Night away

Last night our family spent the night in Cincinnati. We first stopped in Loveland, OH and toured a castle (Chateau LaRoche) which was built by hand. It is beautiful! We're so glad we took a route a tiny bit out of the way to see it!
After that we went to Newport, KY to the aquarium. We had a great time! Elsie loved looking out at the fish and of course Annabelle was full of excitement and scurrying around. Then we checked in our hotel, Garfield Suites Hotel in Cincinnati. We found out our room was upgraded from a one bedroom with kitchen, living room and balcony to a 2 bedroom with all of those! YES! It was really nice. Outdated decor and appliances for sure. But VERY clean and right in downtown! We had dinner in town and enjoyed our evening there. Elsie had a juice high and ran like a wild woman around the room. The girl giggled more than she ever has!! She was tricking Annabelle and cracking us all up. She was the entertainment for the most part!
Today we walked around the city a bit. We tried to go to the observation deck on Carew Tower but it was closed. We checked out of the hotel and went to the Duke Energy Children's Museum. It is AWESOME. There is so much to do. Great places to build, GREAT places to pretend, climb, play with different materials and machines, etc. So fun! After that we headed home and stopped by Jeffersonville Outlet mall on the way home. We're exhausted and happy to be home, but it was a great trip.
Annabelle says "the woods" in the children's museum was the best part of the trip. I was very surprised at how well she slept in her own bedroom in the hotel with no night light or anything. We didn't have a single problem with that. She's growing up!
Great to get away for a night....also great to come back home!

There are no words...

So there really are none...none to describe what happened this morning. Elsie has diaper rash. I was letting her go diaperless to air that thing out! I went into the dining room to pick some things up and came back out to see her making a terrible face and spitting. I then saw her fingers were covered in something. I got closer to determine what it was. Poop. Everywhere, poop. I took her straight to the tub and washed her, drained the tub, and washed her again. Oh I can't imagine.....
Speaking of the diaper rash.. I told Annabelle Elsie's butt was raw. She got serious, looked up at me, and said "you mean it needs cooked?" :) What a sweet little thing!
They're both growing like crazy. Elsie officially walks all over. She constantly stops, waves and tells cars passing "BYE!" She also waves at people in public and tells them bye. All seem to just love it! She has one new tooth (finally) and another on the verge of breaking through.
Annabelle is glad to be back to school after spring break. She wrote her 2nd cousin (who is 15) a letter today. It said "Dear Colleen, I got a pet fish. I love spring. Annabelle" :D hehe how sweeeeeet?!?! She also drew a picture of the both of them rollerskating with helmets and elbow pads!
I promise I'm attempting to write more here. The purpose of it was that it's easier to keep up with, yet I still don't keep up with it.
Another sweet, sweet story that warmed my heart... We walked to the post office today. When we got there I was buying the stamps so I put Elsie down and she stood below me. There was a poster hanging with cat and dog stamps on it. Annabelle bent down and kept saying "Look Elsie there's a dog. Look another dog! And a cat!" Elsie loved it. She smiled and touched the poster. Then she just turned, looked right at Annabelle and brushed her cheek softly. It was such a sweet moment. I'm sure she was just thinking "wow my sister is so nice. I love her!" Annabelle thought so too because she giggled and said "I love you Elsie." I guess it was just one of those moments that a mother loves!!
They make everyday something special that's for sure.