Delly Bens

Ellie has a stuffy nose. I actually think it's allergies, but who knows. Because of said stuffy nose she sounds really funny when she talks. She's hard enough to really understand under normal circumstances and it's even better now with a nasal overtone.

She keeps asking for, "Delly bens, Mommy. I wa delly bens."

"Jelly beans? Is that what you're saying??"

"Yeah, Mama. Delly bens. Peeeezzzz."

So cute.

Update

I feel like I have nothing to say in my posts right now and that's interesting as I actually have a ton of stuff going on in our little old Suburban Cliche life. Because of this paradox, I'm compelled to admit that I'm being closed-off and introspective as of late. This happens. And for me, this happens a lot. (Not "alot." Please read here for more of that.)

I have a hard time sharing things as they are happening. I prefer to share after the fact because I know what happened and how to best tell the story. And I hypothesize a lot. I think I get it from my Mom. Go ahead, ask her if she would like chocolate or strawberry ice cream and you shall receive the world's longest answer that will most likely conclude with, "Well, that depends."

So there's my genetic pre-disposition for hypothesizing combined with my brother Dan's irrational hatred of poorly told stories leaving me feeling anxious about sharing too much too soon. But nonetheless...

We're almost ready to move into our new house. I think we close on the May 6th. And we're SO excited. Excited for the kids to have their own rooms. Excited for us to finally have a little space to ourselves. A laundry room? An office? What?!? So exciting. And the Washington Popes will be coming out to give us a big old hand. Can't wait to see everyone!

We're getting ready for the little bug's first dance recital. June 6th. She's practicing very hard. And we signed her up for preschool starting after Labor Day. Seems all too soon.

Parker is becoming a little person scrambling all of the house playing Peek-a-Boo with Ellie at every opportunity, laughing his face off, and getting ready to walk. (Please just walk, Parker.)

So much stuff. I'm sure I'll fill in the stories a little bit more as I figure out how they really go. More to come.

Get the Popcorn

We love movies. We particularly like movies that come in little red Netflix envelopes because it means we can watch them while our children sleep blissfully in their beds.

Here are a few more to add to the old list:

100 Movies to See Before You Die: The Modern Classics

Pope Family Circus

Eliana and Parker's birthdays are within two weeks of each other. They are our springtime babies. And as per Ellie's request, we hosted a Circus Birthday to celebrate both their big third and first birthdays. It was fun! And crazy! Our family and friends did their best to spoil the little suckers. They always go above and beyond. It was a great way to celebrate our last days in our little house, although with all the moving mess I am nothing less than appalled at myself for still not getting the Thank You cards out!!
Just appalled.

Mom and Uncle John blow up the circus balloons.

Ellie is really excited to blow out the candles. She talked about it for weeks and weeks.

Goof ball.

Parker didn't really like the whole "first sugar" experience.
Or maybe the crowd just freaked him out. Poor little dude.

Happy Birthday, little kiddos!! We love you. Tons.

Flash Forward

My kids are both sleeping. At the same time. In the same room. In the middle of the day. It's amazing. Although, I'm sure it's because they are slowly coming down with the same pesky spring flu that hit me on my birthday. My 30th birthday.

Nonetheless, it's leaving me time to ponder the future. Our inevitable summer full of BBQ's and holidays and swimming suits. I'm excited. We'll be much more mobile that last summer. We'll be more fun. I'll be slightly more awake and slightly less fat so that whole swimsuit thing won't be completely lost on me. I'm thinking Water World & Slip 'N Slide and the sort.

We've been busy lately and it's wearing me out. Birthday parties (pictures coming soon!!), moving preparations, house-hunting, and just being here and now. It's exhausting. But someday soon it will be over...and we'll be sitting pretty. In the sun.

Full of It

I'm full of amazing, thoughtful, insightful observations lately. Like our approach to home buying. No, we have yet to find dream house 2.0. And yes, we are fast approach the closing date of dream house the first, but do not fret. All will work out.

But home shopping has stirred some issues. Issues that I thought were long in the past... but does anything really stay in the past? I think not. Somehow I forgot about all the moving I did as a kid. I pretended like it didn't impact me. I moved a lot. I probably lived in six different houses before high school and 10 different places before Derrick and I moved to our first real place together, this little Owens house. So I've been crazy about wanting a place that feels like "home," because this little home has been one of a very few number of times in my life where I felt really stable. And comfortable. And home. I forgot what it felt like to start over and I know that I hate it and I want more than anything for my kids not to start all over all the time like I did. Funny how one can forget so easily. And how these things will find you again. And again. And again.

Oh, and Derrick grew up in a Ranch-style home. And despises the Ranch to his fullest capability. Hmmm. Somehow my story is more interesting.