Wait!

I do have something to say. Our Meeko is on the homepage of the WI Humane Society's website. This is a photo I took that was in one of their annual calenders. They must like it because they keep using it. I've seen it in one of their e-newsletters too. I don't really blame them.... he is super cute.

No updates

It's been way too long since I posted and I began feeling a little guilty. I just don't have any news or juice. We've been pretty busy with preparing for the holidays. I llllove Christmas. I love the music, the food, the shopping, and the cheerfulness in everyone! Because afterall it's the most wonderful time of the year!

Mayumi and Yuma come on Sunday and we are all very, very excited. Yuma will have his first Christmas ever in the US. Santa is also bringing him lots of toys :)  I can't wait to take him sledding, skiing and make snowmen with him. They'll be here until the end of January, so I hope we get some big snow dumps.

This is my last week of school, so I am busy with finals and grading. It will be nice to have off for a few weeks, but I have some course work I'd like to revamp for my next class. This last semester was very stressful and difficult, mainly because I had an issue with a bad student and I taught two classes. It was just too much with working full time too. I hope I get a nice class next semester!

Here are some pictures of my lovies:

Yippie!

I'm so excited!! Mayumi and Yuma are coming!  What a great Christmas gift :)  Here is a picture of Ellie and Mayumi last year, September. Isn't Ellie tiny?  Also.... we are going to be doing some hard core baby shopping because she is pregnant!! I can't wait. 

Mayumi and Yuma

Odd things

Isn't this odd!?  This was designed for a loud typist. A Japanese company Thanko made this for coworkers that type loud  — The Keyboard Quiet Cover. For about $35, you can own this highly fashionable muffler. I had to post this because it is so weird and kind of funny and I'm sure there are people out there that should have one of these!

Christmas cards are done!

 I just finished our Christmas cards and ordered them. I also made some cute little return address stickers to match. I decided to do a collage of pictures this year. Most of them are from Ellie's 1 year pictures and the big one on the right my dad took with my new camera. This picture is ok, but it's the only one we got that we are all looking half way decent. It is not easy to take pictures with a toddler and wiggly dog. It was really stressful doing pictures and super cold out. We tried some inside, but those are even worse. Now all I have to do is address them, stamp them and put our return address sticker on.

Some pics from AZ

Here are some pictures from Arizona! I'm still trying to upload more to my computer.... it's so slow!

Waiting for our flight.

Trying to burn off some energy so the flight can be restful :)

Mexican lunch!

Waiting in line for the train ride!

Typical.

Carousel ride.







Reading time

Nick and I have tried really, really hard to read to Ellie. I'm not sure if she is just a great multi-tasker or if she is really good at ignoring us.  This is how it typically goes at night time. Nick sits in the chair attempts to hold her, but she wiggles out. She shuts her bedroom doors and begins to play with everything in her room. You would think she'd want to settle down and relax after her bath - NOPE she's a busy-body.

In this picture, Nick is reading Charlotte's Web and Ellie is busy looking in the diaper genie.

Here she is looking at another book.

Here she is with her brush and shapes toy.

And again with her shapes....

Meeko listening to story time though!

Moving her Owl pillow.

And she really likes to pose.

Is it Friday yet?

I have to be honest, it's hard to come back to work when you have these cute little things at home. It's only Wednesday and I just can't wait until the weekend.  I'm compiling the pics from our Arizona trip, but in the mean time, here are some pictures of my babies.



HI mama!

 

I'm hungry.

 

Smooch!




Just checking to see what's in there...



We're back!

I can't believe it's after Thanksgiving already! Last week went so fast I feel like it didn't even happen. I think the older we get the faster time goes. So, I'm sure you are wondering what happened on the airplane with our sweet little angel, Ellie. LOL! On a scale of 1-10, I would say it was a 6. It was still really hard, but not has awful as I thought. Nick was able to sweet talk the lady at the gate and she moved someone so we could have the row to ourselves. Ellie was very curious about the tv in the seat, Sky Mall catalog and poking the woman in front of us. I had to change her on the airplane (just #1 though) and I don't recommend it unless it's absolutely necessary. The bathrooms are extremely tight and there is barely enough room to lay her down on the table, but I got it done:) Both Nick and I tried to hold her and rock her to sleep (which we NEVER do) and she didn't like it, so we put her on her tummy in the middle seat and she slept for about 45 minutes! She cried and whined a little because her ears hurt, but most of the time she was busy throwing things. My cell phone, hippo and the IPOD got a beating.

The next thing that I was concerned about was Ellie's crib. I had bought a small portable crib online at Target and had it shipped to the house. It was a little small, but we brought her night light with music and she had no problems in her new crib.
The weather was a little chilly for AZ - only in the low 60's most of the time. We shopped a lot, drove around Scottsdale and Phoenix, ate a lot, won at the casino, went to the auto show, went to the flea market and hung out at the house. Nick and I were able to see 3 movies! We are big movie goers (or at least use to be), so it was nice to sit and relax and not think about anything. AZ has some great restaurants including 2 of my favorite places - http://ranchodetiarosa.com and http://www.ontheborder.com/ -- YUM!

It was such a nice week and I'm sad it's over, but am so looking forward to Christmas shopping! We already set up our tree and decorated, so we are ready for the holiday season.

I will post some pictures really soon. I know I've been slacking big time, but I will get back into the swing of things and try to slow down life for a bit ;)

Getting ready...

I haven't been very loyal with updating the blog :( I've been crazy busy with work, teaching and life!  I'm busy packing for our trip to Arizona.  I'm hoping to fit all of my stuff, Nick's and Ellie's into one suitecase... if I do I think that I deserve something - I mean ONE suitecase for 3 people!! So far, 90% of my stuff is in and it's half empty. I tried really hard to take only clothes I will really wear. I usually end up taking too much and not even wearing it. We'll even wash clothes, so I really don't need too much. Nick either. I will have to limit his jeans to only 3, otherwise he'd take 8 pairs. It will only be in the low 70's when we're in Arizona, but that is ok as long as I can wear sandels!  Ellie is also a very good helper - she says that we definitely need to take some magazines.  I also just got done putting Toy Story 3 on the IPOD and I'm watching it while I type. I love Disney movies. (love). I hope this will be a good distraction for Ellie on the airplane. Wish us luck on the airplane. Maybe I'll end up video-ing Ellie and Nick on the airplane.... LOL. That would be hilarious.

Ellie's nursery

Ellie loves her room!  Her newest thing is closing the doors and hanging out by herself for awhile... I didn't think she would start this until she was at least 13!!  Tonight she decided she would try a new room. It was a typical night and Ellie was running around playing like usual, when I heard her go into our bedroom and shut the door, so I went in there and she had not only shut our bedroom door, but the master bathroom door. When I went to open the door, it was blocked! Ellie opened the drawer and blocked the door. Nick and I could not open it for about 10 minutes. We tried all kinds of things and finally was able to push the drawer in with a long, skinny ruler. I'm still unsure if she was just being goofy and did it on accident or if she was being dramatic and knew exactly what she was doing. She is a little sneaky.

So, today I am thankful that I can shut doors in our house and Ellie can't open them by herself..... yet.

I thought I would share some pictures of her room.

We have these built-ins because it was originally the office.

Ellie's books - of course she has her favorites!

Here are Ellie's 6 months pictures and then the little pictures are of Nick and I when we were babies.

I made this butterfly collage.

Her furniture is from Restoration Hardware. We got it when Wendi worked there part-time.

Ellie's newborn pictures.

Ellie's kitchen.

Ellie's friends - Miffy, Keroppi, and Pooh. She loves Miffy!

Ellie's closet.

Looking out of her room.