Our Book Obsession

We haven't been up to much over the past few weeks.  We are just relaxing and enjoying our last few weeks in Omaha.  Ellie and I have gone to the zoo and children's museum weekly with friends. We are playing outside as much as this cold spring weather will permit.  We are just trying to live it up, spending time with the good friends we will soon be leaving (sob, sob).  

Anyhoo, Ellie and I recenlty got a library card (I know...pathetic...it took us almost 3 years) we both love to go and pick out new books and dvd's.  We've been going at least once a week.  I'd say we are a little obsessed (:  In the last few months she has really started to love books and I love our reading time together!  I thought I'd share some of Ellie's favorite books (this is for you Collin!)  As a disclosure I love beautiful pictures and books that are fun to read out loud (rhyming).

I Like Myself, by Karen Beaumont

Seriously the cutest book with a great message and fun bright pictures.  She LOVES it!

The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear, by Audrey and Don Wood

This was my favorite as a kid! Cute fun story and beautiful funny pictures.

The Napping House, by Audrey and Don Wood

Ellie loves to point to the different animals.  I like that it's repetative too!

King Bidgoods  in the Bathtub, by Audrey and Don Wood 

Pretty much anything by them has amazing pictures and a clever story.

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, Patty Lovell

Sweet story, fun pictures, and lovable character!

Edward the Emu, by Sheena Knowles (sequel Edwina the Emu is very cute too) 

I can read this over and over.  So cute!

The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson

Very fun story!

What the Lady Bug Heard, by Julia Donaldson (she has alot of good books)

Fun story and I like all the animal sounds.

Where is Babies Belly Botton, Karen Katz

This is good for babies too.  Ellie loves to find the different body parts.

This Little Chick, by John Lawrence

Simple story with gorgeous pictures and fun animal sounds.

I tried to limit it to 10 for you.  I hope you like them!

Happy Easter!

This past Easter weekend we headed down Kansas City to spend time with family.  The weather was perfect!  When we got in town we went directly to the Farmstead but it was closed until April 1st. Bummer! I was so excited to see the baby animals.  We spent the afternoon at the botanical gardens instead.

This is the first time Ellie has walked in grass barefoot...sad I know! Since she started walking in October it's just been way too cold to do this.  I loved her reaction.

Climbing a tree with dad.

Coloring Easter eggs, Matt reading one of Ellie's Easter gifts to her, finding her basket.

The gang.

Ellie's first Easter egg hunt.  She knew just what to do!

I don't have any pictures of my favorite memory from this trip.  On Saturday we went to the town where Zach and Lauren live.  We went to the cute optical shop where Lauren works, then to an old books exhibit at the university that Zach attends.  Afterwards we ate amazing Greek food and walked around the little shops.  My favorite shops include the British store, a chocolate shop (the lavender caramels were amazing), taste testing at the olive oil and vinegar shop (my favorite was the mushroom or lime olive oil, and the pomegranate ginger balsamic), a fun toy store, and ice cream at Syla's and Maddy's.

The chocolates were so beautiful I couldn't get over it! And they taste even better!

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