Anniversary Trip

We decided since it was our 5 year anniversary that we should do something fun and exciting. We, for the first time, left Ellie at home and headed to Las Vegas, NV for a weekend of fun. We had such a fun time and I think Ellie was even glad for a break from us :)

We decided splurge and stay at the Bellagio ---

 

Ate at the Sugar Factory (here is a pic of our cookie "sundae)

The Strip

Holsteins!

 

We also went to see the Cirque show Ka again since we liked it so much the first time however it was

less thrilling the second time around. We also spent some time at the Bellagio spa getting a massage and enjoying the Tranquility Room. It was a really quick yet relaxing trip and we plan on heading out for more couples trips!

5 years and still blessed

This year marks mine and Justin's 5 year wedding anniversary and our 10th year of being "together" - and it seems like time has flown by!

We have been truly blessed in all aspects of our life and are so happy that we have walked side by side through this journey together. We have finished school together, experienced jobs together, built a family together, built a home together -- built a life together. We have worked incredibly hard to create a life for our little family that we could only dream of --- together.

I seriously could not ask for a better partner in life than Justin - we complement one another's strengths and weakeness rather well! I am so proud of the man, husband and father that he is and how he has always pushed himself to be the best he can be.


These lyrics (Mindy Gledhill - Anchor) are a perfect way to express how I feel:

When all the world is spinning around
Like a red balloon way up in the clouds
And my feet will not stay on the ground
You anchor me back down

I am nearly world renowned
As a restless soul who always skips town
But I look for you to come around
And anchor me back down

There are those who think that I am strange
They would box me up and tell me to change
But you hold me close and softly say
That you wouldnt have me any other way

When people pin me as a clown
You behave as though I am wearing a crown
When I am lost I feel so very found
When you anchor me back down

When all the world is spinning around
Like a red balloon way up in the clouds
And my feet will not stay on the ground
You anchor me back down

Here's to eternity with you.....

Phase I: Big Girl Room

We have started the transition from crib to big girl bed by working on Ellie's big girl room. We let her pick out various items and help in decorating her room. We thought it might help her get more excited about moving from the crib into a bed as well as moving into a new room.

Here is her new bed....(she wanted to lay down in it before we had the mattress in place):

 

Here she is with her new comforter set:

Messy transition

 

Somewhat cleaned up:

Happy girl

This was a great idea in theory --- she loves having a SECOND room however is unwilling to give up the crib......

It will soon be time to issue an eviction notice .....

We still have several more finishing touches to put in place but this is the preliminary look -- final pictures soon to come :)

Quite a spectacle

Ellie has been drawn to my glasses since day one and is always wanting to (1) take them off my face (2) wear them or (3) take them off of my face to wear them. One day she managed to grab them from my face and run off - after prompting from dada she put them on and danced around for a bit....

 

She looked so darn cute - I couldn't even get mad.

Swim lessons

We enrolled Ellie in her second summer of swim lessons however given her reluctance to be away from me we had to forgo Kay's All-Swim in favor of a the Jewish Community Center (JCC) because they would let me still get in the water with her. I was somewhat disappointed with the lessons however Ellie had a blast in the water and seemed to enjoy her teacher (Sarah).

Patiently awaiting our class to begin:

Another day of lounging by the pool before lessons:

The little pool we were in

Our big girl getting ready to head in the water!

I, unfortunately, did not get any action shots since I was swimming with her....Hopefully next year she is willing to continue on with some private lessons so she can become a stronger swimmer!! She has the love for the water down-pat and now we need some real swimming to happen!!

Oh bother....

When asked to pose for pictures....she chose to lean on dada while he was working on fixing something with the TV.

This girl is always a helper.

Dear baby

A Baby is a Blessing
A Gift from Heaven above
A Precious Little Angel
To Cherish and to Love. 

A wee bit of heaven
drifted down from above-

A handful of happiness,
a heart full of love. 

The mystery of life,
so sacred and sweet-
The giver of joy
so deep and complete. 

Precious and priceless,
so lovable, too-
The world's sweetest miracle,
baby, is you. 

~Helen Steiner Rice

I think this sums up my thoughts about you perfectly...

Love,

Mama, Dada, & Ellie

Ellie May and Roadside dining

We decided to head on down to Clines Corner to meet my mom at the truck stop there because it has tasty food. It was also a nice little way to take a long drive and get out of the house for a bit. My mom (Ellie May) is always more than happy to oblige us in this crazy invitation....She's such a sport.

Getting weary from too many pics :)

So anyone looking for a quick drive and a tasty treat can head on down to Clines Corner.....