Mud Bath

Since the weather is getting warmer, Daddy started to do some work in the backyard. He was digging up some rose bushes that we didn't want anymore because of all of the thorns. Ellie and Patrick took this is a good opportunity to play in the big dirt hole and make mud lakes. They were working hard running back and forth between the mud and the water table. They did a nice job creating the perfect mess!

Celebrations and Fire Trucks

Within the scope of a few days we were at two celebrations that had a fire truck for the kids to climb on and explore. They were in heaven. The first was a birthday party for a little friend, Rhys.  They went for a ride on the fire truck, sprayed the hoses, put on the uniform and boots, and climbed all around the fire truck.

The second celebration was a "We Love Our Members" day at the Arizona Museum for Youth. It was a Curious George theme and he was there walking around. I think this might have been one of Patrick's first experiences close to a costume character because his face pretty much looked like this the entire time. He was amazed but cautious and when I tried to hand him over to Curious George for a picture ...he frieked out. But when Curious George walked away, Patrick was walking around with his hands up asking where he went.

ASU Gymnastics

We have been to a few of the ASU Gymnastics meets this year. Ellie and Mia are both in gymnastics so it is fun to watch them get so excited about all the girls doing all of their flips and tricks. They are a riot at these meets. They stand up in their seats and dance to the music. They get very into it and try to mimic what the girls are doing on the floor and beam. After the meet they are so excited and they run out of there and try to do tricks on the way back to the car.

 After one of the meets, Chloe slept over at our house. Here are some cute pics of Ellie styling her hair.

 

Valentine's Day

We had a sweet Valentine's Day this year. It was the first time Ellie exchanged Valentines with her friends (Little Explorers). We made some valentine cookies for friends and daddy. Ellie and Patrick recieved a wonderful package in the mail filled with goodies and fun from Mommom and Poppy. Daddy came home and spoiled everyone with fun gifts and then took us all out to dinner and ice cream. If Daddy-O keeps treating Ellie like this every year on Valentines Day....her future boyfriends are in for it. =)

Ellie's First Sleepover

After having plenty of cousin sleepovers at our house, we finally decided to let Ellie sleep over at the Caruso house. This was a big deal because the only other night Ellie wasn't with us was when Patrick was born and she stayed with Grandma and Papa.

She loved her sleepover! Ellie, Mikey and Mia all slept in the same room together. Here are some pics from Auntie Angie's camera.

 

Our house was very quiet without her. Patrick stopped by her room to look for her a few times. We were excited to go pick her up the next day. I am sure this is the first of many sleepovers at the Caruso's.

Rain!

Ellie and Patrick,
We had 3 or 4 days of rain in a row last week. That is a lot for Arizona. We were all loving it. Especially you two. We let you go wild in the rain one morning. You had so much fun jumping around in the puddles. Patrick, I thought you would hate being wet and cold but the only thing you hated was when Daddy-O brought you inside.

We had to occupy you guys indoors for a few days during the rain so we brought out the good 'ol air matress so you could jump around and get some energy out. Here are a few videos. One is of Ellie telling us how to do a flip and the other she is Ellie telling us who is at the jumping party. She is very loud. All of the time. Fun times.

 

Mimi Fairy

Ellie,
The Mimi Fairy came last week and took them all away. We had been talking to you about how the she was going to come for over a year! We were dreading this day because we didn't know how you were going to handle life with no mimi (pacifier). Everytime we would talk about it you would always say that the Mimi Fairy was going to bring you a telescope. Well, we should have told her to come a lot sooner because you were just fine. You were so excited about the presents she left you... a telescope and a kitty that you named Whiskers. You never cried about your mimis being gone. There was a few times you asked about it but you got over it really quick. One morning you did seem a little sad and then you told me you had a really good dream about your pink mimi. Another morning you told me your dream was about a gold sparkling mimi. I asked you if you wanted them back and you said that you didn't need them anymore. Way to go Ellie! You are finally mimi free. Alleluiah.