A Great Day with Great Friends

So my girl has a shoe fetish. Anytime she sees a shoe she wants it on (even if its not hers). Saturday morning she found a shoe in the living room. Brought it to me, sat down, held her foot up and wanted the shoe on. She spent the next hour or so playing with one shoe on...


Elijah wanted me to take a picture of him (since I was taking one of Sadie) and he gave me his best *fake smile*...

She finally just cut another tooth. She's gone 6 months with just her "beavers"...

Elijah took this picture (pay no attention to the accentuated mullet). This is her "I'm not going to get in trouble am I?" face...

Yeah for shoes!!!

Saturday morning our friends from church, The Bruce Family, called to see if we wanted to spend the day with them. We were looking for something to do. Beau had gone to Dallas for the day to help Brad and Amy move. It was a great day for the zoo so we headed out.

While waiting for them to show up we took some pics...

Elijah wanted to do some funny face or "silly cheeses"....

I could sit here and stare at this angel. But I think I'll just finish this and go into her room and stare at her sleeping (and rub her big baby belly) like I do every night...

Oh, by the way, we're doing more walking than crawling now!!! Finally.





Brian bought the kids some fish food in the gift shop. I didn't even know that was an option! You learn so much with the Bruces...

Feeding fish. Brian, Elijah, Camden and Erica. Yeah, her name is Erica too. The kids think its so weird. Elijah will come to me some times and say, "Mom, did you 'member Camden's mom's name is Erica too?!" Its bad enough when you're out with other moms and you answer to every "Mama" that is said. Its even worse when you answer to every "Ms Erica!" too!

She missed out on feeding the fish. Maybe when she's older and would actually give the food to the fish instead of eating it herself...

Elijah and Camden...

After the zoo we went back to the Bruce House and had a yummy lunch then went swimming (after waiting 30 minutes, of course). Elijah never would even get in the water. I'm not sure how I'm going to fix that. I am all for him having a healthy respect for water, but he's so scared of it. Sadie on the other hand loved her time chillin in the pool...

She would just recline and relax....

Elijah had a great time, none the less. He loved these water launchers...

We had a great day, but we missed Beau. We'll definitely have to do it again!!

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My little actor

Last Wednesday was the Preschool Program and Graduation. Elijah was, of course, not graduating yet, but was in the program. It is so much fun to watch these kids preform. The pictures really aren't that great. Next year I will take the video camera, that would have been much better.

Elijah's class coming in....

They sang a few songs...

Stomping their feet at one point...

Shouting about Jesus...I love that they're all shouting and the one kid in the back is covering his ears! I would totally have guessed that to be Elijah (he's really sensitive to loud noises)...

This is when they were walking off the stage to their seats and he spotted me. He had to run down to me, give me a hug and get back in line...

I'll do better next year with video. Sadie and Elijah will be in it next year.

FUNdue!!!

This is our schedule every night: Dinner at 6:30, bath and pjs, snack, bed by 8. The kids' snack is usually yogurt, graham cracker, and milk. A few nights ago I decided to surprise the kids with some fondue. I had a plate of different fruits and cream cheese fruit dip for some fun dipping. They loved it!

By this time Elijah had tasted the dip and was now trying to just eat it with the stick.

At one point Sadie went for a strawberry. I hadn't hulled them so I tried to grab it from her. She shoved it in her mouth and took off. Yup, she ate the whole thing. It was too funny. Elijah then got on to me and told me I better "cut all the grass off the rest so Sadie can't eat it"...

She was covered in strawberry juice. I think next time we'll do it before baths...

I wish my camera did video. This was Elijah doing a dance...

Ha!!!

Eyes do not appear larger than they actually are...

Tuesday I did the hardest Zumba ever, came home, spent 3 hours painting and then went on a walk after dinner. I was pooped. So on Wednesday morning I was trying to find any excuse not to go to Zumba. After about 8 phone calls I finally got a hold of a friend willing and able to take the kids to the park. We went to a new one and it was great with lots of shade. I was too busy gabbing with Jessica and networking with other moms there for my Mom and Me club I'm starting (more about that later) to take many pics, but got one of my girl.

She is a mess. She refuses to walk unless she's in our living room where she walks all the time and she refuses to talk. She just screams. Not cry and not continuously scream. Just one, short burst of a shrill, glass shattering, cover your ears, spit second scream. That is her word for "I'm hungry", "I want Elijah to leave me alone", "I'm ready to get out of my high chair", "I want you to pick me up".....She usually just wants a snack. She eats constantly. And I am seriously talking about huge amounts of food. She will eat more at a meal than me and she eats all. day. long. If you are ever around her and she's fussy ask her if she needs a snack, I guarantee she will nod "yes" (at least she nods and shakes her head, that helps). So, to sum up, I have birthed a genuine mess and I'm sure I could not love anything more!!!

Be glad there's no sound with this. This was a scream that meant "I want the camera"....

Have a great weekend!!!

You're a lazy dog!!

Elijah came home from school on Thursday and he was so excited. They had been working all day on Mother's Day gifts. He couldn't wait to give me my present and just kept saying "Happy Mother's Day everyone!" So by the time Sunday came around he didn't know why everyone was still all wrapped up in Mother's Day when it was obviously 3 days earlier. Ha!



I don't know what the deal is with him cocking his head, but he was so proud of my flowers and I love him...

In other news we got a dog. We have always known that we would have pets once we got a place big enough. Since we moved in there is a neighborhood cat that comes over every day. Elijah said one day that he wanted to name him Jack. So we've called him Jack the Cat for the last month. At Sadie's birthday I heard Brooklyn ask Elijah if that was his cat. He answered, "No, we just borrow him." Ha! Anyway, we have been searching the shelters online for a dog. Then my parents called and said they were going to have to get rid of their border collie. He's a great dog, but too smart for his own good. They have one of those underground "electric" fences since they don't have a physical fence. The dogs wear a collar and if they get close to the fence it starts beeping and if they "hit" the fence it shocks them. Well, he was so smart, he realized it only hurt for a minute and would run thru the fence to wander the neighborhood. Well, we have a fence and liked the idea of getting a dog we know so last weekend I brought him home. His name, of course, is Jack. At least this time he was already named. To make it even funnier, Beau and I wanted to name our next son Jack...not sure if that will happen now. Ha!! Some funny things about Jack (the dog):

1. Beau says he's like a 7th grade boy, he's incredibly clumsy. He's only about 8 months old. When you run he gets between your legs and trips you or just trips himself.

2. He has to be right next to Elijah at all times. If the kids and I pass by the back yard to check the mail or go for a walk Jack will find a way out of the yard to get to us or whines until we get back in sight.

3. He is the laziest dog I have ever been around, especially for being a puppy.

4. He is gay. I wish I were joking.

Watching Elijah play in the sandbox...

This is how he spends most of his time...

Can you tell he's almost pushing Elijah over. He has to be right next to him. Elijah is a little scared of him lately because Jack scared him. Elijah was walking, Jack tripped him, Elijah fell and Jack rolled over on top of him. Elijah was pinned down and thought Jack was hurting him. It was actually kinda funny once I realized what was going on...

Jack is really good with Sadie. He doesn't get in her face or bother her. I can even sit Sadie down on the ground and Jack will just crawl up to her on his belly and lay beside her. This is Sadie imitating her mama talking to Aimee...

By this time Jack is unable to be as close to Elijah as he would like so Jack actually gets in the sandbox with Elijah. This makes Elijah mad so he gets out to complain...

Funny story: I had the kids and Jack in the porch last week (Jack wasn't trusted in the yard yet unless Beau was home). Elijah was running around the porch yelling "chase me Jack, chase me!" Jack walked to the middle of the room and just laid down. Elijah kept running, yelling "Chase me you lazy dog!!" Then Elijah goes and gets some dog food to entice Jack. He throws a few Jacks way. Jack, still laying on his side with his head on the floor, scoots toward the food and licks it up, never even lifting his head. I think he'll fit in just fine here.



Now Elijah is showing me that Jack chewed on Scoop (the bulldozer). I'm sorry if it makes me a bad person, but I love this sad face...

Elijah tried to lure Jack away with a bone...

My sweetie pie...

Jack didn't do so good the first few days he was here. He kept trying to get out so he could "be with" the male beagle next door, but after a few fence repairs and beatings I think he understands he's supposed to stay in the yard. We keep him locked in the porch at night still, but I don't think it will be long until he can be out all the time. I think he's going to be a good dog.

Extreme Home Makeover...Ballard Style

Here they are!!! Your first "Before and Afters". This isn't everything, but it's everything we've "finished". I think it will continually be a work in progress, but it looks a lot better.


The living room view from the front door...

The "dining room" area of the living room from the front door...

I had a brunch here this morning. So the table isn't normally there, but someday when I can afford a dining room table this is where it will go...

The kitchen and desk area...

This area isn't finished. I don't want to leave it white, but not sure what color to paint it. I am going to paint the desk black and add more pictures and space them better...

Elijah's room. This is his cool bed that he absolutely loves!...

We have a "hollywood bathroom". Its like a Jack and Jill, but each side has their own toilet. This is the kids' side of the bathroom...

This is Sadie's room...

So that's it!! (so far) I hope you enjoy it. We are loving it. It would be much easier to have a house that doesn't need so much work, but we're having fun making it our own.