5 on Friday

1.  Happy Birthday to Daddy!  Nick's birthday was last Friday so we celebrated with a cookie cake (which the girls were REALLY excited about when we picked it up from the store) and dinner at Cheesecake Factory (which meant the girls had a teeny tiny bite of the cookie cake after dinner out).  Saturday night we continued the celebration with Nick's side of the family at Cosi Cucina.   Love that place!    I think Nick had a great day!


2. I washed the inside of the upstairs windows on Saturday.   You know how people always ask: what is the one household chore you would pay someone to do?   Windows are mine.   I despise them (which is probably why they do not get done all that often).  Now the task of figuring out how to do the outside ones (we have yet to wash them since we slacked off last year and the year before that they had just been done after the fire.   Gross-- I know.


3. This week seems all about Neve.   Tuesday we had an appointment with the ENT.  Guess who failed her hearing test?!   We were not surprised since she has been saying "What?" and "Talk louder." and "I cannot hear you." to use lately.   So today we go in for surgery and have tubes put in for the second time.  They seemed to work the first time, so I am excited for the results.


4. Someone turned 3 this week!   She celebrated by choosing to stay home with Mommy & Daddy while Ellie went to day-care (which Ellie was not excited about, but did the same thing to Neve on her birthday).    Nick made birthday pancakes complete with whipped cream and mini M&Ms, followed by a trip to the mall to do a few errands, hit up the play-area (must of been her birthday!) and had lunch at Panera.  After nap, we finished up the day with her first trip to a movie theater!   We went to Flix Brewhouse in Urbandale to see Cinderella/Frozen Fever and had dinner during the movie.  More on Flix in a later post.


5. Neve had her 3-year Well Check on Thursday.  Other than the ears, the kid is doing awesome.

5 on Friday

1. I love a clean house.  There is something about having the windows and doors open AND having a clean house that makes me very, very happy.   Note: having a clean house with the windows and doors open in a neighborhood that is under construction is very difficult (and rare).


2. Our friends moved in across the street and down a house!   Yet another young family in the neighborhood to play with.  The first day they moved in the oldest daughter was at our house flying a kite with Ellie and playing sidewalk chalk.   Love it!


3. My sister and I took a Girl's Vacation down to KC for a few days this week.   Shopping, spa time, dinner w/o kids and lots of time to chat about anything and everything.  We had a blast!  We even had time to go to a movie at a movie theater! 


4. I love IKEA.  We hit up the new IKEA in KC on our trip.   2+ hours later we filled the car (or most of the car).   I wish we had one closer, but maybe it is a good idea we don't.


5.  Nick and the girls had a great time while I was away.   They played in the water table (awesome weather on Monday) and ate all the foods I am not a fan of (lobster, crab, mushrooms...).    The girls did miss me and were thrilled with the new clothes I brought home for them.

How Big is Ellie?

I was going through papers and files the other week and found all of the girls stat pages from their Well Checks.  I love it!   Here are Ellie's:

Ellie's 2-week Stats
Height: 20 1/2 inches (85th percentile)
Weight: 9 pounds 2.5 ounces  (95th percentile)




Ellie's 2-month Stats
Height: 23 3/4 inches (93rd percentile)
Weight: 13 pounds 6.5 ounces (99th percentile)




Ellie's 4-month Stats
Height: 26 1/4 inches (99th percentile)
Weight: 16 pounds 8 ounces (96th percentile)




Ellie's 6-month Stats
Height: 27 1/4 inches (94th percentile)
Weight: 18 pounds 4 ounces (89th percentile)




Ellie's 9-month Stats
Height: 28 3/4 inches (87th percentile)
Weight: 20 pounds 6 ounces (77th percentile)

Ellie's 12-month Stats
Height: 30 3/4 inches (93rd percentile)
Weight: 22 pounds 7 ounces (73rd percentile)




Ellie's 15-month Stats
Height: 32 1/2 inches (96th percentile)
Weight: 25 pounds 9 ounces (86th percentile)




Ellie's 18-month Stats
Height: 33 3/4 inches (96th percentile)
Weight: 27 pounds (64th percentile)




Ellie's 2-year Stats
Height: 35 inches (81st percentile)
Weight: 31 pounds  (91st percentile)


Ellie's 3-year Stats
Height: 38 3/4 inches (85th percentile)
Weight: 34.2 pounds  (79th percentile)


Ellie's 4-year Stats
Height: 42 inches (90th percentile)
Weight: 41.6 pounds  (88th percentile)


Ellie's 5-year Stats
Height: 45 1/2 inches (93rd percentile)
Weight: 48.8 pounds  (90th percentile)

How Big is Neve?

I was going through papers and files the other week and found all of the girls stat pages from their Well Checks.  I love it!   Here are Neve's:

Neve's 2-week Stats
Height: 22 inches
Weight: 9 pounds 10 ounces




Neve's 2-month Stats
Height: 23 3/4 inches (94th percentile)
Weight: 13 pounds 13 ounces (94th percentile)




Neve's 4-month Stats
Height: 26 3/4 inches (99th percentile)
Weight: 16 pounds 5 ounces (85th percentile)




Neve's 6-month Stats
Height: 27 3/4 inches (96th percentile)
Weight: 17 pounds 7.5 ounces (68th percentile)




Neve's 9-month Stats
Height: 29 1/2 inches (97th percentile)
Weight: 19 pounds 9 ounces (71st percentile)




Neve's 12-month Stats
Height: 31 inches (97th percentile)
Weight: 20 pounds 15 ounces (68th percentile)




Neve's 15-month Stats
Height: 32 3/4 inches (97th percentile)
Weight: 23 pounds 15 ounces (81st percentile)




Neve's 18-month Stats
Height: 34 1/2 inches (99th percentile)
Weight: 26.4 pounds (87th percentile)




Neve's 2-year Stats
Height: 36 1/2 inches (97th percentile)
Weight: 28.6 pounds  (82nd percentile)

Funny Things Kids Say...

I always get a kick out of hearing funny things that my friend's kids say.  We have officially entered into that stage with Ellie and it is AWESOME!   Each day we can expect something clever or hilarious to come out of her mouth.



I was talking to Nick about my co-workers going away party that was coming up in a few weeks. 


E:    Why is your co-worker going away?
M:   She is getting married next month and is moving to be with her husband.
E:    That is cool.   I want to get married next month.
M:   Who do you want to marry?
E:    You.
M:   What about Daddy?
E:     I can marry Daddy, too.   I want to marry all four of us (referring to the entire family).
M:   O.K. Ellie, we can marry the whole family next month.
E:    Good.

5 on Friday

1. Saturday and Sunday: play at the park whenever possible.


2. Monday: play outside after school.


3. Tuesday: Ellie goes to dance class, while Mommy takes a walk outside.


4. Wednesday: Picnic outside with the neighbors while Daddy bikes.


5. Get the picture?  Our life now revolves around the beautiful weather and we are making the most of it.   Looks like this weekend is more of the same and you can guess where we will be!

5 on Friday

1. Neve got sick to her stomach Friday night/Saturday morning.   All 6 sets of bedsheets were either dirty, in the wash or on the beds by the time 4:15am came around.  Poor girl!   She finally started feeling better Saturday night.

2. With Neve being sick over the weekend, I prayed no one else would catch it since I was out of town Monday-Wednesday for work.  Thankfully the rest of us stayed healthy!

3. I had board meetings in Arizona earlier this week.   It rained the first day and was cloudy and a little chilly (for AZ weather) on Tuesday.   Not what I had hoped for, but better than the cold and ice we had back in Iowa during that time.

4. The girls love helping me cook.  Neve quickly runs to get her apron and always wants to mix (even if what we are cooking does not involve mixing).

5. I am ready for the warm-up in weather today.  Bring on Spring!!!!!