Friday, November 15, 2013

Family Pictures!

We attempted some more family pictures a few weeks ago - to make up for that time that Elliott went crazy. There was a freak rainstorm during this shoot, so she was only able to get a handful of shots. They turned out pretty nice, but we have decided that organized family pictures are just not our thing ... so we'll treasure these photos ...

This is in a little town called Weiden ... about 20 - 40 minutes from our house (timing depends on whether or not you get stuck behind a tractor). I love this shot ... mostly for the very German looking scenery.


This is a very strange, but cute, picture of E ... it doesn't look like him at all. Maybe the lighting? Either way - his hair is out of control ...


I love this one ...


This is funny because we look like we're in a romantic pose, but we're really laughing about how uncomfortable these pictures were making us ...


Sunday, November 10, 2013

Rain, Rain ... GO AWAY!!

Sooo ... it has been raining for two weeks ... straight. We are really hoping that we catch a break on our cruise - we would really like to enjoy some sunny skies!

Next weekend Vic and I are heading to Nuremberg for the night ... without Elliott!! I met a friend of a friend who runs a daycare (sponsored by the Army) out of her house, so Vic and I went to visit this weekend and it's awesome - she has a daughter the same age as Elliott and they were having so much fun playing together. She does weekend/overnight care ... and we couldn't pass up the opportunity - it will be the perfect getaway for my 30th birthday, and Elliott will have a blast.

We leave on the 21st for our big cruise. We fly into Italy on Thursday night, then we will wake up early on Friday morning and try to squeeze in a quick trip to the Vatican before we catch our cruise ship in the afternoon. We go from Rome to Genoa, Italy to Marseille, France to Barcelona, Spain to Tunisia, Africa to Sicily, and then back to Rome. We are staying one extra night in Rome so we have a chance to see the Colosseum and all of that jazz. We are super excited ... and a little nervous. This is a huge task to take on with a toddler ... we may live to regret it, but we'll see some awesome places along the way!!

Vic's deployment is up in the air at this point ... they are going back and forth ... and back and forth with whether or not they are sending his team, so we'll see what happens!! We're prepared for the worst at this point ... so we are really just hoping for a solid decision soon.

I don't have much to share this week, but I do love this picture ...


He loves to do whatever Daddy is doing!

Elliott's vocabulary has tripled in the last few weeks. It is crazy ... the kid will not shut up!

Here is a video from bath time. He has started 'saying' his ABC's ... which is just a bunch of babbling to the tune of the song. Of course, he wouldn't do it for the camera ... but I'll get it one of these days. You can hear him say 'Elliott' - which just started in the last week!


We'll update after our trip to Nuremberg next weekend!!!
 

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Happy Halloween!

We had a great, but busy, week! We skipped actual trick-or-treating and opted for Vic's Company party instead. They did a little Halloween walk - followed by a get-together. Elliott dressed up like his favorite Yo Gabba Gabba character - DJ Lance Rock. Not many people knew who he was, but it was hilarious for us!





On actual Halloween we just locked ourselves inside and closed the shutters. Surprisingly we didn't get a single trick-or-treater. 

E's daycare did a big party where the kids were able to wear costumes. When I asked the teacher if he had fun, she said, "ummm, he didn't want to touch any if the gooey, messy stuff ... and seemed to have the most fun cleaning up". Oops ... I've created a little OCD clean freak! After that comment I immediately went and bought some Play-Doh so we can try some 'messy' activities at home.

We had our first potty experience this week! E was pulling on his diaper, so I said, "do you need to use the potty?" - not expecting a response. When he said 'yes' ... I panicked because we don't even have a little potty! I tore his diaper off and rushed him to the BIG potty, and he went!! He was so proud of himself. I made sure to grab a potty the next day - he loves it. We're not pushing the whole thing too hard because I want to wait until after the cruise to even think about underwear and all the good stuff. Something about a potty-training toddler and multi-country traveling doesn't mix.



I have worked all week on a project for a class that I am so completely lost in ... like - we're mid-way through the semester and I still don't know what the class is even about. Anyway, I turned in - what appears to be some semi-correct information, and I have one test and one project left in this ridiculousness that I will probably never use again. I'm praying for a B at this point ... 

We are laying low again this weekend - it's raining and a perfect day for movies!