little book and Austin bought herself a little turtle and some pencils. Chesney wanted to save her money for something she has had her eye on elsewhere. I got a post card for Kyle. I really missed him there but we are planning a weekend so that the girls can have a weekend with their dad without Kyle and I can have a weekend with just Kyle. So I will have a nice weekend hanging out with my favorite boy in the world. In the end it all evens out and I like having a chance to spend time with them like that.
6) Giraffe... 7) Kangaroo...
8) Sisters... 9) Bird...
10) Feeding sticks... 11) Nectar...
12) Alligators... 13) Silly sisters...
After the zoo we had to make a quick stop for Chesney. She has had her eyes on this glow in the dark chalk and I promised her she could get it this weekend. So we grabbed the chalk and came home and she is all excited to get it and go play with it. Well...... turns out you have to make the chalk first. So we made chalk. It was pretty interesting and fun to make. You have to mix these powders into the color bottles and it starts glowing. Then you add the water and mix again and pour into the molds, then wait...... wait..... and wait.... and there you go.... CHALK.... and it glows.
14) Mix... 15) Pour... 16) Chalk...
So while we were waiting Ben started a nice little fire in the back yard. I made some hot chocolate for the girls. I used the hot cocoa mix that the girls made over the holidays and they said it was pretty good. I have to say it was a wonderful GIRL weekend...
17) Fire...
Before I knew it was Monday again and back to catching up and chores... Ella had a good week helping me. She is coming a long way with this crawling. By this weekend she's a pro. If I walk out of her view she will come looking for me. I love it. Its so cute. She is finding her way around and starting to venture to new places more and more. Ben finally got to change out the dishwasher for me!! And then the best thing happened... Ella said Mama!!!! My heart melted all over again. It does not matter how many children you have that is one moment that gets you every time.
18) Cuddles... 19) Silly baby...
So that is what has been going on around here. Nothing crazy just life... day by day. Hope all is well for everyone.
Have a great week!!!
XOXOXOXOXO
One happy Mama
Nicole
p.s please pardon the dust around here as I continue to work on getting everything put together on the blog. thanks :)
