The TaBoots

James loves trains so this week I took him to visit a Caboose at one of the parks in town. He loved it even though I was a little freaked out by the obvious signs that people had been living in it.

Baking Bread

This past week I branched out and made sourdough bread for the first time. It was tons of fun and James loved helping. Kneading it was his favorite part. He loves to cook you never know maybe I should have named him Basil. How could you go wrong with a chef named Basil?

Making Friends

James has the sweetest little friend, her name is Ava. Its interesting seeing as how we almost named Ellie Ava. Ava is 15 days older than James but we only met about 2 months ago. Last time she came over for a play date they decided it would be fun to play baby and get into the crib and suck on pacis. Children are amazing. :)

In other news...James and Ellie are still quite a team.

A Couple Pics From the Last Month

Several people have been begging, I dare say hounding me for new pics of the kids. I can't really say hounding as that would imply that I felt harassed and I have to say I didn't. In the last few weeks I've been so busy as all the rest of the world. In the end of Sept. my womens Bible study started up again. This alone keeps me busy. Every week I add another thing to my ever growing list of things that I need to improve on. It would be very depressing if it wasn't so amazing to see God's work in my life. The harder I work the more work I see that needs to be done. So there is that, I've met some wonderful women through this study (I've been attending for a year now) so now I have some really good friends as does James (Ellie too). I've been having play dates and or dinners with them every week. Sometimes I wonder who the play dates are better for, me or James. Hmmm.
I started working for a little old couple almost a month ago now. I go there about twice a week and work for a few hours doing whatever they can think of for me to do. I do anything from general cleaning, changing light bulbs, cleaning out closets, making phone calls, writing out phone #s etc.(she is legaly blind so any writing needs to be very large and in black marker) Sat. I am taking him grocery shopping. I'm excited about this. I'll be taking the kids along and this will be the first time that they have met them. Ralf is 89 and Ellen is 85. Its a shocker to think that he is nearly 70 years older than me. I think they enjoy my company more than having me there for the work although they think I am quite the worker. Today I was only there for two hours and they gave be a bonus because I worked so hard. I tried to refuse but they insisted.
About two weeks ago I signed up to sell Tupperware. This I am so siked about! Me, the Tupperware Lady. I've always loved the stuff but always had a hard time finding it so now here I am. I am having my first party on the 21st. Very, very exciting for me:) So if any of you need any Tupperware let me know, or if you want to have a party I can hook you up. I had no idea how much cool free stuff you could get just for having a party.
Last Fri. morning I ran out for about an hour to go garage saling ( I haven't been since Ellie was born) and lo and behold I got the deal of the century. I found I would say at least $1500 worth of Thomas the Tank Engine and Brio train stuff for $90. It was so hard for me to plunk that much money down in one spot but I am oh so glad I did. I gave James 3 of the wooden trains (of the 94 ) now and am saving all the rest of the stuff for Christmas. I can't wait. I hope he'll be old enough to remember it. We are hoping to set up part of the track around the tree the night before and have a bunch of the trains on it.
We do have a huge praise to share. Tim is going to be moving to the 3-11 shift from the 11-7 shift at the hospital. This is going to add so much time together. We are so thankful to God for this, the night shift was starting to take its toll on all of us.

So this is what has been going on in our lives recently. I'll try to keep you better informed and pictorially updated but I make no promises.Ellie had her first diaper rash and it was a doozie so she napped naked. She thoroughly enjoyed it. She'd always rather be naked.

She's a thumb sucker.

Hmm...this wasn't his dinner, he just insisted on carring around the stale baugette all the while trying to naw off a bite.

Ellie looks startled often, even when she isn't.

We like to create an illusion of hair. She's really almost bald.

We went to the fair and James got an armband. Oh what fun. Auntie Kristal road the dragon with him and he thoroughly enjoyed it. Can you tell?
Trying to pet a Highlander Cow for Auntie Kryna at the petting zoo.
Political at such a young age. I'm waiting to inform her that she has to wait 18 more years before she is allowed to vote. Someone mistook her for a boy the night this was taken mind you. I would have thought the dress would have spoken for itself but aparently not.

Fair fun with Daddy.

This was taken the morning she was baptized.

I laid Ellie on the bed while I was doing some stuff in the bedroom I left for a min and found her asleep.

Everyday she is more beautiful and and I fall deeper in love with her.

I truly believe she is going to be a spitfire despite what this picture would have you to believe. She is really sweet even though she knows what she wants. She is no pushover.

James has developed this smile for when he is asked to smile for the camera :)

Today I took time out to show James some proper kitty protocol. Not sure how well he was listening but this is actually a big improvement from before:) She is very longsuffering.

James Belated Birthday Fun

James turned 2 on Aug. 30 which happened to A&M's big day so we put off festivities until everyone was home and settled back in. We had an "Elmo" birthday and it was too much fun. I made Elmo cupcakes and James went nuts when he saw them and the rest of the day he watched them intently and talked to them. He waited patiently until after his birthday dinner to tear into his own personal Elmo cupcake.

Two dozen little Elmos
Awe and wonder at all the Elmos
The happy family

I just couldn't post without a few pics of Ellie. So here they are too.

Grandma is still awfully funny

And here we have our main course for the evening, Chicken Breast stuffed with tomatoes, basil, garlic, and mozzarella cheese. Mmm

Ellie wants to know

Does this hairdo make me look like a Who, you know like the ones from Whoville?

Its Creepy

Today I went to get a prescription I have for my migraines refilled only to be told that I did not have any refills left. I was somewhat baffled and asked how that could be, I had the empty bottle stating that I had one refill and I had actually only ever filled it once. They told me no I had indeed filled it on May 7th. They then pulled up the signature from when I picked it up. I looked at it and knew instantly that it was not my or anyone in my families signature. The longer I thought about it I also realized that May 7th was the day that we left for vacation so I wasn't even in town when I filled this prescription. I asked the pharmacist more info and found out the most alarming thing is that this person who did this knows me. They know what medications I am on, what pharmacy I use, my birth date, and most likely that I was going to be out of town. I find this all more than a little unsettling.

The Van

So Last Monday we found a great deal on a van in Detroit so we packed our bags and headed to MI. I love, love, love it! I feel like I could have driven my little Aveo right in the back. James and Ellie seem to be enjoying it too. On the way home we were able to stop and visit Frank and Sonja (and fam). It was really nice to see them even if for only a few hours. It was the first time we were able to visit their new house. Anyways this is just a quick post with a few pics of the trip and of course a few of Ellie here at home.

Poor kid was trying to watch Lady and the Tramp but I kept asking him to smile, I guess this is what can be expected.

Sonja and Ellie

It proved somewhat difficult to get everyone looking at the camera at the same time.

Frank and Sonja's new house

Little Peepette

I think in this one her face reflects her horror that the rag has slipped and is now worthless in our attempt at modesty.

So much better.