Family Trip

 

 

Last weekend we took a trip back to the city we lived in for two and a half years.  This was the first trip we have taken that Ella "got" what was going on and it is so much fun to travel with an excited kid!  She was up at 4 in the morning..."Don't forget to pack lovey.  Did you pack lovey?  Silly Ella, I forgot to brush my teeth.  I get a lollipop on the plane.  Mama, DON'T LEAVE ME! (when I opened the door to set the garbage out)  Don't forget our suitcases.  We're going on a plane.  We aren't going to America.  Will we come back to Ella's house..."  It was so cute.  When we got in the taxi she looked at Landon with an incredibly serious expression and said, "Daddy, did you remember the passports?" 

It was a bit more emotional than we thought it would be to be back in this city but we do miss it and our friends there a lot.  And, it definitely doesn't make it easier to know that they may be the entry city for this country's first CHICK-FIL-A.  We don't regret our decision to move here by any means but it hasn't been the easiest transition for us either.

The first two pictures were taken in the airport and the third in one of our favorite restaurants, Skyways.  All the ladies at the counter remembered us as soon as we walked in and were so happy to see how much Ella has grown as well as our new addition. 

Painting Easter Eggs

 

 

This week some of our friends from Germany came through town and stayed at our house for a night.  They are some of our favorite people in the world (and some of the people we most respect) and it was such a blessing to get to spend some time with them.  They brought us some amazing chocolate from Germany as well as some Easter egg decorating supplies.  Ella really enjoyed painting the eggs with the girls and Adelaide enjoyed watching all the fun!

The End Effect of Big Sister's Show and Tell

This is one of those moments where you look up and think, "That's funny.  I didn't realize exactly what was going on over there."

They Even Fit Lovey!

While folding diapers the other day, I looked up and saw that Ella was very carefully putting the diaper liners inside of lovey.  It was hilarious!

We are still loving the cloth diapers!  So, so thankful to Cotton Babies!

Playing Togetherish

This is our very sweet little friend.  She came over the other day and Adelaide and her sat next to each other for the longest time.  They danced and looked at books and toys and were altogether completely adorable.  They are only 8 months apart which at this point is a huge age gap but I'm sure it won't be long until they are playing together rather than just playing next to each other.

Ella enjoyed being the events coordinator.  She was very good at rotating the toys for the littler ones and giving the girls the right books for them to play with. 

My Beautiful Addy-girl

 

 

 

 

 

Two Years Apart

 

 

 

Hard to believe all the changes that have taken place over the last two years since the top picture was taken!  I'm so blessed by these two girls.

Ella's Cowgirl Outfit

 

 

 

This day is one of my favorite memories of our time with Grandma Mary.  Ella LOVED this outfit.  She wanted us to take lots of pictures of her and had such a good time learning to dance the Texas two-step with Grandma.

Bunny Cake

 

 

Adelaide at 8 Months

Adelaide at 7 Months

Chi Fu

 

I think that the literal translation of these is something along the lines of "eating clothes."  Adelaide is a master at pulling off her bibs so I decided to go with this approach and so far its working well!  Ella won't wear one but definitely wanted to get in on the action for the picture.

This picture was taken two weeks ago...since then we have been having a pretty rough go of it!  Adelaide has had an ear infection and an eye infection and then got a virus to go on top of that.  She has been so miserable.  Now she has a super runny nose but seems to otherwise be improving.  Anyway, that's why I haven't updated the blog in awhile!  I've been holding my sweet baby and been walking around in a bit of a sleep-deprived daze. 

Indian Food

 

This was Ella and Grandma's first taste of Indian food!  While we were eating a friend that we had met the first week we lived in this country walked in (we had actually met her while eating Indian food...almost five years ago!).  We now both live in different cities than we did originally (she was visiting some friends in our city) so it was so fun "coincidentally" run into her and meet her new husband.  

City Wall and Pagoda

 

Botanical Gardens

One of my favorite things that we did while Grandma was here was taking the girls to the botanical gardens.  It was such a pretty day and without cars and bikes and motorcycles to worry about, Ella was able to run to her heart's content (see pic #4).  I hope to visit these gardens a lot more this spring!

10,000

While Grandma was here we taught Ella to play 10,000 (a game that I originally learned from my grandparents).  She did such a great job and stuck with it really well for the most part.  Look out, Grandpa and Grandma Great...she'll be ready for our trip to see you in January or February of next year!