Only 5 more sleeps til we see Daddy!

Daddy to the rescue!

Daddy's always good at fixing boo-boos

Right before Ian left for training

Ella Rose loves wearing, "Millia's" (Amelia's) Princess gown she passed down and reading a favorite book, "Hello Aubbie" (of course it's about Auburn University) WAR EAGLE!

Saying Goodbye to Daddy back in October

Oh I just love these 3!!!

When my nephew Harrison was a toddler the easiest way to explain to him when he would see his Mimi and Papa again would be to tell him how many more SLEEPS he had before he saw them again so we have started that since Ian has been gone. It went from 50 sleeps down to only 5 more sleeps and we will see Daddy again! YIPPEE!!! Oh Ian we have missed you SO MUCH, and the girls and I can't wait to have you home for a few days! My heart longs for you, and it reminds me of when we dated long distance, and I just couldn't wait to see you again! The girls miss you so much, and our favorite subject around here is DADDY! In the 7 weeks you've been gone you won't believe how much the girls have started talking even more. Vonda: "Ella Rose, Daddy's at school in Oklahoma." Ella Rose: "Mama, I want to go to school with Daddy in OKAhoma!" Ian, my love, come home soon...we are counting the days!

Our little daredevils

After posting the ballet pictures, I just laughed when I saw this video from back in September. I am so behind but I just had to post this...this is what Ella Rose really enjoys doing! Anything remotely daredevilish she's there and Carolina Grace is following right in her big Sister's footsteps because she has that adventurous gene too!

Ballet, Tutus, and Frou Frou

So can I just tell you how proud I am of our sweet baby girl! Today was Ella Rose's 1st Ballet Class at the YMCA and we had a blast! And I say "we" because Mama had such a ball watching her girl! It was a hoot because Ella Rose is really not the "ballet" type, and if you have been around Ella Rose for any length of time, you know what I mean! She is active and zips around all over the place for most of the day. The only time she is still is pretty much when she is asleep! Hee hee! So I'm thinking gymnastics may fit her better since she already loves to tumble, jump and run, but she can't start that until she is 3. The YMCA offers weekly classes and today was the only day the Mama's could watch so for the other weeks, I'll work out when Ella Rose is taking ballet!

Getting a sticker and oh Ella Rose was so proud of her 1st Ballet Slippers

The cutest little train (Ella Rose is the 5th one in line)

Having such a good time!

She looked so precious in her little outfit

Ella Rose does everything with ZEST! She gets so excited about anything new!

I think it's awesome that the Y has a class for children as young as 2 years old

Ready to tumble

This was by far her favorite thing she did in class

Halloween 2009

Last year on Halloween we trick or treated on the base in Germany, and it was COLD, but this year we trick or treated in Florida and it was 85 degrees at 6:00 p.m and poor Carolina Grace started sweating under her Tigger costume. We sure missed Daddy this year, but we hope he can join us next year for trick or treating! One year we are just gonna have to dress up the family in Stars Wars costumes. Ian can't wait to dress up as Darth Vader!

Ella Rose dressed up as SUPERGIRL and was ready to take on the neighborhood

Ella Rose already eating a lollipop (this was only the 2nd house) and Carolina Grace taking this trick or treating seriously

Mimi and Papa joined in on the fun although we don't have any pictures of Mimi as she was our photographer

Supergirl on a mission and Tigger not far behind

Priceless

Woops we forgot her gold belt

Do Supergirls really wear bows Mama? Southern Supergirls do!!!

Wow there's candy in here???

Trying to get a group shot

which is never easy...what are my sweet girls looking at?

We hit a total of 4 houses and one was not even home! I don't think we'll be able to get away with that when they're older but by 6:30 they were both in bed and asleep in 5 minutes because they were so worn out bless their hearts!

Looking back...Halloween 2008 as a Bee and Wonder Bread

Halloween 2007 as a Pumpkin...we miss you Daddy!

Trip to the library

These pics are from back in June when we visited the library at Randolph AFB in San Antonio. I am so behind posting pics so I'm trying to get caught up.

Ella Rose was so excited about going to storytime at the library

This was right before I let Carolina Grace out of her stroller

Carolina Grace makes friends quickly

And Carolina Grace just pranced right up to the front so she could be in the middle of it all

Carolina Grace loves books

Sitting with the big kids at storytime

Ella Rose enjoyed seeing the dogs more than hearing the stories and she could hardly wait til the story was over so she could go and pet them.

A Time for Celebration

Does Ella Rose look like a little Princess or what? On Monday, we had a potty party to celebrate Ella Rose being potty trained! YEA for Ella Rose!!! Ella Rose is becoming such a big girl and thanks to my Sister-in-love Beth...she told me to make sure I didn't start potty training Ella Rose until she was really ready. This was much much easier than I ever thought it would be so I just think Ella Rose was ready for the challenge! I also had some very wise military girlfriends back in Germany who encouraged me to wait until we got settled and to start the process after all of our transition and moving so one day after we moved into our rental home in FL, we got serious about it. Mimi was also a big encouragement because just a couple of days before we began, we started talking up a POTTY PARTY so during the training we would sing "going to a potty party" and from the other room Carolina Grace would run into the restroom and start clapping her hands and dancing and cheering her Sister on. It was the cutest thing! Our girls are getting so big and I can hardly believe we only have ONE in diapers now!

This cute Princess dress was handed down from Amelia just last week...it sure didn't take us long to wear it and the Potty Party was the perfect event! When Ella Rose made her grand entrance to show her Daddy her Princess dress, she looked like such a little Lady and she knew she was a big girl!

Carolina Grace looking at her Sister with such admiration

Our sweet girls

Always ready for a party

Even Cheesy grins are precious!

Ella Rose (2 1/2) Carolina Grace (15 months)

Ella Rose keeps us in stitches with her fun personality

Mimi and Papa showed up for the celebration and Mimi wore the hat she wears for her 4 year old Sunday school class!

My Mama is such a cool Mimi

Mimi placing another cool hat on Ella Rose

Let's get it straight

But Carolina Grace really loved wearing Mimi's hat

Such a little Southern Belle

Papa is such a great sport!

Ella Rose thinks the world of Mimi

Love those cupcakes (thank you Mimi for bringing them)

Such excitement

Silly girl

Carolina Grace loves a party

Ella Rose opening up her present from Mimi and Papa (big girl panties)

Having fun with Mimi

Ella Rose playing with her new baby doll

Such a happy girl

New orders with the US Air Force

It's been almost a month now since I've blogged because we have been in major transition! But we have gotten our orders with the United States Air Force and we are heading to Tampa, FL and Ian will be returning to the KC-135! We are excited that we will be in the Southeast near friends and family and especially so our girls can get to know the people who are so dear to us and who love them too. In the last week we looked for houses in the Tampa area, and we have decided to build a home in a beautiful development that is very kid friendly with great swimming pools, a YMCA, 30 miles of nature trails and playgrounds. We are thrilled that God has blessed us with finding such a great area and our home will be finished right after Christmas so we will be so excited to finally get settled! Our home will be open to our precious friends and family when you want to come to the beach or take a trip to see Mickey. We'll have plenty of room and some good ole Southern cooking too as well as a couple of rocking chairs on the front porch so we can sip on some sweet tea!