Sunday, Sunday...
Olivia had a great time at her birthday parties yesterday. Elliiott and I had a great time playing chauffeur. We even got in a trip to Walmart - she certainly is my little shopper - could be a conditioned response, she always gets a fruit snack while we're shopping.

Poor Elliott has been battling a gastrointestinal bug this weekend. Diarrhea for a potty training kid is not the most fun thing ever. Getting up in the night to change 2 poopy diapers is not the most fun thing either. Other than a sore bottom, she doesn't really seem to concerned. She's been practicing her running and hooting and hollering and having a good time in general with her sister this morning.

We don't have big plans for the day. Got most of the cleaning and laundry done yesterday. It would be nice if the rain would let up so we could get outside. All of this rain is just going to translate into more mowing!! I shouldn't complain - I have yet to mow this season, but Chris has been out and at it twice. That's what he gets for fertilizing :)

Here's to a day of rest and of course - Desperate Anatomy!! (Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy for those of you who aren't hooked!!)

Rainy day... Perfect napping weather, which Elliott is, in fact, doing right now. I would love to join her, but I'm afraid I would have to devote the whole afternoon to it and then wouldn't accomplish anything before we start the party parade!!

The girls had donuts and cartoons this morning - what more could a kid ask for on a Saturday morning? I got to sleep in a bit and then hit the Janesville city-wide garage sales. It seems that every year we have cold and wet weather for the city-wide garage sales. Last year Jackie, Diane and I had a garage sale and we were huddling with the space heater in the garage, drinking hot cocoa. I'm much happier to check out other people's garage sales and then come home to my nice warm, dry house. Did find some good stuff. Lots of Scooby Doo books for Olivia. They are chapter books - she was so impressed that she decided to hand down some of her other Scooby Doo books to Elliott so she could share in the scooby fun. Also got a good haul of Berenstain Bears books. I think that we have almost the complete set now - good stuff. And some books for me - we should be set for a while - but you can never have too many books!! Wait, I take that back. I remember moving Corey Smith - I guess you can indeed have too many books, but we aren't close to that point yet :)

Chris is off working on the bus - he explained what they were doing today. It had a lot to do with some planks that were given to them, and cutting them down to size (maybe for the bunks?). I do know that he didn't think that they would be able to weld in the rain.

I'm going to finish the glamorous task of laundry and then Elliott and I will chauffeur Olivia to her parties. Have a great Saturday and enjoy the calming rain...

My daughter - the cat!! As I mentioned yesterday, Elliott has been doing very well with the potty training. Yesterday she was very proud of herself after she left a big poopy in the potty (apologies to those of you without small children - I'm afraid it's the language of the land). I was a bit taken aback when she immediately wanted to "cover it up". I really thought that was just a cat thing :) Must be some kind of wiping technique from daycare? I can't even venture to say that I understand 2 year old logic!! She was also quite entertaining last night singing her bumblebee song to us. It's not the version we've heard before - it includes the bumble bee, getting stung, smushing the bumble bee and then wiping it off of her hands so "my mom won't be mad at me". Awfully cute from a two year old.

Olivia had her last dance class before summer last night. She was anxious to see if we have a cd with crocodile rock. Apparently they played that in class and she thought that it was pretty groovy.

Sugar has developed a rather less than wonderful trait. The last few nights she's been waking us up with random barking. Chris and I can't hear a single thing that she could possibly be barking at. I almost wonder if she's not sleep barking - but it's not the kind of chasing a rabbit in my dream barking that I've heard before. Hope it's not a continuing occurence.

Aside from that - we're all just happy that it's Friday!!!

Welcome to the Waller Family Blog!!

Welcome to the Waller family blog!! I'm new to the world of blogging, but I decided that it might be a good way to keep our family and friends in touch with what is happening with us.

Okay - maybe it's to ease my guilt from never getting around to doing the Christmas letter this year... I promised myself that it would be a New Year's letter, and then I promised myself that it would be a Valentine's Day letter, and then I promised myself that it would be a St. Patty's letter... And so it goes - good intentions!!

Just a brief update on who we all are and what we're up to:

Olivia is 6 1/2 and just about done with first grade. She's a stellar reader and does quite well in school. She's also very pleased to have a new friend next door. Savanna is in 2nd grade and they have been playing together quite a bit. O has been taking a beginning body movement class - like an intro to ballet - a Thursday evening class that Grandma Diane and Papa Roger signed her up for and take her to. She has enjoyed it, but it sure makes their Thursday nights a whirlwind!

Elliott is 2 and a quarter. She is a pistol at times. Definitely strong willed, but awfully cute most of the times! She is doing very well potty training. We're down to pull-ups at night and very rare accidents during the day. Knock on wood!!! It's good to be able to see the light at the end of the diaper tunnel!! One of her favorite sayings is "just a minute Mom" - wonder if I say that a lot?? She also loves puppies. Little puppies, big puppies, all puppies. She loves to play outside and for some reason enjoys palying in the back of Daddy's truck.

Chris just had a birthday. I won't say which number, but it seems he's on the downward slope to 40. I can say that because I'm still climbing to 35. He's busy training for RAGBRAI and working on the bus his team bought. In his training, he's been doing some running with Sugar - our energetic pointing lab. Very adventurous of him - he did mention that she gives him a good workout.

I'm still keeping quite busy at the hospital. I really enjoy my job (most days, and that's really all a person can ask for) and feel blessed to have it. It seems at time that it's non-stop busy at work and at home and all over. But, busy is good - I guess :)

Well, welcome and visit again - it's my goal to post a bit each day. We'll see how I do...