Rough and Ready

Disney Reenactment

2012-01-25T13:13:00.001-05:00

Today Elliott wanted to dress up ad Cinderella and pretend the mini
Cinderella (see left) was Elliott and she was the real Cinderella at
Disney and take a picture. I then had to take (mini) "Elliott" to
visit and take a picture with Belle, Ariel and Jasmine in other parts
if the house.

Princess Lipgloss

2012-01-23T12:06:00.001-05:00

Sledding!

2012-01-22T15:15:00.002-05:00

Painting!

2012-01-19T13:06:00.001-05:00

"Cheese Sticks!"

2012-01-10T13:25:00.000-05:00

Diva Spotting

2012-01-08T11:37:00.001-05:00

Elliott: "daddy, you're not as cute as me" (as she gazes in the mirror
while wearing a frilly dress)

Sent from my iPhone

Will It Ever Get Old?

2012-01-04T12:23:00.000-05:00

Rock n Roll

2012-01-03T15:29:00.001-05:00

Jer Bear!

2011-12-09T21:52:00.001-05:00

https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=141faf8ab0&view=att&th=13425a9acea95f7b&attid=0.14&disp=inline&realattid=file13&zw

Back at it Again!

2011-11-30T11:29:00.001-05:00

Face painting at the Easton children's museum.

Outside in November.

2011-11-26T10:50:00.001-05:00

Some water play in the yard today.

Worth the wait!!

2011-11-21T10:12:00.001-05:00

Backyard Fun

2011-11-20T09:37:00.000-05:00

Cheesier!

2011-11-13T21:04:00.001-05:00

"Can I have the cheeser?"

Cheeser=Camera

Drumlin Farm

2011-11-08T13:20:00.000-05:00

After she risked her life to chase down a moving tractor, we found
this. Thank goodness.

Sky Zone!

2011-11-04T12:16:00.000-05:00

Fire Fighter!

2011-11-03T12:59:00.001-05:00

Fire fighter!

2011-11-03T12:48:00.000-05:00

I Heart Facepaint!

2011-11-03T10:31:00.000-05:00

New look, same awesome family

2011-11-01T11:18:00.001-05:00

You may notice a new look to our blog. That is because I have enabled the Dynamic Views template. This allows you to specify from the drop menu on the toolbar which view you would like to use. I like the Mosaic and that is what is set as default.

I have created another page for our Clickers. If you are missing something that was on the old format, please let me know and I can add it to the Clickers page or to a new page all together.

To get back to the blog after looking at the Clickers page, click on the "Rough and Ready" title.

Hope you enjoy.

El's Picture Request

2011-10-31T20:54:00.001-05:00

"Let's take a a picture in our special chair, with my thumb in my
mouth and hands down shirts".

Done.

The NEW Twinkle Twinkle

2011-10-27T18:53:00.001-05:00

I just heard Elliott singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in tub. She
replaced the word Twinkle with "nipple".

;)

Easiest lunch ever!

2011-10-27T10:52:00.001-05:00

All she wanted was red beans in a cup!

Milestones

2011-10-23T20:44:00.002-05:00

Today rocked. Elliott is learning how to take care of her potty business. Today she was outside playing with her friends then came running in the house saying "I need to pee pee" she did the doo and then went scampering about outside. Big milestone versus having to be prompted. We are on our way!

On another note: One of Elliott's neighborhood friends is a sweet boy named Larry who is in the 4th grade. He is very kind and patient with her and she adores him. Currently, Jeremy and I are sitting on the couch,thinking Elliott is asleep and we hear her shout "Larry!" She loves those neighborhood kids! They makes it worth the mortgage!

Vocabulary.

2011-10-16T11:30:00.001-05:00

"look at this big booger! It's HUGE. Do you like it?"

Harvest Festival!

2011-10-15T12:10:00.000-05:00

Crazy Silly Fun with Grandma Sharon

2011-10-06T13:04:00.000-05:00

Phrase of the Day

2011-10-04T10:46:00.001-05:00

"It's kinda like sort of funny"

Goop!

2011-10-02T17:16:00.001-05:00

Our Dancer.

2011-09-21T20:02:00.001-05:00

That costume is the best 5 bucks I ever spent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDUbHdoWL0M&sns=em

Sent from my iPhone

First Visit to Dentist!

2011-09-16T09:15:00.001-05:00

Rocked it like a champ, of course!

First Day of Dance!

2011-09-13T09:51:00.000-05:00

Sick?

2011-08-30T07:51:00.001-05:00

Elliott has not been sick all summer.

We have slept in the new house for two nights and she is sluggish and
eating minimally. Just not herself. I am thinking she is not really
sick, just overwhelmed! Poor baby. Change is hard!

P.s. Note our fabulous paint color!

Pooped!

2011-08-24T13:05:00.000-05:00

Elliott, the only kid who went to sleep at camp today!

The Sign that You Have a Little Girl

2011-08-18T08:09:00.001-05:00

Tucking the pirate into bed.

Stone Zoo

2011-08-17T12:02:00.001-05:00

We had a fun visit to the Stone Zoo!

2011-08-10T17:39:00.000-05:00

BIG Boot!

2011-08-10T09:48:00.001-05:00

Daddy's Motorcycle Boots

2011-08-06T08:13:00.001-05:00

Tunnel Play

2011-08-03T17:10:00.001-05:00

Our New House!

2011-08-01T06:47:00.001-05:00

Buried!

2011-07-28T16:12:00.001-05:00

"all by myself!"

2011-07-28T09:15:00.001-05:00

"Just Like Suki"

2011-07-20T16:35:00.001-05:00

A little bit

2011-07-20T16:17:00.001-05:00

Elliott just told Papa :

"I'm just crying a little bit"

Sent from my iPhone

Auntie Louise and Elliott Louise

2011-07-19T15:25:00.001-05:00

Humarock Cat Nap

2011-07-19T14:25:00.001-05:00

Quote

2011-07-18T08:44:00.001-05:00

"I'm just doing my business"

As she sneaks to the sink to fill up a toy cup.

Sent from my iPhone

Baby on Board - TIME

2011-07-12T14:48:00.001-05:00

Good Stuff!

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2081912,00.

Best Friends!

2011-07-09T20:38:00.000-05:00

Today was Andrew and Elliott's last fun day together before the
Onken's leave town for a bit. Aren't these two the sweetest ever? Even
the thought of moving these two 10 minutes away from each other breaks
my heart!

Happy Sun!

2011-07-08T15:23:00.001-05:00

Sun!

2011-07-08T15:22:00.001-05:00

James Taylor moves women of all ages to tears

2011-07-05T12:28:00.001-05:00

Elliott had a bit of a fever and me playing this James Taylor song, which I haven't played in many years, really struck an emotional chord with her. I think she didn't know exactly how to deal with whatever she was feeling.

BOKX 109 - American Prime

2011-07-01T15:05:00.001-05:00

http://newtonbokx.com/

Sent from my iPhone

Story Time

2011-06-29T07:45:00.001-05:00

Starting her early

2011-06-28T17:19:00.001-05:00

I was looking for that!

2011-06-27T07:02:00.000-05:00

Flag Day Parade!

2011-06-18T18:05:00.001-05:00

Art at the BCM

2011-06-15T12:04:00.001-05:00

Daddy's New Hat!

2011-06-14T19:43:00.000-05:00

F1 for Jer's Birthday!!

2011-06-10T20:28:00.000-05:00

"say candy!"

2011-06-09T17:06:00.001-05:00

A Good Night's Sleep

2011-06-07T06:29:00.001-05:00

We woke up this morning to a circle of medical staff. They took a look
at Elliott's boo boo toe. She cried out for a moment and then went
right back to sleep. They are quite happy with the progress and it
looks like we are going home today...

Foot soaking bribe.

2011-06-06T17:52:00.001-05:00

Hospital Buddy!

2011-06-05T19:52:00.001-05:00

Boo boo toe.

2011-06-05T17:51:00.000-05:00

Wally the Watermellon

2011-05-29T17:21:00.000-05:00

Zzzzzzz

2011-05-21T10:15:00.001-05:00

Disco nap before 11am graduation party.

Water Table Time

2011-05-20T15:23:00.001-05:00

We got a break from the rain for a bit. Busted out the water table and
"gardening" hat. Actually, she was not very interested in going
outside until I mentioned the "gardening hat". We take care if our sad
little basil plant while we wear our hats. Mine is required also, but,
fortunately, is not required to be featured here.

Art

2011-05-20T08:42:00.001-05:00

I have a love/ hate relationship with this piece.

Easton Children's Museum

2011-05-19T21:06:00.001-05:00

Fire truck and face paint.

"Ta Da!" & "Oops!"

2011-05-06T11:40:00.001-05:00

Potty Training

2011-05-03T19:21:00.001-05:00

You can't say I did not try!

Papa got Elliott a Yard Sale Suitcase!

2011-04-29T17:40:00.001-05:00

I love trash!

2011-04-29T13:41:00.001-05:00

I love it so much I scored two!

Waiting to see the barn babies.

2011-04-28T14:23:00.002-05:00

In my opinion she was the cutest "kid" there!

Never just one!

2011-04-19T07:54:00.001-05:00

First McDonalds French Fry

2011-04-09T16:11:00.001-05:00

El has been sick and not eating and drinking much for days. The md is
not concerned but wants her to drink fluids. Today she got her first
McDonalds french fry to get her to drink some water. Dr. Approved!
...and it worked!

Sick day 2

2011-04-07T14:14:00.001-05:00

Lots of napping and Mary poplins going on around here these days. I am
starting to go stir crazy! El, is of course cute even when sick,
weepy, tired and needing her bunnies.

A bit less under the weather

2011-04-06T13:22:00.001-05:00

Feeling better after a long nap, el does some dot art.

"Princess papa!"

2011-04-01T12:40:00.001-05:00

Cheese!

2011-04-01T09:28:00.001-05:00

Trip to the Aquarium!

2011-03-31T11:48:00.001-05:00

Star fish. El loved it!

Princess and the Dia.

2011-03-30T20:09:00.001-05:00

Can you tell which is HDR?

2011-03-30T19:57:00.001-05:00

Quotes

2011-02-15T14:30:00.002-05:00

"Hi Sadie girl, you look so cute and wonderful."(she was right)

"These are my shiney shoes and I jump with them." (insert image of jumping Elliott here)

Mommy Cooking

2011-02-02T22:18:00.002-05:00

I have a new name. It is "mommy cooking".

"Where are we going mommy cooking?", "Mommy Cooking, where are you?", "I need some help, Mommy Cooking."

I guess I say the phrase enough that it has turned into my name and I think it is quite adorable. Kind of like "Jim Dear" and "Darling" in Lady and the Tramp.

Elliott has started gymnastics. She won't do a somersault in class, but you know she is doing them all over the place at home.

We go to gymnastics at a place called the Tot Plex. At the Tot Plex there are moon bounces. Homegirl is a freak for them. "Moon bounce, I excited"

We have also introduced Elliott to the movie May Poppins. She loves it, but I may now be obsessed. How darling is Mary Poppins? She is "practically perfect in every way"!

I might want to be her a little bit.

In other news I am trying to start a private practice. As a result of the stress/anxiety I have developed a wee bit of a twitch. So if you see me squinting at you, it is not a vision problem, but perhaps I would rather you think that it was. Maybe I should put my hands in my pockets and jump on a moon bounce for a bit to get the stress out. I am trying to take up yoga to integrate bit more relaxation and general bendiness into my life. Hopefully it helps!

Holy Cow!

2011-01-11T23:16:00.003-05:00

Elliott spotted this cow at the mall today. She wanted to ride it so badly.

FacePaint

2010-12-30T09:32:00.004-05:00

Christmas Morning 2010

2010-12-26T09:35:00.001-05:00

Santa's Message to Elliott

2010-12-23T13:50:00.001-05:00

Did you know that you can ask Santa to send a message to your little one?

Go to Portable North Pole and see!

http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/yOP1emkABn4auYEy_giSSQ

Recorded for History

2010-12-16T13:03:00.002-05:00

December 16, 2010. Elliott Louise Blanchard says "why" for the first time.

A happy family

2010-12-15T21:04:00.000-05:00

A sneak peak at our recent family photos.

1142

How Rude!?

2010-10-18T21:27:00.002-05:00

Lately Elliott has been giving orders in very firm tones.

"stop crying mama"
"no crying"

(generally when I am laughing and she can't see my face)

For all those who over hear our child say these things and judge me for rude parenting please, We don't tell her to stop crying!

So why is she telling me to?!

She also says: "don't drop it" , yeah, I might say that.

Today, was the big prize though. Out of the blue Elliott said:

"I love you Suki" to my mom.

How sweet is that? Those are the moments you wait for! My mom deserves it after babysitting her all day on a Monday!

Finally, today Suki asked Elliott where she lived and Elliott said "California"! Awesome.

Public Gardens

2010-10-13T21:36:00.001-05:00

Cider Donut at Lookout Farm

2010-10-10T20:59:00.001-05:00

Rachel's new favorite song

2010-09-29T20:44:00.001-05:00

Water Table Play

2010-09-23T20:22:00.000-05:00

Facts and Updates

2010-09-17T19:44:00.005-05:00

As previously mentioned. Elliott has started saying some sentences. Today Elliott was eating her dinner. She had eaten, not all, but a good amount, when I stepped out of the room for two minutes. I came back and her plate was completely empty. I said "Elliott where did all your food go? Did you eat it?" She replied "I threw it" Sure enough, her bites of sweet potato were thrown to various parts of the kitchen.

In other news. For Elliott's birthday we purchased her this:

Even though she does not wear that outfit, she actually still uses it, and loves it. Elliott loves to play in the sink ("water please?"), help me measure and pour when I am cooking and baking, and knead dough at the counter. I look forward to her growing with the item and learning a lot.

Today I said I need to get the olive oil, while Elliott stood at her "tower", she pointed right to it on the shelf. I feel that this "tower" is going to help her expand her vocab as we work and create together side by side. A step stool is good too - but now I don't have to worry as much about her falling off, making kitchen play time more relaxed.

This morning we went to the Trail Side Museum. Elliott got to see an Otter, turtles (so you know she was stoked), deer, an owl, and fed ducks bread.

Her new favorite book is: My First Little House Book "Winter Days in the Big Woods". Who knew there was a WHOLE little house series for the little tykes!

Her favorite quote from the book is when Pa comes home and says:
"Where is my half pint of cider half drunk up?!"

She also is enjoying the book: "Say Hello!" by, Rachel Isadora. From which she has learned to say "Hello" in several different languages. From the book she specifically she likes to say: "Jambo!", "Shalom", "Konechiwa (sp)" and, given the times, I find delightfully amusing, "Al salaam a'alaykum".

So, Jer is back to work full time and we are very very happy that he has a great job that he enjoys! Elliott, not so much. She is still getting used to her daddy not being home. The other day, when I was in the kitchen, I heard Elliott crash through our bedroom door and say "Hi, Daddy!" only to find he was not there, and started to cry! :( Today in the car, when we were driving to the museum, Elliott spontaneously cried out "daddy home..." in a whiney wimper. I feel so bad for out little love nugget! I miss him too and I tell her so.

Finally, yesterday, Elliott received a Zhu Zhu Pet from MTB. Elliott loves it. I think it is hilarious. Jeremy, he's hard to read on the matter. It is just like a real pet that you don't have to feed! Elliott reacts to is as she would any real animal she encounters - delighted and scared at the same time. She peeks to look at it closer then hops on my lap and clings for life! She has moments of bravery when she picks it up and says it's fur is "soft". I made a little bed for him. Last night we read him a story and tucked him in. Thanks MTB!

To some, the life of this mommy may be mundane, to me it is anything but. This child of ours is amazing and I am so glad I get to spend my days with this little girl!

The New Cubby

2010-09-14T13:06:00.002-05:00

Sorry it's dark. We can't have perfect lighting on these spontaneously awesome events AND it was supposed to be quiet time in preparation for bed.