Saturday we went back to Columbia to celebrate the kids' birthdays with our families. We bbq'd, had some awesome cake, and went swimming in my sister's subdivision pool. The kids had a great time. Our sister-in-law, Mindy, took all the pictures from the beginning of the party so when I get those I'll post some more. These are the only good ones I got.

Ellie's first birthday cake. She loved it and kept using the candle as a spoon to eat the icing!

Adam is ready to blow out his candles.

Playing in the Clover

There was a big patch of clover in the yard yesterday and for some reason the kids decided to spend most of our time outside playing in it. Adam was picking all the flowers for a bouquet that is in my kitchen now, and Ellie was trying to pick flowers and eat them! I made Adam a clover necklace but he didn't seem too interested.

Gymnastics

I am checking out another playgroup, the Moms Club, and they met today at a gymnastics place. We've been wondering how Adam would do at gymnastics and this was a good opportunity to see if he liked it. He wouldn't really do what he was supposed to but he did have a great time and wants to go back. They do it every month so it will be a fun activity to take him to and gives him something different to do that he doesn't get to do all the time. And I like how Ellie can tag along and it doesn't cause a problem. She had as much fun as Adam and sure tried to do what everyone else was doing.

Ellie really wanted to do what everyone else was doing.

Big trampoline

Little trampoline

Walking the balance beam

Supposed to do somersaults on this but he wouldn't try.

Water Fun

We broke out the sprinkler a week or so ago for the first time. It was Adam's first sprinkler run this year and Ellie's first time ever.

Ellie Learns Body Parts

Ellie now knows where my nose, mouth, and eyes are, and has almost got ears figured out. She won't point to her own body parts though, only someone else's. But that's a start! I'm thinking she's at the age that I start teaching her things...body parts, animals and their sounds, etc. As fast as she's already doing other things I didn't expect of her yet, I'm sure she'll pick it up fast.

We had to install a new hard drive on our computer so I won't have any pictures for awhile. Adam is sick this week so we haven't done anything to capture on film anyway. He's running a 103 degree temp as of Tuesday, has a sort of barking cough that isn't too horrible but he finally said tonight that his mouth hurt (meaning his throat) and his chest. I'm seeing a visit to the doctor in our future. Tylenol didn't help much today and for some reason he has an aversion to liquid medicine lately. Hopefully Bradley found some chewable Motrin on his way home tonight.

Ellie Feeding Herself

Ellie always wants to hold the spoon and this past weekend figured out how to feed herself, kind of. She is growing up way too fast! She dips the spoon in but doesn't really get much food on it. I'm just surprised that she actually understands how to do it.

Ellie Walking

This was from a couple of days ago. Today she's been walking all over the place. It's so exciting!

My Cute Kids!

Adam likes to hold Ellie's hand and walk with her, although he tends to drag her along!

We tried a bow in Ellie's hair. I think it looks weird and it wouldn't stay in anyway. I'm going to try and find or make some headbands because her bangs are getting long enough they need to be kept out of her face but her hair isn't quite there for a ponytail.

She's just cute...and I like this shirt!