Ellie's Philosophy

This is the conversation In the car today.
(Max was crying)
Ellie: Oh Maxie, it's okay are you hungry?
Max: (pauses to listen to big sister)
Ellie: Okay Max, if you're hungry just eat a booger. You can find them in your nose. Just use your finger!
Mom: (giggling) Ellie! Don't tell him that, that's disgusting!
Ellie: Why is it disgusting?
Mom: Because boogers are gross!
Ellie: No Mom, they are not gross.
Mom: Well, if you eat them, they will give you a big stomach ache.
Ellie: Oh, I see. (Pause) So they are like candy.
Mom: Well, I guess. They both can give you a stomach ache... You know, I wouldn't say they are like candy. I would just say they are gross so don't eat them!
Ellie: Oh, okay Mom


Sometimes, I could use a manual for these types of conversations.

Fabulous June!

 Our summer is already going by too fast and it's only June! I can't believe how busy we have been. I just started up a new blog called theearlymorningrunner.blogspot.com. I started it while I was laying in bed, recovering from having my gallbladder removed and now it is thriving! In three weeks we are at 10,000 views! We are now working on getting sponsors etc. So that has been really fun!
   As for the kids, we are still playing, playing, playing. We spend every afternoon playing outside and here are a few pictures to prove it!

 Little Maxwell enjoying a root beer popsicle from the older couple, the Pectols, next door. He is growing quickly. His favorite things include, eating dirt, popsicles, or anything else. He loves climbing on tables and living on the edge (like you see here, he climbs up and sits right on the edge every time.). The little guy is covered in bruises. He adores his big sister and always tries to do what she is doing!

Here is Miss Ellie. Jumping on the tramp with my shoes on. She is full of giggles and lately, way too much sass. She is earning pom poms when she has good behavior. We are still trying to get her to get through church without crying in primary. For some reason, with the move, church is a frightening place. Thus, the reward system. She is working to earn beads to make a necklace. She is also Max's second mother. :)

 Today we saw some people riding their horse and buggy down the street. So we put El out the sun roof and she loved feeling the wind in her hair. Horses are the best thing about living in Farmington.

 Did I say the horses were the best thing? I meant the pool. This pool is part of our HOA and we are for sure getting our money worth. We go jump in for an hour, they swim their little hearts out, then they fall asleep for 2 hours. It's a good trade off. We absolutely love it. Of course, Ethan our good buddy is great fun to have around too.

 This is how we get to the pool. The Wagon limo. Again, Max is trying to CLIMB out.

 I had to throw this picture in. Max eating sand. Obviously, I need to feed him more at lunch. However, I will tell you that I learned in my graduate program that the mouth has the most sensory receptors next to anywhere in or on the body. Thus, kids explore everything with their mouth because it provides such fabulous feedback. You learn something new everyday!

Ellie, the little dancer!

 Ellie had her first tap/ballet recital. She did really great, at least in her parents eyes. :) She may have not known all the moves, she may have spent more time waving at us rather than dancing, she may have been turned around backwards while everyone was facing forward, but at least she could shake it!  :)

You'll notice here how everyone is walking off the stage and she was still there enjoying the hurrah cheers of "good job Ellie!".  Mitch said, "she may not have been the most talented, but she was definitely the funniest and that's what I love!" And it's true, the guy next to me (who I did not know), was laughing hysterically at her silliness. I finally elbowed him and said, "Hey, that's my daughter." Except, I was giggling too. She is such a ham!

Here is Ellie and her cousin Elise. They took dance together this year and had a great time. Her friends Lanie and Jaycie were also in her class.

Here is the rest of the cheering section. They even brought her a rose to boot! Poor Ethan, too many dancers in his life! :) Great Job Ellie, we sure love you!

One In A Million

I've been down and out with this whole gallbladder thing, so Mitch has really had to step up and play Mister Mom. Some days have been a little more stressful for him (and me) than others, but today he seemed to really be having a great time with the kiddos. We just got the kiddos a sandbox so Ellie and Max spent 3 hours today getting covered in, and eating sand. Mitch did projects while they played and before I knew it He had the kids in swimsuits and they were out playing in the sprinklers! What a great Dad. I'm pretty lucky to be married to this guy.

 Even Indy loves the sprinklers! Ellie was jumping and giggling so hard it was fun to watch how carefree a child can be. It was simply refreshing to watch. She has never jumped on the tramp in the sprinklers like this, so she thought it was awesome.

Max reaching for the water as it sprinkles down on him. Oooo, I could just kiss him to pieces.
Here are the kids enjoying their very first Root Beer Floats. Obviously, they were a hit. Root beer and ice cream, whats not to love?! We used to have root beer floats at my Grandma Okla's and Grandpa Arts house. Such great memories.

 Here are the two munchkins playing in their 'boat' sandbox. And of course the boys out mowing the lawn. Maxwell would wave his little hand at me every time he passed by the family room window. Such a fun little guy. Hooray for SUMMER!!!

My man Mitch!

When I met Mitch, I knew he had a lot of great qualities. He was sporadic, spiritual,  happy, ambitious, loving, etc.. But I probably would not ever describe him as compassionate. It's just not one of his strengths. However, I need to give him some credit where credit is due.
   
    I had my gallbladder out yesterday and let's just say when I came out of it, my pain was not under control. I was also a little panicked as we were having a hard time keeping my heart rate up because it hurt to breath. So the machines alarms kept going off. They pump your chest and abdominal area up with air for the surgery, but as a result that air goes into your chest and shoulders making you have chest pains that really hurt. Am I being a little dramatic? Maybe a little, but Ouch! Next time nurses, pump up the perkiset!

    Sweet Mitch sat there and held my hand, told me to hang on for the pain medicine to kick in, and even grimaced with me! He was so great, just as sweet as could be. In fact I even had the nurse take this picture of us (even when I never in 100 years care to have a picture of myself  just after surgery) so I could always remember how awesome and compassionate he was being. I am pretty lucky to have this guy as a best friend.

 Here is to looking forward to a healthy and less painful summer!!!!

WARNING: if you have a weak stomach don't arrow down to the next picture.






I asked the doctor to take a picture of my gallbladder, stones etc. I love anatomy and the amazing human body. Why I didn't become a PA or a nurse is beyond me. I love this stuff.  So this is a picture of my gallbladder cut open and showing the gallstones. May I suggest not getting these. :)

Soccer!!

I've waited my whole life to have a kid in soccer and let me tell you the awesomeness of it all has not dissapointed us in the least.

 Our first game we couldn't find one of her shin guards so I taped a diaper to her leg and we headed out the door. Ellie has such a great attitude and thought the diaper was awesome! Her first game she scored 4 goals. However, 3 of those goals came from her picking the ball up, running it down to the goal, putting it down and kicking it in! After each goal she would come up to me and give me a hug and ask "Mom, did you see me!?!" I am so happy that she likes me, I love her to pieces. For some reason I thought my girls wouldn't like me and that they would be hard all the time. She can be hard at times but overall she and I are the closest of friends.  Perhaps one day I won't be the coolest person in the world but until then I will just enjoy my SUPERHERO status. :)

Here is a picture of El after she scored. "Hey mom, give me a drink, I need to power up so I can score some more!" How grateful I am to be a Mom.

Ellie's first Race

 Ellie ran her first race this weekend. Olivia had a fun run at her school so we ran the one mile race. Max enjoyed the stroller ride as we power walked. I may or may not have got a little choked up when I saw Ellie running her little heart out. She ran almost the whole mile! That's my girl!

 Ellie and Ethan are great friends. Sometimes they push each others buttons but most the time they have a great time hanging out together.

 We just love our cousins! We wish they all lived a little closer!

I'm so proud of my little lady. She even ran the whole race with her shoes on the wrong feet, that is hard! Go Ellie!