Ellis Kids

Pictures!

2012-01-24T20:08:00.011-05:00

Jaelynne & Camryn made this for TJ's birthday. Jaely was so proud of herself, and she couldn't keep a secret. She mentioned monsters many times to TJ, but he didn't quite get it.

Jaely wanted to wrap her present to TJ. It took great concentration, but she is getting really good at cutting, folding, and taping.

Spaghetti and cake. . . what a mess. Thank goodness it is bath night!

Camryn watching her sister and papa play outside.

This is how Cami put on Jaely's pants. She is really trying to dress herself.Very upset. . . i am sure it was food related.

Camryn was pretty proud of herself that she was able to climb up on the chair.

before we added the eyes and the mouths.

Dinner Conversation

2012-01-22T21:52:00.002-05:00

Me - I can say mom backwards. Mom.
TJ - And papa backwards is apap.
Jaely- I can say mom backwards, too. (spins herself around in the chair, with her back towards table) Mom.
Me and TJ- (laughing hystarically) We love you Jaely!

Camryn Elizabeth

2012-01-21T21:36:00.002-05:00

I am not sure when it happened and i am not even sure if it was a gradual change or a sudden one. I am leaning towards a sudden one, maybe one that coincides with walking. But what i do know is that Camryn is no longer our easy going, relaxed, laid back girl. In fact, i would say it is quite the opposite. She is a climber, a mover, a learner. Never still. I can't even take pictures fast enough. They are just coming out as a blur of camryn. Today she discovered walking backwards. Around dinner time she wanders around screaming and crying and demanding food. Not very helpful when you are trying to get dinner together in the kitchen. She climbs on the toilet, on our dinning room chairs, on people, on our kitchen table, on the couch, on the over sized chair, on the coffee table, onto Jaelynne's dresser. And when she does climb on these things, she immediately attempts to stand up. She loves going into Jaelynne's drawer in the bathroom and walking around with a comb or a brush by her head. She gets angry, quickly. And giggles just as quickly. She opens cupboards and pulls the kitchen towels down.

She is not a peaceful kid. Maybe since now that she can walk, she lost that easy going, peaceful girl she once was. She headbutts, nudges, pushes, falls to the ground, screams, turns red, hits, and slaps. Most often she does these things in response to not getting food or being told "no" when trying to climb on something she shouldn't.

But, she cuddles and nuzzles, giggles and mimics, talks in a gremlin voice and still sleeps like a champ. Her personality is emerging more and more (sometimes frightening so) and it is so fun to watch (sometimes with wide eyes and my jaw down to the floor).

Blessing, Blessing Everywhere

2012-01-15T22:22:00.004-05:00

This weekend has been wonderful from everything to watching the girls make meatballs with their papa, to dancing in the living room with their Nammy, from skyping with Jason and Whitney to watching Princess Jaely hide in her Eric Carle castle tent as she hid from the vicious papa dragon, from having Cami reach up and take hold of my finger to lead me down the hall, to doing crafts with Jaely and reading books to Camryn, from watching Downton Abbey with my husband to giggling with my girls. I LOVE my life.

Before making meatballs, Jaely had to take her tu-tu off for stool safety. She wanted to keep her dress up shirt on. Jaely was much better this time at sharing her ladder with Cami. Cami worked on going up and down the stool. She only got her head stuck once.Papa has amazing patience for these two little girls.

He is coming at them with his ooey gooey hand. . . can you hear the shrieking???

Jaely gave Cami a kiss on the head.

Jaelynne wants to make her own meatball. . . then she promptly wanted to wash her hands and didn't ask to make any more of them!

Camryn loves to climb up on the table. When she gets settled up there, she lets out such a proud giggle. Jaely has joined her.

Camryn has learned very well to get down off of tables and chairs on her belly. I had to make her get down soon after this was taken because she kept trying (and succeeded) to stand up on the table. Today she was sitting at the kitchen table, climbed up on the table and attempted to stand up before i could get to her. She is crazy!
Cami wanted to hold Jaelynne's hand after she held mine. Here she is leading Jaely around. Then Jaely wanted to hold her hand and lead her around. It was the sweetest thing ever. I was just walking by Camryn and she reached up and grabbed my finger. She reached up for the rest of the evening to grab my hand.

Winter Wonderland

2012-01-14T21:14:00.009-05:00

There has been no wind to knock the snow from each and every branch of each and every tree. I would have loved to have gone outside today, but i will wait until tomorrow to play with Jaely outside. Today, I got to hang out with Camryn (chasing her and being chased by her, pulling her down from whatever she climbs on, and watch her comb her hair repeatedly with every combing utensil we have in the house). Since i stayed inside with Cami, the pictures below are taken through the window and screen to try to capture the winter wonderland that Jaelynne and Nammy were playing in. It looked like a lot of fun!

From what Jaely told me, they knocked snow off of the branches to help the trees. Then they sat on the "winter couch" and told stories to one another. Nammy spoke of princess and dragons.

Jaely discovered me and Camryn looking out the window.

Winter Couch

After lunch and rest time, Jaely wanted to read many books. I love how Camryn is kickin' back in her chair listening in.Jaely cuddled up reading books.

I got tears in my eyes as i watched everyone sing along and dance to "If i were a Butterfly." Camryn was trying to do the movements and Jaely's sweet little voice would sing the chorus. Nammy's love for her granddaughters was so evident as seen by the smile and joy on her face. What a wonderful moment that i will remember for a very long time.
"He made me a baby and He called me His child. . ."
"If i were a fuzzy, wuzzy bear. . ."
"If i were a crocodile. . . "
"I'd thank the Lord for my big smile. . . " (I think Cami is singing, "I put my hand up in the air sometimes. . . ")
Jaely wanted to play dress-up with Nammy, so the three of them went into Jaely's room and even dressed Camryn in a tu-tu. Jaelynne shared her Nammy very well today.

I LOVE what her big butt does to the tu-tu.

"If i were a butterfly. . . "

squeling and such

2012-01-11T20:14:00.007-05:00

Last weekend, Jaelynne wanted to dress up in a fancy dress to go to Target. I figured, why not?

This is the face i got when i asked her to smile. Yikes!
Jaely's big feet cannot avoid being in the picture.
Love this one. The girls like their baths together. . . for now.

Jaely insisted on wearing Camryn's hat. What a goof!

The Rockin' Ass- Camryn discovers some fun!

One happy squealing girl leads to another happy squealing girl.

Finally. . . Snow!

2012-01-06T20:04:00.007-05:00

I am tired, so I am letting these pictures tell the story of our fun outside.

Christmas at our House

2011-12-30T21:03:00.010-05:00

Christmas morning! Running down the hall. . .

She found her stocking!
so excited about her sequined coin purse.

Jaely opened Cami's stocking for her, while Cami sipped on milk.

Santa brought Jaely and Cami matching presents. Jaely was really excited to see what was in them.

Matching chairs. These kept Camryn occupied for almost the entire present opening time!

Jaely got a Ken doll, so now when she pretends the papa can be a man.

Opening up her loving family dollhouse.

Getting ready to open up the Extreme smart cycle from Grandpa Jer.

And now the easel from Nammy and Grandpa Steve
We stayed home all day so Jaelynne and Camryn could play all day with their new toys. Jaely really liked her giant magnifying glass that her uncle jason and aunt whitney got her.

Jae's necklace got caught in the slinky. Uh oh!
Jaely waiting patiently while Papa builds the easel.
Playing with her Polly Pocket Water park

The easel is beautiful, adjustable and double sided. Love it!

To Grandmother's house we go. . .

2011-12-30T20:51:00.003-05:00

We were all looking forward to going to Nammy's and grandpa's house. We hadn't been there since summer time. This was the first time Jaely really had to share her things with Camryn. Since Jaelynne is the oldest grandchild, things have always seemed to belong to her. She said things like "Let's go to my bedroom!" and "mama, i want to show you my new dresser!" The play kitchen was no longer just Jaely's. . . Camryn was very interested in it. When they played in it together, it brought such a smile to my face, but Jaely did have to go sit in time out twice because she ripped things out of Cami's hands. It was a little adjustment for her.

Matt saved this toy from when he was little. TJ is trying it out to see if it still works. By the time the thing had new batteries in it, Jaely wasn't sure about it anymore. TJ had fun with it.

I love visiting. We were exhausted when we got back home, but it was so great to spend time with family and to watch Jaely and Camryn play when they are not at home. I love to watch their interactions with family. It is so nice that Gail has so many things for Camryn so we don't have to pack half of our house.

Jaelynne's First Haircut

2011-12-30T16:18:00.005-05:00

Aunt Angie had some free time on Christmas eve between appointments and asked if we wanted to bring Jaelynne. Gail offered to stay home with Camryn, since it was right during nap time. Jaely was super excited, but when we got to the salon, she became a bit more reserved and quiet. Her hair looks so much better! It was just a trim, but it looks a lot healthier. Jaelynne also got a feather in her hair. :) Thank you, Aunt Angie!Jaely kept biting her bottom lip.

Christmas Eve

2011-12-30T16:01:00.004-05:00

Getting ready to go to church on Christmas Eve. Jaelynne was very excited that she and Camryn had matching dresses. I love going to church on Christmas eve. I love seeing all the kids. I love how excited Jaelynne is to look at everything, including baby Jesus. I love singing the songs and being reminded what Christmas is all about. I always enjoy Nate's message- simple, powerful, and short. I enjoy being there as a family, with Gail and Steve and Matt and Angie.

I love how Camryn walks with her arms up in the air and her shoulders up. She still has that wobbly walk, but she is now choosing to walk over crawling.

Papa was showing Jaely on the computer where Santa was making his stops. He hadn't quite reached our continent yet.

Christmas Day

2011-12-29T12:04:00.018-05:00

The girls woke up at about 7 and Jaely was ready to start looking through her stocking and opening presents. She was adorable. I told her, "Merry Christmas to you Jaelynne!" and she replied "And a Murray Christmas to you too, mama!"

She would thank people for the present before even opening it. It was cute. Gail was sick all through the night. I was worried that she wouldn't even be able to join us for the present opening, but she made it. She promptly went back to bed after the opening was over. She looked pretty miserable, but i was glad she was able to see everyone's smiles from her generosity and kindness.

After awhile, Camryn was difficult to contain in the living room. She just wanted out to climb on the high chair. That was her favorite past time while visiting. She even managed to climb up on the table. Yikes!

Let the opening begin!

Camryn received an awesome xylophone from her aunt and uncle. She loves to whack at it!
still whacking!

Jaelynne opening up her next generation doll, Evelynne. That was the gift of the day. Opening presents ceased for Jaelynne while she talked and hugged her doll.

Then her doll hung out with her while Jaelynne opened the rest of her presents.

Cami was so taken with Jaely's new doll. She kept resting her head on her and giving her hugs. Cami touched the dolls eyelashes often.

Little does Jaelynne know that she is opening up her camera that she has wanted and asked for. When we done opening presents at our house, Jaelynne said "no camera" after a few hours of playing with all the other toys she got. She REALLY wanted this camera.

Such a happy little girl! Thank you Aunt Angie and Uncle Matt!
Camryn got a camera, too!

Cami would touch the dolls eyelashes and then her own.

Ready to take some pictures!

Jaely's new outfit. The girl loves her clothes!

Playing with her Cars Duplo blocks.

At aunt Carol's- we had some fun, until i started feeling really sick and told my husband that we needed to leave because i was going to be sick. I went back to gail's and went right to bed. I was miserable. And felt like i ruined Christmas for my family. I didn't get to visit much with my family and we made a very quick get away. Jaely was upset at first, but i think she understood.

She again thanked people for her present before she even opened them. That's my girl! She makes me proud.ZQ

Dad opening up his hammock for camping that we got him.

Camryn playing in her Hungry Caterpillar tent.

Some hiding videos

2011-12-29T09:47:00.003-05:00

Before i post the Christmas pictures, here are a few videos that have been on my camera. . . some are from Christmas and some are not.

Cami dancing and Jaely decorating cookies.

This is from a while ago. Camryn crawling at 12 months.

Aunt Carol has never been the best at telling jokes. She tries. Here she wrote one down to tell at Thanksgiving time. It was so funny to watch her try to prepare herself.

Christmas is Coming!

2011-12-20T20:49:00.017-05:00

I love our girls in their Christmas outfits, with the shining lights of the tree. The only problem is with my camera, if i wants the lights to twinkle in the background, then i have to force the flash off, but then things are blurry if the kids move. Will the kids move? YES! Arg. Oh well, i hope some of the joy and giggling will rub off on you as you look through these pictures. We sure had fun. I was not properly dressed when the pictures began, so you will not see me, but know that i was there, behind the camera. Enjoying. Every. Second.

This is in the morning after the girls got on their matching pajamas to wear to pajama day at Miss Amber's.

Jaelynne stuck a bow on Camryn. Camryn was so excited that the gifts could finally be touched.

Check out Jaelynne's face on this one!
And this one. . . .the best! Ha! Camryn would not stay by that tree for anything. Jaely just followed directions even though her sister walked away. I love it!
Notice Jae continues to pose, with her forced smile. . . hilarious.
After Miss Ambers', I got the girls dressed in their dresses for more pictures.

Camryn decides to feast on a gift for Uncle Jered.

I told the girls to get on their tummy. . . it started some more playing.

I saw that TJ was wearing read so i asked Jaely to get her picture taken with her papa. She loves him "so, so much."
She left him, and he continued to sit there so i had to take his picture.

Twirling in her dress!
These girls love their papa!

Cami HATES her dress. When she wants to get somewhere fast, she crawls and this dress does not allow crawling. And since i bought the matching dresses on clearance last year, Camryn's is a little snug across her back. . . okay, i could barely zip it up and it is a 12-18 months! This will definetly be her Christmas Eve dress. . . she will wear a bigger one (Jaely's old one) on Christmas so she can move around a little more.

Oh, I love my cutie pie!
Such pure joy from my beautiful bug!
TJ is the best papa. . . i am so very thankful for that.

The Itsy-bitsy spider started playing on Camryn's CD player, so we all started doing the motions.

I unzipped the back of her dress, and she seemed a little more comfortable!Back in jammies for decorating cookies.

Cami's whole goal in life is to clear the fridge of magnets and clear the oven of towels.
and maybe rip the two advent calendars down.

Dancing to the Christmas music. . .
Yummm. . . .frosting!
Apparently there can never be too many sprinkles.
Writing her letter to Santa Claus. . .
A little bedtime reading. . .

Tomorrow is our Family Christmas Eve. I can hardly wait to put cookies out for Santa and to bring up the other gifts. I cannot wait to see Jaely's excitement as she tells Camryn all about it.

Cookie Decorating

2011-12-19T21:32:00.005-05:00

Camryn checking out the presents under the tree. No touching until Christmas!

After Jaelynne wrapped her present for Camryn, she wanted to decorate her cookies that she made yesterday. She didn't cooperate yesterday, so she didn't get to then. We didn't really have time for a full blown cookie decorating experience, so we let her do three. She loved it and made sure she picked out one for her and one for TJ. She wanted me to have one too and i told her i would share with Camryn.What a face! She couldn't get the lid off of the green sprinkles.

Place the M&Ms ever so gingerly.

"You take picture of my cookie!"

Last night after wrapping we put the presents under the tree. Here are a couple of videos from Jaely's first reaction upon seeing all of them. I thought she was done, so i turned off the camera and then she immediately said "my camera under there?" She REALLY wants a camera, so then i turned our camera back on.

2011-12-18T20:12:00.006-05:00

Jaely proudly was showing me that she knows how to zip her jacket. What a big girl!

Nammy was the bus driver driving Jaely and Cami to school.

Jaelynne made this ornament. . . she did a real good job!

I got some pictures of them making sugar cookies, but i was trying not to vomit so i took all the pictures from the chair. :/

Here are some dancing videos from today. Jaely is LOVING her Christmas music!

Putrid Puke

2011-12-16T20:02:00.002-05:00

I got home from work, changed my clothes and headed to sit on the living room floor. The girls played with me and tj as we sat on the floor talking about our day. Camryn walks around now, but we are still not used to her being a walker. The girls seemed normal. Jaely had brought out a towel to wrap around her papa's shoulders as she "cut" his hair using a spoon and a fork. Everything was running as it always does. Then, Camryn dropped to her knees to crawl and made her way over to TJ. She then proceeded to throw up all over him. It was absolutly disgusting, but it got even worse. She is crying and red in the face. This is the first time she has thrown up. I hand TJ the towel Jaely was using and i go to get paper towel and a bowl when i looked at Camryn and she was eating the corn that she had just puked up. DISGUSTING! I said, "Cami, you do not eat that. You are not a dog. That is disgusting." She cried even harder because i used my mama voice to get this ever so important message across to her.

It was quite a night. Suddenly our normal evening got a tad more complicated. The carpet had to be cleaned, lest Cami would make a meal out of her puke. Dinner had to be made for those who were healthy enough to eat it. Camryn's clothes had to keep being changed, the bowl rinsed out and a load of laundry needed to be done. Dinner needed to be cleaned up and Jaely had to be put to bed. I followed Cami around with a bowl or a burp rag. She wanted to be cuddled, then would start to play and then throw up again. Camryn had a late night dry heaving as she tried to fall asleep. I just cuddled her and held her as she coughed up mucus and get really upset and then tried to get her to go back to sleep.

She seems a lot better today. . . although she did have a bout of diarrhea this evening. I pray that it doesn't pass through all of us over this break.

I think of how, for a moment, life kind of gets derailed when your child is sick. And then i think of my friend, Kathleen whose life has been derailed for almost 4 years as her youngest child battles leukemia. She rarely has "normal evenings."

Boxes, bowls, and chairs.

2011-12-04T19:55:00.006-05:00

Lately Camryn has been quite the climber. She spends so much time climbing in and out of her and Jaely's chair, often with a play fork and bowl in her hand. She really likes to stand up on the chair and drop the fork through the hole on the top, then climb back down to get it and start the process all over again, sometimes switching chairs. Today, she discovered that she can climb on top of her toy tote. She even managed to scoot on there right so she could sit. I love watching Jaelynne and Camryn play together. It is the best when they both get each other giggling!

Advent day 4. So far "Murray" and "Josep" and a donkey are in the manger scene.

Cami's big desire is to take all the people off of the top and out of the pockets. Camzilla strikes again!

Decorating the Tree

2011-12-04T08:01:00.008-05:00

This is the first year that Jaelynne helped with the tree. Cami is doing remarkably well at not touching it, or, in her case, climbing it. She is such a climber! Jaely was so excited to help. While she was "resting," which was really just bouncing around her room and making a pretend list with her wand, i put the lights on it. Then when the girls got up we put the ornaments on it. She hung three ornaments on one branch often, but she was real good listener about what ornaments she could touch and which ones i had to do. We put most of her ornaments on a little tree in her room. Some were too heavy to put on it. Thinking of next year makes me smile as both girls will be able to help.

Cami just wants to push our heavy dining room chairs around and the trash can.

I gave her one quarter of one chocolate side of a peppermint oreo. She loved it, but then drooled blackish stuff out of her mouth.

Jaely moping because she is sitting in the wrong chair. . .
"Switch chairs, Cami"

Time for the advent calendar.

I had forgotten that i bought these pajamas on clearance last year and i found them when we were getting christmas things out. Jaely was real excited.

More Visiting

2011-11-29T20:18:00.005-05:00

I am so thankful that God gave us families. He knew that we would need people, differently than we need friends. When i think about how much my brothers know me- how each one knows how to push my buttons, knows how i will react -it amazes me. When i think that if i were to just to run into Jered or Jason, if they were not my brothers, i would probably just pass them by, maybe have some sort of small talk conversation, but then just carry on with my life. It isn't that i don't think they are cool and worthy of my time because they are. But, let's face it, we don't have a ton in common. That is why families are so awesome. I love those guys more than they will ever know. We have differing opinions, life styles, hobbies and fears, but we never run out of things to talk about. Things are comfortable, only if we all hang out together once a year. We know each other well.

And oh, how they are both good with kids. Jaely adores her uncles. She said only 20 minutes after they left, that she misses her uncles. They played with her a ton. Jered gave her rides and hung her upside down. Jason was pulled into her bedroom to put puzzles together, and have a pretend birthday party. He colored with her and baby. Jason acted like a robot and jaely actually said, "Hey robot, get me some milk!" and then everyone at the table laughed. Cami was not terrified around either of them. She sat on their laps, and drooled on their legs.

I am so thankful for my brothers. So thankful that God made them. They have had a huge influence on who i am today. I love you Jered and Jason (Jerason)!

Jason is teaching Baby how to color with markers.Jaely is watching to make sure Jason is pretending correctly!
Jaely loves to play Busytown. It is a richard scarey game that my dad got her. It is perfect for her age, but when you play it over and over again, you are thankful when there are other people visiting that can play it with her! She is a little cheater and tries to cheat all the time. She wants the spinner to land on Bugs on every spin.
Here it landed on bugs. They are all looking for flags. BUSYTOWN!

Wendi can make Camryn giggle!
As soon as someone sits on the floor, Camryn comes over, climbs on their legs and drools on their shoulders. It is nice.

Riding uncle Jered.
Camryn really likes her new laptop that her nammy and grandpa got her.
I am so happy that Wendi has been able to join us at the last couple of family celebrations. I love to see my brother happy and to have so much in common with someone!
Time to say good night!

Ice cream time!

Thanksgiving

2011-11-27T16:34:00.011-05:00

Cami spends so much time sitting in one chair and then scooting over to the other chair. She climbs up and stands on them and talks profusely to them. If i need her to something by herself for a few minutes, i put her by the chairs and let her have at it.
Jaely watching papa begin to get ready for thanksgiving dinner.

Grandpa played Legos with the girls. Jaely was really good at sharing her grandpa and sharing with Camryn. And, Cami is smiling right at grandpa.
Aunt Whitney and uncle Jason bought the girls gifts. One of them is a white furry coat for Camryn. She looks so adorable in it.Jaelynne got a new coat from them, too. It is so stinkin' cute. She ran back to her room with it to practice the snaps. Then, she came out and showed everyone.

The kitchen got a little crazy and dinner was a little later than we anticipated, but it was SO great to have everyone here. TJ made a traditional turkey and then he grilled on over indirect heat for three hours. It was tasty. He also made green bean casserole and a sausage apple stuffing Jered made a squash lasagna and amazing potatoes. Jason made pretzels. I made mac and cheese and a cheese ball. Aunt Carol made seafoam salad and Waldorf salad. Dad brought the over-sized Christmas presents so we wouldn't have to drive back with them at Christmas.

Jaely all of a sudden was very bothered by the leaves on the deck. In the midst of the business and all the company, she removed herself to take care of the leaves. Maybe she got a tad overwhelmed and just needed some alone time. She didn't take a rest that day either.

Jason's pretzels. Mmm, Mmm good!
Jaely and her friends completed the Chameleon puzzle.

After the meal. . . people slept (except for the girls)
Jaely brought her aunt and uncle back to her bedroom and worked on a puzzle.
Jason also played polly pockets with Jaely before her bedtime.

Good night. there is so much to be thankful about.

Some Videos!

2011-11-26T18:26:00.003-05:00

Cami is starting to walk. . . .

Camryn's First Birthday Party

2011-11-19T19:55:00.002-05:00

A few days before Camryn's birthday party, I gave Jaely her ABC book that i had scrapbooked for her. She was kind of interested.

Saturday morning, Jaely wanted to feed Camryn her yogurt.

Thankfully Nammy came over early Saturday morning so that i could run errands, get the house ready and make the cake. I am so very grateful for her help. Not having to worry about the girls made it a lot easier to get chores done!

Jaelynne planted pine cones with nammy.

Trying to figure this cake out. . . The morning of the party. . . Camryn really enjoyed moving the folding chairs around. Her birthday attire even matches the theme of the party.

Jaelynne was getting a little crazy, so nammy took her down to the basement and let her do some coloring.

Jaely ready with her party hat on!

Camryn did not like her party hat at all.

There were slimy, sticky toy food in the goodie bags that made a wonderful splat on the floor when you threw them.

The little artists at work coloring, painting and making bookmarks.
Sophia hard at work with her watercolor.
Corbin coloring a caterpillar.
Jaely making her bookmark with Nammy.

Ollie/Sarah painting
Adeline taking her coloring very seriously.
She pauses for a pose

Look at this face!

The trampoline was quite a popular spot to be.
It was a little calmer upstairs.
Time to open the presents! Sophie had Cami on her lap for most of the time.
The kids were such big helpers. . . and so was Lori.

Jaelynne was so good about her sister getting so much attention. She was very hospitable with her home and shared her toys.

Papa and his party girls!

She is such a snuggler!

Camryn's new chair that her papa built her and her mama painted for her.
She really seemed to like it.
Camryn handled the crowd and the men a lot better than we had anticipated. I am so glad she enjoyed her own party. She did remove herself for a bit to take a nap, though.

Time for cake!

As i was carrying her cupcake to Cami, a very large gust of wind came and blew it out. . . but an open flame near a one year old is a scarey thing anyways.

Unlike Jaely at her first birthday, Camryn devoured her cupcake in only a few swallows!

I love how jaely is hanging on her highchair watching her little sister eat her first bite of cake ever. She is so excited for her. We took the cupcake caterpillar downstairs. James and TJ suggested this and it was such a great idea!

Bye grandpa!

Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated Camryn with us. She is one loved little girl!

Some videos from awhile ago. . .

2011-11-09T21:26:00.000-05:00

"Mama, Cami's a number!"

2011-11-09T19:50:00.008-05:00

Camryn Elizabeth turned one today. I am amazed at how quickly time is going and frightened by how fast it is going to continue to go. . . it may even pick up speed, which seems impossible. I am so in love with this girl who came into our world. She is such a HaPpY girl most of the time. Her smile is contagious, her drool sticky, and her butt huge and squishy. She is a climber, a flirter, a win your heart over. She bounces on her butt, puts things in your hands, and climbs up your body. She is loud and talkative, expressive and dramatic. She rolls over and goes to sleep at night and wakes up happy in the morning. Her hair is thick, her thighs ticklish, and her toes cute.

Camryn Elizabeth you are one loved girl! Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Jaely helped Camryn open a package that came from her nammy and grandpa.Cami loved the strips of paper that Jaely cut off.

Flowers were delivered from Camryn special day from her Grandpa Jer. So sweet.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-05T18:54:00.011-05:00

Off to Grand Haven we went. I wish Halloween was on a weekend every year so that we could travel across the state to gail's. Monday is the worst day for Halloween, but Jaely had so much fun and Carmyn seemed to enjoy herself too!

Getting ready once we were parked.

Showing off her wings. She could not wait to fly.

That face is the sweetest face, and we love how she still does the one finger hold. I hope she does this for a lot longer.

The chicken, the bug, and the Papa. . .

Explaining to Jaely that she needs to wait her turn.
A guy came and shook TJ's hand, so Camryn got a little upset and needed her binky to calm her down a bit.

"Twick or Tweet. . . . tank ewe"
A Happy Chicken

Commenting on how her treat bag is getting heavy.
Our girls. . . last year, i was a very pregnant mama. . . this year, i have a chicken in a stroller. :)

We switched kids so we could both hear Jaely and witness all her excitement. Cami was contented just looking at everything.
Jaely's face after the spooky, loud music.
Flying through the hallway. Can you hear the squeal of excitement??!!

Jaely's treat bag gt stuck on her antennae!

A sleepy bug snuggles with the proud papa.

Till next year. I love our girls!

Fall Fun

2011-10-29T16:24:00.015-05:00

PuMpKiN TiMe!!

Posing with her Pumpkin Pal
Camryn staring at Jaely's pumpkin

Jaely feeding a pumpkin seed to her first pumpkin.
So happy, so drooly, so drippy!
Jaely told papa what shape to make the eyes, nose and mouth

Making the ears
Jaely coloring a pumpkin. First she wanted to draw a face on it. Notice the ears. Then she wanted to cut it out and hang it in her bedroom.

My little pumpkins!
Jaely's antennae!
She was so excited to fly!

Our chick!

Lewis Farm Market

2011-10-26T19:39:00.017-05:00

Our annual trip to Lewis farm Market was wonderful. We had great weather, sunny skies, and great company. I am so glad my dad was able to make it. He treated us to the new admission to the farm and an arm bracelet for Jae so she could do the bounce pillow, cars, pumpkin jumping, and boo train.Feeding the animals is so exciting for Jaely. She is still working on holding her hand flat. She is the perfect mix of cautious but brave. I love it!
Yes, Jaelynne is kissing the goat.
Showing Jaely how this works. . .

TJ posed for me by this rooster. . . we were both smiling because of this.
Running with excitement!
Jaely's favorite part- the water duck races. She kept coming back to them.
Papa was the only one who went down the tube slide. He went down first to dry it off for Jaely, but then she chickened out!
Jaely is at the top, Grandpa is at the bottom.
Waiting for papa
Dad imitating Camryn.
Watching the Clucking Chicken show

Cami REALLY liked it!

The bouncing pillow thing. Last year, Jaely could barely get on her feet to jump without falling back down. She stood up a lot more this year.

More duck racing. . .

A random boat turned into a sandbox
She looks so old to us.

Cami is still in the i will eat anything i can get my hands on phase.
Papa and his girls. I LOVE this one!
and this one. . .
But, this one is my FAVORITE!

Feeding the goat with a pulley
Jaely is actually taller than this. See how worn out the ground is? Ya, my dad pointed that out. At this rate, Jaely won't grow an inch in her annual picture due to the ground going lower and lower.

Our pumpkin in the pumpkin patch

The boo train!

The giant chair.
Jaely has to sit just like grandpa

Grandpa and his girls. I love my dad.
Cami will warm up to him. . . she is in that stage.

Time for lunch and donuts! Jaely wanted to wear her hat all day!
Yum, cider!
Donut!
Cam's first donut. So, so tasty!

Jaely having a very deep conversation while she munches on her cheetos!

And, of course, she chose to do the duck race as her last activity before heading home for naps.
Thanks for a great day, daddy-o! I am sure it is hard to not get much sleep and then to keep up with your granddaughters. We love you!
Jaely using her magnifying glass that grandpa got her to check out her bracelets with real bugs in them. She was quite fascinated as she wore all three at once! I must admit, the beetle one is beautiful. . . the spider one, not so much!

A Catch Up before. . .

2011-10-22T19:27:00.007-05:00

. . . a very large picture post of Lewis Farms

Because i have been very busy and my computer's hard drive died, i got a little behind with blogging. . . so here we go. . .
Jaely has a huge interest lately in playing with her little sister. TJ had parent/teacher conferences two nights this week, so i was very glad that Jaely was cooperative and wanted to hang out with her little sister at bed time. Camryn put Jaely's headband on her head. We were all giggling in our jammies. Camryn sat on Jaely's knee and then did the thing where she throws herself back, only this time she did it to Jaelynne (for the first time) and Jaely loved it. Jaely then leaned back on me and we were a big cuddly ball of jammies. I treasure these times. Here they are making a fort- Camryn still sportin' the headband.
Jaely was listening to music on her little CD player that she can carry around. Cami really wanted it, so i covered it with Jaely's blanket. Cami knows it is up there still, but can't figure it out.

I think Camryn is looking so old lately. Time is going too fast.

Spaghetti!!!

Cami loves it. She can be one very demanding child at meal times. Yikes! She drinks out of sippy cups and straws now!

Jaely has been so into doing chores. She went and opened the dryer and got the clothes out, walked back to our bedroom and threw them up onto the bed, then crawled up onto it and started folding. I even taught her how to fold socks into a ball. She practiced and practiced and finally got it! She was so proud of herself. She later tried to show her new trick to Miss Amber and got super frustrated because she couldn't do it.
Camryn has been trying to reach this ghost for weeks now. I keep waiting for her to get it. . . on her toes and all!
Papa always has energy for his girls. I don't know how he does it!

Cami kept pulling Jaely's hair. She has been known to pull out a whole clump. Arg.
Jaely is a pretty good sport about it most of the time.
Leaf jumping fun! After TJ and i returned from our trip to Glen Arbor, the girls were sleeping. TJ looked out and saw the blanket of leaves. Taking advantage of the weather, he got right to work. Jaely headed out right after she got up.

Jaely LOVES ice cream sandwiches! "They are so so cold, but so so good."

Snack time.

When i went in to wake up Jaely, i found her asleep on her train table. She opened her eyes as soon as i opened the door, but i still got a picture of how she was sleeping. Just like Cami does. Jaely still sleeps like this sometimes. Hilarious & so so cute!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?

2011-10-11T19:52:00.002-05:00

I see Jaely reading a book to me. . . .