MEA Weekend #1 and a Baptism

Wondering how we've been?!  Still vehicle-less (me) but we've managed to get around alright the past week or so.  We spent MEA weekend as follows:  Thursday, Ella got to spend the day with Grandma Jolyn.  

They went to the local pumpkin patch with the farm petting zoo and Ella bravely fed the goats.  :)  She had a great time and even got to spend some time at the park!

Friday, Ella and I got flu shots (well, Ella got the fluMist).  And, this was her first time getting the mist version of the flu shot.  She's had a runny and stuffy nose ever since - annoying!  We had a good time working on some school-type projects and got caught up on some stuff at the house.

Saturday morning, we loaded up and headed out for another visit to Worthington!  We have decided that this year we've visited more than any other time.  LOTS of visits.  But, it is fun to see everyone more frequently. Now it's time for everyone from down there to come up and visit us!  We were celebrating Lexi's baptism on Sunday.

 

We are looking forward to some car shopping and also a pre-Halloween event on Friday night!

Lately

Well, life has been interesting the past few weeks.  Ella tested positive for mono two Saturdays ago.  However, the doctor said it could also NOT be mono and could be a virus that acts like mono.  Wonderful.  Her tonsils were humongous, which is what caused me to take her in.  She wasn't (and hasn't) been acting tired or sick, but her tonsils were saying something else!  I think she is starting to feel better now and the tonsils have returned to a more normal size!

We have a vehicle "situation" at our place.  My beloved Escape has likely kicked the bucket.  The repairs I have been quoted will far exceed its value.  So, I sit and ponder.  I hate big decisions, especially ones that come out of nowhere!  I have had a rental car the past few days, but that's going back today.  And then I'll be car less.  Yes, I'm freaking out.  :) 

We had a quick family photo session this past Saturday at a farm/park in Eagan.  It was a perfect fall day and from the sneak peek (see below) I think we will have some great pictures to print (to finally decorate the house with some pictures!)

Wedding Weekend

Hi!  We had a wedding on Saturday, so here are a few pictures. Our family photographer was the wedding photographer, so I decided to just take a few and wait for the pro pictures!  Ella was the flower girl and looked SO grown up!! She was a total princess and she loved it!  She was a dancing queen on the dance floor too!!

This makes me smile

Oh, hello!  It has been a good while since I've posted.  We made a trip to Worthington for the Turkey Day festivities, but I think I took one picture.  And it's on my REAL camera, so therefore, it will probably never surface.  :)  Then last week was insane because Jay was traveling so it was "just the girls" which made for a busy week.  

Saturday, I had a burst of motivation to get some of these house projects checked off my list.  So, I finally decorated Ella's bedroom and toy room walls with all things princess, including a giant Cinderella castle, and I don't know why it took me so long to get that done!  It looks really cool and Ella loves it.  Check that off the list!  Then, I spent some time prepping that front door that I still need to paint (but still haven't), and Ella was outside with me.  I snapped this picture of her, which just makes me smile

Is she 60?!  This reminds me SO MUCH of my Grandpa Harm and Grandma Alice on those summer nights back on Clary Street.  They would sit in the driveway and watch the traffic.  More often than not, some family would stop over to chat (and watch the traffic too).  Love it.

Happy First Day of Fall!  I am protesting by wearing flip flops.  :)

Weekending...

We made it through the first week of kindergarten!  Hurray!  Let's see what Ella thought of the week....

EXHAUSTING!

I picked her up Friday after school and we ran over to see our previous daycare to visit and then headed to the library before our "girls night out"!  Jay was gone fishing so we planned to go out to dinner "just the girls!"  Well, almost as soon as I backed out of the driveway, she was out!  :)  

She loves school and is meeting new friends!

But a dinner with me at Noodles & Co. was nothing to sleep through!

We had a great time!

Other random picture from our weekend:

Ella staying warm (and comfy) in her new jogging suit for school!  

Unfortunately, the weekend took an unexpected turn on Sunday after Sunday School.  Ella started feeling tired and was acting strange.  Sure enough, she was sick.  So, home today to make sure she's better and healthy for week 2 of Kindergarten.  Hoping we can resume our new normal routine tomorrow!

First Day of Kindergarten!

Last night, when I kissed Ella goodnight, I said "I'll see you in the morning my little kindergartener."  Well, she clearly wasn't having the word "little", so she corrected me that it should be "See you in the morning my big kindergartener"  Fine.  Then, she turned to me and said, "See you in the morning my big worker"  LOL!

What a day it was today! 

I think we were all a bit anxious this morning about the big day.  But Ella was just super excited.  She wasn't worried or nervous or anything.  Just - ready. 

No tears (for any of us) however, I think I might have cried if I had been alone.  :)  As I'm writing this, I hope she was able to figure out the lunch stuff okay today.  Tomorrow's anxiety will stem from her first bus ride with Anna Bananas and then hoping she will get directed to her classroom smoothly....

HA!

Update #3 - Post-Vacation Life

Well, we arrived back home safe and sound.  Jay caught the cold I caught, so he was miserable, and Ella was straight up sad that we couldn't attend a birthday party (for an adult).  She was devastated....

Nice way to ease back into life in the fast lane, right?

 

We have all recovered now and have been trying to enjoy the last bits of summer because, well, school starts tomorrow.  I am pretty sure I have been in denial about the whole thing.  I mean, I've talked about it (maybe too much) and bought the stuff we needed to buy, but I don't think I've really processed the fact that this one 

 

 MY BABY!

Is headed to Kindergarten tomorrow and is even going to ride there in a new big kid "booster seat"

Well, it is going to happen folks.  I am just going to squeeze her extra times and extra hard tomorrow before I drop her off.  I'm totally excited for her and she is so excited she can hardly stand it.  But, me...well, I could stand to wait...I mean, I could wait outside the window and watch her every move all day long tomorrow.  That might make me look crazy, so I guess I'll do the grown up thing and burst into tears when I get back to the car (let's hope I make it there before the ugly cries start).

Stay tuned....