Big Sister!

It's true! One very special little girl in our house is going to be a big sister! Our little one is due June 2, just three weeks before Ella will turn three.

Miss Ella taking practicing for her role as big sister

 Yes, I've known about the new baby for quite some time. Actually, we found on on my 30th birthday. What a birthday present! We decided to wait until Thanksgiving to start sharing the news since that marked 13 weeks. Pete had the holiday week off, so we were able to travel to both sides of our family. My family had already figured it out. I blame that on the fact that I see my brother and sister so often. They quickly picked up on the changes in my clothes and eating habits. Pete's family, on the other hand, doesn't see us in person as often, though we do try to Skype whenever possible. They had a much better reaction than my family (no offense, Scotts). I have to say that it's a relief not to have to keep the little bump hidden any longer. I was running out of shirt options!

It was a bit of a rough first trimester, especially compared to my pregnancy with Ella. My constant nausea made it quite difficult to do school work. Forget housework. I threw that out the window by week five. But at least I can say I ran a marathon pregnant. The wee one traveled the 26.2 miles with me on October 2. Yes, I knew I was pregnant, but the sickness hadn't fully set in yet, so it was manageable. The feelings of yuckiness is also why I haven't been very good at posting on the blog the past couple months. I'll try to do better.

And now I'm tired. That's common too. More updates to come!

Photo Friday: The Girl is Getting It Done

Before bed last night, Ella said the living room needed to be shoveled. Then this morning, she completed her first water color painting. She knows how to get it done!

Photo Friday: Global Missions Health Conference

Pete & I are in Kentucky for a medical missions conference. God's been putting some really exciting things in front of us & our dreams of East Africa are growing! I'll write more after we're back in Minnesota. (And no, Miss Ella did not make the trip with us. Long date weekend for the mama & papa!)

Photo Friday: Our Little Ladybug

Last weekend we took our little ladybug to church for the annual Harvest Party. She enjoyed it so much more than last year since she was actually able to play a few games and ask for candy. Pete & I had fun watching her reactions to everything.

ella's first photo booth!

face painting

ella's "parkly" shoes. she wears them everyday now.

in the hay maze

there was even a petting zoo!

A Day of Apples: Part II

After spending the first part of our day in Bayfield in town for Apple Fest, we drove out to Erickson's Orchard, the same orchard we visit every year. Ella liked the big pumpkins, but she LOVED picking apples. Fortunately, apples trees hang low enough that she was able to pick her very own. We had to keep an eye on her, though, so she wouldn't try to take a bite out of each. In these pictures you can see her little apple dress from my Aunt Jean. Isn't it perfect?

We love Apple Fest!

Tomorrow I'll post pictures of Miss Ella in her Halloween costume!

Photo Friday: Ella's Mummy Gourd

I saw this adorable mummy in a Martha craft email this week and couldn't resist trying it with Ella. Martha suggested using crepe paper, but I found this great plaster stuff at Saver's a couple months ago and was just waiting to use it. In elementary school art class I created an entire Italian meal using similar plaster material and loved it. It was easy enough for Ella to use! She soaked it in the water and I shaped it. We attached a pair of googly eyes and that was that! Our own little mummy! And that's about as Halloween as we get.

A Day of Apples: Part 1

Never to miss our beloved Apple Fest, we recently made the trek to Bayfield, Wisconsin for the apple festivities. This time we took our new friends, Eli & Krista, to partake in the joy of apple picking, cheese curds, apple chili, and brisk, fall air. It was a gorgeous day to be outside, taking in the loveliness of the small town.

Ella & her new friend, Eli

 We have pictures with this cuddly creature on every Bayfield trip.

Ella was a bit hesitant at first

but a quick cuddle helped break the ice

then she couldn't leave without a kiss

Our first food stop is, without argument or a second thought, for cheese curds.

perfection

apparently the doctors recommend them!

Nice work, Daddy. Show her how it's done.

sitting on the pier with artist tents in the background

self-taken family photo

can you tell she's crazy about her daddy?

We love this bridge. It's beauty is inexplicable, particularly in the fall. A single path runs beneath it, surrounded by thick trees in all shades of autumn. In the distance, there is a gorgeous, sparkling view of Lake Superior and the sailboats between Bayfield and Madeline Island.

Eli & Krista

After spending the first half of the day in town, we headed out to the orchards. Ella loved picking the little red fruit off the trees all on her own, and we have plenty of pictures to prove it! Those will be coming soon...