Seasons Change

Basketball season ended this week with a heartbreaking loss by one point at the buzzer. We are so proud of Jonathan and his team. Creekview had not been to a playoff game in 6 years, so leave it to Jonathan to turn things around in just his first year as a Mustang! We're sad that it's all over, but I am glad that Jonathan will be home to help me brave the tornado season that is apparently in full swing.

Weather experts usually name hurricanes so that they can track their paths of destruction, but tornados are left nameless-- until now. The tornado that hit our house is named Trevor and thank goodness he's cute. He is a whirlwind of energy and mischief, but is still super-duper sweet. He's very strong and already a great athlete (it hurts when the ball hits your face...), and he can have the cushions off the sofa in about 3 seconds. I've been sounding the warning alarm a lot lately and Ashley and the dog have gotten really good at the "duck and cover", and he's not even 2 yet...

Cupid's Arrow

...shot right through Ashley's cute little ear lobes yesterday! We've been offering to let her get her ears pierced for a while, but she just now worked up enough nerve to actually go through with it. So, Nonna and Aunt Biddie came to town to witness the momentous occasion. Ashley was a champ~ she never even flinched and there were no tears at all! Now she's sportin' some serious bling!


Here are some other Valentine pictures~ We had a LOVEly weekend! And, for an added bonus, Jonathan's team is in 2nd place and headed to playoffs!

Just let me vent...

Ok, so there are a few things in life that just baffle me and no matter how much I try to not over-analyze them, when it comes to other people's stupidity, I just can't help myself.

Yeterday, when it was ABOVE freezing and barely raining outside, I get a phone call from Trevor's day care center. They have decided to close at 9:30 in the morning. Serioulsy? Apparently they have some (hopefully now they are former) staff members who decided not to come to work because of the threat of the weather worsening. What? I guess that's what happens when you employ people who would gladly forgo their hourly wages in such a prosperous economic time. Anyway... So I went to pick up Trevor who, thanks to the generosity of my principal, spent the rest of the day with me in kindergarten. We made it through with one diaper, milk from the cafeteria, and some marshmallows leftover from Snowman Soup in December, and no nap. We were not alone-- there are 5 other teachers at my school who had to do the same thing. With the money the day care center saved yesterday not having to pay their employees, they should eagerly credit my account with the daily rate of Trevor's tuition. Should I hold my breath?

Church And Other Important Things

Finding a church is like dating. Seriously. Jonathan and I have been in a "relationship" with a few churches in our married life. Each time we really like the church, attend regularly, all is great. Then, each time we move and although the relationship is going really well, we can't committ to anything long distance. So, we start over, find a new church to "date" and the cycle repeats. We tried to "get back together" with the church we attended when we lived in Frisco the 1st time, but it's just not the same as it was before-- it's a lot bigger now and has even added shuttle bus service. Too much hooplah for us. So, we have been "seeing" another church and hopefully things will progress the way we want them to! Please say a prayer that this church will be "the one"~ we need some stability, especially since there are children involved! Hope no one is offended by my analogies or my ridiculous use of quotation marks...

In other news:

My children have been having Wiiiiiii too much fun these days! Ashley loves her some Super Mario and Trevor begs to play "bo-ball" (bowling).




Ashley was named QUEEN of her class this past week. As my dad said, I guess they just had to make it official...


Jonathan's team is now 6-1 in district play which puts them in first place! Now that's something to cheer about!

Ummm...

So I thought I was done blogging for the night, and then I read my friend Stacy's blog. She lists some of her favorite products and one is the Phil & Ted's Sport Buggy stroller.



I immediately had a flashback to one of my more stellar parenting moments. Here is The Ellis Family version of the Phil & Ted:



The background story is that I had been searching for a double stroller that Ashley would fit in as an almost-5-year-old and just couldn't find one. So, in a moment of desperation on a much needed afternoon trip to the park, I invented my own. Hey, we lived in Melissa, Texas at the time-- no one even noticed that I might be a redneck if...

PS-- it worked out so well the first time, we did it again a few more times. I know, mom of the year!

Random Update

It's been two whole weeks and I am sure you are dying to know what the Ellis peeps have been up to. Since I have nothing major to report, below you will find a random list of happenings~ I know you're excited! Here we go:

Trevor is still obsessed with Elmo, but he has branched out and his fascination now includes all Sesame Street characters. He really likes Zoe and Telly. He calls them by name and DEMANDS to watch them on TV. Thank goodness we have Video on Demand. Someone with a child must have invented this fabulous feature!

Ashley's current favorite movie is Mamma Mia! I had never seen it so my mom brought it for me to watch over Christmas. Ashley wanted to watch it with us, and the rest is history. It's probably not the most appropriate movie/musical for someone who's 6, (I know, mom of the year!) but she LOVES it! My mom left the movie here with us for Ashley to keep and she has watched it about 7 times in the past 10 days. She knows ALL of the words and we have even put some of the songs on her iPod. Someone sign this girl up for musical theater!

Jonathan's team is now 3-0 in district play. It's a great start and we are really proud of him and his players. The games have been fun to watch, thank goodness because we are only halfway through the season!

We all made it through our first week back at school, and now we are counting down the days 'till Spring Break!

Merry Christmas!

We had a very Merry Christmas at the Ellis house! Ashley's wishes came true~ Santa brought a Wii and an iPod and an American Girl Doll. Santa was so sweet to stay and set up the Wii so it would be ready to play first thing Christmas morning. We have been Wii-ing ever since and Ashley is unbeatable at bowling. Seriously. And, Jonathan downloaded some old classics like Super Mario Bros (for me!) and Zelda (for him). So fun! The iPod is hot pink as Ashley requested and she has been jammin' around the clock. She can even Wii while listening to the iPod! The AG doll's name is Charlotte and she has eaten with us at every meal (Ash moved the doll high chair next to the dining room table) and every time I turn around the doll has on a new outfit. Trevor liked the Clipo blocks, tool bench, and tricycle that were waiting for him from the big SC, but he was most interested in eating his morning Nutri Grain bar --he's addicted. We did get him to open one present from my mom, which was a bathtub basketball toy then he was done for the day. Literally. We finally opened the rest of his presents for him and he did play with them one at a time later that afternoon. Anyway, we hope you and yours had a wonderful day! Here are a few pictures~ enjoy!