Elena's 3rd Birthday Party

Of course we celebrated at Kidz Bounce with Elena's friends and family. We all had lots of fun and got very tired. It's great when the adults are into it as much as the kids! Thanks everyone for giving Elena a great celebration! Elena had help blowing out the candle on her purple blue pony cake from Ruby and Gracie.
She didn't need any help opening her presents, but she did let some friends squeeze into the princess throne for a cute photo.
Just had to share this picture of Elena looking so satisfied after opening all her presents. She was great about holding up all her gifts and showing them off with a giant smile.
After Kidz Bounce, we had a family lunch at home with a pony pinata. Four little girls didn't have the strength to bust the thing open, so Grandma pulled out the scissors so the prizes would fall out.
Elena's real birthday isn't until Wednesday - we plan to spend the day hanging out with Aubrie and Aunt Kiki.

End of the week

What a fun, busy week! Wednesday Elena played with Aiden and baby Maddie. There was sponge painting, magic shows, and games. Aiden is a fabulous magician and entertained us with his disappearing act. "Abracadabra I make this magnet disappear - poof!" And for Maddie's nap, Elena and Aiden each read her a story and helped tuck her in - so cute. Once we got home, Elena took a nap in the doorway. Not that surprising since she usually falls asleep on the floor and MommyDaddy get to move her to bed later.
Auntie's library had an Earth Day story time and handed out baggies of ladybugs. Elena had fun dumping hers in the flowers. Notice her cute ladybug garden shoes?
Thursday Elena had her second swim lesson. She did much better than last time and spent the whole lesson in the water. Hopefully next time she'll play the games with teacher Laurel and her swim mates. Elena did have fun in the pool playing with mermaid beads and the blue balls (you can see a small smile on her face). It's obvious she loves swimming. Elena is becoming quite the artist. She drew this picture of Elena, Mommy, and Warrick on her easel. She gave us all "silly hair" and smiles. Daddy's likeness was also drawn, but she was quick to erase that picture before a picture could be taken.Now we're eagerly anticipating a visit from Nana and PopPop, a party at Grandma's house, and Elena's birthday party. Note to Grandma: FYI Elena thinks the party at your house is for her...

Elena (almost) swimming

Elena started her new session of swim lessons today. She has to be a big girl and get in the pool without her mommy and also get used to a new swim instructor.It was really hard for her. It was obvious she wanted to get in and swim, but she was just too scared. Hopefully her next lesson will be less frightening.

Elena loves her daddy

Elena got a new bounce house! She couldn't wait for Jim to put the pump together and started puffing.Elena didn't make much progress before the pump was ready to go and she could use that instead. She didn't last long though and Jim did most of the work. But bounce houses are very comfy to rest on.
Elena also got a new bubble machine and Jim got a bubble wand sword to make huge bubbles. Took him awhile to get the hang of, but very impressive!

Week in review

Been awhile since we've posted... And a lot has happened!

The Saturday of Easter weekend we went to the Woodland Park Zoo with Ria and Tracy (Daddy was busy and didn't get to come). There was an Easter celebration that day, so we joined in the egg hunt.

On Easter day, we had an egg hunt in the morning, and then Elena got to go to Grandma's house for a sleepover.

Monday we picked out flowers at the store and got all the cars from Cars we didn't have yet - yay Chick Hicks!

Mommy had a bad fall on Tuesday and is currently trying to fight through the pain.

Friday, Aiden took us to the Cougar Mountain Zoo and we fed the animals.

And Aubrie is home and we got to go over to her house to have dinner and play. Who says Friday the 13th is bad?

We all took Cody to the dog wash on Saturday. Whitto thinks Cody smells good now, but we found some sores on Cody and need to get medicine from Auntie for him.

Last night Elena got sick - first time she's ever really thrown up (is that something worth remembering?).

Now it's time to start Elena's last full week as a 2 year old.

Done with swimming

Grandma took these pictures of swimming on Monday, and our last swim class was Wednesday.Mommy says I'm going into a big kid class next and she won't be swimming with me. Maybe I can still bring my duckie with me!
I'll have a new swim teacher too, I'm going to miss Tephra.

In swimming I like doing jumps a lot! And do kicks, and reach and pull, and sing songs, and use the marshmallow sticks... Thanks for the ice cream Grandma!
love, Elena

GRANDMA! COME OVER AND PLAY!

Grandma came over on Monday and we did eggs! We mixed and dipped and mixed and dipped again. Some got cracked when I dropped them. Mommy peeled one but I didn't like eating it.
We made purple ones and blue ones. Then I put princess stickers on them! I was Ariel and Grandma was Cinderella.
After the eggs, we jumped on the couch, played Candyland (I'm not sure Grandma will ever play Candyland with me again) and got ready for swimming. Grandma watched me swimming and then took me for an ice cream. Come visit again soon Grandma!

love, Elena

Pony Playdate

Gracie and her daddy came over last Saturday and we played ponies. Good thing I have lots of ponies. And we bounced on the couch to Cars music.
Come back soon Gracie!
Love, Elena

Trip up the street

Mommy took me up the street to the fun ball place (Cedar River Watershed Education Center) last week. I got to stand on benches and listen to the rain drops play the drums. There was a creek too, but no fishies. Inside there are little yellow balls to put in all sorts of holes that suck the balls around the room. It's fun to watch when they go along the ceiling! I can run almost as fast as the balls go!
I was hoping it would be Grandma on the phone.
I got to play on the computer with Sarah. We pushed red, yellow, and green buttons!
I can't wait to go back and play with the balls again!

Love, Elena