C is for Cardboard

So, if you like cool, unique things made by a cool and unique person you'll want to check out this website:

C is for Cardboard

My friend and follow blogger, Marta, has started her own shop selling some of her cool creations.  I think they are awesome.  She does these all by hand which makes it even more cool.  I am going to buy, I am just trying to decide what I want first.  I'll be sure to post what I get after I get it...

Happy browsing!

Happy Valentines Day!!

Happy Valentines Day to everyone!!
This post is a special post for Erik who is out of town today, this Valentines Day.  I wanted Erik to see this on the blog while he was out of town today.  We miss him terribly today but he left a special surprise (it was even a surprise to me) for Elaina and I.  He sent me a clue via text while I was asleep last night so we could go on a mini scavenger hunt for a small Valentines Day gift.  It was such a sweet, thoughtful idea and Elaina and I had fun searching for it.   Take a look

Disclaimer - the video on this is pretty bad.... I was trying to help her and take video.  Also, I thought I was videoing the middle part and found out I wasn't so I skip straight to her finding the gift... oops.  So, for those of you who watch, hang in there, it's a bumpy ride :)  one of these days I will figure out to make two separate videos into one rather then having to post 2 different clips....sigh!

Here is a shot of her with the gifts I got her for Valentines Day

With her gift from Erik.  He has gotten her a stuffed animal every year for Valentines Day.  This makes #5

And, this pic is from church last week... she wanted to wear this red dress. She was getting into the Valentines Day spirit early.  I just thought she looked so cute that I snapped this shot before we left.  BTW, she has been wearing NOTHING but dresses with tights for the past 4 weeks.  I can't get her to wear pants for anything.  It's just a phase she is going through but it's strange because I could not get her to wear tights for anything.  Now, she has decided that she loves them....

I travel to San Diego tomorrow to see Erik and visit the city.  I am excited about the getaway.  Stay tuned for pics of our adventure there :)

She's a Swimmer!!!!

We put Elaina in some swimming lessons at the Y for a few weeks in January.  My mom helped out in getting her there twice a week since it was in the mid afternoon and I couldn't get her there.  Thanks Mom/Granny!!!  At first, I wasn't sure that these lessons were going to get her to where she needs to be because they were keeping a floaty thing on her back the whole time.  BUT, my mom and I took her on our own a few times in between lessons and one of those days she just started swimming.  It was crazy and exciting.  She just looked at me and said "mommy, you don't have to hold me" and I let her go towards the wall and away she went.  Turns out the floaty thing helped with the concept of getting your bottom up and your body flat.  We still have to get her to where she can lift her head to breath and then put in back in but that will just take practice. 

We have been taking her as often as we can so she can get as much practice during the winter months as she can and be ready for summer pool time.  She is old enough now to go on the camping trip with Granny and Poppy Gale this summer so that is the reason we have been working on it so hard.  They will have 8 grandkids to look after so it will help to have her swimming or at least able to get to the side on her own.

I took this video of her swimming today at our visit to the Y because Erik has not been able to see her do it.  Sooooooooooo, enough rambling.....here is video of our little swimmer.  Enjoy! :)