April Snapshots

April found us with our house sparkling clean, photographed, and ready to be listed. It was a bit difficult and frustrating trying to keep everything perfect with two little kids around, but we did it. We had a few showings here and there. We looked at a few homes here and there. We kept cleaning and decluttering and putting away things we didn't need out (or putting in a box things to get rid of).

At the end of April we headed out of town for a conference for Josh and a visit with family and friends. April flew right by us!

Illness kept us away from nearly all the Holy Week and Easter services. This morning, instead, we told the resurrection story in our Easter garden, dug up the Alleluia that was buried on Ash Wednesday, and shared some bread and wine. 

March Snapshots

Throughout February, we'd be discussing the idea of moving closer to our Church and Church family for a myriad of reasons. We decided to talk with our realtor, though we weren't looking at it for this year. After talking with him he felt this season was perfect timing. So during March we worked HARD to get our home cleaned, put away, staged, and ready to get on the market at the beginning of April. It was busy and intense. But we did it. I'm sure there were many fun, cute, and frustrating situations with the girls, but I can't recollect them. I know they helped me clean and put things away. Our friends Jill and her son Rocco came over to help us - I couldn't have done it without them! We put Ella and Rocco to work.

February Snapshots

February was cold, polar, icy, snowy, abominable. There was a lot of indoors time. There was also a lot of mall play area time, which inevitably meant colds as well.

This month I started really initiating a quiet time for Ella while Avila napped. Finally Avila is sleeping longer and Ella is -mostly - enjoying her quiet play time. I often hear her jabbering away the whole time. Sometimes she'll come downstairs with her face colored or a book she made. It's been good for all of us, I think.

Ella: "It looks like a car seat!"

January Snapshots

This month was so cold and snowy. Daddy had to travel and we girls spent some time in Michigan with Gramma and Grampa. It was delightful and Mama even got some "just me" time. We went to the Kalamazoo children's Museum, the Portage Library and Chocolatea, which was great fun! Otherwise it was a quiet, restful (well, not for Gramma!) time. Daddy went on another trip to be a witness at a friend's wedding. Some reorganization happened in the house and we started doing a quiet time for Ella. It's pretty hit or miss at success, but Avila is finally taking longer naps.

 We celebrated Elsie's 4th birthday with the Bruckarts. That was such a fun evening playing with the kids. It was the first time Josie really interacted with us she's getting so big too! Aunt Rachel and Mama put together a random dinner with leftovers. We called it "Gulash a la Famille!" Thankfully it ended up taking fine. We had fun making it!

Ella-isms

Sadly I didn't right down too many funnies from Ella:

Says "junch" for "lunch", and asks to go to Chich-a-way (Chick-fil-a).

December Snapshots

December was full of crafting, sewing, visiting friends, wrapping, mailing, decorating, cleaning and cooking. And the inevitable sickness. Michelle tied for second place at our church's annual Rose Sunday chili cook off. Celebrated Christmas at home. The following day drove down to Kentucky to see Josh's cousins. Brett and Amanda visited for a day.  Attended and was witness to the baptism of our goddaughter, Rosemary. Gramma and Grampa came and played with the girls, painted our kitchen, added some shelves above the dryer and allowed Josh and I got to go on a date. Then we all got a horrible virus of some sort which had us mostly flat on our backs for a couple of days.

I don't fall down because I'm a doctor. (Immediately after falling down)

Here's your doctor blanket. 

I'm a doctor that makes pizza.

She's very into role playing "Doctor". 

It's not chips because chips are awtard (awkward).