Family Day at the Agriplex

We went to this event today and basically the highlites are below...we paid $7 each so Kailey could hug mascots...hahaha.  Really not great, but the proceeds went to a good cause.  I CANNOT WAIT FOR SUMMER!!!

The coolest invention ever...tag book.  You download dialogue unique to the book and then the book becomes totally interactive and teaches you how to read.  I love it.

it is hard work being Zoe

I was worried that Kailey was not getting enough fruit so we made smoothies this afternoon and she drank the entire glass.  Strawberries, melon, pineapple, banana, peaches and plain yogurt.  She thought it was great picking out the fruit - huge frozen fruit bag at Wal-Mart for $13...steal.

She picked out this new summer dress last night...someone really wants Spring to come.  Every day she checks to see how much snow is left and asks if she can go swimming in the lake with Bridgey-Boo.

take 2 - much better - post naptime

Kailey's hair is not in control, but that is really not her anyway.

as per K's request - her new red boots!

mission impossible = taking a nice picture of the 2

random

Kailey wanting a picture with her sister

all bundled and ready to go to supper

trying to get a family shot...very difficult trying to get both girls even looking in the right place.

Major Eyelashes

these showed up overnight!

Another good recipe

Ingredients

4 large Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice

Directions
1.Spread the apples evenly in an 8 inch square glass baking dish. A deep dish glass pie plate will also work. In a medium bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon and allspice. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the apples.
2.Cook on full power in the microwave for 10 to 12 minutes, until apples can easily be pierced with a knife. Enjoy!

since I am the crock pot queen...

I thought I would share a recipe that I made up tonight.

3/4 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp veg. oil
1 tsp crushed garlic
1 tbsp montreal steak spice
1 tsp lemon juice

-mix this all up and pour it over new york steaks (frozen or fresh) in the crockpot and cook on low until done how you like. (we did ours around 1pm from frozen and they were well done by 5pm)

slice it up thin and put on top of a salad with all the fixings w/ blue cheese dressing...OMG SOOOO YUMMY. I have never had steak this tender. I could have cut it with a butter knife.

smiles from Shari Ruggiero on Vimeo.

Phew, I have had a couple of nights of good sleep now and I feel much better. I am guessing she was sensing my overwhelming stress/emotions from Marley because since his passing she had been up all night and not too happy either. While I am still so very sad and feel such a loss I am no longer in the constant bawling my eyes out stage and the minute I got it more together she also became a happier Ella. I went out today and bought myself some awesome clothes in my awesome new size!!! Thank you so much Jack for the gift certificate (one of my Valentines gifts) that is just what the Dr. ordered! I forgot how easy it is to shop with a babe in a bucket compared to a mini-diva 3 yo...whole different ball of wax shopping with miss K. I also broke the code to my supper time drama (Ella wanting to eat, Kailey up from her nap, me trying to get supper together)...The CROCK POT!! YUMMM.

from the animal hospital in Lloyd that Marley went to for the last 8ish years of his life. They truly saved his life and kept him going looong past what the pro's in Saskatoon predicted.
Ella napping in the crib for the first time...I think she likes it. If only she would sleep this sound and this long at night. Lately it has been not easy at night that is for sure. It is almost like she reversed her days and nights out of the blue...strange. It is not like she is hungry as I offer a bottle of formula after she nurses and she either doesn't take it or takes it and still stays up so I am hoping this phase will pass and quickly.

One of the Valentines day gifts from Daddy!!!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Good Bye my love

Filled with so much sorrow and pain right now, but wanted to let you all know that Marley passed away in our arms last night around 2am. I am holding his collar in my hands and selfishly want more. I know he beat all the odds, but this is so so hard. I love him and will always love him. He deserves to be free, but I want him back so bad. I cannot stop crying as if the tears will somehow bring him back. I lifted his little head and he looked deep into my eyes and I gave him permission to go...I will never forget that look in his eyes.

Latest Kailey funny

So Kailey comes to the kitchen with a guilty look on her face and I ask her what she did and she says, 'nothin'. I see that she is grabbing her chest and I ask her to show me and she had two of my nursing pads in the top of her dress. She told me that she needs them to make her boobies feel better. Oh and she named her doll - ready for this? - Back Alley - Alley for short. This kid cracks me up EVERY single day.

6 week check up

So little Ella Bella is:

9.1 lbs - 70th percentile - clearly she likes what I am serving :-)
21" - 40th percentile
Head - 50th percentile

She is thriving and was good as gold for her appointment - slept through the entire thing...hahaha. She is a pound lighter than Kailey was and an inch shorter. I forgot how fast they put weight on so I was shocked when they told me her weight. I got the official OK for lifting her and the bucket so this means...FREEDOM. We got another car seat last night for the Subaru so that will help to have 2 vehicles able to transport the K.

Thank you Grandma Joy and Grandpa Phil for the gifts. This outfit is adorable on Ella and Kailey's highlite of the day was opening her watch and other goodies. She asks to have the 'faces' changed on it a few times a day.

Thank you to Grandma Marilyn for making, not just one, but 2 blankets for the girls. Kailey is thrilled to have one like Ella and she always wants to get cozy and cuddle with her sister.

Thanks Mrs. Meating for making Ella this adorable hat. She wears this and the mittens anytime we leave the house.

sledding

We took Kailey sledding yesterday and she loved it! Ella was all bundled up and stayed asleep in the truck the entire time. What is great about this little hill is that we can park right at the start of it so I was able to keep an eye on both kiddies and Kailey was able to do a few runs and then come in to warm up. It was a nice day (-9) but that nasty wind made it cooooold.

Nan & Nana visit!!

Snuggles with the Nans. It is always so sad to see Nan go and this time it was dbl hard to say good-bye. I cannot wait for the next visit.
Nana had the magic touch when Ella was fussing she was calmed her right down - some sort of Nana jiggle...hahaha.

Would have taken some of Kailey, but she didn`t sit still long enough. :-) She was in her glory having 2 Nans here. She was so proud to show off her Hannah Montana room.

Smiley Gal!