Look at how sad this baby is. This baby has an upper respiratory infection. This baby has croup. This baby is Gretchen. Except Gretchen's hair is crazier.
Since we are sickos (she caught it from me. Croup in grownups is called "Totally Nasty Cold") we had a very boring week. So boring that Ella actually ASKED to go to preschool. Cause sitting in pajamas is only fun for 1/2 a day.
We hear that cousin Matia has croup also. We're sad for you.
Since we had a lot of time at home, we played in Ella's room a lot. I asked her what kind of room she wants when we have our OWN house. I asked if she'd like a room decorated like the Small World ride at Disneyland. Oh yes, she would! With dolls and everything. (Seriously, this is the bedroom of my nightmares. All those animatronic dolls watching me sleep??? Waiting till I'm vulnerable to strike?)
Ella was FULL of good decorating ideas. We'll make her a princess bed with a loft on top. The loft will be her Secret Fort. She said I could share her room with her (since it'd be so cool! She's nice like that). And Daddy. And even Gretchen. And we could have a kitchen upstairs so we wouldn't have to go downstairs for food! Hey, sounds good to me!
Yesterday we got back from our fabulous trip. I'm glad to know where I'll be putting The Gretch down for a nap. I'm glad to know where I'll be brushing my teeth tonight. But I'm very sad our California family won't be around to pinch, laugh with, and scream at. Sigh.
And now here are 500 obligatory photos of our wonderful, busy, fun time. And you can pretend to be interested.
We started our trip at Grandma Liz's. Photo Credits: Ella. (I had no idea my hair looked like that in the back.)
Watch as Gretchen transforms from "Crazy Cowgirl".... (seriously, check out the expression on her face as she swings that poor baby doll around!)
...to "Crazy Detroit Fan". Aww. Which one do you like better? NO HATS ARE SAFE AROUND THE GRETCH!
Saturday was Auntie Alisa's fabulous baby shower. The whole family was there!
B documented the whole thing (though watching his home videos may induce vomiting. Maybe for his birthday we'll get him a tripod.)
Even Baby Celeste came with her hott mom & grandma.
Apparently Jaden had some important things to show Ella online. They left the party to do some computing.
What!?! Gretchen whining? I know, crazy.
We surprised Mom with an early birthday present, a DVD of some old home movies. Then we got to watch the awesomeness that was "Christmas with the Robertsons" circa '82 - '88. Seriously mom, what was with the glasses. And the bangs. There's no excuse for those bangs.
Sunday we went to church (which means I sat with Gretchen in the foyer while Uncle Shea looked like a successful polygimist with THREE cute wives & eight cute kids). When we got home the dads set up an easter egg hunt in the jungle backyard.
But Monday, Oh Monday, the trips to Disneyland started. In the PARTY VAN!!!
Ella's first ride of choice was autopia.
Then we met some fairys.
Then hit the teacups.
Then met Goofy.
And Mickey.
Had some lunch.
And Ella rode her first REAL rollercoaster! Big Thunder Mountain! WOO HOO!
She doesn't look too sure about it, does she. When I asked her what she thought, she said, "I didn't like it. It was too scary." "Was it too fast?" "No, I didn't like the scary red eyes at the beginning. In the cave."
Yeah, I didn't even REMEMBER the ride having a cave, but it does. And there are red eyes that are supposed to look like bats. And that, my friends, is what scared her. Even when I told her they were just Christmas lights. She wouldn't ride anything after that.
Except Small World. Which, despite always creeping me out, she loved (dolls, especially moving dolls, are super creepy.)
Amy met us for dinner with Julia. DARN BLACK OUT DATES! They didn't get to come inside the park with us. But we had fun for an hour with them.
I let Ella pick out a hat from the "Mad Hatter" shoppe. Any hat she wanted. I fully expected to walk out with a princess monstrosity. But she choose "Pluto". Because it was funny. She is full or surprises.
One last trip on Autopia. Good driving Britton!
Here you see Matia & Ella enjoying the fireworks show. Overwhelmed with excitement.
Thanks to Dad, we got to drive the Jag around town. Here's Ella keeping up appearances. She doesn't even have to try to be this fabulous, it just happens.
Because we are crazy, we went to Disneyland AGAIN on Wednesday. THANKS SCHOTT FAMIY! We loved it. But no one loves Disneyland as much as Uncle Shea. Seriously. He is a die-hard Disneyland fan. Third morning in the Magical Kingdom pictured below. And he's still smiling.
We took time out for lunch. And naps.
The coolest thing ever? The boys got picked for the Jedi Academy & got to fight Darth Vadar. If we had better seats and a better camera, the footage would look like this:
But instead you get this. Which is still cute.
And, since we don't have enough, Ella took some more self portraits.
Remember how it's *Spring* and the daffodils are blooming? And then remember how Reno weather is crazy? Yeah. Reno weather is crazy. Here's the girls enjoying the snow Thursday morning before it all melts. Ella is making snow angel. Gretchen is impersonating Kenny.
Dad comes in for a rescue.
Ella is cute. I am biased.
Can you believe Ella only has a few more months of preschool? I know (sniff). My baby is growing up. I went to pick her up Friday & had to document. She got to be "Miss Spider", one of her favorite books.
Friday we have Movie Night & we watched "Honey I Shrunk The Kids". It was awesome. Ella was completely enraptured. She keeps talking about it. Asking if kids can really shrink down. Talking about how silly the dad was. And now we'll have ONE ride at Disneyland she'll be excited about that won't have a 2 hour line! That ride is ALWAYS empty! Perfect!
This morning at breakfast she laughed and said, "I get it! French Class! HA HA HA HA." Note: She does NOT get it.
We can't wait to see you in FOUR DAYS! Christian - Ella is super excited for you to teach her some magic tricks. We're glad your eye is doing better! J - Ella wants you to play with her Cade & Shane - Ella wants to make another movie. (Maybe we can distract her by taking her swimming.)
