Monday, August 24, 2009

Sweetest Thing

Every age and stage of Elise's life so far I like more than the previous. Elise is quite a talker, and she makes me laugh, smile, and feel very proud many times a day. This semester, Elise is going to Faith Lutheran on Monday and Tuesday mornings. Wes graciously agreed to drop her off on his way to work. So, this morning, she and Wes were walking out to the car and I was watching from the door. Elise turns around to look at me, carefully places her milk on the driveway, and signs and says very clearly, "I love you, Mommy!" That is the first time I think she has told me she loves me without me prompting it. It brought joyful tears to my eyes. She is such a sweet girl. I feel so blessed to have my amazing family.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Birtday Weekend

I had a great birthday weekend - on Saturday we went to my parents' house, and my brother and sister-in-law came down from Indy. Christi had picked up these cowgirl boots, and Elise loved them! She wore them all night long.


On Sunday, we met Wes's parents in Indy. We paddled down the canal in a paddleboat, as well as had a nice meal together. Below, Elise is running gleefully across a bridge over the canal.


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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Wedding

We traveled to Pittsburgh, PA for Wes's cousin's wedding. We had a great time stopping in Columbus, OH, for fun, in Erie, PA, to see friends, and then at the wedding. I've posted several new posts with all the pictures, so don't stop at this one. Elise was such a trooper - she did great in the car and stayed up the latest she has probably been up since perhaps her first week of life (midnight). She was quite tuckered and slept nearly four hours of the return trip (as pictured below).
Uncle Tim
Wes and Michael with their mom

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Wedding 2




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Columbus Zoo

Here are some pictures and a short video from the zoo. Elise loved the fish, the kangaroos, and the monkeys. This was a great zoo - I recommend a visit. The exhibits were set up really nicely. You didn't get the sense that the animals were too aware that they weren't in their natural environment.





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COSI

Wes's cousin Andy was getting married in Pittsburgh, so we turned the trip into a mini-vacation. Our first stop was Columbus, Ohio, where we had some amazing Greek food and enjoyed the Science Center and zoo. These are pictures from the science museum. Wes and I were both pleasantly surprised with Columbus - it is a really nice city (Wes would want me to add, despite Ohio State).



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Monroe County Fair

Nothing beats a good ol' county fair! Well, some things might, but we had fun regardless. Elise was a bit freaked by the animals - larger and louder than she expected. She did enjoy the bunnies and chickens - quiet, small animals. She also enjoyed watching the horses run and jump in the pen. In the last picture, you can't see the horses, but we sat like that on the gate for a good 15 or 20 minutes... and this is Elise we're talking about - she doesn't sit still for much. And, of course, we all enjoyed the food. Elise had her first corndog along with an ear of corn. She clearly enjoyed them both.



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