Bike Ride Bobble Head

Matt and I went for a 45 minute bike ride, and I noticed about 35 minutes into it, Elise's head started bobbing up and down like a Bobble Head doll. However, the last 10 minutes did her in... this is how she ended up.

Daddy's Little Protégé

Elise's 1st Bass

Dance Class

Soaking the kid...

Soaking the kid... same concept as soaking the dishes. After playing outside in the rain sodden grass and Mommy's flowerbeds, Elise had dirt all over her and so far under her toenails and fingernails - they only solution seemed to be a long lengthy soak in the tub. To prevent boredom and a bathtub escapee, we turned on the bubble machine.

1st Trip to the Fair

We took Elise to the fair for the first time. I have to admit I had mixed feelings because she didn't take a nap beforehand, and I didn't know if all the excitement would cause meltdowns. But I had a feeling she would love it - so I wanted to try. Well, we had an absolute WONDERFUL time. It was so much better than I could have even anticipated I am still amazed. She LOVED everything, the real animals, the carnival rides, and especially the pony rides. She minded really well - we didn't have even one stubborn fit. She is a little taller than 36 inches - so she qualified for all the kiddie rides. She was such a big girl and just climbed right in or waited to be put in most of the kiddie rides all by herself. Matt and I stood next to her while she rode the carousel and we each rode the swings with her - but that was it. When she climbed into the first little train ride all by herself to ride it by herself while I watched outside the fence - I have to be honest, my heart was proud and saddened at the same time. It really hit me - my little baby is gone - she is a big girl now.... and she didn't even look back or act like she needed or wanted Mommy or Daddy as she climbed into her train car! We let her try out all the rides we thought were appropriate for her, which took a couple hours. She would have rode rides all night, but Matt and I had saved the pony ride (by the exit) as a way to lure her away from the rest of the rides. We even coaxed her into finishing her pizza so we could go ride the "real" ponies. (Full tummy in anticipation that she would fall asleep on the way home....) She rode the pony ride twice and I got her sidetracked into petting the minature pony, because she really didn't want to get off her pony. After we petted the minature pony, we started counting the tractors and cars all the way to her carseat. AND she was asleep within ten minutes!!!

Here we are upon arriving at the fair.

Off to see the animals first...

Elise's first glance at the carnival rides. She immediately asked, "go play?" Which simply means, can I go play now?

riding the Partytime Ponies... and 10 minutes later

Out for the night!

The actual time she passed out. REALLY early for her!

Little Actress/Drama Queen

In case you didn't know... Matt and I have a little actress and drama queen on our hands. She has mastered all sort of skills in the last few months. To name a few, she knows how to stand in front of one of her little buddies, fall down conviningly, and then get up and tell him to "stop pushing". She loves to sing and draw the last note out loudly and with such passion while closing her eyes and shaking her head for extra emphasis. She loves to dance or mimic anything she sees that looks like dancing (and I do believe she has skills, but I'm her mom...). She is mastering the art of ninja - you should check out her flying ninja kick. She calls the hogs by doing a little cheer (Whoo Pig Soooie, Ark-an-sas Razor-backs) and then does several little jumps and somewhat kicks. Daddy recently taught her how to do a touchdown dance - pretty cute. She likes to ask me to sing a song, and once I start singing, she starts doing a fake silent laugh, which causes us both to really laugh, and then abrubtly she stops lauging and asks for the song again and when I finally gain control to start sing again, she starts the cycle over by doing her fake silent laugh... She also bangs her toys together and have one toy ask the other toy, "oh did that hurt, I'm sorry" and say it in such a sweet sincere little voice you believe her, but in the next instant bang the toys together again - and asks again "oh did that hurt - I'm sorry"... and she has also discovered a "new trick" of laying on two couches at once (which she thinks is really neat). She actually asked, "loooooook mommy, take pic-ture", but instead of her ornery grin, she was all serious at first.

2nd Dentist Appointment

No cavities!!! Elise is part of the cavity free club. :) Everything looks great. She did really well for her exam and x-rays this time. We did get confirmation that her 2nd year molars are coming through - which we suspected.

We had a very fun checkup because Elise's dentist office had several razorback contests going on during the month of August. We joined in the festivities by dressing Elise up in her Razorback cheerleading outfit. She now LOVES to go to the dentist. There are all kinds of cool things to look at and do in the waiting room. She even won a little Razorback football because she called the hogs for them. (Whooo Pig Soooie!)

Here's the football she won. :)

1st Day of Preschool for 2009-10

New Family Photo

We just updated our family photo. Wow, it's hard to believe our little one is already 2.5! :)