Updates

Wow.  I've been MIA.  It's been a busy few weeks!  Here's a picture of Ella from preschool last week.  She's seems to be doing great and tells me she's having fun, but I haven't really gotten any feedback about how she's actually doing from the teacher.   Here she is last week - she was super excited.  I have a video to share too (more on that in a later post).

See the potty chair in the background?  Yeah..we're still working on that.  She's doing a little better, and we've "graduated" to wearing "big girl undies" all day and "Dora Pants" at night.   Her issue continues to be holding it for super long periods of time and not wanting to sit and GO! 

 

Last weekend we headed to Emma Krumbee's Scarecrow Festival in Belle Plaine!  We've never been, and there were some creative scarecrows on display.  A few of our favorites:

 

Ella's favorite (1 of 2) Cookie Monster 

 "Squeal of Fortune!"

 

 Ella's favorite (2 of 2) Curious George!!

 

 The Gingerbread Man (from Shrek)

 

 Tim Tebowing...

 

CeeLo Greene from The Voice!

 

 Ella had a good time on a pony ride (even though it was FREEZING outside!)

 

 Jay & Ella tackled the hill of hay

 

Friday night we headed to the Farmington homecoming game.  CRAZY!  It was fun and Ella had a good time cheering for the Tigers!

And today we visited an alpaca farm in Farmington.  We drive by quite a bit and Ella is obsessed with the llamas!  Today we learned that they are alpacas  Oops! 

 

 With a 3 week old Alpaca

 

 Ella chatting away with this momma alpaca

 

"Mommy, can I give this grass to this llama, because she's hungry"... Umm...no.

 

Happy Fall! 

One more wedding pic - of the family!

Isn't this so cute?!?!  I love it!

Ella's First Day of Preschool!

We survived Ella's first day of preschool on Friday!  It was a bit of a fiasco getting there, running late, doors were locked, yada yada.... But, she seemed to have a great time.  When I asked what her favorite part of preschool was, she said, "umm...going down the slide."  HA!  Recess.  Of course it was her favorite! 

I'm anxious to see how it goes this week - hopefully it will be less stressful.  I was a mess when I had to physically leave the building on Friday, but I kept myself busy (baking, laundry, etc.) so I wasn't focusing on it so much while I waited to pick her up.

First Days

Tomorrow will be a big day.  Ella's first day of preschool.  Granted, she will only be going once a week for a few hours, it's still (in my head) going to be a big deal.  I mean, of course it's a big deal, but I sort of feel like I'm maybe the only one who's going to freak about it.  First day in a classroom, first day spending time with a teacher and classmates (aka STRANGERS!) and first time I'm leaving her in a non-family member's care.  Jay and I have joked that I will probably sit in the car the entire morning just so I'm there "just in case."  I really think Ella is going to do great, however, I think I will likely LOSE my shit after I walk out of that school tomorrow.  Look for updates....

Why do I think Ella will do great tomorrow?  That past Sunday was Rally Sunday at church, and Ella's very first day of Sunday School.  We hit up the first service and then walked her to find her classroom.  We were one of the first, since we'd been at the early service.  Her teacher is a high school (maybe college?) student, wasn't expecting that, but that's awesome.  She (Kaitlyn and co-teacher Kami) were there to greet the kids.  Ella found her little (OMG - cute!) chair with her name tag, etc.  We got her situated, and then Jay & I were sort of standing there....sort of awkward....and then Ella was given some crayons to work on one of the "projects" for the lesson.  She started coloring, so I was like, should we go?  We told Ella goodbye - she looked up and waved like it wasn't a big deal her parents were leaving her all alone with these randoms.  So, we left.  We even left the church premises (although that was short lived - I was too anxious about the whole thing - what if Ella is freaking out and they can't get her calmed down, lalalalla)  So, we grabbed a to-go coffee and went straight back to church.  HA!  And here's the funny thing.  It was so obvious where the 3 year old Sunday School rooms were located because the hallway was packed with all of us nervous nelly parents.  HA!  And you know we all non-nonchalantly walked by the classroom to peek in the windows - MULTIPLE times.  :)  So be it.  But, Ella seemed to have a good time, so that's that.  We'll miss this week, but I'm hoping her feelings towards this whole school thing continue on in positive manner.  It'll make it a lot easier on this obsessively worried mom. 

Here's a few pics from her first morning of Sunday school:

A few more wedding pictures

And I forgot I took a few pictures on my phone....here are those too!

Wedding Recap!

We have been busy these past few days!  Annie (Jay's younger sister) was married on 9/1 to Andrew.  Ms. Ella was a flower girl and Jay was a groomsman.  It was a beautiful day for a wedding.  The venue was amazing (Trellis in Stillwater) and I think everyone had a great time.  I took loads of pictures, but many of them (sadly) did not turn out!  Either Ella wasn't being still to get the shot or eyes were closed, etc.  There were so many little things that made the wedding really cute.  Annie & Andrew wrote their own vows, but Annie also gave (said?) vows to Keller, Andrew's son.  It was sooooo sweet and EMOTIONAL!  A lot of teary eyes.  Happy tears.  So, without getting into a whole rehash of the day, here are some pictures I snagged.  Fingers crossed that the photographer was able to get something "perfect" that I can frame.

The only way to get Ella to sit for her updo was having her make silly faces in the mirror!

I love this picture!!

We lasted until the vows before we had to exit ourselves from the front row to the more laid back area in the back (Ella was not using her quiet voice - and I forgot treats!!!)

Ella's facial expression makes me laugh....I think she's wondering when it will be over!!

THE RECEPTION:

Side note:  Ella & I left the reception during dinner b/c she was complaining that her tummy hurt (this is now code for she has to go to the bathroom).  She keeps holding it people!!  Anyway, it was over an hour that we missed on the reception, so I have no pictures of the cupcakes, the first dance, father/daughter dance, etc.  Also, we missed the Red Solo Cup dance (they handed out red solo cups for all).  She eventually went and we were able to return about 9:45ish....yeah....WAY past bedtime.  But we danced for about an hour, then headed back to the hotel sans Jay (who partied like a rock star I'm told until almost 4 a.m.)

And, I did not get one single picture of Ella and I all dressed up.  :(