Ella's swim class

Ella had her first swim class. She was very excited and enjoys the water very much. Parents aren't allowed to stay and watch by the pool until the last class, so it has been a learning experience for me as well. Ella seems very excited to go each time and always has a story when she's done.

Music & stuff

Thank you to all those who serve, past and present, for our freedom!

Music still inspires me. Today's song is "You and I" by Michael Buble. Brings tears to my eyes. To say that I am blessed to have Peter in my life is an understatement. It is only by God's amazing grace that I have been given such a blessing.

And the same goes for my sweet Ella as well!! Her innocent, unconditional love is something I am thankful for everyday!

May 2011

May was no shortage of activities!
Peter went to camp the beginning of May to open up for the summer. He was greeted with a layer of ice on the lake!

Ella ended up with her second round of hives. We still are unsure the cause of these things, but she is a trooper. She rarely mentions her "itchies", even when she is covered head to toe!

Peter's house sold very quickly, and we were able to clean it out and close without problems! That is a huge blessing!

Peter and I also ran the Fifth Third 10K! We did very little training amidst all our other stuff going on, so our time will be easily beaten next time :) I appreciate Peter running with me the whole way. He was a great support to keep me going!

Despite Ella's hives, we were able to stop downtown to see the tulips and watch a parade during TulipTime.

The yellow "tuwips" as Ella calls them, were named Big Smile. So this is her big smile!

April Fun!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. On Saturday we invited lots of friends over and Ella made pink and blue rice krispie nests with jelly bean eggs for a treat. The kids did a egg hunt and made bunnies with paper plates and cotton balls. Ella was able to color Easter eggs the night before as well.

Peter and I dyed Easter eggs as well, adult style. I found a website to use vegetable dye's, so we colored eggs with cumin, spinach, red onion skins, yellow onion skins, orange peels, red cabbage, beets, golden delicious apple skins, and cranberry juice.

It was a very interesting experience. The colors turned out different than expected. I believe the red cabbage turned out blue, and the yellow onion skins are orange.

We were able to go to the "wedding church" as Ella calls it, on Easter morning. That would be Peter's church in Grand Rapids where we got married, so Ella calls it the wedding church.

New York City

Peter and I enjoyed a few days in New York City following our wedding.
We saw all the tourist spots plus a few more fun events.

We went to the top of Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building (at night). Saw the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, Ground Zero and Central Park. We also stopped by The Today Show and met Matt Lauer. It was quite cold and rainy that morning so we stopped at Macy's for a new pair of shoes. Rain Boots!! Peter mentioned that the rain boots were the first practical pair of shoes I own. I think he's right :)

We were able to enjoy a nice dinner and a show on Broadway as well.

Who could resist a Yankees game, especially since they were playing the Tigers that weekend!

March

March was an exciting month!
Ella and I were able to go see the "Princess Show" (aka Disney on Ice) with her cousins. Of course CinderElla was her favorite (shocking)

Oh yeah, Peter and I also got married! The day was beautiful and things went amazing!
We are so blessed!

February Fun!

Now those are some lips! (especially with a sucker on the inside)

Ella putting on a show and her "big finish"! Ta Da!

Valentines Day Cupcakes with cinderELLA! Peter did an excellent job as well!