Please Tell Me She's Not Kissing This Animal!!

As I was sorting through our photos tonight, I found some recent photos of the zoo. We go to the zoo often, but when Mike takes Elizabeth, he always takes a ton of pictures. I couldn't resist sharing this one!! Aunt Melissa went along on this trip - couldn't she make sure she doesn't kiss farm animals?! Good grief!

Elizabeth loves the animals and thinks they are all playmates to take home. Whenever we visit the baby pygmy goats, she tries to pick them up and carry them out. Our zoo membership has been one of our best purchases this year. It seems that we are there at least once a week.

First Big Crash!

Elizabeth took her first big tumble today. Sure enough, it had to be on the new concrete! That stuff is rough (as you can see!!) Luckily she didn't suffer any major injuries - just some big bumps and some minor bleeding. After about 1/2 hour of crying, we finally calmed her down. Nothing a little ice cream with Uncle Doug can't fix!!

She's had some smaller accidents in the past, but this one was so much worse. It was really hard for both Mike & I - as a parent, you just want to make the pain go away! I get sad all over again every time I look at her poor face. Heal quickly little friend!!

Happy Birthday Jacob!

Elizabeth's cousin, Jacob, got a Boston Terrier puppy for his birthday last week. Ellie weighs a pound and a half!! Elizabeth loves her - she is just the right size to fit in her little lap and she's in love!

I can't believe our oldest nephew is 11 already! Gosh, how time flies. He is such an amazing little man. I can't believe how mature and responsible he is - especially with Elizabeth. He is the best babysitter (while adults are home, obviously)!!

He told us this was his best birthday ever - what a great day!!

E has pigtails!!

I think every mom of a little girl awaits the day that her hair is finally long enough to put in pigtails! Here she is!!

I must admit it was quite a project to get her to sit still, but the end result is too darn cute!

Summer Is Here!

Elizabeth had fun playing in the sprinklers tonight. She loves the water!! We're really excited to try the swimming pool this summer too.

The Almighty Tower

Thanks to Aunt Krista, we have this amazing "Learning Tower" at our house. If I had to tell moms one item I couldn't live without, I think this would be it. Elizabeth spends so much time in this thing!! It's great because she can eat at the counter, help with food preparations, or share in whatever I am doing in the kitchen. We have very few snacks running around the house because standing in the tower seems to be a really fun time!

One of the best parts about being a mom is being able to share ideas with one another. I think we benefit from that more now than moms ever did before us. I laugh when I look at some of my registry gifts now - I could've lived without so many of them!! If I only would've listened to the moms who offered me advice back then! :-)

Anyway, if you have a child and don't own a tower yet, I would highly recommend at least one per household.

Wow! Look at us!!

I finally gave in and decided that a blog would be a good way to keep family & friends up to date on our lives. I'll try to add new photos and comments as often as possible, so check back often!!