Boy, an entry is so overdue!!!

Sorry I haven't posted anything recently...most of it is because I am trying to fight off a cold of almost three weeks now. So any free time I have...I sleep:)

But, we went to fredericktown a weekend ago and had a great time with cousins, aunts, uncles, nana and papa!!! One real exciting thing was that Barb finished Lucia's one year book...it's great-We love it! I will let the pictures speak for themselves, you can also check out more pictures @ Aimee's blog...plus she was the one actually present for the mud treatments:)

Fun @ the Columbus Zoo (first two girls are girls Aimee babysits)


Can you see the alligator behind us?


Luci and the book:)


John and Ella-mud monsters


Luci and Grace...not covered in mud!!

Like many people, we are looking forward to the beginning of college football...don't know what games we will actually get in Baltimore...but oh well, I can feel fall the in the air...except for the fact it is supposed to be 90 this week....Here is Ella and Luci getting their game faces on!

Also, Mark and I ran 7 miles on Saturday...it was tough, but we made it...so training is right on track for the race on Oct 11:)

Specifics....

So, Mark said that Ella did wonderful, considering everything...

The first interesting thing that happen was right after Ella and Mark left I could not find my cell phone...so I get onto Skype and call my cell phone so I can find it. I thought this was really strange that I couldn't find it, because I remember setting it on the console near the door. Anyway, when I called the number...no sound...So then I used Skype to call Mark's cell phone and tell him I couldn't find my cell phone. He said, why did you pack your cell phone in the backpack??? My reply, I didn't. Mark asked Ella if she packed my cell phone, her reply, "no....yes, I packed Mommy's cell phone." So, we don't have a home phone, so I just had to call ever so often on Skype to check on things. As far as the actual ER visit, she kept calling the doctor, Dr. Ryan (a resident from KY that graduated with Mark), Mark said he really didn't look like Ryan---but oh well, it seemed to keep her calm which was a good thing. She made a friend in the waiting room (she is such an extrovert). They didn't get home until 2:30 am. To make things even crazier, Mark has a final tomorrow for Environmental Health...so he missed some precious study time. But, He loves us, so of course he loved being able to be there for the family! Thanks Honey, you are the best!!! Here are some pictures to document her first ER visit.

Mark carrying in a sleeping Ella @ 2:30am last night



This morning when she woke up @ 11:10am!!



A new pooh bandaid on it:)



Cuddling with her new giraffe...I am such a softy!! Love you Ella!! You are such a big girl!!

Pictures of the girls...and a trip to the emergency room...

First off, I am writing this as Mark and Ella leave to go to the ER. Ella fell on the stairs...and cut her chin. The fall no big deal...a little crying, but the cut is probably just deep enough for stitches. She is such a good sport, we put some butterfly bandaids on it and called her doctor to ask for their advice...so that is why Mark took her to the ER. You can tell by the pictures below--she is doing fine! BTW...I had stitches in the exact same place when I was 10 or so!

Also just wanted to put up some fun pictures of the girls...Luci has a funny new smile...and I will update later on Ella's ER visit!

Here is Ella with the bandaid on....


She is actually wearing Luci's pjs...when she hurt herself, I asked her to pick out her pjs...I wasn't going to argue!



So cute, Luci!



Love that look!



Luci...smiling!



See what I mean...funny smile!!



Luci sliding herself on the floor...backwards...pretty funny!



Ella is now pooping on the toilet...I haven't had to change a poopy diaper in awhile!! The only tough thing is she usually sits on the toilet for 20+ minutes....



More potty time...



Yes more....she just looked so cute!!

Me...sitting on the edge of the bathtub, cheering her on!

Wee Wii

Mark was playing Wii the other day and Ella wanted to join in...too cute! With our help she even got a strike in bowling! Luci grabbed the cable remote and tried to mimic Ella's actions...again-too cute! As you can see Luci is becoming such a character/daredevil...see below for examples:

See what I mean...don't worry I was watching her to make sure she didn't fall!

There's a smile!



Ella playing Wii



With a little help from Daddy!



Luci trying to be just like Ella!

Date Night and Painting...

While my parents were here two WONDERFUL things happened (of course, spending time with them was great too:)

(1) Mark and I got a DATE...last one was in May....

(2) My kitchen is now painted....it is no longer white like the rest of the house...

For our date we went to the art museum, which is very close to Johns Hopkins and our house...we ate at the restaurant there, too. It was restaurant week so we also got a better deal for a NICE meal...the best part was the cheesecake...WOW! Check out the link for the restaurant...here! Then we went for a walk...it was so great to spend time with my husband. He is studying for boards on Saturday...prayers would be greatly appreciated!

As for my kitchen, I was in love with the color Pine Grove from Pottery Barn Paint Collection, but ended up with something a bit more green--either way I love it, it makes the kitchen feel so much more like home:)

Oh, we also had the Hanke cyber birthday party for Lucia (we ichatted with Jill, Ryan, Louise and Abbey, Adam had to work:(--isn't technology cool)! It was fun...until she had to blow out the candle on her cake...

Today we got to connect with some friends from Dayton. They are now looking for a place to practice and are interviewing. The Buchholz's had two interviews today...I got to spend the day with Christine, Jonathan and Cate...it was so good to catch up with them; we are excited to see what God has in store for them. We then went to the Golden West Cafe for some more fun! This place is a great restaurant too!

Here are some pictures!

Here is a picture of Luci, Ella, Jonathan and Cate!!! Jonathan does such a great job of caring for his sister:) As you can tell Ella was really excited about holding Luci...Luci seems unsure!


The kitchen


The cyber birthday party


Mark taking a picture of me view a statue outdoors @ the art museum


Mark-the thinker.

Fact or Fiction!!!

My grandpa sent this to my Dad, and I thought it was hilarious!!! Enjoy...

LINK