mauter.com

After graduation, we made a fairly spontaneous trip down to Fort Walton. Once we got there, I realized that we had never been to the beach with just the four of us. It was a great trip, with fantastic weather. The condo was perfect for us: 2 bedrooms with bunk beds in the 2nd bedroom. It had an indoor and outdoor pool, right on the beach. We couldn’t have gotten a better place to stay. (And I got a smokin deal!)

We started out in the pool.

And finished at the beach. Sam loved playing in the water.

And Ellie loved playing in the sand.

Like I said, it was beautiful!

We had such fun.

After spending hours in the ocean, I saw this sign. Oops. I did get sick, but nobody else did. I think I must have picked something up elsewhere.

Ellie only wanted to play in the sand, but she would stand at the edge of the water requesting for someone to fill up her watering can. It made me think of the Coppertone girl.

And we couldn’t leave without making Ellie into a mermaid.

We had a great trip, and I’m so glad we went. We’ll go back soon on our annual family trip, and we’re also hoping to spend lots of time at the neighborhood pool this summer!

Can you believe this little runt turned 3 last week?

Ellie is full of laughs and energy, independence and compassion, nerve and courage.  She loves her froggie, her big sister, and Rapunzel.  She just moved up to a big girl bed and hasn’t had any trouble adjusting.  Her favorite colors are green and purple.  She’s a lefty.  She eats at least two breakfasts, a decent lunch, and not much for dinner every day.  She loves corn (all kinds including popcorn).  She drinks way more than the rest of us (milk, juice, water, you name it).

We had her birthday party last weekend.  Thanks for coming, friends!  I thought the weekend was going to be a wash out, but it turned out to be perfect!  We spent all day outside playing.

On her actual birthday, we brought Krispy Kreme for her class.  I intended to take her out to lunch, but we are a one car household these days (what is with all the drama in the Mauter house lately?) so lunch was a no-go.  We had dinner on the porch, which is where we always have our birthday meals for Sam (October) and Ellie (early May).

Here are all three dresses that I finished just in time:  Rapunzel, Minnie Mouse, and Mickey Mouse.  Brian was thoroughly concerned about making a Mickey Mouse dress, but I knew she wouldn’t care.  Sam wants one too.

And the finale was the tent!

We had her three year check up too.  She didn’t get any shots, so we got out of there pretty easily.  The doctor is somewhat concerned about her speech so we will need to see an audiologist and speech therapist soon.  I’m not really that concerned because she has always been “delayed” on speech.  She’ll get there on her own time, but if we need to have her checked out, that’ll be fine.

Happy Easter!

We started our Good Friday with some Easter coloring, a trip to a fabric store that I never get to go to, the park, and lunch.  (What kind of business can they run with hours M-F 9-4?  I get to go once every few years!)  More on what I bought later.  Then, home for a nap and some egg dyeing.  Sam loves it.  I do too.

Sam got a kit from Build-a-Bear (thanks, MamaLinda!) so we used the drops rather than food coloring.  It also came with stickers and glitter!

Later, Ellie enjoyed dyeing her eggs too.

Saturday morning, Sam was heartbroken as I used the eggs in my potato salad.  But we enjoyed lunch with some Mauters over at the Atchisons house.

And, no Easter celebration would be complete without an egg hunt.

On Easter morning, Sam woke up very early to hunt for her basket.  She found it behind the french door in the entrance hall.  The night before, she told me that she wished the Easter Bunny would not hide it in the place he did last  year: on top of the china cabinet.  I’m surprised she remembered!

Ellie’s basket was hidden under the piano.

The Easter Bunny took it easy this year: some books, some candy, bubbles, and some hair accessories.

And unfortunately after this, the camera got a smudge on the lens, so the rest of the pictures are smudgy.

Although Ellie’s hair is still very thin, the rat-tail-turned-mullet needed some work.  I still haven’t found a good kid-friendly place to take the girls.  The salon that we used with Sam closed long ago.  I decided that you only get a First Haircut once, so I would splurge and take her to my salon.  Sam, in a very matter of fact, big sister way, tried to prep her on the way in, “Listen Ellie, you are going to cry, but it doesn’t hurt.”  Ai yai yai.

Ellie, in fact, did not cry.  She was a little nervous at first, but the cut was over soon enough.  Let’s face it, there really wasn’t much to cut.  She continues to let me pull her hair back, so I really don’t want to cut bangs.  I know she’d look more like a little girl, but we might as well keep growing everything out.

Sam spent her Spring Break with grandparents (a heap of thanks, guys!), so we got to have some only-child time with Ellie.  She is a character.  She is definitely a fierce two-year old.  She is very compassionate, but also incredibly independent.  Raising two assertive girls is proving to be very challenging.  Having a week with Ellie was a nice change.  I enjoyed my time.