Catching Up-Accident Prone Erin

Back-tracking a little (I forgot I hadn't done a post on this): Erin is an accident prone child.  The kid just can't help but hurt herself.  Prime example:

 Sean picked her up from daycare in March, and she had just had a spill on the slide.  They said that she tripped on the top step--they saw her do it and asked if she was ok.  She ignore them (typical) and went on down the slide.  When she got to the bottom, she put her hand to her mouth, came away with blood, and flipped out.  Sean got there just as they were calming her down and preparing to call.

 Turns out, she had chipped one tooth, knocked another loose, and cut up her lips. 

We took her to the dentist, and while they gave us a few options, the only one that made sense for a 2 1/2 year old was to have the teeth pulled.  The problem with pulling a 2 1/2 year old's baby teeth?  She can't go years without front teeth.

 The next week, we took her back in to get her partials, which she'll have until she's about 7.  They'll preserve the space for when her permanent teeth come in.

 They looked a little "rabbit tooth" like at first, but as she's grown, they look more normal now.

Then, in April, the day before we were originally scheduled to have family photos, she does this.  She face planted on the concrete at some friends' house.  Thankfully, she didn't knock out the partials.  Will, who was there, texted us (we were at a movie) and said that she needs to learn to catch herself with her hands.  No kidding! 

Catching Up-Family Photos May 2015

We were long overdue for some family photos and finally had a chance to connect with Jen (one of our favorite photographers) to get some done at the Japanese Stroll Garden in May.  I'd never been there, and I have to say: it was gorgeous!  A great backdrop for some family pics!

 The girls cooperated fairly well, considering the host of distractions a stroll garden offers.  Erin had one outfit change--since I didn't get to have 2 year pictures taken for her, she was the star of this show.

 Daddy found a four-leaf clover for Elise, and she posed with it!

 I absolutely loved this little dress and headband.  I had taken a chance and ordered a "mystery outfit" for $13 off Screaming Owl.  This is what I got.  I was very pleased with what $13 got us!

 Erin was being difficult about smiling in her pic with Daddy, but he tickled her a bit and she couldn't help but laugh!

Such a little model!

 I wasn't just thrilled with any of the pics of the 4 of us together (one or more of us always managed to have a weird face going on), but we got some great ones of the girls, and of Sean and I alone with the girls.

 We were all wrapped up with photos and Jen and I were walking behind Sean and the kids--she just had to whip her camera out to get this last shot and I am so glad she did--I love it!

Catching Up-End of School Year

Just before school let out, Elise started playing T-ball.  They do coach pitch for 3 pitches, then bring out the tee. As the season has progressed, she's started to get the hang of it!

Daddy helps coach when he's not at the station!

 So far she has really enjoyed playing!  She had to give up gymnastics to play (we are not going to be the family that is running around 4 nights a week for our kids' activities--I can't handle that!), but seems to be okay with that.

 She has a lot of spectators each week.  I snapped this cute pic of Erin and Popa at one of her games.

To celebrate Elise's last day of school, Mommy, Mammy, and Nanny took her, Link, and Erin to Silver Dollar City.  They let out at 11am the last day of school, so it worked out perfectly!

 The kids had a blast, and as her sticker says below, we now have a 1st grader!

Catching Up-Pets

Next up in April, we went to Illinois (though we stayed in Iowa--we were right on the border) to pick up the newest member of our family.  I had found through a rescue up there a full-blooded rottweiler puppy.  Sean grew up with rotts and really wanted one since we'd decided it was time to add a dog to the mix.

 It was a nice little weekend getaway for Sean and I when we went to pick her up.

 We walked along the Mississippi and had a wonderful dinner in Keokuk, IA, which is where we stayed.

 When we met Roxie, we were instantly in love.  She's a wonderful puppy and has been such a great addition to our family!

 She had been bred for a pet store, but they won't accept puppies with "deficiencies".  Because Roxie's nose is rounded on top instead of boxed off like rotts are supposed to be, she'd been rejected (along with her brothers and sisters, who had already been adopted).

 The pet store's loss was our gain: a full blooded rott at adoption price!  Elise was instantly her best buddy, and they've remained besties--now that Roxie is fully potty trained, she sleeps in Elise's room.  Plus, Elise sleeps like a rock and Roxie snores (the nose thing :))

 Roxie wasn't the only pet this spring.  Elise had a toad who had been her " pet" last year, and who came back after hibernation.  Buddy, as she named him, let her cart him around, and as long as she put him back in his "home" (near our crawl space), he was always there for her to find.  Until the day she had him out in the other part of the yard and forgot to put him back.  He hopped away, never to be found again.

Erin wasn't as sure about Roxie at first and took quite a while to warm up to her.  But they both talk to her in baby voices now and say "that's my good Roxie girl".

 The good thing about Elise forgetting to put Buddy back in his home: we didn't have to find him torn to shred by his new yard mate :)She loved him though, so I am glad I got some pics of her with him.  Even if he grossed me out.

 We also got the excitement of getting to watch baby birds hatch right on our front porch!  It was a popular hangout for the kids waiting for the bus--and everyone took pics as they grew. 

 There ended up being 3 baby birds, but I forgot to take pictures--or if I did, I can't find them on my new phone!

 A little out of order, but sweet Roxie again.

 Elise loves animals--I wouldn't be surprised if she became a veterinarian.  When visiting the fire station, she came walking up to us with this bird that had flew into the bay window.  Sean and I both freaked out, thinking it was diseased, but it let her hold it and she was very easy.

 Sean talked her into setting him down outside in the grassy area, and he must've just been stunned, because after a few minutes, he flew away!

Catching Up-Easter 2015

I may or may not have fallen a little (a lot) behind on my blogging.  For all the people (3) who read it (sorry, Chad), I'm going to make an effort to catch up this week!  It isn't that we've not been doing anything, it's actually the opposite: we've been busy!

Let's start with Easter!

 These pictures loaded in reverse order of the events of the weekend, but I'm going to roll with it.  We finished the weekend at Nan and Pop's.  The kids had their annual pinata smack down, which was popular, as always.

 There are a lot of littles running around hunting eggs anymore--and we were missing two of them!

 Saturday was Easter at MawMaw and PawPaw's.  This is the last picture of when there were only 4!

 We also went to a church Easter egg hunt at the church we've been going to occasionally.  We're not convinced it is for us, but we're feeling unmoved to look hard for another option.  The girls like it a lot, Sean and I are the ones who struggle to feel like it's "home".

 They do put on one awesome Easter celebration, though!