Cowgirl lessons

During our Thanksgiving trip to Riddle, the girls got a special treat...their first "cowgirl" lessons, according to Ella. Each year during Thanksgiving at Aunt Kathy's, the girls get to go down to the barn and see the horses. This year, we went down a little earlier in the day and were able to see the horses in the daylight. Extra special treat, Kristy brought Shorty out of the barn and saddled him up for a little riding!!

Ella and Aubrey were beyond thrilled!!!!

Aubrey had a chance to sit on the horse last year, but this year was her first time actually riding! She had no fear, Kristy even had to stop a few times to remind Aubrey to keep holding on!! Aubrey was more interested in kissing Shorty than she was in brushing him, but of course she was too quick for me to get a good picture of it ;-)

Ella had had her first ride a few years ago, but I think she had forgotten. This time she was very into the whole process. She helped Kristy brush Shorty, talked her ear off while they walked around they field, helped put Shorty back in the barn and even pitched in to help feed all the horses at the end. When we went back up to the house, Ella was bragging about her "cowgirl" lessons. She told Grandpa Rick she only got 1 ride, but it was 10 miles!! It was something close to that, I'm sure.... ;-)

Ella, our cowgirl!!!

Oh, where do I begin?!?!

Despite my best efforts, my blogging has once again taken a hiatus. While logic would say I should just go back to the last picture I posted and start there. But what's the fun in being logical??

So I'll just start where I start ;-)

Last Thursday I invited a bunch of our friends over. It was a random Thursday night, and Neal was a great sport and never once asked why we had 10+ people over at our house on a school night to have pizza. Our friends were in on the secret though, I had been able to take a peek at the baby in my belly during a regular doctor's appointment on Tuesday and knew the gender! Neal and the girls weren't with me because our big ultrasound isn't until tomorrow (Thursday). After dinner, everyone gathers in the kitchen and I slip out into the garage. Neal still isn't asking any questions. Then I sent this box in front of him. On the top is says Boy?Girl?

"Wait?! You know?" He just now realizes that this isn't random pizza night at the Kerner's ;-)

We were going to have people write guesses on the top of the box as to whether it was a boy or girl, but all the kiddos at the house couldn't wait for that kind of suspense.

Its a.... 

BABY GIRL!!! Baby girl #3, who is no closer to having a name than before we knew the gender, is set to arrive around May 9th!! Ella and Aubrey are very excited. Ella's first comment was "Oh good, now we don't have to buy boy clothes and boy toys!"

Suddenly we hear this sobbing, hysterical sobbing. Over in the corner, our nephew Quin is crying crocodile tears. All we can here is "I want a boy!!"" He is slightly outnumbered around here, his only boy cousin lives all the way across the ocean in Lebanon and his mommy had been telling him maybe Auntie M would have a boy for him to play with. Heart-broken... we couldn't help but laugh just a little ;-) It was very sweet. But after momma comforted him for a few minutes, we realized he didn't care it was a girl. He wanted a BALLOON, not a BOY!! Well, we can fix that =)

 Needless to say, our ultrasound tomorrow will be a little less climactic than originally anticipated, but it was a fun surprise to throw. Hopefully we will get a picture of her face tomorrow and I'll try to post it before she is born ;-)

Highs and lows of being 5

As of today, Ella has been 5 years old for 1 month. This has been a more emotional month that one could ever have imagined a 5 year old could have!!

Our 1st emotional roller coaster was the death of our dear Dorothy the betta fish =( Everyone was ready to get tucked into bed when Ella noticed that Dorothy had not came up to eat any of her food. Daddy thought Dorothy was stuck in the plastic plant, but after jiggling the plant Dorothy just sunk to the bottom of the tank. Mommy was oblivious to the catastrophe that had just occurred and was planning on taking a quick shower. Ella came in with puffy eyes and a very sad heart. We decided to let her help with the "flushing" and began to somehow explain the death of a fish. (I had always thought that I would find the dead whatever 1st and have plenty of time to prepare my speech, think of possible questions she might have and already had some ready-made answers...this night did not go according to this plan.)

After Dorothy received her proper send-off, I tucked Ella into bed. She just could not stop the tears. She told me "My heart is breaking into pieces and my tummy hurts!" It was hard to see her so upset. The next morning, Ella corners Aubrey upstairs soon after waking up and says "Aubrey, I have to tell you something."
Aubrey: "What?"
Ella: "Dorothy died last night and we had to flush her down the toilet."
Aubrey: "What did you do that for??" (Aubrey obviously didn't get the dead part ;-))

A quick trip to PetSmart to get "Dorothy #2" corrected all the wrongs in the world and she was back on the track to being happy once again!
[I'm not sure the poor lady who encountered us on the ice cream aisle at Fred Meyer feels the same way. She was just going about her business and must have smiled at Ella. Ella then blurts out, "My fish died last night and we had to flush it down the toilet!!" This poor lady didn't know what to say, I think she still wanted to buy some ice cream but she was afraid to come any closer to our cart for fear of what other news we might share with her =)]

Last night, with the help of Daddy, Ella lost her 1st tooth! She didn't cry and was very brave when he pulled it out, but then when she saw the blood she started to lose it for a minute. Aubrey was standing by being her little cheerleader the whole time, I think Aubrey was more excited than Ella was! We helped Ella get a plastic baggie, put it under her pillow and explain that the tooth fairy would visit in the night. I left the room, confident that Ella was super excited about this event. Suddenly the tears started again. This was the reasoning given by Ella:
"I want to keep my baby teeth. I don't want to lose them. Now I'm going to have to sell my blanket!"

Apparently, she went from excitement for the tooth fairy to suddenly feeling like she is losing her childhood much too quickly!!! As her mommy, I feel this growing up business is certainly happening fast, but had no idea that she was sensing the fleeting of her youth as well ;-)

The high highs and low lows of this month make me realize that we are now entering into a whole new world with lots of emotions and we are only 5! I can only imagine the material I am going to have for this little blog in the coming months ;-)

October recap...

Somehow my best of intentions and reality are struggling to align these past few weeks. Alas, here is a condensed version of our lives this past month!

We started October with a long weekend trip to Idaho. 2 days of driving, 2 days in Idaho, 2 days of driving. It makes a long weekend, but throw in a swimming pool in the middle of the driving and lots and lots of movies, the trip ends up manageable--even fun ;-)

Ella showing Grandpa Kerner her loose tooth.

Aubrey and Grandpa Kerner coloring. Grandpa joked that Aubrey could teach him to color in the lines ;-)

Ella, Grandma Kerner andAubrey

The week after we got home from Idaho, we had our 1st school field trip. The preschool has turned the pumpkin patch field trip into a family field trip so Aubrey and I were able to join in on the fun. Once again, the rain held off as we headed to Lakeview Farms. 

(Please excuse the out of order pictures...some days just aren't worth the fight ;-))

Aubrey and Ella with their final pumpkin choices.

At Lakeview farms 2011.

Aubrey had a little trouble with pumpkin sizing.
The rules were:
-able to carry
-size of a face/soccer ball

~~Our attempt at a self-portrait~~

Aubrey's final choice, after the rules were clarified!

Ella's 4 year old preschool class

Ella's pumpkin choice.

Somehow we are already nearing the end of October. Today we picked up the final pieces for the girls Halloween costumes. I'll be working, but I'm sure Neal and the girls will have quite the fun evening gathering more candy than 2 little girls need =)

----Hope this finds everyone well----

Happy [late] Birthday, sweet sweet Ella!!

Our baby girl turned 5 years old on the 7th of this month. So extremely crazy to believe how fast time has flown by?!

While its hard to believe 5 years could have already passed, Ella often reminds us how quickly she really is growing up. The week before her birthday, Ella discovered her 1st loose tooth. {It has taken me so long to publish this post that she now has her 2nd loose tooth too} Reading is a task she is trying to master with full force, most weeks she is able to read her homework and answer the questions appropriately. Her personality is taking on that of a full-fledged little girl. She can often be heard saying "Oh my gosh, I cannot believe that..."  or correcting Aubrey on the "right" way to do/say things.

This year, Ella got to celebrate her 1st school birthday. At her preschool, you get to be "star of the week" during your birthday week. Its a full week of Ella, show-and-tell, a star board and even a lanyard that says "I'm the star!" Ella chose to have mommy bring in donuts for her class as the special treat on her actual birthday.

During "star of the week" time, Ella used her microphone to pick 3 friends who asked her questions about  anything on her star board.

Taking the microphone very seriously ;-)

Nothing completes "Happy Birthday" like some maracas!!

Ella's birthday celebration continued on Saturday at "The Pumpkin Patch" on Sauvie Island. We were blessed with the 1 dry and surprisingly warm day in a 2-week stretch for her party. Ella and her friends loved the hay ride, scavenger hunt and party fun to be had!

Happy happy birthday Ella!! We love you so much. Here's to another fun-filled year =)

1st's

 September has been sprinkled with a few firsts in our house.

1st of all was Ella's 1st day of preschool. She has been waiting to be old enough to go to school since some of her friends started going to preschool last year. I love her enthusiasm and just hope she continues with it for the next 17+ years!!!

1st day of school picture by the front door.
(Borrowed this idea from some friends. I love the tradition and growth it allows you to see)

Aubrey and Ella at school.

Ella putting her school supplies into her pouch.

Ella so excited after she put her backpack in her cubby!

This past weekend in Sunday school, we reached another 1st. Our first fish. Ella's Sunday school teachers took the extra step to help the kids get the idea of Jonah and the whale. These teachers are super dedicated and you always know the weekends they are working because Ella comes home with actual books and other visuals to help with learning/remembering the stories. 

Ella with her new fish.

Ella's fish Dorothy.
(Sorry G-G and Grandma Kerner. Elmo has a fish named Dorothy!)

We did end up with a slight problem...Aubrey's class did not get fish =( She is just at the age where she understands a lot and most of the time we can reason with her, but the idea of not having a fish in her room was not one of those times. Since we had to head to the fish store for fish food and a fish bowl, we bought a second betta fish. 

Aubrey with her new fish!
That smile makes it worth the extra $2.99 for a fish, plus the extra bowl ;-)

Aubrey's new fish: Nemo/Dory/Baracuda/Dorothy
I believe Dorothy is the name that has now stuck. 

I'm still a bit in shock that September is over (practically) and Ella will be 5 years old next Friday! She already has plans for what mommy will bring to her school for her birthday. In between now and her birthday we are heading to Idaho to visit with Neal's Grandma and Grandpa Kerner. I'm crossing my fingers that I remember to pack the camera AND then remember to take it out of the bag to capture a few pictures of our visit. 

Hope everyone had a few special 1st's this month too!!!

{{..So long summer..}}

Well fall is officially upon us. The girls are having a terribly hard time parting with their sun dresses and flip flops ;-) Today, as a part of an internal rebellion I'm sure, Ella wore her polka dot sun dress with an adidas track suit and flip flops!

I realized that I forgot to include our last camping adventures on the ol' blog, so here are a few pictures better late than never!

We headed to South Beach State Park south of Newport at the end of August with our friends the Stampers and Grandma Marian and Poppa. For the Oregon coast, we had nice(ish) weather. There were times each day that the wind stopped long enough and the clouds parted that we were able to take the coats off and even get a little pink from the sun =]

Postcard worthy picture! 

View from the top of the sand dune at the end of the boardwalk. We enjoyed lunch with this view.

Best of friends. They actually asked to have their picture taken together =)

Kerner family at the beach

Running down the dunes. Great way to insure a wonderful nap that afternoon.

Aubrey, my sand baby. (It may be hard to see the sand caked on her face, hair, clothes...)

Stamper family

The reason for the sand baby. She would randomly stop and decide this was the perfect spot for a flip!

One morning we headed into Newport to hang out along the pier with our endpoint being Mo's for lunch --YUM!!!

At first, Aubrey wasn't so sure what to think of the EXTREMELY NOISY sea lions.

Aubrey, Nathan, Ella and Aiden

I sure love them!!!

Able to steal Ella away from all her adventures for a quick picture with Mommy

Definition of "too cute!"

We had quite the crew heading down the sidewalks. Fortunately we got there early so we could take up as much room as we wanted!

We were able to get an up-close and personal viewing of all the sea lions.  They are definitely interesting creatures.

So long summer! It felt like a brief encounter this year but fun-filled nonetheless =]