I am an open book....

Thanks go out to Kirsten for this post. She tagged me and now I am supposed to write 10 "honest" things about myself that no one knows.

So here ya go:

1.) I don't like to be alone.

2.) I might be a "control freak". I just really like for things to go my way, because after all, my way is the best way (or at least I think so).

As a side note: being a "control freak" means I struggle with having a toddler who really likes to make her own choices.

3.) I can't stand stains on clothes. So...I struggle with having a toddler who stains her outfit within 5 minutes after putting it on. I am trying to get better about stains because some days I have to change Ella's clothes 3 times. She even cries now when she drops food on her clothes.

4.) I have a reoccurring nightmare that all my teeth are slowly falling out. This nightmare began after playing intermural softball and being struck to the mouth with the softball. My jaw was broken and I had to have 5 root canals. This is also when I found out I was pregnant with Ella (good news, but bad timing). It was a bad week so it is hunts me when I go to sleep.

5.) I seriously have no aptitude for sports (see above). In middle school the big joke in gym class was to see how many people could call my name and then throw the ball at my face. I was always the last person chosen to be on anyone's team. And in high school I would have been a straight A student if I didn't have to take gym (I got a C).

6.) I feel like I can only be happy if I do whatever makes someone else happy but I also like to do what makes me happy, so I drive myself crazy!

7.) I have the worst itchy back ever! I think I have excema or something.

8.) If I hear about a disease, I think I have it (see above). For this reason I need to give up my addiction to the TV show "House" because I keep thinking I need to go the doctor.

9.) I LOVE DIP!!!! Chip dip, veggie dip, cheese dip, they are all so wonderful. Recently, I introduced dip to Ella for the first time and she loves it too. She even ate it with a spoon and I thought, I would do that if I didn't know that it is wrong.

10.) I am taking guitar lessons. My fingers hurt and I can't play anything but E, F, and G. But those notes sound ohh so good!

Elizabeth Mitchell

I love Elizabeth Mitchell's folk music for children. Her songs are enjoyable for kids without being annoying for a parent to listen to. They are also fun to sing to your child.

So, you can imagine how excited I was to see that she has 2 new songs out and is letting us download one of them for free. The free song is called "The Little Bird Hops" and is really cute!

Check it out: http://www.youaremyflower.org/mp3/

Just as a quick note:

I got out the swimsuits today so I could wash them and was surprised to discover that Ella not only remembered her swimsuit but remembered what we were supposed to do with it. She cried (for what seemed like forever) while carrying around her swimsuit, hat and the sunscreen.

So, I took her swimming in the tub.

She made us laugh because she had to wear the hat and even pretended to put on the sunscreen. All she needed was Grandpa to take her to the pool!

Indy Children's Museum

We went to Indianapolis to visit my sister Jami's family for Martin Luther King Day. While we were there we had to go to the children's museum because they were having a free day. The place was seriously packed but it was free so it was great.

Dance Floor Pro

My family had a big Christmas get-together on Dec. 30th. While we were there Ella decided it was time to "bust a move" and the whole family joined in. I think it was the most fun she has ever had. Here are some pics:

Ella's gettin jiggy wit it!

Do you like my moves?

Elliot has mastered the deacon shuffle.

Dance Party!!!

Kayleigh and Ella, strike the pose!

Christmas Morning

I just wanted to put up some pictures of Ella opening the gifts from her family in Texas. We wish you could have been here to see her. She loves the gifts. Thanks for making her Christmas so fun!

What did she say?

Ella works really hard at communicating. She tries so hard to say the words we say but usually has to come up with a simpler version. Sometimes this is really cute...like how she calls a phone a puck and then we laugh and laugh. Other times the words she comes up with are downright inappropriate...like how sock comes out a-s-s (and then we try to hide our faces as we laugh and laugh).

Lately, Ella has started saying "snack". Which is great and all but it is coming out as a-s-s too. And I am starting to wonder if our house is still G rated. I was ok with it though because only the family was aware of Ella's bad mouth or as Ella would say bad "bop". But the secret is out and we are shamed.

Last Sunday...at church...during sacrament...while the sacrament was being passed, Ella decided she wanted a...snack. Apparently it was an emergency too because she yelled a-s-s so loud and then kept repeating it at such urgency that we were searching as fast as we could. But it was too late. People had definitely noticed and turned around to see who's kid it was. I was embarrassed but choose instead to laugh because I am well, a little immature.

Ohh..isn't having a toddler fun!