Craziness............

We have had sooooooo much going on!!!! I also feel as though I am really behind in posting...since it has been a little over a week. I went for my training for the pregnancy center....Mark's parents came to visit...Mark had finals...I visited our new niece Lydia (adorable!!!)...I traveled onto Ohio...Toughcat weekend...Mark has a conference in San Diego...Ella's 3rd birthday party with the Hanke side and tomorrow I will be heading back home...Mark gets back on Wednesday. I wish I could share all the pictures from these events, but some of them are stuck on my camera until I get home...so you will have to wait for them...but here are some of the highlights I have so far:

Ella @ the Children's Museum in Baltimore...learning how to dance. She went there with Nana and Papa.



Shopping for food @ the 'play' restaurant

Wrestling with Papa

Ella going on rides @ Cedar Point with Maw Maw



After Ella's party, playing around @ Harrison Park

I will add more later...a special one for Ella's birthday, which is actually Nov. 6th!

Fast Shipping!!!!!

I ordered the 'new Ricki' on Tuesday night...it arrived today. I even used standard shipping. I never thought I would say this, but way to go Walmart! We actually got two dolls, because Luci is always trying to steal Ella's doll(s). I asked Ella to pick one, then you can probably guess what happen an hour later---she wanted to switch Luci. With much crying on Ella's part (probably about 40 minutes), Luci walked over and handed her the doll and they switched. I told Ella it was the last time---and that she was stuck with this one FOREVER. She loves it, though. There was no napping today---all she wanted to do was play with the 'new Ricki'. So the first pictures I have of Ella and Luci---imagine them now holding the other's doll. I did take a couple pictures of Ella after the crying fest. She is lucky to have a sister that shares remarkably well.

Look @ that face








She couldn't believe we had one for her too!


Already a little mommy

We also went to another pumpkin patch--so here are more fall pictures. Have a great weekend...oh we Skyped with Danielle, Aaron and Lydia tonight...we got to see her---SO SWEET!

Here is the stinkery picture of Ella after she 'traded' with Luci


Big slide...Ella has NO FEAR


NO FEAR...


See mom, I'm fine


Luci so CALM and cute.

I have training for volunteering @ a pregnancy center in Baltimore this weekend, I am excited to get started!

Great News and Sad News

I have a new Niece!!!! Lydia Jane Danielle, check out the website to see her darling face:

jackthebean.blogspot.com

I cannot wait to meet her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sad news...we lost Ricki today...Ella's most prized possession (cabbage patch doll). She went with us to the park...and when we got home, she was no where to be found. We searched the park twice. Ella seems to be handling it OK. Trying to be a big girl...tonight I bought a new one for her online (not exactly the same...but pretty close!!) It should arrive on Monday....I hope we can make it until then:) I told Ella that a little girl that didn't have any baby dolls found Ricki and is giving her a good home...it made her feel better. I hope that is what happen:)

Ella with Ricki...just three weeks ago...

You don't say good job, I say good job!

First off-----SO HAPPY FOR YOU AARON AND DANIELLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

13. 1 miles...in two hours and 14 minutes, not my PR, but a lot faster than I thought we would finish. (my goal was 2:20) Mark was sweet to me and stayed with me. He could have had a faster time, but he choose to stick with me...thanks honey. It was a busy race...more than 7500 runners in just the half marathon. During all 13 miles we had to weave around other runners. It was a HOT day considering it is the middle of October...but I guess that is better than unseasonably cold weather. My parents came to Baltimore to watch the girls and support us in the race! We were so thankful for them and their support. They even came and met us downtown @ the end of the race. Thanks Mom and Dad for your support and love, we had a blast with you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The line of the subject of this post is what a little boy said to one of the runners when we were running the race. Around mile 6 or so, there was this cute boy giving us high fives by the side of the road. One of the runners said, 'good job' to the boy and he said in a kinda cocky/funny tone he said, 'you don't say good job, I say good job!' So funny--it gave us a good laugh, another funny moment was around mile 11...24 for the marathon runners with us...a man from India (only important because you can visualize the accent) running up the hill screaming...'I want my metal...move out of the way...let me through, I want my medal'-also quite entertaining. It was fun to do this together as a couple:) This race was my 6th half marathon. I have ran them in five states...Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and now Maryland....it is my goal to keep running them...in all the places we travel to:) I feel pretty good today-minus a little pain under my right knee...I guess not too bad for a girl who is pushing 30:)...I know it doesn't seem as old as it did when I thought about it when I was 15.......

Sisters...LOVE IT!!!

We went for a run tonight, which made us get home a bit later than normal...so we made a pizza and had ice cream as a treat. Usually Luci is on the end of getting fed, but Ella finished her ice cream first and was trying to bum some off of Luci...of course I caught it on video...enjoy...

She knew that she was being funny


Here she is feed Ella:)



She is starting to do really well with a spoon!



Doesn't she look so grown up with that backpack on!!!



Ella wearing my shoes:)

We have really seen Luci grow up over the past week. She is going on 15 months soon!!! Can't wait to see what she does next. Ella and I are working on potty training.................I wish it was OVER!!!! But, I think God is using it to teach me patience. Our half marathon is on Saturday!!! Wish us luck!!!!

Pumpkins!

I love the fall...mostly because of a break from the hot, humid weather...but also because of caramel apples, changing leaves, hayrides and of course pumpkins. Last year my pictures @ the pumpkin patch did not go that well. Luci was about two months old--Ella was just under two years old (it was about 95 degrees, too). Most of the time I spent chasing her around...not to mention her almost running and falling into a big pile of horse poop near the petting zoo. This year brings GREAT memories, we had a great time @ a fall festival downtown near the inner harbor. There were pumpkins...caramel apples:)...square dancing...apple cider...well you get the idea. Here are some great pictures of the fun...and the video of Ella dancing near the area where they were teaching square dancing.

This song makes me want to live in Alabama:)


Luci loved the odd shaped gourds...


Ella stopping to smell the flowers.


Ella picked out her very own pumpkin.


I think Luci really wanted the gourd...that is the apple that Ella went bobbing for in her other hand...


Taking a break:)

Luci was trying to pick the BIG pumpkins up...surprisingly she was unsuccessful.
:)


First taste of apple cider...a mild fan!