The Good, the Bad, and Not Ugly

The Good:

We have lots to be thankful for at our house.  We all are relatively healthy, (Josh and Elliott have had a small lingering cough and cold) the weather is getting more Spring-like, which means playing outside, bike rides, and the time change, AND Josh and I are headed to Mexico in 3 weeks from today!  We are very excited!  Elliott gets to spend 8 days with Grandma, which they will both love, since Grandma has been gone for a week visiting family in Houston.  We missed her! 

The Bad:

Sounds like Josh is going to get Furloughed.  This has to do with the Sequestration Congress has put in place (or whatever, Google it).  We are not very happy about it, as is most of the country, but unfortunately, there is not much we can do about it.  What this means for us, is Josh has to give up 22 paid days.  Department of Defense has had budget cuts this year, so by every employee giving up 22 paid days, the Government saves some Billions amount of dollars (again, Google it).  They are proposing every employee work a 4 day work week, and take a 20% pay cut for 5 months (April - Sept).  This is do-able, but we are taking a cut in pay, which is never desirable. :)  I have asked my company, if I can come back to a 5 day work week, to supplement until things get back to normal.  Could the timing be any worse?.  Why couldn't we have done this in the winter, when there is nothing to do, and no money to be spent spending precious time outdoors?? Alas, we will be fine, and I am sure this will just be a little bump in our road.

The Not Ugly:

How can I not include a few pics of this little girl??  She is pretty dang cute, and brings a lot of joy to our house.  Most of the time. :)  She is growing up, and is talking A TON.  She learns new things everyday, and loves to go to Preschool with Miss Annette.  She loves to play "Checkup" with her dolls and mom and dad.  She especially likes the Stethoscope, which she calls her "Heart".  Future Dr. Quincy in the making, maybe?

Aquarium 2013

We decided to get out a few weeks ago, and take Elliott to see the "fishies" at the Aquarium.  She really liked the idea of it, but was a little apprehensive when we got there.  She didn't like to get too close to the glass.  In fact, she wanted whomever (mom, dad, grandma) was standing the farthest away from the glass to hold her.  She now talks about the "fishies" like it was the greatest experience of her life, though.

Happy 2nd Birthday Elliott!

January 9, 2013 was Elliott's 2nd Birthday!  I can't believe she is two!  If you ask, sometimes she will say, I'm 2, but only if you are lucky. :)  She can't do two fingers on one hand yet, so we just use both pointer fingers to show 2.  We are working on it.

Wednesday was her birthday, and was also a Grandma day, so Elliott got to spend her real birthday with Grandma again! I let her open one gift before we left, and it was an Elmo Potty Seat.  She had to take it in the car with us, she was so thrilled.  In fact, she mostly thought it was a hat, until we put it on the potty. 

Once she got home from Grandma's we had a quick dinner and McKinley, Elliott's BFF came by for a visit.  Her and Elliott had to try out Elliott's new slide and basketball hoop.  They both loved it!  Dad had to leave for YM, so E and I hung out and played with her new dollhouse.


Sunday was the Quincy/Noorda Birthday celebration and we had so much fun!  Grandma Chris knows Elliott so well.  She got her a Buzz and Woody, and Elliott hasn't stopped carrying them around since.  She LOVES them!  Good job Grandma!

Josh took Elliott to the Dr on Friday for her 2 year check up.  She is 23 pounds and is in the 60% in height.  Still trending well, so no worries.  When the Dr checked her ears, he noticed they were infected.  What??  She hasn't acted sick at all!  A runny nose here and there, but no fever.  So, we
are on the pink antibiotics, hoping it clears up soon. 

It has been so cold and snowy here!  Thursday night we got close to 14 inches of snow!  We couldn't believe it!  Since it has been cold and miserable, and I hate it! :) 

Elliott's "Titchen", 4 Years and Josh, the Tile Slayer

The Quincy's had a wonderful Christmas.  Especially Elliott.  Santa brought her a Kitchen and all sorts of food.  He was hoping this would help with her eating habits.  He is so smart. 

Grandma and Grandpa Quincy and Jon came up bright and early Christmas morning to witness the chaos.  It was so fun to have them!  I love being so close to family!  Elliott was very wary about all the pictures and hoopla, until she saw her "Titchen".  She was wide awake and totally fine with the world after that.  She was so much fun this year.  She loved everything.  I could have given her dirty socks, and she would have loved it. 

She is growing so big!  She is learning so quickly as well.  Everyday she comes up with something new, and keeps Josh and I laughing.  She really enjoys coloring, and takes it very seriously.  She loves Toy Story and to play on moms phone.  She knows which apps she likes, and she can switch between them.  Crazy.

Josh and I celebrated our 4th Wedding Anniversary.  It is crazy we have been married 4 years, and had Elliott for almost half our married life.  I love Josh so much, and am so thankful for all he does for me and our family.

We have been keeping him very busy.  He is finishing the bathroom in the basement and has been laying tile.  I am so thankful to have a husband who is so handy.  He also does a great job, even though he doesn't think so. We also got a new bed, well, let me clarify, a new mattress.  Our old landlord, back in the SLC days, is the owner of Serta Mattress.  He hooked us up with a King Mattress, but was out of box springs.  So, we have been camped out on the floor until we can go pick up our new bed.  Elliott loves it, and thinks its a great place to hang out.  In the covers and all!