happy easter!

It was the most beautiful day.  By far the nicest Easter I can remember.  And no one was freezing or looking through snowdrifts for Easter eggs (which for awhile seemed like a real possibility).  

A little before church picture.  

We went to church with Grandpa & Grandma Goote. 

She looked so stinking cute. 

I feel I should mention how much I love maxi dresses. 

They are seriously the best thing to wear when you're in the not looking pregnant just looking fat phase.   (20 weeks today by the way.)

We staged a little Easter egg hunt around G&G's house.  

I love her so much.  She had SO much fun today.

Right after this picture was taken she jumped off that rock and most of her eggs spilled out of her basket and cracked open.

"It's okay though those jelly beans are still good" she says.  

My mom is out of town this weekend so my dad came over this afternoon to play.  It was SO nice out.  Elise tried to teach us how to play "The Outdoor Game" which she made up.  It involves bouncy balls, bubbles, a bat, but definitely NO chalk.  We even rode our bike around the neighborhood. 

Happy Easter!

little miss dancy-pants

Elise's dance class had parent observation day today.  
I haven't laughed that hard in a really long time. 
Nick left work to come watch.  It was so funny.  

Elise and Lyza, my friend's daughter. 
    Lyza is very serious and the best one in the class.  
Elise is not either of those things.  But darn it she has fun. 

Notice how her feet are opposite of everyone else.  Pretty much a general theme of the afternoon.  
Girlfriend likes to admire herself in the mirror.  

This video is long but so funny.  It gets shaky when I start laughing.  
You can hear the teacher saying "Elise!" a lot.  She gets a little distracted. 
Where does she get that?  She was actually on the end closest to us but wouldn't stop waving.  So she was moved...

it's like really spring now

For real.  We played outside at the lake and everything. 

She had to make the "biggest sandcastle in the world with a moat".

This is the face I get when I tell her to laugh. 

 It's better than fake smile face.

The water is freezing.  Like almost literally.  The last of the ice melted on Friday.  So it's really freaking cold.  

I think the longest winter in the history of the universe has ended!

all sorts of random stuff

She says the funniest things.


Me:  Elise!  Time to go to swimming lessons!

[no answer]

Me:  Elise!  Let's go!

[no answer]

Me (crabbier):  Elise! Answer Mommy when I call to you!

[no answer]

Me (with a tone):  Elise!  What are you doing!?

Elsie:  Reading a Jesus book!

doh.  Well okay then.  

---

She's got a cold.  She sniffs her nose really loud. 
Elise:  That is how my nose says goodbye. 

---

Me:  So do you want a baby brother or a baby sister?
Elise:  A baby boy brother. 
Me:  How come?
Elise:  Because I love boys.  

---

I got crafty last week and started making these tunic tops.  I've sold a couple!  

It was Grandma's birthday last week.  

We went to The Green Well for dinner. 

Love you Grandma!

Last week after her dentist appointment we went to get her a [very] early birthday present. 

A new bike!  She was totally thrilled and fell asleep on the way home. 

She did awesome at the dentist.  

She let the nice lady polish and count all her teeth. 

She even let her floss!  The hygienist was totally impressed with my sweet girl.  

weekend at great wolf lodge

What a fun weekend. 

Friday morning we took off for Traverse City and Great Wolf Lodge. 

My mom and I played with Elise until the dads arrived after work.  

She loved this place. 

She was even brave enough to go down the big slides!  

She even got Grandma to go on them.  

It went like this:

Elise:  okay Gamma now you can go down with me!

Grandma:  No I think I will just watch you from the bottom. 

Elise:  But you love slides!

Grandma had no response for that.  

 We noticed we were pretty much the only people in there without tattoos - we must have missed that memo.  Quite the interesting crowd up there.


Saturday night we headed to North Peak Brewing for dinner.  So delish.  
Even if I couldn't have beer.  Although this weekend I started feeling this baby move like crazy.  So that's pretty cool. 

Hula hoops in the lobby proved Elise did not inherit my talent for rhythmic hip movements. 

She was pretty exhausted on the ride home. 

Thanks so much for coming with us Grandpa & Grandma!