No More Excuses For Bad Driving :(

After driving around with expired plates for the past couple of months, we decided we had better bite the bullet and register our car in good old KY.  It was sad to part with our UT plates.  My first thought was, "Now I have no excuse for bad driving when I don't know where I am going!"  I always thought people were a little more forgiving when you have out of state plates.  Oh well.  What can you do!

  

Our snazzy new plates.  It's so weird to see them on our car!

Me trying to part with our old plates :(

Ella kept trying to put our UT plates back on our car.  Apparently she wasn't ready to part with them either.

A Day of Firsts

Well folks, yesterday was an exciting day full of firsts for Ella and I.  I had my first day back to school after taking a 21 month break!  After having Ella I decided that the Elementary Education program wasn't something that I wanted to graduate in, even though I am only about 3 semesters away from finishing.  So, I applied to the dental hygiene program at UofL, to the surprise of my family and friends, and had my first day of school on Monday!  Aside from being a bit of an outcast (people can't believe I am married and have a little girl and am only 23!) I think I am really going to like school :)  I definitely learned that I am a little rusty on my bio/chem (the other girls literally just finished all the pre-reqs, I haven't had a science class in, hmmmm, 3 1/2 years!), but I knew I was going to have to study a lot before I even applied to the program!  Anyway, wish me luck and here are just a couple pics. 

This is my little badge that I wear.  Ahhhh, so cute!

Ella and I on out first days of school.  (sorry, not so great of a picture)

Yes, that's right.  Ella had her first day of school also!  We were so grateful to have people offer to watch Ella for us from our awesome ward.  So, on Tuesdays and Thursdays she gets to spend at friends' houses.  But on MWF we found this awesome day care/preschool that we decided to put her in.  We call it school for her because it is very structured and they teach them tons including sign language (and they have security cameras in every room so you can go online at any time and see what your child is doing).  I was so nervous to drop her off, but Ella didn't even cry when we left.  She sat down at the little table and started eating her pancakes and applesauce, so adorable!  I was the one that was bawling as soon as I walked out of the room!  I had no idea it would be such an emotional day for me, I thought Ella was the one who would be crying.  Anyway, they give you this little sheet telling you what your child did all day.  I thought it was pretty cute so I decided to post it.  My favorite part was that they marked that Ella was cheerful.  It made me so happy!

A Cluster of Events

I had a bunch of pictures that I wanted to post so I decided to bunch them all into one big post.  First off is Brad's birthday pictures.  Brad turned 27 on July 31st.  We were able to go out to an early dinner while our wonderful friends, the Clowards, watched Ella.  Then we had a few friends over for some icecream cake...yummy!

Here I am trying to light the tealight we used for Brad's candle.  I just didn't have 27 candles lying around and didn't make it to the store to get some.  I think it worked out just fine although it took me a couple of tries before I got it lit....I'm not very good with matches!

Brad making a wish after he blew out the candle because he forgot to do it before.

Me, Brad and Ella.  Happy 27th old man! 

 

Next event is the release of Breaking Dawn, the 4th and final book of the twilight series.  My friend Heather let me borrow the first three and I got hooked just like everybody else.  I don't own any of the books but I really wanted to read the last one and I knew I needed to read it before school starts or else I wouldn't have any time.  We decided to go to the party at Borders (the bookstore just up the street) and wait in line at midnight for our copies.  Heather prepared ahead of time and got her name on the list before me.  They gave us wristbands with numbers on them.  Heather was number 117 in line...not to bad.  Since I waited until last minute (like always!) I was number 379!  Fortunately, they were having a raffle for the first 20 books to be sold.  I have never won anything, but I just happened to win the 7th place in line.  It was so funny!

Here I am showing off my #7 wristband while waiting in line.  I am such a dork!

Heather and I modeling our new books!

I knew that we needed to have one last hurray before Brad and I started school so we were so happy when the Clowards invited us to Holiday World.  Holiday World is in Santa Claus, Indiana which is about an hour away and is such a fun place!  It's a theme park with a few roller coasters and other rides as well as a giant water park.  We had a blast and stayed as long as we possibly could.  We were all so tired by the end of the day!  The kids loved it and were sooo good.  I couldn't believe it, no melt downs even though it was hot and muggy.  We for sure will be going every year!

Ella's first ride ever!  She loved riding on her little horsey and held on so good.  Here she is petting her new friend's mane.  

 

This is Tessa.  She is such a sweet girl!

And here is Tyler.  He is quite the daredevil!  He went on almost every ride that he was tall enough to go on and only needed a little talking in to.  Get ready Tyler...next year you can go on the roller coasters for sure!

This was Ella's second ride that she went on all by herself.  She was facing backwards and was not excited when she saw that I wasn't riding with her.  

This is how the ride went....Ella crying.  I know, we are such mean parents putting our little girl on a big scary ride, but don't be deceived.  She had no tears, she was just mad that I left her.  She stopped after a few turns!

This ride Ella and Tessa got to sit together and went much more smoothly.  She really liked it.  I can't believe my baby is old enough to ride on rides by herself!  They grow up so fast!!

The boys (Brad, Tyler, Dan) went on this ride together.  It goes up and drops you down a few times.  Tyler loved it.  He went on it 12 times.

Heather and I decided we would try it with Tyler too.  I was screaming like a baby!  It was only slightly embarrassing as it was a KIDS ride.  When I wasn't screaming I was laughing hysterically because the lady next to me kept saying, "I too scared, I too scared."  It was so funny.