I'm a blog slacker

Nothing new over here.  Except at nearly 35 weeks pregnant the only position I'm comfortable in is on my mom and dad's couch in the recliner.  With tums within reach.  I told her I'm probably moving in.   There is constantly something jamming in my ribs.  Not totally sure if it's a baby foot or some kind of internal organ.  I'm kind of over this miraculous experience.  

Candyland with a four year old is an extreme test of patience.  I should have listened to my mother when she told me she hates Candyland.  I get it.  "Elise it's your turn buddy!!!"  Isn't it amazing how they win everytime?

A recent quote from my sweetheart:  "Mommy when is baby sister coming out?  You look like a roly poly bowling ball."

I have a bunch of pictures on my phone for y'all. 

Except a lot of them were on Instagram so you may have already seen them.  Sorry kids. 

She likes to play beauty shop.  I call it an exercise in pain tolerance to prepare me for childbirth. 

Daddy put sand in under the swingset.  Huge hit.  

Also my new favorite store finally opened.  Lauren has had one for years but now we have one too!   Gordmans is amazing.  Although I've wandered through twice and haven't bought anything.  

A few of these are from Elise's birthday weekend.  

She sweet talked Auntie Aubrey into buying her a sunflower at the Downtown Market.  Aubrey I promise to spoil your kids too. 

Two pregnant ladies at a bachelorette party.  

I thought my shirt was hilarious but I don't think other people got it.  

I think they just thought I was a fat alcoholic and avoided eye contact.  

We slept over at Grandma's that night because Elise's party was the next day.   She got a birthday candle in her cinnamon roll and was a little embarrassed about it.  

Lauren got her a vintage LiteBrite off Ebay.  SO awesome.  

It even came with a Little Mermaid refill pack from 1986.  

I told her to put her bathing suit on all by herself and she picked this one. 

Nick won't let her wear this in public.  I think it's hilarious.  

On her actual birthday we went out for ice cream after dinner.  

I still can't believe she's four.  

She put this Target bag on and started calling herself "Trash Bag". 

This is the most hilarious age. 

Also -- a cherry pitter.  Where has this been all my life??

I was sick of spitting out cherry pits so I ordered this on Amazon.  

Two days later it arrived at my doorstep and WHY DID IT TAKE ME THIS LONG TO GET ONE?

Yesterday she was totally decked out in princess gear by 9am.  

Our little friend Lyza broke her leg on a trampoline last weekend.  

So we brought her a little craft to do this week.  

She's doing way better now and Elise even got to sign her cast. 

I think that's it.

Our favorite Auntie Gracie is coming with Stacy and her girls this weekend.  

Exceptionally cute pictures to come. 

happy birthday elise!

Our sweet Elise is FOUR!

We had her birthday party at the lake on Sunday.  She kept saying "Everybody that loves me is coming to my party!"  She even informed Grandpa he was invited to the party - at his own house.  

My mom and dad got a new toy.  

And Elise had to show off her ski trainer skills.  

She actually fell off in the middle of the lake for the first time ever. 

She climbed right back on and waved at her panicked mother who ran out on the dock to swim to her.  Fancy pants. 

Grandpa & Grandma Great even came out.  

She's a little spoiled.  She got lots of good stuff for her birthday. 

Today (her actual birthday) we made "birthday pizza" for dinner and then went out for ice cream.  And then she ran in the sprinkers.  Pretty good day for a four year old.  

We tried out a new toy - rocket balloons. 

Nick was blowing them up and Elise says "Daddy isn't this a two person job?"

Thank you everyone who loves Elise for a really fun birthday!

phone dump

Last Saturday we had Nick's company picnic.  They rent out an entire ballpark and AJs fun center accross the street and you can do everything for free.  Pretty cool.  Elise and Nicolynn are the best little buddies (we like her Mom and Dad a lot too).  Nicolynn likes to hold hands. 

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My mom said her mom liked fishing so she should try it.  

They caught one!

This is what a busy day at the lake will get you. 

Baby Sister has a hat for the hospital.  

Want a good laugh?  

Just picture a very pregnant lady getting in and out of a kayak.  

You're welcome.  

the (actual) fourth of july

On the morning of the fourth, the Green Lake Assosiation has a pancake breakfast and parade.  

Anyone at all can be in the parade.  Including us - who show up 5 minutes before it starts with a bag of candy and a festively decorated golf cart and sneakily merge into the lineup.   

She could not be cuter.  Oh my goodness. 

Now that is just an impressive parade.  Best for miles around. 

 Like two miles. 

That would be a "science experiement" balloon my mom bought off Zulily.  Ya know, to learn that hot air rises and will blow up a giant balloon.  It mostly provided us with enough, um, innuendo and penis jokes for the whole afternoon.  I never said we were classy people.  

Elise was pretty tired from her 11pm bedtime the night before.  She asked Grandpa to snuggle with her on the swing while she ate her popcicle.  Seriously the sweetest. 

Grandma & Grandpa Goote came out for the afternoon too.  

 Erika and Steve came up from Chicago.  Steve is the nicest - Elise brought him this book and wanted him to read it.  She looked super sad when I suggested I read it instead - so Steve read every word of the Berenstein Bears and the Bad Habit.  Heart. Of. Gold.  Also - these two cuties are getting married in a few weeks!

Never lacking someone to play with her. 

I'm betting Erika was talking to her mom.  Hi Robin!

That would be Elise bossing people around with a stick. 

The newest yard game -- Molkky.  Apparently it's all the rage in Sweden.  

It involves a little too much math for me.  But these people love it. 

Poor Elise is tossed around by her daddy all day. 

Except she totally loves it. 

Pretend the princess panties are a bathing suit.  

And of course, more potato gun.