Firsts....

So, first off, I'm going to give one more week for everyone to get their answers in for the cookie contest! So, good luck! One note, and sorry for not clarifying, but you need to identify what each of the letters, symbols mean in relation to Abraham Lincoln... it just adds a little more fun. You've done fantastic so far!!!

So, here are some firsts this week! And many have to do with Ellie! Last Saturday our state celebrated its 150th year in the Union. And we helped celebrated it by going to the capital building! It was Ellie's first visit, and she was joined by thousands of other people who wanted to get in! We waited outside for an hour to get in, but the boys, true to their form, could have cared less. They played and played for the hour in line, and thankfully Ellie was a happy camper even though she got a little rained on... but she is from OR, so didn't melt! Inside was fantastic even if it was jammed with visitors! The kids had a great time, and got to watch some blacksmiths, listen to choirs sing Anthems, and eat cake and hot dogs. And for a person who doesn't care for frosting, unless it's REAL, they actually had FANTASTIC frosting on this cake! The kids had a GREAT time, and that was all that mattered!

The older 2 boys and Papa went back to WI for a week long trip, and Grandma and Grandpa D did a great job spoiling the boys! When they came home, Glenn asked for pancakes every morning... Papa finally told Glenn... you were spoiled at Grandma/pa D's, but you are not going to get spoiled here! Well, we've indulged a little, and have started a family tradition of making pancakes on Sat. AM. A friend of mine makes pancakes/waffles regularly for her family, and I have told her, don't tell my boys! I don't want to think that's normal! So, they definitely are lucky to get pancakes once a week, but before it was like twice a year! Everyone is LOVING the new tradition, forking in 5 to 6 pancakes a piece! And Ellie, 1 to 2!

James lost his 5th tooth, and although this is not a first... it is a first, that he has lost the same number teeth as Glenn's age, and also lost the tooth the same day that Ellie got her 2nd tooth. So, we're classifying this as a first! These kids are growing up fast! Too fast at times :-)

So, today, Ellie has had 2 first! First off, she decided to sip from a straw! I have given her a sippy cup since she started eating... just gave it to her for her to figure it out... and she was never interested. Then I decide today to give her a straw cup, and this morning she wanted nothing to do with it... but tonight, she started sipping! And to top it off... after 2 sips, I told the boys to get the camera and James started video taping... and just as she took a sip, she spewed it back out like a water fountain! It was adorable! So, I'll have to include that clip when I get a chance! The boys of course couldn't stop laughing!

Secondly, today she started clapping! She's tried clapping before but never really got it, but today she is clapping with force, and happy to be communicating with the rest of us... because of course we are all clapping because she is! :-)

And although she got her first tooth about a month ago, here is my first picture of her tooth! One thing you have to understand before you judge me too harshly, is that the she LOVES HER TONGUE! And sticks it out whenever she really is happy! So, for me to actually get a picture of her tooth without her tongue hiding it, is quite the feat!

And last, but not least, this is our first time cracking hazelnuts for at LEAST 5 hours! Todd and the boys worked on it for 2 hours tonight, I had worked on it 2 hours the night before, and another hour tonight! Let me tell you... if you get a bag of nuts and think.. well, that's not too bad, it is! It's like the game where you count how many jelly beans are in a jar... you think... ahhh, there won't be that many to crack... yet the pile never seems to get smaller when you start cracking! Anyway, we got a LOT of nuts from a friend of ours, and had no idea how long it would take us to crack them! But on the plus side, James has LOVED it, and has been a phenomenal helper, and I have to admit, the one-on-one time has been priceless. Just the two of us (sometimes Glenn and Alex try to help... mostly in the beginning, but the novelty wore off quickly!), and chatting away about our favorite planes, books, and spouting off wild stories! It has been great, and we can't wait to reap the rewards by making a "nut crunch" recipe that someone gave us... we'll let you know how it turns out!

And one last picture, is of Ellie helping her mother in the kitchen... I was cleaning away in the kitchen yesterday, and she had a wonderful time keeping me company! Yes, I had to clean up after her, but I loved every second together with her! It actually was a wonderful bonding activity! Look at the happiness in her eyes!

Well, that's about it for us! Take care everyone! And have a wonderful week!