Where'd my free time go?!

I have not been starting 2010 out well with my blogging! I apologize. It seems I don't have as much time as I used to - or I've been taking more naps.... I wonder why!



Anyway, Elise continues to amuse me daily. I've uploaded a couple new videos to YouTube. The links are at the bottom of the post. Elise is very verbal and the things she says can just be so funny. We're in the midst of potty training (which Elise has been a rock star with). When she has an accident, she says, "That's not berry good!"



To Wes the other day, she said, "I love daddy, I love mommy, I love myself!" One of my prayers as a parent has been to be able to instill confidence in Elise... Is this a sign of confidence? Maybe too much!



And, most recently, my parents were over on Sunday evening. We were all in the kitchen and my mom was in the other room. Elise said to her, "Come on, Ada! Its time to eat!" Clearly Elise is paying attention to everything we say, even when we're not talking to her. We certainly have to be careful!



Enjoy the videos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEa66wK0n2g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jRXOJrN0lI

Blog Overdue

I know I am long overdue for a blog post. What can I say, December was a busy month. We had a wonderful Christmas season. We got to spend time with old friends from college and have wonderful holiday with our families.

Elise was very excited about Christmas this year, and especially excited about Santa. Wes and I didn't really talk to her much about Santa, but she sure picked up on it. She loved to go look at Santa at the mall, but she wasn't brave enough to go sit on his lap. Maybe next year.

We enjoyed talking to Elise about the meaning of Christmas this year. She learned motions to 'Away in a Manger', which was very sweet to watch. Elise has also enjoyed playing in the snow this year. We haven't had too much snow in Bloomington, but there were a few inches in Fort Wayne, so we got some good snow time.

One of our holiday traditions the last few years has been to go choose our Christmas trees with our friends Kim and Randy Arnold and their children. Elise and Rebekah are the best of friends; it is so fun to watch them play together.

Here are just a few of the pictures from the holiday. I also put links to two videos - it is a lot faster to put the videos on YouTube than on the blog. One is of Elise playing in the snow; the other is of Elise opening her big Christmas present, a play kitchen from all four of her grandparents.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvSWuQG4dwI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYyxIMWmmtk

Elise's Second Birthday

Elise had been anticipating her birthday party since her good friends Deacon and Rebekah had their birthday party in August. It was a long time coming. She was wound up, for sure, but she did a great job with thank yous and sharing her new toys with her friends. It was pretty chaotic in our little house - eight kids, 15 adults! Those of us with toddlers were totally at ease, but I think those who aren't around toddlers on a daily basis might have been a little shell-shocked by the chaos.

My mom led a fun craft for the kids, making holiday themed placemats. They were a hit!

Wes made Elise's birthday cake, which was Elmo (see below). He did a great job, and Elise was thrilled.

Thanks to all of our family and friends, at the party and all of the country, who love and invest in Elise. As the old adage goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and we certainly couldn't do it without the support we receive.

We love you all!

Waiting for her friends to arrive

"Elmo!!!"

Opening her purse from Nana and Papa J

Friends - Eve Arnold, Jonah Beavers, Lydia Arnold, Deacon Peterman, Audrey Clampitt, Elise, Rebekah Arnold, and Maya Lewallen

Boston

Last weekend we had the chance to go visit my brother and sister-in-law in Boston (had to get that in before
Elise turned 2 and we had to pay for her flight.) Even though Elise hadn't seen her aunt and uncle in awhile, she warmed right up to them and had a great time. Wes and I also had a great time - family is so precous!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from Pooh Bear! Elise got to Trick-Or-Treat twice today - once in Kim's neighborhood for a special toddler time and then this evening in our neighborhood. She had so much fun!

Fall Photo Shoot

It turns out a photo shoot right before nap is a bad idea. Elise wasn't too interested in having her picture taken and she has pretty dark circles under her eyes. I got a few cute pictures, though. The last is my favorite because it is a very classic Elise face - it is like she is smiling about some little secret only she knows.

Elise the Chemist

As many of you know, our dear friends Kim and Randy are chemists, and they are always telling us that chemistry is cooler than we think. So, this weekend we took Elise to the Chemistry Open House. Elise got to do all kinds of chemistry experiments. It actually was cooler than we thought chemistry could be :).