LiveSTRONG Day 2011 is 10/2

LiveSTRONG Day 2011 is this weekend!  10/2/11.  WEAR YELLOW!! 

Need some stuff to wear?  www.livestrong.org/shop

Ella's Singing skills

We have been hearing Ella's random singing outbursts for months now, and I've been trying to capture it on video but not having much luck.  The other night she burst into song and I was able to catch a short bit before she caught me filming.  It's the sweetest most hilarious singing I've ever heard.  It's like she's singing and wants to sing it as LOUD as she can, almost shouting it sometimes.  Her favorite hits right now: Some sort of mix involving Baa Baa Black Sheep (this you will hear on the video below, which comes from a Seasame Street Songs dvd), Jesus Loves Me and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (she often shouts this one and she does crazy little hand dances while she sings this one too!)

Weekending in Morris....

This past weekend we were in Morris, MN for a wedding (Pete & Amber).  Didn't take many pictures, but here are the few we did take.  It was a catholic mass ceremony, of which Ella lasted through the bride walking down the aisle and then she'd had enough.  So....Ella & I spent the next hour walking around...and around...and around...outside until the ceremony was over.  Thank goodness it was a nice fall day!



Here she is prior to being seated at church. It was obvious that she wasn't going to sit still for the wedding - she's like....hmm...let's see...

  

Jay & I at the reception



Ella with Annie & Andrew.  Ella's face is hilarious!

Dancing with Annie and the girls

Turkey Day 2011

Guess what we did this weekend?  Went to Worthington.  Yes.  And...completed the Turkey Day 10k!  My first race ever (except for the Warrior Dash earlier this year).  I didn't specifically train for this race, just been doing my regular workouts.  And, I don't recommend going into the 10k without running training (even a little bit would have helped!)  Jay & I ran it together, although he finished before me.  I was in a good groove for the first 2 1/2 miles, then I grabbed water at the station and struggled from there.  I had all kinds of issues: had to pee (couldn't find a place to go), couldn't breathe (combo of struggling and a windy cold day), and I could have sworn my lips were going to be stuck together forever they were so chapped from the wind.  It was a LONG 6.2 miles in my un-running training opinion.  I'm not a runner.  I am terrible at the mind over matter mindset that runners have, BUT, I finished it, and can cross that off the ol' Bucket List!  I don't know my official finish, but somewhere around 1 hour 12 minutes. Not breaking records, that's for sure!  But I have the tshirt to prove I finished!  :)

Ella hung out with Grandma Deb while were at the race, here she is showing off her Turkey Day country-ish outfit! 

It was a chilly day at the Turkey Day parade again this year. Ella wore her hat for maybe 2 minutes total.  She didn't want a blanket either. Lovely.



Chase at the parade, all bundled up!

Isn't this the cutest?  Ella & Chase were holding hands after the parade.

Most of the DeGroot family that was in town met up after the parade for some delicious turkey and a few family pictures with Grandma Alice.  Here are a few that were taken on my camera, although I'm hoping others got better shots!

Grandma Alice with her great grandchildren.  Ella wouldn't sit there alone, hence I'm also in the picture (and Tracie is with Annalee).  :)

Grandma Alice with the her children (missing Dennis)



Grandma Alice with her grandchildren present (many are missing). 

Although everyone couldn't be there, it was fun and these pictures will be treasured for years to come!

Happy Turkey Day 2011!

Pink Boots

Ella has received a pair of hand-me-down pink rain boots, which I just took out the other night. She is obsessed with the boots. LOVES the boots.

First night trying on the boots


Next day



Last night - first trip outside with the boots - doesn't she look determined? We're on the way to the sandbox to play. She was excited to play outside wearing those boots!


She was very busy and didn't want to pause for a proper picture....


Last night, after the Vikings loss...looking for grasshoppers!


Isn't this hilarious? Ella wanted to workout with us the other night so she grabbed the workout bands (although she thought the green one was a headband....then apparently it became a necklace)

It feels like Christmas Morning

Guess what? P90X2 is now available for pre-order. I got the email late yesterday and I'm so excited! (for a pre-order!) It sounds like we won't get delivery until close to Christmas, but that's a few short months away! I'm sure you all know what a huge fan we are of Beachbody programs and especially P90X. Love. Wanna start too? Or have you done P90X and you want to pre-order P90X2 too? www.beachbody.com. Seriously, they should pay me for all the awesome stuff I have to say about their products! :)

Labor Day Weekending....

Can you believe it's the first day of school for many people today? So sad that summer is winding down. We had a good Labor Day weekend. We took Ella to a different park to play on Saturday and she (and we) had a great time. There was all kinds of steps for her to climb (her favorite activity to do at a park) and new slides too! Didn't bring the camera (shoot!). Sunday was low key. Yesterday I decided we should do something fun for our long weekend, so we took a trip to Cannon Falls to bike the trail. We've never been, so I was excited!! It was a gorgeous day but Ella wasn't really into the bike trailer. It started out okay, but we got about 3 1/2 miles in and she was done. Unfortunately for all of us, we still had to pedal back to the car - 3 1/2 miles back. She was pretty upset the whole time. Lovely....a crabby Ella made for a crabby Jay. It was just me and two crabbies! HA! Once we made it back to the car, Ella was sleeping shortly afterwards, so I think it was a combination of a new activity she'd never done before and being tired. Anyway, I only got a few pictures....which make me laugh b/c they totally capture the moods of everyone!


We had lunch at the Old Market Deli, which is apparently where President Obama had lunch during his visit a few weeks ago for the town hall meeting. We didn't know that, and that's NOT why we chose to eat there, but the food was delicious! Notice the flowers on the table? Ella thought that was awesome....she kept talking about those flowers!


Ella in the trailer...don't let this expression fool you. This was during a whining episode, she's not really smiling...


'nuf said


See....I was the only one who was happy.

:)