...just stay little...

POTD June 22, 2011: I'm not sure why I LOVE this picture so much. I think it's because it's the juxtaposition in the image that describes his personality exactly: soft, sweet, innocent and cuddly like his favorite stuffed kitty that he loves and calls "Meowous" and crazy, wild, determined, sometimes ruthless like the gun that he's pointing (probably at one of his brothers!)

{Still working on catching up on my 365 from last year...only one month left and I can start 2012. My goal was not to get behind this year - I'm already failing!}

2

Happiest 2nd Birthday to my Sweet Baby Girl!

I really really DO NOT know how she grew up so fast.

1 week

1 year

2 years - making her "camera" face (she is a poser!)

We started the day with Ella's favorite - Chocolate Milk in a "big girl" cup.... except these pics were taken a few days earlier; on her actual birthday she had chocolate milk in a sippy cup and a bag of cereal in the car - it was one of THOSE days...

The day fell apart on me when after 2 hours of packing at the house (no we're not moving, but I had to get some things packed away for new carpet to be installed) and a quick doctors appointment for Isaac I had to run to Boise in the three hours I had left before picking up the boys from school. I also had to be at Young Women's in Excellence that night so it was kind of a "loaves and fishes" miracle that I had enough time that afternoon to put together this PURSE and coin purse cake. Ella LOVES purses so I had to try my hand at making it.

While we were in Boise - at Home Depot - Isaac made sure EVERYONE we came in any contact with knew it was his "baby sisters birthday party day". And every time Isaac told someone that they would ask how old she was. I kept trying to get her to say two but she just started singing Happy Birthday, every time. It was pretty cute. Although it was a day of one thing after another with no rest in between, I think she had a good day - the boys, especially, made a big deal of her birthday all day long.

After putting the cake together I made a quick dinner. I would say Ella's favorite foods are mashed potatoes, broccoli and KETCHUP! So I made meatloaf (extra ketchup for my girl) and potatoes and green beans (she likes those almost as much as broccoli, and nuking a can was easier than cutting and steaming the broccoli - it was do or die time, I tell ya!)

After a Face Time chat with Grandma and Grandpa Perigo and cousin Kyla, we brought out the cake. (Face Time - best invention! I think it was cool that G&G got to watch Ella open the present they gave her even though we are a state away...) Ella smiled at us as we sang to her and then blew out her candles after a teensy bit of coaching from Cameron.

She was not shy about opening her gifts! I loved how excited she was for them. I especially love how she's inspecting her presents with a tiny grin of satisfaction on her face. She sang Happy Birthday to herself while she was opening! Austin, the most loving of my boys, wanted desperately to get Ella something from Walmart. We didn't have time to take him shopping but I just happened to pick up this little Minnie. Austin wrapped it and put a note on it that he was so proud of, "From Austin, with LOVE". Ella loves her Minnie; she carries it in her stroller and sleeps with it.

A fun, happy day, for my fun, bright, cheerful, sweet, sassy, excited, smart, little girl

Ella @ 2

23 pounds

still LOVES her blankets - will not sleep without them

favorite person - her daddy or Austin (sometimes mom)

favorite place to be - outside or going somewhere in the car

favorite tv show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

favorite toys - puzzles, babies, baby stroller, purses, books, anything one of her brothers is playing with

Best COPY cat in the family - she goes around all day copying one of us

favorite indoor activity - coloring or playing with one of the boys

catch phrases: "press PLAY!" (as soon as she gets in the car - I've spoiled her this last month with the DVD player), "blankie" "dank you" (she says it after you give her something or do something for her, like hold the door open, and she always says it in a breathless voice as if she's been waiting her whole life for whatever you've given her) "cook" (for cookie - anything sweet and dessert-like is a cook and she LOVES them.) "car?" she asks that as soon as I get her out of bed every morning

wants to do everything everyone else does

her first chore - she likes to put the silverware around the table at each place

Saturday Snowmobiling

There is NO snow around here! It hasn't even snowed once this winter. We were surprised to find Featherville had enough snow for the snowmobile; and enough snow to play in! Ella wasn't really a fan of the fluffy white stuff, or her gloves. She didn't love the ride her dad gave her either. I'm sure, though, that in time she will be riding like a pro. Isaac striped down as soon as we got there to put his snow clothes on. He didn't realize that snow pants go over your clothes! He was ready to ride first. By the time Landon and Austin were done playing in the snow and ready to ride it was too dark for pictures. They spent most of their time running around building snow forts and jumps. Landon took his first turn, ever, driving solo. Although, I prefer the boat (and boating weather!) for family fun, we had a great day.

a reminder that I need to remember:

Here's a link to 25 RULES FOR MOTHERS OF SONS

My little guys are so AWESOME! I love them. They are wild and crazy and funny and happy and sweet and sensitive and playful and joke-crackers and helpful and trying hard to be noticed and WONDERFUL! They want to have a purpose and an identity. They want to fit in and stand out. They want to be loved and silly and accepted and played with and important. I want to be better at making them into the men I hope they will become. I want to be better at letting them be the little boys they are.