The Potty Saga continues...but we went to the fair!

It's been a LONG few weeks still trying to get Ella to grasp the potty training concept.  Her newest tricks?  She will bargain, and I mean BARGAIN her way to not have to go potty but will promise to go after {something}  For instance, Saturday was the longest day in history in our house.  Everyone was crabby.  I told Ella we weren't going to the Dakota County Fair unless/until she went potty.  Well, I started repeating this mantra to her starting about 9 a.m.  Hours passed.  It was then 4:30 p.m. and she still hadn't gone to the bathroom.  She'd been sitting on the potty chair but wouldn't go.  I was so frustrated!  Ella starting telling Jay that she would go potty AFTER the fair.  A million times she said this.  I wasn't going to give in.  Jay did.  So, away we went to the fair, which was fun! (even though I was worried about her lack of bathroom activity for the day and slightly annoyed that my 3 year old runs the household).  Pictures will follow of our adventures at the fair, but let me tell you this: we got home, walked in the door, got Ella cleaned up from the fair and she sat on the potty and she WENT!  Holy balls.  She really followed through on her bargain!  This girl amazes me every day.  She's too smart for her own good (ALREADY!)  And, after weeks of telling Ella that she can go in her "Dora Pants" (these are the Pampers easy ups) trying to persuade Ella not to hold it for so long, she's now taking us up on this and we're going through Dora Pants like they are going out of style!  OH NO!  I can't decide if this is good or bad.  She's going whenever she wants & doesn't want to sit on the potty because she tells me "Mommy, my Dora pants will catch it" (which are the exact words I tell her).  People, this is never ending! 

 Ella brought her camera to take pictures of the animals!

 Eating a fried peanut butter sandwich with Daddy!

 Her favorite animals - the cows!

Posing with her prize from the fishing game in the Midway

Smores & Workouts

A few phone pics from the past few days:  Sunday night smores and Ella's workout get-up.  HA!

Where we've been....

**Alert: Quite possibly the longest, full of everything random post, ever!**

We have been in potty-training pergatory since my last brief (ha!) post.  Tons of issues with Ms. Ella.  She's gotta be the most difficult child ever to potty train.  She holds it...and holds it...and holds it.  FOREVER!  Anyway, less talking, more pictures.  Hope everyone is doing great!

Few weekends ago - Annie's bachelorette party in northern Wisconsin.  WOW - have you ever been?  I don't think I can do it again.  Very interesting peeps.  This random picture makes me laugh - it's Lizzy & Debbie getting the rental pontoon.  I have NO idea why I thought this picture would be incredible.  It's clearly very random. I guess that's what cucumber infused vodka will do!

On a pontoon....

Ella after her very first dental exam.  They counted teeth, "painted" her teeth with cherry flavored flouride and gave her all kinds of goodies.  It wasn't easy by any means, but she's been much better about brushing now.

 Showing off the pearly whites.

Ms. Ella giving us some attitude, which is becoming more prominent now that we've entered the terrible 3s. I'm sorry but who decided that a 2 year old was worse than a 3 year old?!

Friday night Twins game 7/27.  It was a gorgeous night for outdoor baseball.  We had a great time and the home team even pulled out a win!

Annie's Abbas family bridal shower was on Sunday 7/29.  Tara & I were the hostesses.  A few pics from the shower:

Dum Dum sucker centerpiece for the large table.  I saw this on Pinterest a while ago and thought it was adorable!  I also made these marshmellow wedding cake pops.  How cute are they?!?  Love them.  Again, Pinterest. 

I was in charge of games - here's one of the games I put together.

Who has the Groom? I think it turned out cute!

I made a coffee filter wreath tinted yellow as part of the decor. 

Loving it!  I need to make one for my house now!

We celebrated Jay's birthday on 7/31.  I made a special request pie, which was delicious!  Sort of like a Snickers bar.  It was fun to make too!  I haven't made a pie forever (well, since apple pie last fall)!

 Birthday dinner at Houlihan's. 

Ella & Jay after gift opening.  A few weeks ago, I asked Ella what she wanted to get Daddy for his birthday. She kept telling me she wanted to get him a teddy bear with pink on it. I searched and couldn't find one so we drew him a pink teddy bear instead. :) 

  Here's Ella trying to swipe Jay's bday money!!

Pedicure time again - it cracks me up how she totally gets into the relaxing part when her feet are in the bubbles!

Making a bulletin board with Daddy at Home Depot on 8/4. 

She did some painting and hammering this time!

Guess what we're doing?

Yesterday Ella starting insisting she only wear big girl undies.  Still haven't made it to the potty, so we've had a few accidents.  Please pray for us - we need all the help we can get to get Ms. Ella trained before school starts!

Our Staycation

Our 4th of July holiday extended for the remainder of the week/end.  I can't believe we head back to work tomorrow.  Jay left this morning for a work trip, so really today it was back to reality.  We had a great time off though and it sort of turned into a stay-cation for us! 

The 4th we headed to a water park, since it was blasted hot outside.  It was SO packed, but we had a good time anyway, as did Ella.  It was her first trip to a big water park and she had a good time with us and even went down the lazy river!  I didn't get any pictures of us though (boo!)  Here's a pic from the morning trip to Caribou Coffee - Ella was obsessed with the Bear!

No fireworks for us - we watched them on tv.  Maybe next year?!?!

We spent some time in Woodbury Thursday and found a new super yummy frozen yogurt spot. 

Friday we headed to a beach in Carver County (yes, we put on MANY miles during this stay-cation).  Again, it was a great way to cool off.  Unbeknownst to us, it was another super hot day, even hotter than the 4th.  The sand burned the bottom of my feet, and you couldn't lay on the beach, had to be in the water.  Ella had blast playing in the sand. 

We ended our Friday with family celebrating birthdays at Lion's Tap in Eden Prairie.  I haven't been there since I was a kid!  It was fun, and the cheeseburger was fantastic!

Saturday we were able to get out for a stroll on the trails and got a few things done outside.  We headed back to Woodbury (we had our wedding rings polished, etc.).  It was a busy and fun-filled time and now we'll look forward to our out-of-town vacation in August!

Pre-Fourth Weekending....

Happy 4th of July week!  The weather, for once, may actually cooperate!  We have been having a busy weekend, just hanging out.  Yesterday morning I walked the lazy river at Cascade Bay in Eagan, which was super fun and a great leg workout.  Highly recommend.  Jay was at the Twins game last night and today we spent some time in the pool outside.

I never posted pictures from our trip to Cantebury last weekend, so here are a few and Ella today.  :)

Ella looked SO cute at Cantebury.  A little Polo Tennis Dress (found at consignment sale early this Spring for a total score!)

 Ella riding the Pony!  I would have never thought she would want to ride.  Ms. Cautious with a capital C, but she did great.  Her pony was named Bob.  HA!

Ms. Ella today after a long day in the pool and an extra long nap!

And have I mentioned Ella's fascination with "Red Solo Cup" by Toby Keith?  She got this red cup from the Farmer's Market last week, so now whenever the song is on, she insists on holding her red cup.  OMG.  What have we done?!?!