21 Months- Elise Mae Halsted

Nicknames:  Mae Mae, Leesey, Angel Pie Pie

Loves:  You love dirt, sticks, high heels, coloring, and swinging. But at the top of the list is babies. (Right above dirt) You absolutely LOVE playing with your babies.  You push them in the stroller, change their diaper, rock them, feed them, etc.  This could go on a LONG time on any given day. 

Books:  Your favorite book is Goodnight Moon.  There are about six books that you want to read over and over and really have no tolerance for introducing any new books into your repertoire.  Other favorites are, I Love You Through and Through, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, and Who?

Eating:  You are a great eater.  One of your favorite foods is macaroni and cheese, but you love pizza, peanut butter and crackers. cereal, bananas, blueberries, and strawberries.  You love all types of crackers and cheese and cream cheese.  There are not a lot of vegetables you eat (can't think of any) so you will need to get on a multi-vitamin when you are two.  Thankfully you can now drink whole milk with no issues!  Just like everyone else in our family you have a big sweet tooth :)

Attitude:  Oh my word, you crack us up.  You are fiercely independent and stubborn.  Thankfully your sister seems to just give in to keep the peace much more often than not.  Part of this is toddler phase, but part seems to be just YOU!  I pray that passion serves you well in life and that you use it to serve HIM.  Most of the time you are friendly to strangers and flash that million dollar smile.  Another thing that melts our heart is how cuddly you are.  You are always going in for a hug or a kiss or saying, "Wuv you much."

 

Talking:  You will say just about anything and talk nonstop.  You can count to 13 and semi do the alphabet.  It is hilarious to listen to say things that others say.  When you drop something you say, "Whoa Dudes," (like Gammy) and your current favorite thing to say is, "Mommy wook at me," and "Mommy, what doing?"  Another thing that cracks me up is when you are doing something you aren't supposed to--even if in another room-- you yell loudly, "Elise Mae what you doing?"  This means you want me to come and ask you what in the world you are doing and tell you to stop.  Of the four of us, you are definitely our family clown and keep us laughing.

Elise Mae Halsted,
Mommy loves you so much and it is a delight to watch you grow and explore.  It is so encouraging to see your innocence and work hard to maintain it and cultivate your spunk and twinkle.  Your sister is such a sweet soul and loves you so much and oh my word is that love reciprocated.  Nothing warms my heart quite like you begging to sleep with her or running up to her for a tight hug.  Thank you for all you bring to our home; all the laughter and dreams and delight.  Happy 21 months my little sunshine.

The Pumpkin Miracle

Amelia and Elise and I went to a small pumpkin stand to get a few gourds and little pumpkins.  Even though she had been told that there would be no buying of LARGE pumpkins, Amelia became overwhelmed when we got there with the joy of all the big pumpkins.  I explained we weren't getting one and we got our decorations and left.

Later that evening we took food to a couple from church that were having a rough week and as we checked on their sick baby and delivered the food, they asked, "Want a pumpkin out of our pumpkin patch?"  We proceeded to walk out the back door and select a huge pumpkin and cut it right off the vine.

As we get in the car, Amelia smiles and says "I knew I would get a big pumpkin today."

 

This story is typical Amelia Claire.  How does this stuff happen to her??

Rainy Weekend with the Mitchell Family

 For months we have been waiting to hang out with Aaron and Rebecca and their kids and go to SDC and just have a grand ole time.  For Ross's birthday, Barbara and Darrell got us a two bedroom cabin right by SDC so we could have maximum time there in the beautiful September sunshine.  This just added to the excitement.  As we started our journey to the cabin, it was POURING down rain.  The radar indicated this would continue and continue and continue.  As in, rain for two entire days straight.  We have prayed for rain all summer, but this was one of those, "Can I rescind that prayer just for a few days?" moments. 

My attitude was less than stellar as we were on the road.  Heck, it was less than stellar when I was packing.  And when I kept refreshing the forecast every two seconds.  But, my two girls were beyond pumped and I tried to channel that energy.  Optimism is not my bag.  If I think something is going to be awful, I will just say it.  Then, if I am surprised and it turns out great- so be it.  However, having kids has forced me to be less vocal about the impending doom of such things as The Great Rainy Weekend of 2012 and on we truck.

Amelia was so impressed with the cabin.  She wanted to pose for a picture upon walking in.

Waiting on Aaron and Reb.  Caleb got carsick four times and they were delayed.  Still pouring rain.  Things were getting better and better...

Elise played with her baby in the decorative bowl from the coffee table.  This is why we don't have nice things, ha.

BABY CLAIRE!  The girls loved her instantly.

Eating some supper.

We woke up the next day and it was still raining.  There were no signs of it letting up, but my little Polly Positive friends (husband being the ringleader) decided that there would definitely be a break in the rain at some point.  And since SDC was free we should just go for it.  I just put on my best faking it smile.

This is actually the smile

By some large blessing, the kids were super excited?

The Orange sandbox is Elise's favorite activity at SDC and it is under a huge awning.  PRAISE!

Waiting on the train

Elise had never ridden the train and Amelia has only ridden it once due to the fact that we never want to take time out to wait on it.  However, with it pouring rain, it was the perfect opportunity to hop aboard and enjoy the ride under the train awnings.  Elise did excellent and sat very still!

Claire slept like an angel snug in her stroller.  Look at her pumpkin hat!

We went back and warmed up and all took LONG naps.  I was so proud of how well the girls napped and I slept TWO hours.  Yeeehaw for cabins.

Feeding the geese from the porch

Aaron and Ross trying to grill out while getting rained on..

After supper, it quit raining for real and we went for a walk around the property.

Amelia fished a few minutes and then declared she just didn't have the patience.

Claire was impressed with Amelia's loving nature.

Claire was not impressed with Mae Mae's wildness.

Sunday morning it was pouring again as we headed back for Sunday School, but it actually was a great weekend.  It was slow paced and calm.  I usually pack our weekends full and it was nice to be forced to slow down.  That's all the positivity I have folks...

Aaron and Reb, thanks for making the long drive to hang out with us!

Wedding Weekend

Two weekends ago we went to Harrison for my cousin Taylor's wedding.  Amelia was insanely excited and I tried and tried to convince her that it wasn't going to be some grandiose carnival.  She couldn't be convinced and was chomping at the bit.  Before the wedding we had some lovely cousin time at the Arts Festival downtown.  The weather was brisk when we started, making it the perfect day. 

Yummy donuts

Cracks me up.  Cool cat Ing with her donut.

 I got the girls some tie dye shirts at the art festival and Steph and I got friendship bracelets (Steph, I still have yours).  We met up with G and walked around to browse in some stores and this one was the most popular.  The girls got new Toms, but this toy area was FAR more exciting to them.  They played here so nicely.

Toys that aren't yours = extra fun.

 Uncle DD met us for lunch at Master Chef and then we went out to sit in his new VW Bus.  Exciting!

After naps, it was finally time for the wedding.  I was STILL trying to downplay it to Amelia, but she wasn't having it.

Mom and Dad got the girls these cute new dresses!

The wedding was beautiful and Amelia proved me wrong by being very into it.  "What is that candle for?"  "Why can't those people walk down the aisle by themselves?"  "Why are they standing up on the steps?"  "Why is there a special song?"  It was fun to talk about with her and she informed me, "I like Taylor's dress, but mine will be WAY poofier."

Elise did not prove me wrong and could not sit still more than one second, so thanks to Gampy for going outside with her and missing the whole thing.

The reception was the big kicker though.  These girls danced and danced and danced.

Such a fun evening and all four of the girls acted wonderful. I thoroughly loved all the family time we had and was just sad that Rossco missed out.