Campfire

The last two afternoons have been in the 40's until just before the sun goes down. Ella has been asking me for days to go outside and play, but I recently caught her cold and have not felt like bundling up to sit outside. So when Keith got home from work yesterday and again this afternoon, the two of them went outside to play and have a fire.


Here's whats left of the pumpkin Ella and Keith were watching the squirrels eat.


I spied Keith and Ella outside. These next few shots are from my kitchen window. Keith later told me that they were looking at the sky because they found the first star of the evening. They were also looking at all of the squirrels nests at the top of the trees in our woods. You know what I get a kick out of? How the last time he raked up the leaves with the tractor, he made horrible lines through the yard that almost frame them in. Good thing the snow is coming.....





I eventually went outside for a little bit. They looked like they were having too much fun without me. ;0) Since Ella always magnitizes towards me when I come around, I wanted her to still pay attention to Daddy so I told her to pretend like I wasnt there. She found a place in the grass where she pretended I was and brought me some dirt and had a pretend conversation with me over there. Atleast she did her own thing.


Here's hubby, showing off his wonderful beer drinking skills......Men.....

I Am Thankful for Bubbles

On our way to my parents for Thanksgiving, I explained what day today was. TURKEY DAY! Ella gets a kick out of that for some reason. But really, I explained that today we give thanks for the things in our life. I asked Ella what she was thankful for.

"I am thankful for bubbles. I am also thankful for toys, and Santa Claus who will bring me lots of presents. And also.....yummy, sweet apple sauce."

While trying to keep busy before sitting down to eat, I asked Ella if she saw any birds on the deck (in order for her to look my way). I didnt expect it to throw her into excitement the way it did. Like she's never seen birds before!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Could it be the End of an Era?

We have been struggling with the whole #2 potty training thing....But we have decided to push along anyways in getting rid of the diapers, since she does so good with the whole #1 thing. She has actually been waking up in the morning dry, which as anyone knows is a huge progress.

Ella and I made a 'Potty Board'. You've probably heard of this tactic. It is a calendar of sorts that Ella and I decorated and hung in the bathroom. Every time she does pee pee's in the toilet, she gets to pick a sticker. And when she does poopies, she gets a big Tinkerbell sticker. Plus, when she does poopies she calls my mom and my mom will give her a little surprise next time we see her (which we usually see her daily and its something small from the dollar store). She is really responding well to the whole sticker thing. As a matter of fact, she has been going into the bathroom to do pee pee's without even telling us!

She still doesn't like to do #2's.....I think it is one of those childhood fear things about losing something of herself or the way it makes her feel, but we have gotten rid of the diapers (hopefully once and for all, unless we have another baby that is).

This morning, she woke up, peeked into my room and said, "Good morning Mama!", then she went directly to the bathroom. Its such a wonderful noise to hear her go to the bathroom and flush the toilet all by herself. Sounds silly, I know. But there are alot of silly accomplishments we get excited about when we are Mommy's.


This is Ella just out of her room after nap time

BSM - Quiet Moments

Keith and Ella smashed her pumpkins the other day and threw them in the woods in our back yard. Although Ella was a little distraught over her pumpkins being smashed, she eventually got over it when Keith told her that it was to feed the deer and squirrels. To get it through to her, he used Bob the Builders motto.....Reduce, Reuse, Recycle....Whatever works, right?

The other night he told Ella that when she wakes up in the morning, she should come into our room to wake Daddy up. They would then look out the back window to see if they could find any deer or squirrels eating the pumpkin.


Thank goodness for the squirrels! No deer came by, but there were squirrels neck deep in the pumpkins.


Although it may not be my best shot, I am so taken with the moment in this last shot. There's something about it where when I look at it, the rest of the world seems to fade out and all I see and remember is that moment. Maybe its Ella's hand on his shoulder, or her direct look into the camera....I don't know. I just love the way I feel when I see it.



To see more Best Shot Monday's, head over to Tracey's.





On another note.....Jen at New Green Mama has just opened a new Etsy shop called Second Chance Studio. I wish I had the crafting talent like she does. She has lots of cool items up for sale, gadget pouches, coffee sleeves, magnets and pendants. She is also having a giveaway to celebrate her new store. So pop on over and give her a visit! Better yet, head over to her new store.....Christmas is just around the corner!!

Best Shot Monday

"Mommy I need you." She says it to me all the time. Although it may frustrate me when I know she is capable of doing something by herself.....I hope she never stops needing me.



For more BSM's, head over to Tracey's.