Yesterday, Elizabeth and I took a long walk, picked up some take-out lunch and had a picnic in the park (where we ran into some friends: Bonus!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We even signed up for swim lessons (the last time she took lessons was about a year and a half ago and we have been meaning to sign up again). We checked out the pool per Elizabeth’s request. She is getting excited.

 

 

 

 

 

The activities proved to be too much and she caught a power nap in the stroller on the way home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really cherish these kind of mommy/daughter days.

~Krista

I had a great mother’s day this year. I am such a lucky mom.

Elizabeth still isn’t very clear about what sleeping in is, but that is ok. It was pretty cute to be woken up by an adorable little girl standing beside my bed saying, “Do you want to get up now? How about now? Can you get up now?”

When I got up, she presented me with a homemade (and stamped) Mother’s Day card. It is pretty cute.

We had a great breakfast with my mother-in-law and then we headed up for a BBQ at my brother’s house.

My mom even showed me how to make my very favorite food:  Mom’s Potato Salad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is so very good. I may have eaten a bit too much.

I’ve never liked any other potato salad. This one is so yummy and doesn’t have too much mayonaise (I really hate mayo and will only usually eat it in this potato salad or our family’s deviled eggs). Picky, I know.

We worked hard to measure and write down the recipe this time. Hopefully I will be able to make it on my own for Elizabeth’s 3rd (!) birthday next weekend. If it turns out, I will post the recipe on the blog.

Happy (Belated) Mother’s Day to all the great moms out there!

~Krista

During my off week of blogging, we took a family trip to IKEA to buy Elizabeth a twin bed. She had been sleeping on her crib mattress on the floor since she sent her toddler bed out to the garage.

We had looked at a local furniture store (since we do try to buy local first), but she wasn’t that enthusiastic with their beds and most you had to pick from a catalog. I don’t think nearly three year-olds are prepared to catalog shop.

I was intent on finding something she would be enthusiastic about since I really want her to spend the night in her bed and not migrate to mine anymore. Co-sleeping was great for us when she was little, but she has long since become more of an octopus in bed with us than a toddler. I am constantly being assailed by limbs punching me or trying to grope down my shirt. It is time to get serious about Elizabeth sleeping in Elizabeth’s bed.

So we went to IKEA and checked out beds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She lasted far longer than we expected for such a long shopping trip.We also did far better than I thought we would at only buying what we came for (probably because Duncan was with me and he is always unimpressed with candles and picture frames). We ended up with the reversible loft bed (the same one my niece has).

We got home and the real process started. Elizabeth had to help every step of the way.

 

 

 

 

 

We vowed that if we ever bought more furniture from IKEA that we would set it up when she was away from home. I don’t think we want to go through that again. She thought it was awesome.

Elizabeth was thrilled with the result:

 

 

 

 

 

 

So were Mao and Poe:

 

 

 

 

 

After a week below the window, I couldn’t take it anymore (the light blocked, so hard to open the curtains, ect.) and we (I mean my friend Adam), moved the bed to the other side of the room.

Better (even with the mess). This is the view coming into her room now:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the view from the main window:

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first week was a little rough for Elizabeth. She wanted us to “sleep” with her until she fell asleep, but things are already getting better.

~Krista

I would never have thought we would break out the pool in April, but we had a heat wave this weekend.

I felt really unprepared. We don’t have sandals, sunblock, or a new swimsuit for Elizabeth yet. We made do as best as we could and ended up with a very happy little girl.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Krista

Every year a local business has baby animal day. I think it is brilliant. Tons of little ones show up ready to pet the unsuspecting baby animals.

It was even more brilliant that Duncan took her this year. I love it when they get daddy/daughter time (and when I get ‘me’ time).

 

 

 

 

 

 

This expression looks like she is begging for a new pet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth said her favorite animals were the guinea pigs (sorry no pictures). Luckily she is too young to be asking for more pets yet.

~Krista

I have spent the best part of the last week unplugged from my computer. Between being sick and having family in town for the holiday, it was really nice to disconnect.

My wonderful aunt and two of my cousins came to town and stayed with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walked around town, got cupcakes, ate yummy homemade pasta, and watched a version of Sense and Sensibility. It was definitely a great day (it was as close to perfect as it could get with me having a horrible sore throat). Thank you my wonderful family!

We also dyed eggs with Elizabeth.

 

 

 

 

 

She was into double and triple dipping the eggs and didn’t want it to end.

On Easter, she raced into the dining room when reminded of her Easter basket. This picture is after a chocolate bunny was removed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a child who mostly eats like a healthy, little bird, Elizabeth can eat her weight in chocolate. She didn’t even care about finding the money or pez in eggs, she was all about the chocolate.

She had three great egg hunts throughout the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn’t she so pretty in her dress? I was a proud mommy all day long.

She finished up the day playing with Duncan on a trampoline.

Happy (Belated) Holiday and have a wonderful spring break!

~Krista

 

We didn’t get out of our pajamas today. Elizabeth is recovering nicely. She still sounds a little sick and has the occasional coughing fit and sneeze, but she is clearly recovering.

We had a restful day playing puzzles, games, and play-doh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We might have also watched an unhealthy amount of Blues Clues.

Luckily, she took a really great nap this afternoon. She was so beautiful sleeping that I had to snap a picture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The sun came out a bit in the afternoon and we were able to hit the backyard for a while. Elizabeth borrowed the camera to take a picture of her boots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This really turned out to be a great day.

~Krista

Cough, cough.

 

 

 

 

 

Yep. Elizabeth is a little sick. She started coughing at midnight last night, continued through the night, and today. Poor thing.

I have acted as her short order cook to make her feel better. The menu she requested:  scrambled eggs with cheese, toast, french fries, apples with peanut butter, sunflower seeds, and pistachio nuts. She has been eating really well and drinking  a lot of water and milk.

She even had enough energy to play in the backyard with me for a couple of hours. Sunshine and sixty degrees seemed to help perk her up a lot.

I’m so glad she at least waited until Monday to get sick. It was a friend-filled weekend. We played with my friend Maureen and her son on Saturday. Boy, are those two kids cute together. Check out Maureen’s great post about our playdate on her blog Buttoning My Jeans. Elizabeth got to really boss around T-man and we got to have a lot of fun watching. Then we played with trains. Apparently life doesn’t get any better than playing with trains.

Sunday, I went to a brunch bridal shower.  Elizabeth and my niece Addie were both invited and had a blast together. It was a lovely shower at a Salem winery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beautiful bride-to-be enjoyed the girls. (I forgot to get her okay to post her picture here- so you will just have to trust me). Congratulations Malia! We are very happy for you.

~Krista