Life in the 'sipp: June 2017

Cousin Coco (Colton) came home from his 2 year mission

Elder Colton Kelley, or as Addie used to call him when he left, "Coco" finally came home! He served his 2 year mission in the Salt Lake City South Mission, spanish speaking! He is still a little "weird", as missionaries are when they get back. But we went on a fun family vacation with everyone to celebrate his return! We rented a house on Pensacola Beach for the week. We shared it with family and had so much fun! We were right on the bay, so from our house you walk down a few steps and you are in the water! I did a terrible job at taking pictures! And I didn't even get one of us on the beach side. This stupid rain kind of thwarted a few of our plans, but we still had fun!.

Ron and Adrianne brought their jet skiis and we had a blast with those. Porter and Addie could have spent all day just playing in the water, and really that is mostly what they did. Ellie liked the water, but it wasn't quite as tasty as bath water! Ha! And boy did she just wanted to eat the sand. She did ingest plenty, before I could stop her! She is quick with those hands. The sleeping arrangements weren't ideal, since we were all in a room together. I mean, we love each other and like to spend time being close. But Ellie is having some issues lately with sleeping through the night, and all our work correcting it, was destroyed on the trip. Because we didn't just have us to worry about, but the whole house. So I ended up giving her extra bottles to help her sleep, which recreated the bad habit I was trying to break! ugh! It was close to the feeling of kicking yourself in the teeth. We are back on track now, trying to get her back to sleeping all night without waking up crying for a bottle. Just to get it all set and then go to Utah for my brother's wedding, just to start over again. That's going to be more like banging my head against a wall, right. Here we go Ellie, let's work so hard on this, and destroy it shortly after! Hopefully she will get the hang of things and we will be fine. I mean the girl can fall asleep just about anywhere. During my HiiT class, with the music on, and me yelling out directions to my class. Or under a tree in the shade. It is just the night time sleeps we have been struggling with. We will get there! I hope sooner than later!

Summer is in full swing. We are almost finishing up with summer swim team, which makes me sad. I love it, because so many of my friends have kids doing it as well, so we all get to somewhat hang out at the meets. Addie is kind of hating it this year. I think the middle child problems will continue for a while. Sometimes it is hard for me to have patience with it though. And me, of all people, should totally get it! She just likes to push my buttons, and man, does she know how! Yikes! She works up those tears when she doesn't want to do something, and man is she stubborn. (where does she get her stubborness?! ha)

In July, as I said earlier, we are going to Utah for Dhylan's wedding! I am so excited to see family. And I love visiting Utah in the summer! The snow is great in winter, but I love a Utah summer. We will go to Lagoon. We will watch the sunset at 10 pm! Ha! We will sit in the shade and actually feel cooler! And maybe we will get away from all this stinking rain!!! Please STOP raining here!

Oh! and Ellie is officially crawling! Yes! It happened on our trip to florida! Of course when I got my phone out to film it, she stopped. She is good at it, but I don't think she fully understands that she can do it all the time. Which I am ok with. I like her staying put sometimes when I have to run into the other room. She tries to pull up on everything too! She doesn't really try to walk when I hold her up to assist her in walking, but I think that will come. She is such a little chunk, I need her to be able to get around herself some. I am going to have a body builder's arm if she doesn't start walking soon. But don't get me wrong! I love all her juiciness! All her little chubs. It is totally scrumptious and beautiful..... and welcome! Especially considering her small beginnings! She loves to be held, which makes it a challenge sometimes, when my arm needs a rest and both my kids 'can't want' to hold her anymore either! Ha! And Thomas, his big strong arms seem to tire the quickest! I can definitely hold her the longest and I think she prefers me. But my arm and back feel it after a while! She will be running around before I know it, and I will miss her needing me to get her places! It is so cute when she is in her room, and you call down to her, and she leans her little head over to look in the hall! So stinking cute! She has such a sweet personality. She is still a bit stoic with most strangers, and saves her best smiles for her family. She is getting to the point if people try to take her from my arms, she swats them away! haha! She makes the funniest pterydachtyl noises! (spelling?!). She says Dada and Baba. Just today we think she said 'sad'. We have a game where I will make a sad face and say "sad" and then she will get this big grin on her face and make a noise at me, and then I will lighten my face up with a big smile and say "happy!". She loves that game! And today when I strapped her in the car, to distract her--- because she kinda really dislikes her car seat, I made my sad face and said "sad" and then she said it, clear as day, but kind of with a lisp "sssthad", Porter and Addie and I were in amazement! They couldn't stop talking about it! She hasn't done it since, so I am not sure if it was a fluke or not, but the kids are counting it!

It is very late, so I am going to end here.

I have hopes to be a better, more consistent blogger.

soon.

ha.