Camp Chautauqua

we call this picture of Gracie "living the dream" she came across the bag of chips that got left outside over night around 9 in the morning and decided to help herself. I usually would not allow her to have chips at that time much less hold the bag of them, but the image of the size comparison was too much for me to pass up.

We had our first official camping trip this weekend! We went to Camp Chautauqua Friday through Sunday. Honestly we couldn't have had a better time. I am so relieved! Camping with little kids is a lot of work, and I give mad props to the people who can suck it up and do it in a tent. Not for me.

We couldn't have had better accommodations. There is a ton to do at the campground, pool, playground, petting zoo, fishing, the roads were paved so Ellie could ride her bike EVERYWHERE! We couldn't have had better weather, and we had really great company too! We went with John and Barb Moore and their kids, and couldn't ask for better people to camp with. They are very much like us in a lot of ways and our kids get along amazingly. And on Saturday Dawnie, Paulie, and Kelsey came to visit us for the day! So fun!

Ellie gushes a mile a minute about the trip, and she has said that she loved sleeping there, and staying up late and having camp fires and s'mores (pronounced snores). I recommend a phone call to Ellie for anyone in need of a smile, its hysterical!

Not that the weekend was without a hitch, but Warren and I were happy with the planning that we did, and with 2 minor exceptions (ummm...baby wipes?? how could I have forgotten baby wipes?!!) we had everything we needed. The girls took naps both Saturday and Sunday and the air conditioner in the camper proved to be a necessity this weekend (added benefit is that it drowned out a lot of noise from the outside) as it was actually kind of HOT. NOT COMPLAINING!

Ellie spent time playing with Bridget and Bridget's cousin Mackenzie, and just played the whole day and night. She even got to stay up much much later than usual too! But even as much fun as she had, I asked her Sunday, who her best friend was, and she answered, "Daddy". Man o Man does she know how to get her sappy father or what?? I am just kidding, she has repeated the sentiment since then, and it still gets both of us.

Ellie was sad to leave, and Grace was MISERABLE the whole way home, and thus I know we all had a good time!

Summer Colds

I hate summer colds. I know, Ellie, I am not supposed to say hate, but I very strongly, completely, totally, honestly and truly, more than most other things DISLIKE summer colds. (Ellie really likes books by Judith Viorst right now). The Herdic women and some other members of our extended family had this really yucky cold last week and part of the week before too. Poor Gracie is still getting over it! Nasty sore throat, runny noses, sneezing, and a nasty cough. The Mom's out there will relate that when kids especially little ones like ours are, sleep like crap when they have colds. Which in turn means that Mom a.) sleeps like crap for the first night or 2 of each child's cold and b.) is for sure to get it herself because she has slept with each of the sick kids. All I can say is FUN FUN FUN! The one good thing to come of these colds was the picture of the little sicko's on the couch comisserating and sharing a nice wet kiss.

Grampa's Birthday

Grampa Herdic's birthday is the 18TH of August, so Grammy had the family there on Sunday the 17TH for a nice get-together. We have a track record of it always raining whenever we spend time there, but this time we beat the odds! It was a beautiful day, and we spent most of it outside playing, including another successful game of back yard baseball. Grammy rules at back yard baseball! Our nephew, Brayden starts thinking of the rules and teams for baseball before they even get out to Rushford, its a riot!

Rita made another wonderful meal for us all, and topped it off with a creamsicle cake, which Ellie helped Grampa blow out the candles on. MMMMmmmmm! Does it get any better? Good Family, Good Fun and Great Food! (I really wish the pic of Grammy and the kids came out better, you know, like, Gracie wasn't screaming?)

Erie County Fair

Warren took the day off of work on Friday August 15th and we went to the fair. The buildings opened at 10, and the midway around 11 so we went as early as possible to get everything possible in. What you have to understand about our family is that we live a very scheduled life, and that is by choice. I am known as the Nap Nazi in my family, and truthfully, I am OK with that. Warren and I decided to throw the schedule out the window the day of the fair, and just let the girls and their moods rule our day.

The girls LOVED the animals, and especially Gracie who has this thing for ducks and geese. I don't know what that is about, but it's amusing to me, especially when she makes animal noises back at the animals. Ellie's favorite this year were probably still the bunnies, although one time she was asked she said it was the turkey, so who knows.

The only rides poor Gracie could go on were the Ferris wheel and the carousel, so that was kind of tough for her, she spent a lot of time watching her big sister on the rides from the wagon. But she did LOVE the carousel, and cried when it was over the last time we went on.

Ellie is such a big girl. She will go on ANYTHING! I was so impressed with her, she was not afraid of anything, and most of the rides she had to go on alone! Check out the picture of her on the jumping apparatus (I don't know what it's called, she is harnessed in and attached to giant rubber band like things). She went on without a second of hesitation, and she did awesome! She even managed to get some flips in the air like the other kids!

So, we stayed until 3:00 with no naps! Now, I am not saying that I am throwing the schedule out the window, or that the day went without a meltdown or 3 (each). But, I am glad that we didn't put time limits on things, because it really was worth it at the end of the day! Poor Gracie is still having a hard time with not taking her morning nap, she is usually asleep by 12:30 for her afternoon one anymore. She was falling asleep sitting up, in the wagon on the way out, then decided to use her sister as a pillow.

What's In Your...Pocket?

My sister finds the things I unload from my pockets at the end of the day very amusing. Between taking things away from Grace because she puts them in her mouth, holding on to things to throw away for Ellie and picking up after both of them, and rescuing items from Sadie, I constantly have very random things in my pockets. This picture is not exaggerated, this is truly what I took out of my pocket one night and ran to get the camera for your amusement.

There is a band-aid wrapper, a cupcake wrapper, 4 ponies, a novelty sea shell, a gum wrapper, a random bit of paper towel, and a part of a stick I took out of Sadie's mouth. What? Do I amuse you? Am I a clown?

An Interview With Ellie Marie Herdic

What is your favorite color? Blue

What is your favorite toy? My bike

What was the best place you went recently? George’s (hot dog stand) with Papa

Who is your best friend? Uncle Chris, Aunt Sarah, and Lola

What is the newest thing you learned how to do? Eat popcorn with daddy, sleep in my sleeping bag at Grammy and Grampa’s house, gymnastics (pronounced b-nastics). Ride my bike and swim.

Could you tell me about learning to swim? I kick my legs up and down, and I put my face in the water, and I totally, totally freaked out. I wear my special jacket so I don’t
sink down. I use my shovels like Aunt Sarah taught me to do.

What else do you like to play? I like to play with Leah (our next door neighbor). I learned to lay down on Daddy on the tire swing, and I love him super, super much.

Tell me something you are really good at? Singing at church
Would you like to tell me about that? I like singing on the microphone, that’s it. Maybe I will tell you more tonight

Who lives the farthest away from you? Daddy seems the farthest away right now

What is something special that Daddy does with you? Swims in the pool with me and brings me teenies (Tim Horton's Tim Bits). Tomorrow is it going to be teenie time? I ate the bite of a plumb at the store with Daddy, and we watch movies together.

Gracie is…Gracie Salbatrebis Herdic (Salvatrice is Grace's middle name after Warren's Grandmother)

Sadie is…a schnoodle (schnauzer/poodle mix) and a puppy, and she is little and she doesn’t know better

Ellie loves…teenies, tomorrow is it going to be teenie time and daddy is going to stay here? huh huh huh?

What kind of things do you do that make you a big girl? I wish I could get a clock. I can button my own buttons, put my shoes on, lay down in the tubbie and get my hair washed by myself.

What kind of things do you teach Gracie? Lie down in the tub, and kick in the tub, and to do training on the potty.

What is your favorite dinner to eat? Peanut butter sandwich

What is your favorite TV show? Hannah Montana

What is your favorite song? Alleluia

What kind of job are you going to have when you get big? Make cookies by myself
What kind of work are you going to do? Go to work with Daddy

Why do you want to go to school so badly? To do a hundred stuff there, blocks, and they have…I want to learn how to do everything.

What else would you like people to know?
You do so many things with me, you play with me and you do things with me, and take me outside and clean the camper and the pool and the house.

Is there anything else?
Oh yeah…we went to Bridget’s house and we swim in the pool, and what pool did they have? Oh a big pool. They have lots of toys and we played on their playground, Mr. John made it, I wish we could have one like that, Mrs. Barb said no playing on the old one, cuz its broken. We had dinner and it was D-D-elicious, I ate everything, and then we had an ice cream cone like I had with Papa at his new house in Florida. They have a bounce house and it is so high, Bridget bonked me, and Josh pushed me.

What did Daddy bring home that night? CAMPER! When you go camping, you go there and make a fire and eat marshmallows and you sleep in your sleeping bag and there are bugs there, and dragon flies there…


Yet another classic Ellie-ism: (as per Mom)I had a meeting with Bill, the director of the Boys and Girls Club regarding me running a summer reading program for them. I called Warren on my way home and he asked me how I made out. Later that afternoon, Ellie was getting ready for her nap, and said to me, “Mommy were you making out with Bill today? When I get big, can I make out with Bill too?” She is always good for at least one a day, and that was particularly good.

What do you say to this?

I don't even know where to begin with this one. It actually reminds me of a post my SIL, Tina had on her blog some time ago.

Mom: "Ellie why are you nakey?"

Ellie: "Cuz I want to"

Mom: "I really think you should put some clothes on"

Ellie: "I just want to be nakey"

Mom: "What's up with the potty seat?"

Ellie: "The chair was hurting my Tucas" (sp? couldn't find that one in the dictionary)

How do you argue that?

Grace Update

I feel like I talk a lot about Ellie. Ellie is always doing something or saying something funny, or impressive that makes the blog, so I am going to give Gracie a little bit of sun too!

Our little peanut (or little G, as Warren calls her) is really coming into her own in the last month or so. She has the funniest personality and has suddenly added a ton of words to her vocabulary. We hit a rough patch with her for a couple months where she was really challenging, and I know there is this crazy struggle with them wanting to be independant and still needing me constantly, and then there is the whole not being able to verbalize what they want yet. Luckily, we are on the outer edge of that stage (and heading for an all new one I am sure). She still eats ANYTHING on the ground inside or out, including sand and grass. She likes to be in the pool as long as she can wrap her arms around your neck. She loves to play anything that Ellie will play together with her, or try anything Ellie does, and has suddenly started playing by herself. Her favorite night time books are "Peek-a-who?" and "The Going to Bed Book" It's funny because at this age, Ellie really liked TV shows, Gracie doesn't sit to watch something unless she is snuggled up with you and her bottle, and she is very attached to her "lovie" which is a blanket with a dog head and back end...Gracie doesn't go anywhere without her lovie.

Camping

We got a Camper! Warren, the girls and I are so excited! We have been shopping around for one for a little while this summer. I had initially resisted because I didn't realize how cushy these things really could be, and with Gracie still being young, I just wasn't sure. When I say initially, I mean Warren has been asking me since we were dating. We ended up walking into a deal that we just couldn't resist and turned out to be a steal! We got a very gently used 2006 camper for less than half of what we thought we were going to be spending. CAN'T BEAT IT!!! It has Air Conditioning and a microwave!

We have a couple of trips lined up this summer and I am sure I will be blogging about them with full pictures later. Warren's boss , John and his wife Barb have 3 kids, Bridget (4) and Josh (almost 2), and Jacob(6 weeks). We have been hanging out with them here and there over the last year, the kids get along really well and we seem to have a lot in common. We are going to be camping with them this summer too, and we are really looking forward to it! I'll keep you posted!

Jiffy Pop

Warren LOVES Jiffy Pop. Saturday, he took Ellie to the store for a few things for dinner and they came home with Jiffy Pop. After Gracie went to bed, Warren and Ellie made the popcorn together. It was hysterical. Warren looked like the proverbial pig in...well you know...and Ellie was just in awe. "And it got bigger and bigger and it was soooooo good!" It was one of those things that we just take for granted woohoo...jiffy pop... but look at the smile on Warren's face!

Another Ellie-ism for you... I asked Ellie if she wanted pizza for lunch the other day she tells me, "Thanks for the offer, but I would rather have peanut butter and jelly" I just shake my head and laugh. Can she only be 3?

Ellie's Big Debut

This past Sunday I sang at our church. I have done this since I was 14 years old, and went back to it this year after a baby sabbatical. I brought Ellie to church with me, thinking my Nana would be there to sit with her. Nana didn't make it to church this Sunday, so what was I to do with Ellie? We got her a stool to sit on and her own microphone (upon her request). (no chord attached to hers). Ellie was beside herself happy. She sat there and sang every single song, she was so proud of herself, it was hysterical. For some reason, Ellie has a huge affection for any Alleluia. This past Sunday, I was canting the Alleluia. As I was trying to sing, all I could hear was Ellie singing behind me full voice, I couldn't concentrate on what I was singing because it was so distracting, but more than that, I was trying not to laugh and kind of a little choked up all at the same time. Ellie sang every single song, making up words and singing loudly the entire time. At one point, I had to ask her to sing a little more quietly, and she told me, "No, I like to sing loud." The whole congregation could hear her, and many of them commented on how much they enjoyed her singing after mass was finished, and she ate it up. And although I was a little sweaty after mass was over, it is a memory that I will cherish forever. She told me today that she wants to sing like me, (it made me feel so good) I told her she can do anything she wants to do, and she said, "can I sing at church too?" Take that Hannah Montana!

Oh...and just a little Ellie-ism for you....She is just learning to bless herself, and the other day randomly wanted to show me that she could do it all by herself. "In the name of the father, son, holy effearament, amen." (I think she thinks spirit, is experiment) I had to stifle a laugh long enough to get out of earshot and then called just about everyone to tell them.

Hannah Montana

I have discovered that pop culture invades life as early as 3. I am really amazed, and I guess slightly scared. The other day, while giving the girls a tubbie, Ellie informed me she wants to be like Hannah Montana. (pronounced Hannah Onhannah) STOP. My 3 year old knows that someone else lives a life that she does not. I collect myself, and ask her, "what is it that you would like to be or do like Hannah Montana?" The answer, "I want to sing like her" OK I think, I can handle that, admiration of talent completely acceptable. "I want to have a lot of shoes like she does, I like her clothes, and I like the way she talks." I don't think I can handle this. It completely freaks me out that she is cognizant of this person as something to be. Help! Am I overreacting?

I think from now on I will stick to singing our Bob Marley tunes in the tub, no more deep discussions, I can't handle it.