Lots of fun stuff to share!

Last weekend we scoped out a soccer league for Ellie and got her all the gear she needed to start this week.  She was very excited all week and would practice every day.  It was fun watching her in action and it was a nice change of pace to add to our daily activities.

 The kiddos were very excited to get a package from Grandma Jeannie and Papa Jack.  

 She loved her shin guards so much she wore them
out of the store. She never practices without them!   

Ralphie likes to get in on the soccer action too.

   

 The Doc is in!  Doc McStuffin's Ellie came out this week.

 It was good to see her again, she is getting pretty creative with her diagnosis.  

 The kids had fun with play dough and math.  Ellie loves the dice games we create!

  We had a magical rock treasure hunt.  I made this "rocks" the night before with baking soda, food coloring, and glitter and I hid jewels in them.  So Ellie first had to find all 12 rocks I had hidden in the backyard. 

They had to of course go in a treasure box!

The Fairy Garden was a good place to find magical treasures!

One of the rocks broke open during the search and she discovered what was inside!

First jewel removed the fizzy vinegar way.

Then she tried breaking it open by throwing it on the ground.

 

One happy girl counting her jewels! 

 The big day for Ellie to make her soccer debut!  Unfortunately, all that practice this week was not enough to keep her going the whole time with her team.  They do a 10 minute practice and play cycle.  Ellie made it through the first practice and play schedule and then she had it.  We may have to work on that endurance!!  We're going to stick it out and keep going, hopefully each week will get more time out of her!

It was fun to be out and having Ellie try something new!

After church on Sunday we made our way to the mountains to visit Shaver Lake for a picnic lunch.

The ducks got to enjoy some Dorito crumbs.

Ellie informed us on the drive back that feeding the ducks was her favorite part and she had named them...Sunny, Tree, Walkie, Holly, and Camolie.  Love the names she comes up with!

Shaver Lake was yet another pretty stop that blew us away.  We drove further up in the mountain to check out the ski resort and Ellie said, "You thinking what I'm thinking...lets go sledding!"  We got a kick out of that.  She is full of funny one liners.  I wish I was better about writing them down right away so I won't forget them.  Something that melted our hearts this week was Jack finally saying "I love you."        

Happy Hearts Week!

This week we tried out a Mom's group, explored some new parks and finally made it to Yosemite!  My attempts at trying to get Ellie to complete all our crafts this week did not work out.  She would much rather play Kitty or Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles.  I thought with the social interaction she was getting with new friends this week I could get a little rest on her lovely imaginative play but, that was not the case.  She and Jack did have a blast at the Valentine party play group we went to and when we got home she told me, "it was so nice to meet that new boy I played with."  Jack just kept yelling, "fun, fun," when I asked him what he thought of the play group. Ellie also made a friend at the park and she tried to teach him about Ninja Turtles but, he kept requesting he be the pink turtle and kept telling him, "there is no pink turtle!"

I love to see them playing together without me having to initiate it. Sometimes they play together so sweet and I am so excited when I can capture a moment like this!

 Our stain glass hearts with black glue turned out really cute, she was actually up for this craft.

  

On the way to Yosemite I got this picture of them holding hands!  Love it!

The drive to Yosemite was beautiful!  I couldn't believe how winding the roads were, it definitely gave you motion sickness.  Poor Ellie had it the worse!

 Bridalveil Fall

We walked along the paths at the Bridalveil Fall and climbed on rocks, logs and took in all the huge trees.

 Ellie's favorite part was the bridges that went over all the creeks. The way the water flowed over the rocks forming beautiful little water falls was so pretty!

 Jack was not happy about having to be in the stroller while Ellie was roaming free on the bridges!

Tunnel View

 Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias 

When Ellie had the flu she really enjoyed taking the medicine, one of them she actually referred to as the candy medicine.  From time to time she will say something hurts and she needs medicine.  The other day one of her medicine requests had us laughing..."Mom, I need some medicine, when I drink my spit my throat hurts."  Jayson of course tells her, "that is called swallowing."   Now for Jack...  So, the other day each of the kids was in their own rooms looking at their new library books.  I go listen at Jack's door and every time he would finish a book he would say, "Amen."  It was so cute!  He must think when Ellie and I say "The End" we are saying "Amen" like we do after our prayer at dinner. When we pray at dinner the part he has down is "Amen."  These kids make my day everyday!