My girls are huge fans of pop-pop (also known as 'popcorn'). No matter how it comes, sweet, salty, plain or jello popcorn (Nana's favorite). Ella Bella is no different loving it!

A friend of mine mentioned today that she loved hearing me calling Suzanna "Suz" because in German, süß (pronounced /suz/) means 'sweet'. Very fitting, wouldn't you say? Who would have known we've been speaking in German this whole time!

The latest invitation to Ella from her big sister is "Ella, let's go for a ride!" It only lasts for a few moments, as balance and coordination are mainly the deteriants here. Nevertheless the outcome is usually giggles on both ends.

We enjoyed some of the early morning air. We weren't alone, we had bugs biting at us (which shortened the play) but it was nice to spend time with the girls before Ella's first nap.

We had the most animated cloud formation today in the sky. Suzanna even commented at how big the clouds were. Favorite things about the Midwest: Clear skies & cornfields.

Before Mimi headed back home we went to Grant's Farm. We had nice weather this whole week. I love coming here to Usylesses S. Grant's homestead, it's a mini version of the Zoo with a rich bit of history attached. It's perfect for small kids, older people and pregnant mom's because of the shade, lots of places to sit and the tram drives you in and out.

Lovely (feels like Fall) morning. Chased after the garbage man on our long walk early this morning (the girls love watching him do his job), opened all the windows and the house cooled off from 78 degrees to 73 (love when that happens)! Played outside (not a mosquito in site) in the backyard and just enjoyed being together.
Suzanna and Ella, two of the cutest girls this side of the Mississippi!

She let me scrub her knees and put some bacitracin and bandaids on them. The entire night she complained of them hurting too much to walk. This is the kicker....the 10 minutes we were outside she got 2 of the biggest misquote bites I've ever seen. Myself, two and Ella none. Yes, can you say Suz takes after me (reactions to bites and attraction to those blasted critters....yes).

Time to wake Ella up but she beat us to the punch. It's like she was waiting for us.
Doesn't she look like some crazed prisoner?

We were in the car driving from the library when Ella kept calling out my name. She'd dropped her sunglasses on the floor. I told her I couldn't reach them, she'd have to wait our we'd get in an accident. Suz said "Mama, hold your pee-pee's...no accidents in the car!"

After dinner one night while I was cleaning up Suz noticed she hadn't made a mess on the floor nor Ella. I'll tell Suz to lean over or wear a bib, no messes on the floor. Suz noticed that the only mess was under my chair and said "You make a mess, next time you wear a bib. A big bib for Mama."

The girls love looking out the window to see the abundant corn fields as we drive around town. To this day Suzanna will say "Look on Nana's side" (referring to the passenger side). That's sweet it's still Nana's side even though it's be a few weeks since her visit.

The usual routine happened last night. Ella was put to bed and soon after Suzanna had her reading time and the doors were shut a little after 7pm (oh how we all love routine). I then heard the sweetest little voice calling my name "Mama. Mama." Oh, how could I resist? This is the sweet girl who has no struggle going down, no cry when she wakes up, just so content and flexible to everybody and their schedule. I went in and she smiled "Mama, Mama!" That melted my heart. I snuggled her in the rocker and realized this poor thing had napped 3 hours this afternoon and that was just 2 hours ago. She wasn't tired but did she cry it out, scream, nope....just called in her sweetest voice "Mama".
We're lucky to have such a meek one-year-old.

We've got ourselves some water babies. No matter if it's 100 degrees or 80 degrees, they love to swim. Today our friend invited us to her community pool, wonderfully quiet (we were the only ones there) and fun. The weather was in the low 80's and the toddler pool was cold but the big one was nice and warm. I think that's what scared everyone away, better for us!
In Washington we had a pool in our apt. complex and we'd swim almost every day (even though it had not gotten over 70 degrees many days). If we had our our way, we'd swim morning, noon and night!
Ella loves trying on Suzanna's things, shoes, hats and sunglasses too.
"I do it all by myself" was what I heard the entire time from Suz. It was really stress free to have Suz so independent in the water with her flooties. She's such a big girl.

Of course when you add another member of the family you have to adjust as it is something new. When Ella was first born Suzanna quietly played by herself a good chunk of the day and was content. A new transition was Casey's second deployment and the "awaking" of baby Ella into a little walking and talking toddler. As with all siblings, now Suz was no longer the queen bee of the toys and her room. There's been a few days during these last few months that both girls have tested where their boundaries are, especially with one another.

We've gotten past the stage of awkward behavior and I'm happy to see them getting along and sharing with one another more and more each day. I've also give Suz more responsibility (making her bed and helping me make mine, taking out the trash, hanging laundry and helping unload the dishwasher), it seems to be working great. Ella's growing into one of Suzanna's equals and just yesterday I heard her say "Ella, play hide and seek, I count....1...2....3.....4." Just a bit of normal sibling ironing out and we're back on track with harmony in the house.

• Waking up under the sheets, love chilly mornings
• Suzanna's humor
• One-on-one time with the girls
• Early morning walks
• Phone calls from Iraq
• Having a dream last night of Casey's return
• Our little house, very airy and bright (from vaulted ceilings and lots of windows)
• Bay windows at the dining area
• Enjoying our new carpet and flooring
• Going to sleep at night with the house tidy and in order
• Finishing BBC's Charles Dickens Bleak House
• Day dreaming we're stationed in England
• Updating our Blog to FIDELIS FIVE ('fidelis' in Latin means "faithful")

Jumping from the fireplace, Suz loves it.
Recently I've heard a conversation that goes as follows,

I finally found a rack that worked for us (space wise), I've been researching it for a while. I initially wanted one to hang outside and put sheets on, the type that can recoil (and have been unsuccessful) but this little fold up wooden laundry rack will do for now. This is one of Suzanna's biweekly chores, helping me hang the laundry and put it away once it's dry. It brings back memories of growing up and Mom hanging laundry outside. All these things of going "Green" are so new to some but we grew up "Green" our entire lives. We've always turned off lights, off water while brushing teeth, air dried laundry, hand washed dishes, second hand shopped and kept the house chilly in the winters. It does feel good knowing you are helping the environment and also saving a few dollars here and there. This is a way of life we're trying to instill in our little family.
What a good little helper!

Some images Casey shared of him in Iraq. I think his counterpart took them (it is unlike him to take pictures of himself). Yummy, is that an Iraqi pizza...looks good!

Mama
Dada
Nana
Buh (bunny)
Ball
Boo (book)
No no
Wa (walk)
Bank (blanket)

First word? Well, Linguists say that "Mom" and "Dad" don't count as a first word, but in a list of words you can add them to what the child can say. So, what was her first word? Nana. (When Nana was here, she'd walk around the house wondering were she was, "Nana, Nana".) We would test her to see if she was meaning "banana" but she doesn't have a word for that object in her lexicon yet...so the only Nana in her mind is her sweet Nana living a plane ride away.

The fireplace is yet again another hit to another little person in our house. I've given up chasing them off it, at least we've got the kooshy guard around the sharp edges. Here's Suz when we first moved here, on the fireplace (no surprise). She's actually around Ella's age here.
Ella now mastering the step.

We have this shaggy tree in the side of our front yard. When we first moved here 2 years ago, it was in great need of a pruning. Casey did prune the tree but nothing could prepare it for what winter would bring.

It's just amazing that it could still be alive after all the hardships it lived. That gives me hope, knowing that life may weather me and weigh me down but there is hope and new life just a season away. Isn't life just wonderful, God's plan for us and the promise that he will never leave us to carry our crosses and burdens alone.