HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ELLA!

Today, our "baby" Ella is growing up. Ella has left the world of "Terrible 2-half" (Yes, we really taught her to say that when people asked her age), and she is now THREE. THREE! Holy cow! She can count to three! Heck, she can count to ten! She can tie her own shoes (in a very non-traditional wrapping/twisting type of way), send herself to her room (if she accidentally hurts you, she gets very upset, and sends herself to her room...moping all the way), and tell you just what you should be doing at every moment of the day(dancing, running, or playing "catches"). In fact, today she will tell you she is NOT three! She is stuck on her favorite age, of "Terrible-2-Half."

So, our tribute goes out to the cutest, funniest, wildest, most stubborn red-head on the planet:

ELLA

Extremely
Loud, and
Lovable,
Always.Here is a list of some of her favorites:

Favorite Movie: The Wizard of Oz (aka "A-widge-a-Bob" said in a sing-song voice over and over)
Favorite Home: Alaska ("Alak-sa"...try saying that one!)
Favorite Kisses: Butterfly Kisses ("Futter-fy Kisses")
Favorite Quote: "But I LOVE you!" (defending the right to torture her baby sister, or you...)
Favorite Complaint: "I don't want to go home!"
Favorite Food: Apple Bars (Breakfast Bars)
Favorite Drink: Chocolate Milk (oh, and she'll spot it if you don't add the chocolate)
Favorite Activity: Dancing
Favorite Song: Anything she makes up at the moment...
Favorite Hair-do: None at all...haven't you noticed?

Who knew a kid could drive you SOOOO crazy, make you angry, make you feel guilty, make you feel exasperated, and make you feel exhausted...?

And at the same time make you feel joyful, thrilled, astonished, giggly, excited to share the world, proud, and so meaningful?

If someone would have told me I'd love a kid this much, I never would have believed them.

There is nothing more amazing in this world than having a wonderful spouse, and being part of this extraordinary creation of life.

Thank you for the three craziest years of our lives, Ella!

We actually had twins...

Well, we were pulling up some old photos of our Ella in Polish Pottery just a few months after she was born, and suddenly, we realized...we have a problem. We didn't just have a new baby...we actually had a twin. Our twins just happen to be over 2 1/2 years apart in age. We were having a hard time figuring out which one was which in some of our photos.

So...you guess...which one is which in each row?

Ella is always on the left side, and Maiya is always on the right side. Just absurd how similar they look, huh?

Oh...and while I'm sharing these photos...check out the last one. This has been a favorite sleeping position for both Ella AND Maiya. Apparently, both of our baby girls have found this to be a comfortable way to sleep. Talk about a crick in the neck!!! I wonder if I (Alisa) favored this position as a baby, as well? Perhaps this is what stunted my growth? You can't sleep like this and turn out "normal"...can you?! But who wants to be normal?! :-)

Lybbert Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family tree charts - Family origin

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Couples Quiz

I got tagged for the couples quiz. Thanks to my sister, Lara, you're all going to have to bear through a quiz about none other than ME!

How long have you and your significant other been together?
We have been married for 5 years in May! I still can't help but think about an experience 4 years ago when Jared went with me to a "girl's night out" at a friend's house (there were boys there too, watching sports in the other room). Anyways, the friend made a comment about how we were still newlyweds, and in several years we'll want breaks from one another. My response was probably a bit too sarcastic, as I noted that in several years, WE'LL still like each other. Thankfully, I am happy to say that we love being with each other all the time! And thank goodness for that...it is a huge blessing, since we are together 24-7! :-)

Who eats more?
It's about even...which is sad, considering he is a good FOOT taller than me! Truthfully, he eats more than me when we're away from home, but we eat pretty similarly portioned meals at home!

Who said "I love you" first?
Jared says, "I'm pretty sure I did, didn't I?" I said, "Hmmm...I don't remember..." I guess it all happened so quickly, perhaps we said it at the same time?! No, probably Jared...

Who is taller?
"Who isn't taller than me?" (Well said, Lara)

Who sings better?
Me, although you'd be surprised to know that Jared breaks into song on his own...

Who is smarter?
We're both smart in different ways. Jared's the logical planner, and I'm the logical... hmmm... something else? In fact, we're each so "logical," that our logic doesn't always match, and then there's a nice battle. No one ever wins, either :-) Luckily, Jared has a better memory than me, because I claim that the babies sucked every last inch of memory out of me (although Jared would argue I didn't have much of a memory to start...it is VERY selective)!

Who does the laundry?
Jared. Whew! :-)

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
We actually switch sides every 6 months, when we move to and from Alaska. In fact, we've switched several times since we've been in Washington this winter. Before Maiya was born, Jared slept closest to the door (so that'd HE'D have to deal with Ella getting out of bed, since she was making a habit of sneaking out of her room in the middle of the night!). Now I sleep closer to the door, so I can get up and get Maiya easier. That doesn't mean that I usually wake up before him, though...I seem to no longer hear babies cries...so he has to nudge me...

Who pays the bills?
Jared pays all of the credit-card-type bills, and rents (more than we should have, with the biz included). I pay all of the business bills (vendors, etc). Neither one of us would want each other's jobs!

Who mows the lawn?
Hallelujah-we don't have a lawn! Well, not hallelujah that we DON'T have a lawn...just that we don't have to MOW one!

Who cooks dinner?
Me, me, me, me...unless you want breakfast burritos. Jared's very helpful in the kitchen, though!

Who is more stubborn?
Oh gee...that's a tough one. Let's just say we have each met our match!

Who is the first to admit when they're wrong?
We are both never wrong (see previous question).

Whose parents do you see the most?
Jared's parents are 2 hours away. :-) Mine are 2 days away! :-(

Who kissed who first?
Jared! The poor guy, I teased him... Now just ask who held each other's hand first...and there's a debate that will never end...

Who proposed?
Jared! He was so sweet and took me to a memorable/significant location. I, on the other hand, was a complete snot, and told him I wouldn't get out of the car, because I didn't have hiking shoes on :-) Poor guy, why did he have to end up with a feisty one like me?

Who is more sensitive?
Jared, Jared, Jared, Jared, Jared!

Who has more friends?
Me. But it's not about quantity...it's all about quality! Okay, so truthfully I have real quality friends... ;-)

Who has more siblings?
Jared has 3. I have 4...love 'em all!

Who wears the pants?
Hmmm...maybe you should refer back to the stubbornness question. I guess you should say that we are pretty equal "business partners" in life. I guess it bleeds over from our business...

So, I'm supposed to tag some more people, but I can't remember who has already done this quiz...hmm...here goes:

Morgan
Yasmine
Donald & Lisa
Cara