Stinky Feet!

Okay, here's another funny little anecdote about something Eliana said. I have an obsession with my kids' hands and feet. I love to tickle them, kiss them, and smell them. I think what I like about smelling their feet is the fact that they have no odor. I guess it's because they spend most days shoeless, just running around our carpeted house, so they don't really get sweaty or smelly. Anyway, I love to grab their feet, smell them, and then say "Stinky!" This usually sends them into giggles, and we repeat it again and again. Well, the other day, I grabbed Eliana's foot, took a whiff, and said, "Stinky!"
She looked at me as if she were completely offended and said, "No they're not! I already brushed my teeth!"

What a silly girl.

Kid Talk

I just wanted to jot down some of the funny things the girls say before I forget them. For the most part, Eliana is a very articulate little girl, and she speaks very clearly. Still, there are a couple of things she says in her cute, little "kid-talk" kind of way, and I think it's adorable.
"Mommy, can you jungle with 3 balls?" (juggle)
"The taste bugs on my tongue are white because I drank milk." (taste buds)
"I'm cold. See? I have boosebumps." (goosebumps)

Pretty much everything Addie says is either in her own babble language or baby-talk. Here are some of the funnier ones.
"Boobies!" (strawberries)
"Hobo." (rainbow)
"Abugga." (hamburger)

I love it! I miss when we had to translate everything Eliana said, and I wish I had written down more of her baby talk. I'll probably add to this list periodically when I think of it.

Destination: Vacation

When Miller and I first got married, we had plans of traveling overseas to exotic locations for vacation, such as Thailand and Vietnam. We got married in September and decided to wait until the school year was over to take our honeymoon. By the summer, I was already 5 months pregnant, and we changed our honeymoon plans from our tour of Asia to a quick trip to Cancun. It was still fun, and we got to enjoy the beach and good food. However, being pregnant meant no snorkeling or hang gliding for me.
Now I can't even imagine packing up our kids, taking a flight that lasts more than a couple of hours, and vacationing in locations that don't have clean drinking water or air conditioning in all indoor areas. In fact, I have absolutely no desire to travel to other countries at this time. It's funny how becoming a parent changes your lifestyle so much. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret starting our family so early in the least. We have been so blessed, and God has had greater plans for our family than I could have ever imagined.
Well we've been spending the last few days at the vacation location of our choice. We left the cold, rainy weather of Dallas and have been enjoying the balmy 85 degree climate here. We have really comfortable, kid-friendly accommodations. Our lodging and all of our meals have been paid for, and they even provide childcare. I've been enjoying sleeping in, taking naps whenever I want, and hanging out with my hubby...
Have you guessed where we are? Of course, we're at my parents' house. Believe it or not, this has become one of my favorite places to go. My mom makes wonderful, home-cooked meals everyday, and my dad even does our laundry for us. I know, we're spoiled, but sometimes it's nice to be the kid again. The girls are loving the time with their grandparents, and I don't think Eliana ever wants to go home. Miller heads back tomorrow because he has to go back to work, and it will be the first time since we got married that we'll be apart overnight, but it will only be 5 days, and then the girls and I return home next week. Now I have to face my fear of flying with the girls by myself...

Here are some pictures of the girls enjoying the amazing backyard oasis that my dad created, right in the heart of the Tucson desert.

Eliana's Creations

Eliana is quite an artsy little gal, and she has created several masterpieces as of late. I thought I should take pictures of them and record how her artistic skills evolve over the years. These are some of her most recent works, at age 3:

This is "Chalky Flower." I'm not sure why she's making that weird face.)


"Mega Bloks Robot"


"Magna Doodle Flower Garden"


"Ladybugs" (Again on Magna Doodle)


Play-Doh Ladybug" Ladybugs are definitely her favorite subject.


This last one isn't really art, but I thought it was cute. She's been teaching herself to write letters, and one day she asked for a piece of paper and a pen, "...because I need to do my homework." This is what she produced. I thought it was funny that she accidentally wrote the word "bling."