Sweetness...

Elsie has been a very active little girl lately! She has mastered crawling and is crawling up on everything possible...the end table, her toy basket, the couch, chairs...today she was even trying to crawl up my legs as I made dinner! she thinks she can do far more than she really can! She is also getting her fair share of bonks and bumps! She has a red mark under her eye...you can see it in the picture. She also has a slight black and blue mark above her eye.
Yesterday I put a little ribbon in her hair before church and going shopping...and she kept it on until bed time! She looked so sweet...and everyone we saw had to say something about her bow...and how well she did to keep it on!
" If I had a star for every time you made me smile, I would be holding the night sky in my hand"
~ author unknown

Hot Summer Days

When the Days are hot it means one thing...a swim in the pool at my parents house! Elsie loves to be in the Big pool...we pull her little pool over to by the big pool so she can still watch the kids...but nothing is better than being able to go IN the big pool. There are always plenty on Aunties waiting to give her a quick little swim!
Auntie Missa and Elsie...all sun kissed after the afternoon in the pool...

Elsie getting water rides from Auntie Lisa and Auntie Laura...So much fun!

A Very Big Girl...

A few days ago Jon had to lower the crib mattress...Elsie has learned to pull herself up in the crib and walk around hanging on to the rail! She loves to play in her crib now! She thinks of her crib as a place to play and our bed as a place to sleep. I love watching her calm down and relax to sleep when she is snuggled in between Jon and I. She always sleeps with her feet on me and her head snuggled by Jon. What a happy and contented life she has!

Love th 2 little teeth with the little space! So cute!

Strawberry Jelly

Last Saturday I got up early to go Strawberry picking again with my Mom and Sisters. My plan was to leave Elsie at home sleeping with Jon...but Elsie woke up and would not go back to sleep...so she came with me. She never wakes up at 6:30...she always sleeps in until at least 9:30...but I think she knew I was going to leave her! She did enjoy herself at the berry farm...she sat in her stroller and watched while we picked 8 buckets full of berries. When we got home we began cleaning them and mashing them for jam...


The finished product...all labeled and ready to display on the pantry shelf...jon and i now have over 20 jars of jelly for this winter...fresh berries, no preservatives, no coloring or dyes...the very best! My goal for this summer is to can, freeze and dry lots of fresh foods so this winter we can eat healthy! It is a lot of work...but so worth it!

Something New In My Mouth...

Look closely...you can see 2 top teeth in this picture! After a whole week of a fever, and not feeling well she now has 4 new teeth on top! She has 6 in all...quite a few for an 8 month old. She is finally starting to feel better...thank goodness!
I know it's not nice to take a picture of a crying baby...but it is cute and I wanted pictures of her new teeth...
If you look closely you can see 3 of the new teeth...just for the record I did pick her up after i finished taking the pictures...it's just not fun to not feel well and mom's arms make everything better...
"Adam and Eve had many advantages, but the principal one was that they escaped teething"
~Mark Twain

At the Beach with Grandma

Last weekend the temp was 104in the sun...a perfect day for the beach! We all spent the afternoon at Patrick's family's beach house...Elsie and Grandma walked way out in the water...and they played on the shore with all the sand...daddy make a sandcastle for Elsie...and we all relaxed on the shore and enjoyed the slight breeze...


I think Elsie is becoming quite a beach bum! I guess life is all about enjoying the little things like a day at the beach...what a perfect life!

Strawberries

Strawberry season is here! Yesterday Elsie and I went Strawberry picking with my mom and sisters and brother. We all love picking berries. We picked a total of 8 pails...some to freeze and some to make into jelly. There is something so satisfying about making your own food!
My mom picked us up early in the morning...far to early for me! The strawberry patch was filled with people by the time we got there...
Elsie is working on cutting some new teeth...so she was not the happiest baby...but with so many aunties to entertain her so did good!
After we picked the berries came the job of cleaning and cutting the stem off...a big job but with so many helpers it went by quickly! We only managed to freeze the berries yesterday...in a few days we will make the jelly. Last night my mom and sisters made strawberry shortcake for dessert...yumm!!

Fireworks

No 4th of July is complete without fireworks...we went to the park extra early to find the perfect spot to watch them...
We look like quite a crew...about 3 blankets, 4 chairs, 1 stroller, 7 kids and 4 adults
Elsie was not to sure about the fireworks...she just layed on my shoulder and peeked...towards the end she was busy people watching that I don't think she even noticed the loud noise!
Uncle Colter and his little niece...I had to add this picture because Colter is about the toughest all-boy around...yet he is so gentle and caring to his little niece! Elsie is one lucky girl!
We all had a good 4th...

Happy 4th of July

I am running a little behind on posting...we have had some very busy days! Here are some pictures of our 4th of July...
Elsie and her aunties and uncle watching the parade...Elsie enjoyed watching all the floats in the parade...can't wait till next year when she knows what candy is!
Then came the firetrucks...Elsie was scared of the noise...but still a little curious...she kept her head on grandma's shoulder but kept peeking! This seems to be her protection or comfort position...no crying...just held close...she just needs to know that everything is okay and someone will her give her comfort...
We spent the rest of the day around the pool swimming ad soaking in the sun...and lots of food too...brats, potato salad, tuna salad, watermelon, chips, and lots of parade candy!!

Another Day at the Beach...

Last week some of my sisters went to camp...so just the 3 "little" kids were at home...so my mom and I decided to have an afternoon at the beach with just the little kids. They all had a blast...no one actually swam because of the cold water...but they all played in the sand and looked for tiny shells...some ventured out to their knees in the water! Elsie loved squeezing the sand in her hands...and wading her toes in the water. My Mom was the photographer for the day...great job on the pictures...it is always nice to have her take pictures...now we actually have pictures of Elsie and I together!


Elsie wore herself out playing and had to take a little nap on my shoulder...there is nothing better than a sleeping baby in your arms...so sweet!