E's Corner

Goodbye

2010-02-16T07:11:00.000-08:00

After Three years of blogging. I am closing the pages of this blog and consolidating our family happenings into one site. From now on I will be blogging our family life on Andrew's blog. http://www.aolsenstory.blogspot.com/

I originally created E and A's blogs to capture milestones and highlights as they grew from infants to toddlers. For Christmas my sweet husband printed and bound the books for safe keeping. I now have a wonderful hard copy of my babies first years. Since I have two children who do everything together it seems more appropriate to capture our lives together as a family instead of individually. We are grateful to all of those who have visited this blog and smiled at our silly Elizabeth. She is a sweet girl.

Sarah

Play Dough Fun

2010-01-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

Give a girl a little play dough and she will be happy for as long as you let her play with it. Elizabeth loved cutting out different shapes with her play dough. After 30 minutes of creativity, she asked for a baking sheet and proceeded to put her creations in the oven to "bake." After I had cleaned up the mess, she had a small panic attack thinking that her "cookies" were gone. I showed her the container of play dough and peace was restored to her world. Hooray for play dough!

Makeup

2010-01-05T13:09:00.000-08:00

While Grandma Johnson was staying with us, Elizabeth loved watching her put on her makeup. I walked in the bathroom and this is what I found. Her first run in with lipstick didn't turn out too bad. :-)

New Outfits

2009-11-22T14:46:00.000-08:00

Grandma Johnson sent the kids new church clothes. Don't they look great? Thank you Grandma.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T14:59:00.000-07:00

We had a great Halloween in Bisbee. The church had a trunk or treat for the kids. They were giving candy out by the handfuls. Elizabeth loved being a cowgirl. She chased all the boys around for a good half hour before the trick or treating started. She did a great job of saying trick-or-treat and thank you when the candy was put in her bucket.

A Great Party

2009-10-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth had a great time at Aunt Jeremy's baby shower. When we arrived, she walked upstairs and told Aunt Jeremy, "I'm ready to party." Then she said, "we need candles."
Elizabeth loved the game of finding safety pins in rice. She watched Aunt Jeremy do it, and immediately wanted to try it herself. So, she hopped up on the chair and grabbed the bowl. Then Grandma Johnson elisted her help when it was Grandma's turn to find the pins.

Thanks Aunt Jeremy for such a fun time. We love you and can't wait for our new cousin to arrive.

Brrr

2009-10-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

"Mommy, I want to make a snowman."

It snowed in the mountains yesterday. Now every time Elizabeth looks at the snow, she wants to make a snowman. She might get her wish over the weekend.

Making Cookies

2009-10-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

Grandma Ross and I baked cookies today. Thanks Grandma Ross. I had fun.

Coloring with Great Grandma Ross

2009-09-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

Great Grandma Ross and I are having a great time coloring.

Corn

2009-09-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

I helped Grandma shuck corn today. She taught me how to peel off all the layers to find the corn. It's fun.

I also tested a few for quality purposes.

Up and Down

2009-09-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth loves running up the hills at Grandma's house, especially when Grandma is waiting with open arms at the bottom of the hill. Tonight she ran up and down the hill 12 times.

Fall In Idaho

2009-09-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

Fall in Idaho is beautiful. Elizabeth has had a great time picking up the different leaves. It has been a great teaching tool to determine if the leaves are the same, or different.

Put To Work

2009-09-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Grandpa has many projects that he needs help with on Hurricane Hill. One of them is putting a gate at the county road so they can close the gate and head to Arizona for the winter.

The Zoo

2009-09-20T19:03:00.000-07:00

Uncle Eric and Aunt Jeremy treated us to the Idaho Falls Zoo today. We had great time looking at the animals. Elizabeth loved the monkey house. There was a crazy monkey that was swinging all over the place. Elizabeth was mimicing the sounds of the monkeys. It was fun to watch.

Elizabeth really liked the animals she could recognize by herself. The pig and lion were a big hit. Uncle Eric was really good about helping her see into the lion enclosure when she wasn't tall enough.

Thanks for a great day!

I Like To Ride My Bicycle

2009-09-15T20:47:00.001-07:00

Grandma Johnson is teaching Elizabeth how to ride a bicycle. Elizabeth thought it might be easier to use the peddles with her shoes off. Since taking the picture she has gotten pretty good at riding it. By the time we head back to Arizona she should be a pro. Thanks for all the help Grandma.

Loving Freedom

2009-08-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

We took an afternoon drive to Carr Canyon. The kids enjoyed picking up pine cones and climbing over stumps and rocks. Elizabeth loved having her picture taken. She wanted to sit at every picnic table to pose and saying...cheese.

How? When? Why?

2009-08-04T18:28:00.000-07:00

I went to check on Elizabeth while she was sleeping this afternoon and found her naked as a jay bird. I have no idea when she took all her clothing off. I don't know if she got hot, or just upset that she had to wear clothes. She wouldn't tell me why here clothes were off when she got up. I think she was just as confused and surprised as I was. Silly Girl!

Toddler Time at the Bisbee Library

2009-07-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

Today for Toddler Time at the library they had one of the Mom's do a class on tumbling. Elizabeth loved it, but had a hard time waiting her turn and standing on the line. She kept saying, "Elizabeth's Turn" over and over. Toddler time at the Bisbee library is great. They read a story, sing songs, do sign language, do a craft, and have a snack. There are also toys and puzzles to play with in the children's reading area. This is where you will find us on Friday mornings from now on.

Wahoo

2009-07-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth can finally say her name!

Markers=Fun

2009-07-28T18:07:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth found the markers in WalMart the other day and HAD to have them. I put her in the high chair complete with a new notebook and markers. I then proceeded to take a quick shower while she watched Curious George and tested out her new markers. This is the aftermath of a Toddler using markers unsupervised.
It was all over her face, hands, and shirt. The marker had even soaked though the shirt which turned her chest blue in a few spots. It's a good thing kids are washable.

Good Morning

2009-07-28T18:06:00.001-07:00

Time with Daddy

2009-07-28T17:58:00.001-07:00

We are having a great time in Bisbee, and the kids are loving spending time with Daddy. I think Daddy's thoughts are the same.

Daddy has introduced his love for blanket forts. The kids giggle and squeel each time the blankets are brought out.

Snuggling

2009-07-20T18:23:00.001-07:00

I love E's snuggles.

I'm A Fish

2009-07-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

We swam at Uncle Wayne and Aunt Brandi's on Saturday, and Elizabeth is a fish. She loved going under water, blowing bubbles and floating. Daddy dunked her under the water for the first time and she came up laughing. It is wonderful that she isn't scared of the water. I think it helped watching her cousins swim. She loves them and wants to do big things like they do. Cooper was great with her and even helped her go down the slide at least a half a dozen times. We will have to swim again soon.

Outfit Evolution

2009-06-29T11:00:00.001-07:00

E's outfit has really evolved this morning. Now she is wearing size 0-3 month socks with size 13 shoes, (which are really frustrating her because they will NOT stay on like she thinks they should) and a strawberry shortcake shirt.

Irish Dancing

2009-06-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth has been watching the Irish dancers on Sesame Street this morning. The show prompted her to go into her closet and ask for her tutu so she could dance like them. Notice the entranced look...she didn't want to take her eyes off the tv for the picture. Silly girl.

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day. We love you Daddy.

Making Apricot Jam

2009-06-17T10:53:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth has been refusing to go to bed for me. Tonight I was busy making and canning apricot jam. This is how she finally fell asleep at 9:15.

Afternoon Activities

2009-06-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

Since it is too hot outside to take walks in the afternoons, we have been playing in the water on the back porch. Both kids love being outside, and beg to go out after naps.

Dear Elizabeth

2009-06-11T21:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Elizabeth,

I want to tell you how much I love you. You and I have really struggled this week. You have inherited your mother's strong will and your father's stubbornness. For the past week, bedtime has only been a suggestion, and getting you dressed after bath time is even harder. But there are good moments too; like when you were walking down the isle in target this afternoon...10 ft ahead of me only to stop, turn around and say, "I'm Shoppin'!" Or when you insisted on more ketchup for your chicken nuggets and stuck your nose in it when Mommy wasn't looking. I also loved watching you play with friends and the excitement in your eyes when you learned how to get on the swing all by yourself. I hope the refusal to sleep in your own bed, and the screaming when something doesn't go quite like you want it too is just a phase. I pray that I can keep up with your energy and excitement for learning. You are so smart. You see things in your world that I have taken for granted and I love that about you.

Thank you for being my daughter. (And maybe, just maybe, Can Mommy win the bedtime war at least once in the coming week?...that would really boost my Mommy confidence.)

Love you,

Mom

Picture Taking

2009-05-17T20:30:00.001-07:00

We need to work on E's picture taking. She used to be so good at it. I was kneeling down to try to get a good picture of her and she did the same thing as me. She is a definite watcher (like her mother). Last night at a party she was watching a puppy scratch his ear so she decided to do the same. It made Mommy and Daddy smile.

Great Grandma's

2009-05-07T20:42:00.000-07:00

We went to visit Great Grandma Ross today. Any time we spend with her is always special. The kids did a good job of staying out of too much trouble. Elizabeth spotted the chair she is sitting on and had to use it at the table for lunch.

I am so pleased that my children can spend time with my Grandmother. She is a very special person in my life. I love her dearly. She is such an example of loving unconditionally, living life fully and using and developing talents no matter what your age or life circumstance. I love you Grandma.

Mommy is SO Proud

2009-05-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

I love my children so much. We drove 400 miles today in the car today and Andrew and Elizabeth didn't complain once. They are wonderful travelers. Thank you for being so good Elizabeth. You are such a good girl.

400 miles of being good is definitely worth a chocolate chip cookie.

An Invite

2009-04-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth was invited to her friend Porter's Birthday Party this week. She has a great time whenever they are together. Porter is pretty good at making her laugh, and she loves to chase him around.

She's also a pretty good flirt. We are in trouble!

Dresses and Nightgowns

2009-04-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth is all girl. She loves dresses. It is the first thing she asks for when she gets up in the morning. When she's wearing a dress she loves to spin and dance. Every time music is played she says, "I'm Dancin'!" Notice in the picture above; she has her pajama top on, but couldn't bear to be without the dress. Last night she refused to take off this dress for bed and Mommy refused to let her wear it any longer because it was very dirty. Luckily, I found a nightgown for her to wear, which made her happy to be wearing a new dress to bed. She can be a challenge at times, but she sure does make me smile.

I'm gonna be on America's Funniest Home Viedos

2009-04-23T19:31:00.000-07:00

That's right, we have a rising star on our hands. We sent in this clip of Elizabeth trying to play in the water from last summer and the people at AFV thought it was funny enough to make the show...so tune in with us Sunday night on ABC. Here's the clip.

I've been Sick

2009-04-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth has been really sick for the past week. We hope to have our ball of energy back soon. Mommy doesn't like seeing her sick.

Potty Dance

2009-04-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

We have been working with Elizabeth to recognize when she needs to use the potty. Every time I turn around it seems like she is taking her diaper off. We went to the store on Friday and found 10 pairs of big girl underwear. She thought it would be fun to wear them all at once.

Today when she sat on the potty, she actually had some action down there. She was so suprised, and we were thrilled. Daddy, Mommy and E did a big potty dance!

Elizabeth's Heaven

2009-03-24T20:17:00.000-07:00

If Elizabeth could build her own heaven I think it would be one giant swimming pool. To say she loves water is understating it. The RV park Grandma and Grandpa were staying in had a heated pool so we let Elizabeth test it out. This is the first time she has been in a swimming pool since she was 4 months old. She loved it and hated to get out. She would kick and float. Since Grandma and Mommy weren't dressed for a full on swim, she had to stay on the step, which was so hard for her. We will have to frequent more pools once it heats up.

Sonora Desert Museum

2009-03-24T20:03:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa came to Arizona to learn more about the desert and the plants that grow here. Today we accompanied them to the Sonora Desert Museum.

We had a great time learning about the plants and animals that live in our back yard. When we saw our first snake through the window E said, "Oh Wow!" Elizabeth over the past couple of months Elizabeth has learned how to breathe in to smell with her nose, so every flower that was at her level needed to be examined and smelled.

Elizabeth learned about deer, fish, spiders, snakes, lizards, fox, road runners, wolves, and birds.

Elizabeth being a ham.

Showing Off

2009-03-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson arrived today from Idaho. Elizabeth and Andrew were thrilled to go outside and play with them.

Giddy Up

2009-03-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

We are so glad to have Saturday's where we can have fun and play with Daddy. He sure does give good horsie rides.

Happy St Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day. Elizabeth has watched several different groups of Irish dancers on TV this morning, and has been practicing her own little jig. She jumps and kicks, just like the River Dancers. She even ran to her bedroom and asked for her skirt...I guess you have to wear appropriate dancing attire when you're 2.

Elizabeth has refused to have her hair combed for several days now. I did manage to get it fixed for church on Sunday, but not without a battle. Her hair grows so fast. She really needs her bangs cut, but won't stay still enough for me to do it.

Gift

2009-03-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth woke up this afternoon to a surprise. Our friend Melody brought her a fun box and card to open. Thank you for the picnic basket and puzzle. She loves them.

Tough Work

2009-03-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

It's tough work getting good pictures of Elizabeth these days. Each time I get out the camera she wants to look at the screen. I've tried the sneek attack aproach but she'st too quick.

Elizabeth is talking more and more. Here are some of the things she says:
Mil (Milk)
Moor (More)
Pees (Please)
Tank Tou (Thank You)
Car
Wa (Water or Walk)
Andrew
Daie (Daddy)
Ma Ma
Two
Ride
Dace (Dance)
Dog
La You (Love You)
Nigh Nigh (Night Night)
Bird
Tuck (Truck)
Dissy (Dizzy)
Rosy (Wants to play ring around the rosy)
Key (Car Keys)
Pissa (Pizza)

Nigh Nigh

2009-03-02T19:01:00.000-08:00

Nigh Nigh is how Elizabeth says Night Night. This morning when Andrew woke up from his nap, Elizabeth wanted to go Nigh Nigh with Andrew in his bed. Mommy quickly agreed to this request. Containment is a beautiful thing.

Going Private

2009-02-21T19:16:00.001-08:00

I have decided to password protect my children's blogs starting March 1. If you would like to be added to the blog viewing list, please email me at saraholsen2@yahoo.com

Happy Valentines Day

2009-02-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth and Andrew spent some time with Grandma Olsen this morning while Daddy took Mommy to lunch for her birthday. They had a great time making valentines.

Waiting for Daddy

2009-02-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

Friday's are extra long days for Daddy at work. The bank stays open an extra hour which means he does not walk through the door until 7pm. Elizabeth didn't have a nap today, so by 6:30 she was done. I left to put Andrew down for the night and came back to find her fast asleep.

This Skirt

2009-02-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth is into skirts this week. The skirt she has on had been worn for 4 days straight before I was able to sneek it into the wash. I had it folded in her drawer where she managed to find it after her nap today. She is getting good at putting her own clothes on.

E Loves Shoes

2009-02-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth is a girl who loves her shoes. She spends a good portion of the day putting her shoes on and then taking them off. The last two nights she has gotten out of bed and put her shoes on before going to sleep. Do you know anyone else who likes to sleep with their shoes on?

A Great Party

2009-01-31T19:41:00.000-08:00

We had a great party for Elizabeth. It was so fun to have friends and family over to play and have fun. We ate good food and watched Elizabeth open presents. We had bubbles for the girls to enjoy, but I think the Olsen sibblings had more fun with the bubbles than the kids. Thank you everyone for a great party. We loved having you.

The Olsen sibblings making bubbles for the girls.

Cute Samantha

Openning her kitchen. She loves it.

E opening puzzles from the Trane's. Thank you, she played with them during Sacrament meeting and did a great job staying busy and quiet.

This is the cake I made for Elizabeth. It is supposed to resemble a cow.

Elizabeth loved having her friend Julia at her party. They played really well together, and Elizabeth definately loved giving her hugs. Thankfully, Julia was very patient with her.

I'm Two

2009-01-30T19:45:00.000-08:00

Today is Elizabeth's second birthday. She is growing and developing quickly. Her vocabulary is increasing every day. She loves to climb and is very creative when it comes to getting what she wants. Anything can be used as a stool...laundry baskets, blocks, bowls, shopping carts. If it is sturdy enough, she will stand on it. Her favorite activity is playing in the water. She loves helping me do the dishes and watering the plants outside. Elizabeth is also great at taking your hand at random times during the day, wanting to dance around the floor.

This morning we made cupcakes for her. She managed to sneak a couple of bites out of them before they were frosted.

Elizabeth had some really fun things come in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa Johnson and Grandpa Olsen. She loved opening and reading the cards.

Tonight we learned that E really does not enjoy cupcakes on fire. Daddy lit the candles so we could sing to her, but she was afraid of the candles. Oh well, Grandpa Johnson doesn't like cake on fire either...it always results in waxy frosting.

A Thought

2009-01-28T19:27:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth woke up from her nap this afternoon and came walking out into the family room. As I was walking over to greet her I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she is. She is a handful most of the time, but there are also sweet moments where all she wants is to snuggle in my lap or runs to give me a hug. I love my Elizabeth.

E's Haircut

2009-01-21T07:19:00.000-08:00

I learned how to cut E's hair last night at a church activity. I think it turned out really cute.

The Zoo

2009-01-19T19:02:00.001-08:00

We visited the Tucson Zoo this morning with Grandma Olsen. We are so glad she could come with us. Elizabeth loved seeing the animals, but we think she had more fun watching the other kids. It was great to watch her explore.

She was able to get up close and personal with a few birds. She also liked the big fish. Mommy liked the lion. He was just getting up from a nap and his hair looked just like E's when she gets up.

Talking to Grandma Johnson

2009-01-18T19:00:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth is getting pretty good at talking on the phone. She talks to Daddy at lunch, and Grandma Johnson when she calls. She definitely had a few things to tell Grandma this time.

Daddy's Car

2009-01-17T19:27:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth was playing in Daddy's car while he was working in the garage this morning. She thought it would be fun to be buckled in the back seat. I guess this means we have taught her how to be safe.

Naked

2009-01-15T19:31:00.000-08:00

E has learned how to take her clothes and diaper off. This morning I walk into the living room after taking a shower and she is standing in front of the tv watching Sesame Street naked.

This afternoon she struggled going down for a nap. I could hear her playing in her bedroom. I told her to get back in bed, which she did. I didn't realize until she came into the living room after her nap that she had taken off her clothes. My poor girl took her nap naked and was a little cold when she got up.

Andrew's Clothes

2009-01-11T19:18:00.000-08:00

I cleaned out Andrew's drawers today. Elizabeth wanted to wear these overalls really bad. So...I put them on her. They have a 9 month tag in them. They look like capris on her and were tight in the body, but she didn't seem to mind.

How Many Layers

2009-01-10T18:00:00.000-08:00

How many layers to do you think E has on? We were trying to find a new Sunday dress before church, and Elizabeth thought it would be a fun game to put new clothes on top of her pjs.

Big Girl Undies

2009-01-09T18:38:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth has learned how to take her diaper off. I figured if she didn't want to wear a diaper then she was ready for big girl underwear. She was very unsure about them as we were putting them on. She still doesn't understand the concept of going potty, but it is better than running around with nothing at all.

Riding Hat

2009-01-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth has discovered hats. She loves wearing them. Hopefully she will like it just as much when it gets hot outside.

Lemons for Lemonade

2009-01-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

After months of checking, it was finally time to pick Grandma Olsen's lemons. Grandma Olsen promised she would wait for Elizabeth to pick them. It was a new experience for both of them. The lemons were as big as oranges and made yummy lemonade. Thanks Grandma Olsen, E loved helping you pick your lemons.

A Different Type of Shoe

2009-01-01T18:39:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth loves putting these rings on her feet and walking around with them. Whatever makes her happy.....

Raising a Thinker

2008-12-31T21:41:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth inherited her Grandpa Johnson's common sense and ingenuity. She loves getting up to the counter. There is a whole new world to explore, and many things she shouldn't have. I try really hard to keep anything dangerous like scissors and knives put away in case she does find something that will help her reach new heights. Here are two prime examples:
It only takes a minute, and Mom to be out of the room for her to act. Some days I wish she wasn't so quick, but I am very grateful she is using her mind to think of the best ways to get what she wants.

The Park

2008-12-31T20:31:00.000-08:00

I had the best time at the park in Quartzsite. They had some great slides. After going down once with Daddy, I was a pro and went down by myself after that.

Christmas in Quartzsite

2008-12-25T20:17:00.000-08:00

We spent Christmas in Quartzsite with Great Grandma Rossmiller and the Myers family. We had a great time. Mommy was really worried about me sleeping in a strange place, but I did a great job and slept through the night. My favorite part of the trip was the park in Quartzite. they had 3 really fun slides and swings. I also loved cheering and watching Mommy, Doug, Lou and Chris play washers out in Grandma's yard.

Showing Great Grandma pictures on the computer of me going down the slide at the park in Quartzsite.

Uncle Doug helping me open my new toy cell phone.

Mommy and I sharing ice cream.

Helping Aunt Lou do the dishes.

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T20:11:00.000-08:00

We had a really fun breakfast with Aunt Tami and Grandma Olsen for Christmas Eve. They spoiled me with presents. Grandma Olsen brought me a shopping cart. I immediately started pushing it around, until I found the new clothes. Aunt Tami gave me some bath toys. I love them. Thank you.

Our Visitor

2008-12-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

Grandpa Olsen is visiting us from Utah this weekend. He brought presents for the kids. They love spending time with him.

Sesame Street

2008-12-21T14:11:00.000-08:00

Every morning at 8 Sesame Street comes on. Elizabeth is a dedicated watcher. She gets antsy at 7:45 wanting to turn the t.v. on. I love it because it allows me to do chores around the house without a helper. She is learning. She loves to sing the ABC's and say her numbers.

Dressed for a Party

2008-12-13T12:51:00.000-08:00

We went to the church Christmas party. E was the only little girl dressed up, and the cutest by far.

Water Child

2008-11-25T18:35:00.000-08:00

I have never seen a child who likes to play in the water more than Elizabeth. Her two loves are being outside and playing in the water. It's even better when she can have both at the same time.

The aftermath

Oh No! Look Grandma

2008-11-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

We had a freak hail storm last night. Look at E's flowers now. The hail put Elizabeth on edge. She learned the true meaning of cold pretty quickly. After feeling the hail and how cold it was she would point outside and say "cold" all throughout the evening.

Look at our flowers Grandma

2008-11-08T19:37:00.001-08:00

Elizabeth and Grandma Johnson spent June and July taking care of these flowers at Grandma's house. Grandma brought them down last month and put Elizabeth in charge of watering them every day. I would say E has a green thumb. They are beautiful.

Love of Roses

2008-11-06T19:42:00.000-08:00

E loves to pick the rose buds off of our rose bush in the back. It isn't a very big plant, so every bud is precious. I have tried to tell her that they need to stay on the plant so they can flower and be pretty. She picked this bud off the plant. It flowered this morning. As she was holding it in her hand I had a flashback to my college days. There was a rose garden outside the doors of one of my classes. Two or three times a week I would pick a rose and take it with me back to my room. The pretty flowers are just to much to resist. So, I had a change of heart about her picking the flowers, because I do it too. It is amazing to me how many things she does that I find myself doing.

Woof Woof

2008-11-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth was a dog this year for Halloween. It is her favorite animal. Every time she hears a dog barking she says Woof Woof.

Grandma O came down in the morning and went with us on our morning walk. She and E had a great time playing out back with the water and reading nursery rhymes.

Trick or treating was pretty fun for Elizabeth. She has quite a few older friends down our road who really spoiled her with candy. She can't say trick or treat yet, but she thought it was pretty cool to carry a bucket down the street, and it was even better that people kept putting stuff in it.

Here she is checking out her goodies.

Cans for Chili

2008-10-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

Daddy volunteered to bring chili to work for Halloween, so I helped Mommy make it this afternoon. I had a really fun time playing with the cans.

Making Cookies

2008-10-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

Daddy let me help him make cookies tonight. He gave me a bowl, spoon, and measuring cups just like he uses. He even let me stay up long enough to taste one of our cookies. Mmmm, I like cookies.

My Eyes

2008-10-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

As some of you may have noticed in pictures, Elizabeth's eyes have been crossing for several months now. We took her to the doctor yesterday and found out she is severely far sighted, which means she basically can't see anything very clearly. She was having to work so hard to see. She also didn't have a very long attention span for books or other activities. It was all because of her eyes.

Daddy and Elizabeth played with a fun train at the doctor's office while we were waiting for her eyes to dilate.

The doctor dimmed the lights and shined a light into her eyes so he could see how her eyes were working. He then held up what looked like a ruler that had lenses of different strengths and looked through the lenses into her eyes. Elizabeth had to be pinned in Mommy's lap the entire time. It wasn't very fun. So, after the doctor we went to Daddy's favorite sandwich shop and she got her own kids meal.

This morning, I took Elizabeth in to get her glasses made and fitted. We had to buy the smallest pair they made. They wrap around her ears so she can't get them off too easily. This was the first time we put her new glasses with the prescription on her.

When Elizabeth walked through the door at home it was like a whole new world. She has never been interested in reading or watching TV. Both Mommy and Daddy read a book with her tonight before bed. She pointed to things on the pages and studied the pictures. I know this is the first time she has been able to see the images on the page.

Words cannot express how grateful I am that she can see. She was having to use her other senses like touch and hearing to compensate for her eyes. Now that she can see, she is much more content and happy. The doctor told us that children's brain/eye development happens between birth and age 8. If the problem is not fixed by age 8, they could potentially go blind. Elizabeth will always need glasses, unless we do some corrective surgery after age 14. We are so blessed to be able to get her what she needs to see so she can continue discovering and conquering the world.

Tea Party

2008-10-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

Grandma Olsen has the best Tea Party dishes. Each time we arrive at Grandma O's house, the first thing Elizabeth does is go to the dishes and her booster chair. I think it helps having great snacks for the dishes too.

The Day with Grandma Olsen

2008-10-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

Grandma Olsen watched Andrew and Elizabeth today so Mommy and Daddy could go to the temple. Elizabeth had a great time. They played in the sand at the park, planted some flowers in the back yard and played tea party with her play dishes. What more could a girl ask for? Thanks Grandma Olsen. Elizabeth had a great day!

Mini Me

2008-10-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

We constantly are told how much Elizabeth looks like her Daddy. She is definitely a mini Jeremy.

Planting Flowers with Grandma

2008-10-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

I loved having Grandma Johnson visit. We had a great time playing in the dirt. She brought flowers from her flower boxes that I helped her water when we were in Idaho. I helped her fill the pots with dirt and water them. Since Grandma has been home, I make sure Mommy remembers to water the flowers every time we go outside. I like filling the watering can and pouring the water over the plants. I also like picking the flowers off of the plants. Mommy tells me that's what makes them pretty and they need to stay and grow, but I can't resist.

Our trip to Quartzsite

2008-09-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Grandma Johnson brought Great Grandma Ross back to Arizona this week, so we went out to visit them in Quartzsite. Elizabeth had a great time exploring and finding new things to play with. She did a really good job of staying out of trouble. Her favorite toys were the fly swatter and flashlights. Grandma Ross had some stuffed animals, but E wasn't very interested in them. She and Grandma Johnson planted plants and played in the rocks. She also got to play in the water, getting herself all wet.

My First Haircut

2008-09-29T08:11:00.000-07:00

It was time for Elizabeth to get her hair cut. She was constantly getting food and other things in her hair because it was always in her way. Daddy was also complaining that it was getting too long and hard to wash in the bath. She did great during her haircut. She wiggled, of course. But she didn't cry. I think she really likes not having hair in her eyes anymore.

Playing in the Kitchen

2008-09-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

Aunt Christina has the best play kitchen. Elizabeth and Julia loved playing together in the kitchen. They also have a play kitchen in the nursery at church. Each time she sees the kitchens she gravitates towards them. I guess Mommy should look for a play kitchen of her own.

Me and my Brother

2008-09-27T07:38:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth and Andrew are starting to respond more to each other. As a mother it warms my heart to watch them play. Andrew is never quite sure what Elizabeth will do, but he loves having his sister close by. I love both of my children.

Big Girl Bed Update

2008-09-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth has been doing a great job in her new big bed. Up until now we have been carrying her to bed and saying good night. The past couple of nights she has walked to her room and climbed into bed all by herself. My little girl is growing so fast.

Now, notice the book. When she goes to bed she doesn't have a book in her hand. But after we close the door, she gets up and picks a book to sleep with. The book is different each night. The night before last, she had a book that makes noise, and at 4 am I heard Blue from Blues Clues say "what time is it?" It didn't wake her up...thank goodness.

Reading with Grandma Olsen

2008-09-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

Grandma Olsen and Aunt Tami came for dinner today. Grandma and I had a great time reading a book of silly rhymes.

I love Cups

2008-09-22T07:41:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth found two cups in the closet today. They are her new found treasures. All day long I have been filling them with small amounts of water. Half the water makes it into her mouth and half ends up on the floor. It's a good thing we have tile.

My Chair

2008-09-20T08:02:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth loves this chair. Grandma Johnson gave it to her for Christmas. She spends so much time playing while sitting in her chair. It is so nice to have something her size.

Big Hair

2008-09-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth has her mother's ability to grow hair. It is constantly in her face. We need to decide if we let it grow, or cut it. I don't think she could sit still long enough for me or anyone else to cut it. What do you think? Cut or no cut? Daddy votes cut.

Today

January 2008

Big Girl Bed

2008-09-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth graduated into a big girl bed today. We are very proud parents. She did such a good job of adjusting. She watched us take the crib down and we explained to her about sleeping in a big bed. This afternoon for nap time she played for about 15 minutes and gave up. Tonight when I put her in bed and closed the door she didn't make a peep. There are some benefits to being so busy during the day...it's easy to go to sleep.

Elizabeth during her nap this afternoon.

Tonight at 8:30 (It is completely dark in her room but the flash makes it look like it is daytime.)

Cousins In My Room

2008-09-07T21:37:00.000-07:00

I had a great time playing with my cousins in my room. I showed them all my toys and books. They had given me a quiet book for church and were showing me how to play with it.

Reading with Grandpa Olsen

2008-09-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth had a great time reading Olivia's Opposites with Grandpa Olsen. She laughed and laughed. I think Grandpa Olsen enjoyed it just as much as she did.

uh-oh

2008-09-05T21:03:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth dropping her blanket outside her crib = no nap. She has also learned how to take the sheets off her bed. She thinks it's a pretty clever thing to do.

Bows in my hair

2008-09-01T21:33:00.000-07:00

Thank you Aunt Christina for making these bows to put in my hair. I love wearing them to church. Everyone tells me they are so cute.

Our Day

2008-08-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth has been quite the character today. She is every day, but for some reason today was especially funny.

This morning Elizabeth came walking out with a dress in her hand, a pair of pants on her head, and a onsie for her baby.

She is transitioning to one nap a day, so by lunch she is really tired. I was busy washing dishes and looked over to find her sleeping.

This afternoon Elizabeth helped me make chicken enchiladas for dinner. She loved snatching the cheese.

Tonight Elizabeth had a hat in her hand when I put her in her highchair. She loves wearing hats.

Doing the Dishes

2008-08-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth loves playing in the water. It is way to hot to be outside, so she has been helping me rinse the dishes. As soon as she sees me turn the water on, she is sliding the chair towards the sink. We both get wet in the process, but she has a great time doing it.