alabama {phone pics}

I promise I'm done after this.  

 I was reminded that I missed a few - and they're pretty cute so here ya go.  

We went to this restaurant straight from the airport.  

Elise was SO happy to see her Auntie.

She would kind of space out by the pool.  She was BUSY. 

A little morning snack before hitting the beach. 

Uncle Carl (who she now calls Uncle Frog??) dug a super huge hole. 

They had a craft almost every day.  
This one was candy sand.  She said it tasted like smarties. 

Instagram pictures of the week:

Sheesh.  I'm done now.  

alabama {part three}

We're home now.  We had such a fun week.  

Vacations go too fast!

This kid was in sandcastle heaven.  She had sand everywhere.  

She kept pushing my hands off the paddle so she could do it by herself.  

We didn't get very far.  

The resort had tons of stuff to do all the time.

Someone discovered she loves swimming.  

The even had tattoos and popsicles by the pool one day.  

Elise got the biggest ice cream sandwich ever. 
She loved it and could hardly talk.  And she ate the whole thing. 

I've made the mistake before of not getting a single group shot on vacation.  So this time I made everyone pose before we left for the airport. 
(They'll thank me later.)  :-)

Thanks for a great vacation Mom & Dad!

alabama {part two}

We're having such a good time.  

The weather is perfect!

No rain or flooding or anything.  

(That's a little joke since GR is currently underwater.)

Yesterday while the boys were golfing we went and walked around Fairhope. 

It's the cutest little town with lots of cute shops.  

We love cute shops.  

Elise likes to "water the flowers" around the pool.  

The pool is freezing!  Elise doesn't really care though.  

Okay this video is hilarious but kind of makes us look like alcoholics.  Haha - just kidding - but we had just ordered a beer by the pool and Elise decided she was going to get us more.  In blue solo cups.  From the "water mountains" at the pool.  


We went to a restaurant in the middle of a pier. 

Our kinda place.  SO delicious and fun.  

Oh hi.  This kid is the cutest.  

They look alike.  Wowie. 

There ya go guys!  Today we're taking a bike ride to a little candy shop and playing by the pool.   There may or may not be bloody mary's involved.   After the bike ride, that is.  :-)

alabama {part one}

Hello from Alabama! 

I promised Nick's grandparents I would post some pictures for them while we were gone.  

And for poor Aubrey who had to stay home and watch from afar.   Hi Aubrey.   :-)

Elise kept rubbing my dad's arm hair at the airport.  So nice and soft...

She got her own seat this time!  She did so great all day.

We got her some headphones in airport as to not broadcast Daniel Tiger to everyone within earshot.  

We got to the hotel pretty late Saturday.  So Sunday morning we went to the breakfast buffet and played a little croquet... ha.

And explored the beaches...

Think she looks comfy?  She ate the biggest grilled cheese sandwich ever.

friday phone dump

We are packed and ready to go - on "bacation" as Elise says.  

I promise I'll get out my nice camera while we're there.  

But here's a few phone pics from the week to hold you over until then.  

Last weekend we went to the best breakfast spot in Grand Haven - Morningstar.   Elise talked about that cinnamon roll all day.  

Nick's parent's cat tolerates this two year old really well.  

Lunchtime on the... stool?  She said "this could be a little table for me!"

It literally has been raining for two weeks.  Poor thing is so scared of thunder and clings to me like a little monkey.   We sat like this for over an hour and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Sweetheart.  

My next few updates will be from sunny & warm Alabama.  We'll be saying good riddance to this late April SNOW and heading south tomorrow.   

SO excited.    

for the grandparents

Just a little singing into a microphone on the computer:  

These are her two favorite songs.  She knows more, I promise.  :-)

you asked for it...

Three different people have told me it's about time to update.  

The only problem is that we are SO boring - it's been raining and freezing cold for the last week, so all I have for you is a few Instagram pictures and a story about poop.  Yep - it's all I got.  

Girlfriend loves coloring.  Markers, crayons, paint, whatever.  She tried this the other day - I thought it was hilarious how her other hand is doing the same thing as the crazy marker hand.  

We grilled some chicken the other night (between the rainstorms) and it just felt like spring.  So of course we went to get an ice cream cone.   You can't beat $1 kid cones.  We'll take three please.  

She specifically requested to go upstairs in jump in her bed.  

Whatever makes ya happy, sister. 

Grandma Goote left her wikistix with Elise.  She plays with them whenever we're in the car.  This was a "wikistix mustache!"...

We heard there were baby ducks and baby chicks at the tractor supply store.  

So we took a little detour on our way to Costco.  They are SO cute when they're babies!

And - since you're dying to hear this one...

It happened at Panera.  

Elise says she has to go poopy.  Awesome. 

I take her upstairs to the bathroom, where she goes potty.  

THEN - the toilet does the loudest, scariest automatic flush. 

It literally scared the crap out of her - she jumps off the potty mid-poop. 

Poop on the floor in the Panera bathroom.  So so gross.  

I pick up said poop with a wad of toilet paper and flush it.  

SO glad we're alone in the bathroom as this was her running commentary:

"I go poopy on the floor mommy!"

"Mommy you clean up that poopy!"

"There is my poopy on the floor!"

After we both washed our hands with warm water and soap.

And headed back downstairs where she tells my mom (& everyone in earshot):

"I went poopy on the floor!"

I bet I broke the record on how many times you can say "poop" in one post.  

Such is my life.  

There you go.  You're welcome.  

elise the quotable

Lately I have been writing down the hilarious things that come out of her mouth.  

If I don't write them down immediately I forget them and they are far to funny.  

Here's a few:

"the sun makes me so happy."

"you have a really big head, mom.  I have a little head."

['I love my sister' song was playing on our Barney CD in the car:]

"someday I could have a sister."

(break.my.heart.  someday, sweetheart.)

french braids are so cute from behind.   from the front she kind of looks bald.  

"I'm so happy I need a brownie."

"I roll in this blankie like a burrito.  I have a tail like Ariel!"

Lauren:  I'm going on vacation with you!

Elise:  hot diggity dog!

"I hiding"   okay buddy. 

"I walk like a pretty lady."

Me (to myself):  What day is it?  Is it Tuesday?

Elise:  It's not Tuesday - it's three-day!

"your car is so broken."

My car died in the middle of 28th St.  
Luckily my mom was around the corner and could come to our rescue.
Elise is watching my car be hauled to the mechanic.

In the bathroom at the new HomeGoods when several people could hear us:

"I pushing this potty out of my buns."

"I hear your potty coming out mommy"

"you wear your bathing suit bottoms?"

"those could be your panties!"

"you keep your panties dry too"

"I saw your buns mommy"

"you all done going potty!"

Our little seed planting project is going well!
Although I have no idea what to do next.