Family Fun













So here are a few teaser pictures. Last weekend, we headed to the ATL to visit the Howells--and it really was a wonderful trip. While our entrance into the city was not auspicious with Atlanta traffic, a gas crisis, and Elsie's throwing up one block--just one measly block from our destination of 665 Edinboro, the rest of the weekend was smooth and relaxing, and Elsie was overjoyed to be with her family. Elsie wowed us with her prowess with chopsticks and post-puking appetite at a Friday night Chinese dinner. Saturday, we headed out to Johnny and Kate's gorgeous new house and enjoyed the "Fickle Pickle" for lunch in old Roswell as well as some shopping. After naptime, we headed to the park and took these pictures. We met up with Cousin Bryce and Uncle Mike as well as Aunt Addie and Jim, Suzanne, and Duncan--great fun was had by all--almost as much fun as watching college football. Our teams had a good day and so did we, watching them at Mom and Dad's with the whole clan. Sunday, after a Flying Biscuit breakfast, we hit the Aquarium before our trip home--those pictures to follow.

Elsie and Camille

















Elsie has a best friend. They became friends because their moms needed new mom friends, but Elsie has become increasingly smitten with Camille. She talks about her, asks about her, and is ecstatic when she sees her. She bosses her around and laughs hysterically with her. And Elsie loves Camille's parents Ginger and Lee and talks about them, too, and demands hugs from Ginger. The girls go to school together and here they are on a playdate at the playground last night. After playing, the parents joined the girls out for mexican where the silliness continued.

relaxing




Here is Miss Elsie relaxing after a busy weekend. Lately at the end of the day, she likes to pull out the giant Pooh animals the Belzers gave her and make a nest on the floor to get "comfortbiddle" in and read. She reads her books in her own way to her animals. So here she is relaxing and making faces. Nonie/Elaine came to babysit both Friday and Saturday nights. Elsie got to pick her Saturday morning activity: the Jumping Bean! She runs and jumps and slides and sweats--yep, she's a baby sweat-er--pink cheeks and heated, running and screaming though the Bean, a sight to behold. She had a birthday party Sunday at Ava Grace's and then a playdate/dinner with the Sumners late afternoon/early evening Sunday. Whew! We were all read to climb in and relax with Pooh and Piglet and the gang after all that....

Chef Elsie and her Birthday Surprise

Sunday Morning: Post Party

Birthday Bash

Happy 2nd Birthday Elsie!

Two years down, two years since tiny little Elsie was so tiny, two years of daily joyful adventures. Today, Elsie announced to everyone she saw "I two today! I two today!" And as you would say, Elsie, "cheers" to that.

Making banana pancakes is serious Saturday morning business.

Dr. Elsie is in

Birthdays
We have lots of birthdays to celebrate lately. Elsie enjoyed a birthday party at her friend Matilda's--she is especially partial to Matilda's dad, Hansi, whom she talks about constantly. If someone knocks, she asks us "Hansi?" If I ask her "guess who's coming over?" she'll respond "Hansi." And then we went to Hansi's house... Well, it was just too much excitement. Hansi is someone I work with and while we really like Hansi, we are not sure we understand Elsie's obsession completely. And she doesn't mention Matilda or her mom Beth half as much and we think they deserve special attention, too!

In the world of birthdays, we celebrated Addie's birthday in August and great-grandmother Gram's birthday as well... but from a distance. We were thrilled Papa was with us for his big day. And then we sent Bryce some boots for his 2nd birthday yesterday. And of course, this is all good preparation for Elsie's number two in just a few days....

Happy Birthday Papa!

School Days
After a fantastic end of summer weekend in Charleston visiting Ashley, Rod, Emma, and Boyd as well as the Fulmers, Elsie started school the Wednesday after Labor Day. Here she is on the front stoop with her lady bug backpack and her pug getting ready for her big day.

She is the youngest in her class at the Montessori Academy of Savannah, but she is the tallest and she let them know she was in charge. Within minutes of arriving at school, she was pulling out kiddie chairs, pointing, and telling the other children to "sit here... sit here." That was my cue to leave.

She is doing well though. As our first and only right now who has been home running the show for two years, she has trouble with circle time and activities where she is not in charge of the group. Evidently, though, her teacher says she has lovely manners so when she doesn't want to do something she simply says
"no please."

At Parents' Night, her father had some trouble joining the group as well--he wouldn't participate in the sing-along and left me stranded during the social hour when he fled to the parking lot to rescue the bourbon he had left in the car. So, I wonder where Elsie gets it from?

Catch the Moon





Well, the last time we posted was right when I started school... and so blogging got pretty behind. The semester started with all of its fanfare, and what got me through those busy busy days were the nighttime antics of Miss Elsie. Every evening, after riding bikes to see the gnome garden, the playground, and the hanging trees (trees with Spanish moss)--some of the highlights of our neighborhood, Elsie eats and then puts on a show, sometimes before bath, sometimes after. She dances her little heart out to Lisa Loeb and Elizabeth Mitchell's bonus DVD that came with their CD. There are only two videos, "Catch the Moon" and "Stop Go," but we watch the kids boogie and dance ourselves up and down, and around and around... over and over and over and over... So if you are in the area between 7 or 8, stop by for the show.

A Day in the Life...






8 am: After catching up with the Wiggles and the Doodlebops, fetch paper.











9am: Rigorous game of hide and seek rotating through one of three hiding spots.



10am-4pm: Basically a blur--Running, water table, more running, ride in the stroller, some chores, some lunch, a nap, more running.






4pm-6pm: Playdate with Camille with popsicles!






7pm: post-dinner cuddles with Mommy.

Elsie Swinging with her Gnomey