Splash Time!

I'm trying to do at least one water activity per week with Elise.  She wasn't too thrilled with our first visit of the year to a local ark with fountains, but the 8ft high columns of water and the fact that the water was cold may have had something to do with it.  (And maybe Mommy trying to force her to like it wasn't a good idea)  When I was holding her near the fountain she started crying and saying "more!"  When I asked her what she wanted more of she said "Dada!"  I decided then that maybe I was being a little too forceful and handed her over to Dane, who tends to be a bit more gentle:)

As the water has warmed up at the different water parks so has she warmed up to liking the water.  The pictures are one of our quick afternoon splash times in our neighbor's pool. 

Treehouse Construction is Complete!

Here it is!  There are still some small whimsical things to do with the tree house...add flower boxes, a mailbox, a chalkboard, decorations inside, etc.  But it can now be played in.  A stuffed animals birthday has already been celebrated inside the tree house:)

Treehouse Update!

This thing is going to be pretty amazing.  A friend was over the other day and said, "Wow, this isn't what I was expecting.  I was picturing something more like what the Little Rascals had!"  Someone stopped yesterday to ask Dane how much he would charge to build one for his kids.  Maybe he should quit teaching and build tree houses instead.  I'm tellin' ya, it's amazing.  I'm a very proud wife and not trying to hide it:)

Dane is working hard to get it done by the time our neighbors' kids get home from vacation tomorrow.  They are going to be so excited!  But that did mean Dane getting up at 5:30 this morning mowing and hammering and being that annoying neighbor:)

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday was a day of graduations.  Dane's school had their graduation featuring Michelle Obama as the speaker and then Dane's cousin, Anna, graduated yesterday evening.  Anna is the last one to graduate in that generation on Dane's side of the family.  Next up will be Elise!

I got a picture of Michelle Obama and Dane together!

I'm a bit giddy with excitement with all that's happening in the "homesteading" sense this spring.  I'll share of bit of it with you in pictures from today

Elise helping out with her wheelbarrow

The bees are busy.  We hope to get 2-3 boxes of honey this year 

 

 The backyard garden is growing with a few surprise squash and tomato plants that came from the compost used.  And we got the garden lot planted just before a slow steady rain on Friday.

 

 Dane is working on a tree house that will join our yard with our neighbors.  Kids and adults are excited about it!

 

 Strawberries picked and jam made, and more strawberries to come from the garden lot

 

Elise's roses are blooming

We went to the grand opening for Nashville's new convention center today.  Here is Elise enjoying some of the festivities

 

 Elise has an obsession with shoes right now.  She likes feet too and you'll often see her kissing her own feet.  Here she is examining her Daddy's holey socked feet and walking around in her Daddy's shoes.

 

 

Little Life Update

Spring is coming in spurts here in Nashville.  It is lush and green everywhere, but this past Saturday didn't even see 60 degrees.  I'm ready for it.  I'm ready to get the garden in.  I'm ready to ride bikes (if we can convince Elise that the bike seat is fun), and go to outdoor concerts. 

Dane has 3 weeks left to teach this year and then is "off" for the summer.  He'll still be working, but plans are tentative.  Either way, he's looking forward to the break from teaching.  Michelle Obama is speaking at his school's high school graduation this year.  I'm looking forward to that.  I've never been in the presence of a US President or First Lady in my life.

Elise is so fun right now.  But can also be so frustrating:)  She is a bit spoiled with attention I think, but as cousins grow and more cousins and siblings arrive that will change.  Elise loves being outside, loves bubbles, loves animals, loves tractors and big trucks.  The girl just loves life.  She also loves to get what she wants when she wants it.  Delayed gratification isn't really a concept she grasps yet.  Jibber-Jabbering contantly.  Sometimes it's real words, other times it's her very own language.  Words she says now are: bubble, dog, hot, Dada, Mama, Paw-Paw (grandpa), Pop (Great Grandpa), mo (more), up, peeeeeease (please), tant too (thankyou), Hichoo (highchair), I do, shoe, bye-bye, hi, eye, no, boon (balloon), tickle, ball, and then noises of most animals, a tractor, and a train.  It amazes me how much she understands.  She loves being chased.  It makes her squeal with delight. 

We're reminded everyday of how blessed we are. 

Oops!

 So here is a look at Elise with her cast on

And here is a look at Elise with her cast off

As you can tell by the look on Elise's face, it was a bit of a surprise for the cast to come off.  Just like a boot!  I took advantage of the situation and gave her a bath.  If you've ever had a cast you know how stinky it gets under that thing.  We ended up cutting the cast in half and taping it back on.  Then on Friday I took her in and she got a new cast.  Friday night that one came off!  So we cut the new one in half and taped it back on and I'm hoping the doctor will be ok with our informal cast/splint until Thursday which is when the stupid thing is supposed to come off anyway. 

And I leave you with some pictures of Elise with her hair on fire:)

A Few Pictures and an Update

Elise's first bubble bath

Hanging out with cousin Lillian

She uses the pot occasionally!

What a lot has happened since last time I wrote.

Dane had two weeks off and we left Elise in the loving and capable hands of her Aunt Mimi and Gran and went on vacation by ourselves.  I did a test run a couple of weeks before we left and she stayed two different nights away from home.  It was the first time I had ever been away from her overnight and we both handled it ok! 

So we left Elise behind and went on our first ever cruise with stops in Mexico, Belize and Honduras.  We spent one night in New Orleans before we sailed and love that city!  Our vacation was beautiful and warm and we had lots fun together making some new memories.

Beautiful old cemetery in NOLA

Altun Ha Mayan site

Our favorite vacation day in Roatan, Honduras

Our cabin on the ship

We hiked through the jungle for this view

After eight days we returned to cold Nashville weather, but to a sweet little girl with a sunny disposition.  Elise just stared at us for about 10 seconds when we first walked in.  I think she was trying to figure out how these people could up and leave her and then show back up like nothing happened.  After staring at us for a while she just started giggling.

We both thought she had grown up a lot in just 8 days time.  She even looked different, older and wiser. She was saying words by the time we got home.  And now, a couple of weeks later her vocabulary is even bigger, which includes making animal noises.

Easter egg hunt!

Cute Easter dress that a friend previously made for her daughter

Easter has come and gone and with that joyful celebration came a broken leg.  Elise's little leg:(  I thought that we would have to come up with creative ways to keep her entertained since she would be more immobile, but that girl maybe slowed down for 24 hours.  She figured out how to get around with her little cast and is back at it full force.  Even walking with support.

Doing great with a cast

Today is finally warm in Nashville and we're going to pick up a couple of little chicks and enjoy some outside time!