Project Life: Week 11

This week...oh, this week. No matter how I try, I don't think I'll ever forget it. 

Monday, March 14

Today was another lovely day, albeit overcast. The girls headed outside almost as soon as we got home; half the time, Elaina asks if she can go outside before we even pull into the driveway. As they played, I made dinner, and Josh got to work tidying up some of the overgrowth on the edges of our yard. We're hopeful that this will discourage both the rabbit population and the powdery mildew that have scourged our garden the past two years.

Tuesday, March 15
This was supposed to be today's picture. For the first time ever, I voted in our state's primary. The weather was so nice, we walked to my polling center, and the girls came inside and got to be part of the process (and get the free stickers!). It was a fun adventure, and, I thought, the only one we would have for the night.

All of that changed around 6:45. I had sent the girls to their room a few minutes earlier to get ready for their bath, well aware that they would likely monkey around for a few minutes before actually getting undressed. When I came in, Elaina was heading to the tub. Ellie was holding on to the ladder on the inside of the bunkbed, and I told her to get down. I'm not sure exactly what happened next, though the best I can tell is that she misjudged the distance from the ladder to the mattress. She slipped and smacked face-first into one of the rungs of the ladder. When I picked her up, the blood told the story of the rest of our night.

The next few hours were a blurry nightmare, a horrifying experience for our little girl and for us, which I don't have the heart to detail here. Living it once was more than enough.

We got home around midnight. Ellie lost three teeth. Josh and I lost a piece of our hearts. It was a night I wanted to wish away, and it is one I doubt I'll ever forget.

Wednesday, March 16
The night was short, and morning came in a fog of emotional exhaustion and trepidation, as we waited for Ellie to wake up. She woke up a bit disoriented and quiet, content to sip water and watch cartoons with her sister. When Elaina was off to school, Josh ran to Kroger to get Ellie's medicine and a bevy of soft foods for her to eat. He dropped off the groceries and headed into work, and Ellie relaxed while I attempted to work.

We took her to the dentist around 10:00 as a follow-up to her ER visit, and they were absolutely amazing. She was never afraid, never in pain, always reassured that everything was going to be okay. We got the good news that she had not damaged her adult teeth, and the surprising news that, because this is apparently a not uncommon childhood injury, the equivalent of dentures for baby teeth are available, meaning eventually Ellie will be able to eat corn on the cob and apples in a matter of a month or so.

She was amazing during the visit, too. She charmed the entire office, as though the trauma of the night before had never happened. Josh and I were overwhelmed by her strength and at one point were both fighting tears--tears of exhaustion, of emotional fragility, tears of unspeakable pride in this little girl who never once complained, never once felt sorry for herself, never once stopped smiling, even when she knew her smile was changed forever.

When we got home, Ellie had her lunch--a nice cold yogurt and chocolate ice cream--and then insisted I cuddle on the couch with her and watch a baking show. I was more than happy to meet her demands. Josh came home early, and when Elaina got home from school, we spent the day as a family, healing bit by bit.

Thursday, March 17
In an attempt to get back to normal, Ellie went back to Rita's today, and I went to work. As planned, the three of us donned our best green for St. Patrick's Day, and the only non-participating member of the family took our picture.

Elaina also came home with a pretty awesome Kindergarten art project. 

Friday, March 18

Today Elaina's school hosted a Family Fun Night. There were games with lots of simple prizes, food, and a book fair. A good time was had by all.

Sky on fire on the way home

Saturday, March 19

Today we had a low-key day, still recovering from the week. We ran a few errands and put a movie on for the girls in the afternoon. Afterwards, Ellie decided to color inside while Elaina decided to color our back porch. Josh called my attention to a few new blooms in our yard, too--a welcome harbinger of spring. 

Sunday, March 20

This afternoon we had the pleasure of attending a "Concert in the Stacks" at the library--a performance by Truckley Howl, a 3 piece traditional Irish group. It was fabulous. Elaina started dancing while the fiddler tuned his instrument, and I don't think she sat for more than 10 seconds at a time after that. 

Towards the end of the concert, we got to participate in a group dance as well. So much fun!

Project Life: Week 10

This post is a week late, for reasons which will become clear in the next post. For now, I can look back at this week and enjoy the memories, particularly the memories of ignorance of the things to come.

Monday, March 7

We have been enjoying beautiful weather--not as warm as the March a few years ago when we wore shorts on St. Patrick's Day, not as cool as the Winter That Would Not End two years ago, when early spring snows threatened often. Today was no exception, so we spent the evening outside. Time well spent.

Tuesday, March 8

Josh promised the girls that the first day the temperature hit 68, we would celebrate with the first Dairy Queen of the year. All afternoon, I watched the temperature creep up, until it finally hit the glory of the low to mid-70s. I told Josh I couldn't stand the idea of spending an hour sweating away in Pearce when the weather was this lovely, this early. So we went for half an hour, slayed it, and then came home with enough time for Dairy Queen and the park. It was a lovely, beautiful, wonderful day.

Wednesday, March 9

Today the I looked out at the girls on their playset and saw the sweetest thing:

And then, after dinner, I looked outside and saw this:

Thursday, March 10

Yet another beautiful sunset tonight. I hope someday we live where I don't have to be so creative in my picture taking so as to not have a house in the way.

Friday, March 11

Today was notable for a couple of reasons.

First, my crocuses bloomed!

Second, we had Arcadia for a sleepover. We had been promising the girls for quite awhile we'd make it happen, but Arcadia's social calendar puts ours to shame, so we ended up having to schedule it four weeks out. And today was the day. After picking up the girls from Rita's, we took them straight to Pearce for a swim. Then we came home and had Arcadia's favorite, Uncle Josh's spaghetti and meatballs, and the girls disappeared and played for a good long while. 

We ended the evening with The Little Mermaid and popcorn, but they only made it through about half of the movie before deciding it was time for bed. All were asleep by 8:45, and I stayed up late finishing Where'd You Go, Bernadette. A good evening for all.

Saturday, March 12

This morning we relaxed for a bit, and then I headed to the gym while Josh and the girls dropped Arcadia off at home. In the afternoon, we ran some errands, which included going to the evil empire, Wal-Mart. After a busy night and a busy day, the girls were happy to relax with me on the couch at the end of their night.

When the girls were in bed, I started my annual rainbow cupcake extravaganza. It takes just short of forever, but I know the girls think it's neat, and since it's only once a year, it's hard to say no. (Plus I sort of signed myself up for this tradition; I've made them every year except one since Elaina was a toddler.)

Sunday, March 13

Today started early. Really, really early. Like 1:30 in the morning early, when Elaina came into our bedroom complaining of a tummy ache. She went back to bed, but it was for naught, because about 10 minutes later she got sick for the first of many times. She and I were up most of the night, and I decided then that next to Christmas Eve, Daylight Saving night is probably the worst night of the year to get the flu.

Little sweetie's stomach finally started to settle around noon, enough that after a second nap she felt well enough to play with Ellie for a bit.

It wasn't the worst flu, and thankfully no one else came down with it, but man. What a start to the week.

Project Life: Week 9

No fancy introduction this week...just another good week in the books, worth remembering.

Monday, February 29

February ended on a kind note. It was so nice that we were able to take a walk after dinner. Come on, spring; we're ready for you!

Ellie blows a kiss

Sweet little biker chick

Tuesday, March 1

Josh downloaded a new game for the girls called "My Singing Monster". They absolutely love it, and while I don't love how often the ditties get stuck in my head, I love how they love it, and I love how special something so small is to them and their Daddy.

Wednesday, March 2
Some of my flowers decided that March 1 was worth celebrating, too. (Full disclosure: I may have pulled a dead weed away from one of my emerging beauties. If only I could be as on top of it during summer. Ha.)

Thursday, March 3
At dinner tonight, Elaina decided to smush one of her oyster crackers, and in doing so, volunteered herself to wash the table after we finished eating. She actually really enjoyed it, and Ellie enjoyed supervising. Later, she decided to don a crown to complete her homework.

Friday, March 4
Ellie woke up early and promptly curled herself up in our bed.

In the evening, she provided amusement to the entire family as Josh attempted to read her a book. He would read a line, and she would immediately repeat it with a glint in her eye. And then she would break into a fit of ornery, animated giggles. It was a little bit of Heaven on earth.

Saturday, March 5
Today Elaina had a sushi date with Auntie Nikki, and Josh and I took Ellie out for frozen yogurt and a trip to Target.

Sunday, March 6
Kroger had crab legs on sale a few weeks ago, so we bought them and threw them in the freezer for a rainy day. Today wasn't rainy (actually, sunny and would-be warm without the wind--nice enough we took the girls to the park before we went grocery shopping), but it seemed a good day for crab. So Josh steamed the crab and roasted the asparagus, and I made risotto that only half of us (the adult half) seemed to enjoy. It was a delicious meal!

Project Life: Week 8

Another day, another post of pictures from the past week. Work is extreeeeeeemly busy right now, and I am living to get through next Thursday at approximately 1:00, when I'll be basically 70% done with my workload. I can hardly wait. In the meantime, here's what our last week looked like:

Monday, February 22

Elaina had her turn at the dentist, where she sat like a champ and got a clean bill of health. And because it took Dr. Roa six months or so to come in after the hygienist finished her work, we had plenty of time to catch up on the on-goings of the kindergarten world.

Tuesday, February 23

Ellie sidled up into my lap during the girls' cartoon tonight, and we decided to have some selfie fun. She usually makes such serious smiles, so I had to tickle her to get this one. Elaina had sidled up on Josh's lap, so I snapped a picture of them, too. (Sidenote: totally love our new lamps! Thanks, Tar-jay!)

Wednesday, February 23

Tonight we enjoyed a beautiful sunset (ahh, for the days when we can watch the sun set without a house blocking the view!)

After dinner, I noticed Elaina's hands were covered in marker. It came as no surprise; she comes home nearly every day with a rainbow on her hands. I love it, because she's so creative, so much more than I remember being at her age. And I know I'll be sad when someday she comes home with clean hands.

Thursday, February 24
We had a quiet night at home, and it was great. Ellie spent some time playing a new sight word game on the Kindle....

Yuna begged for attention....

...and Josh spent the evening looking at house plans. He's happily settled into the dreaming phase of home ownership, where we see the flaws in what we have and dream about what could be, maybe, in some far away distant land. He blames my addiction to Fixer Upper. And he probably has a point. Now to get the Gaines family to move to central Illinois....

Friday, February 25
Elaina drew her own ruler today, complete with numbers and hash marks, and then cut it out. See what I mean about creativity? It's something I never would have thought to do at her age.

Saturday, February 26
Rita asked to keep the girls for a sleepover, so after our visit to Pearce in the morning, we took it easy until she came to get them, around 2:00. Josh and I decided to spend our afternoon productively, so we took a glorious nap on the couch. We then went out for dinner (Sushigawa.....so, so good....) and a movie, Zoolander 2. We worked on our Blue Steel faces before the movie started.

Sunday, February 28
Today was a lovely day, so nice that we let the girls choose a park in the afternoon. They chose the Splash Park and had a great time climbing, sliding, and pretending to be kites.

When we came home, Elaina played outside for a bit and then came indoors to join Ellie with some artwork. She insisted her blue marker was nowhere near her face... :)