Ellingson Family

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Workin' It Wednesday: Planning/prepping For Your Summer Vacation

I'm joining Shay and Erika for Workin' It Wednesday! The topic for today is planning/prepping for your summer vacation. We have three camping trips already planned for this summer, so I'm going to discuss how we plan and prepare to go CAMPING!

I like camping and being outdoors, but I'm pretty sure Michael could live outdoors. We've gone on several camping trips over the years and we've almost always slept in a tent. Tenting can be fun, but it can also be uncomfortable, hot, cold, or sometimes even wet. I like to say that camping is fun... until it's not. And I think a lot of that has to do with the tent situation. Well this year we booked a cabin for two of our trips and will hopefully for the third as well. (It's still too early to book that weekend.) I am so excited about having a cabin!! It will be amazing to have a comfortable place for Emma to nap and for all of us be able to retreat to and to sleep at night.

Planning and prepping to go camping is all about a good checklist. I asked some friends we've camped with for the last several summers for their must haves, so that was helpful and fun. Here is everything we plan to bring camping this summer. Keep in mind we are planning on staying in a cabin. I'm sure I haven't thought of everything, so feel free to comment with anything I've missed.

CAMPING PACKING CHECKLIST

Cabin

bedsheets

sleeping bags

sleeping pads

pillows

fan

broom/dust pan

Fun

bikes/bike trailer

bean bag boards

fishing poles/tackle box/bait/license

coloring books/crayons

toys

books/Bible

frisbees

Beach

swimsuits

sunscreen

cover ups

water shoes

life jackets

sunglasses

beach towels

floaties

sand buckets and shovels

swim diapers

Food/cooking

cooler and ice

water bottles

s'mores supplies and roasting forks

omelets in a bag

butter

salt/pepper

muffins

protein bars

hotdogs/buns

hamburgers/buns

ketchup/mustard/pickles/cheese slices

chips

watermelon

strawberries/grapes

bananas/apples

cucumber/carrots

ranch/hummus

trail mix

(meal plan)

coffee percolator

camp stove/mini propane bottles

pan

flipper

grilling utensils

foil

plates/bowls/cups/utensils

napkins

cutting board

knife

can opener

Norwex envirocloths

dish soap/Norwex spirisponge

washing bin

Norwex envirotowel

Personal care

Norwex baby body cloths/body cloths

tweezers/nail clippers

dry shampoo

shower shoes

towels

shampoo/conditioner

body wash

facewash

shaver

toothbrush/toothpaste

floss

brush

lotion

lip balm

glasses/contacts

deodorant

cotton swabs

pony tail holders

small mirror

vitamins

diapers

wipes

Clothes

jeans/pants

shorts

tank tops

t-shirts

long sleeve t-shirts

sweatshirts

socks

underwear

pajamas

tennis shoes

sandals

baseball hats/sun hats

Misc.

first aid kit

bug repellent

toilet paper

camping chairs

camera/video camera/memory cards/chargers/tripod

cell phones/charger

headphones

extra batteries

baggies

grocery bags

garbage bags

duct tape

scissors

lighters/matches

ferrocerium rod

firewood

flashlights

lanterns

550 cord/clothespins

tarp

compass

solar/hand crank radio with weather band

small backpack

hatchet

bushcraft knife

Swiss Army knife

Gerber multi-tool

sharpening stone

state park map

So that's all. 😉 Clearly we are not going for completely roughing it. I'm sure the van will be busting at the seams and feel like we're moving, but it will be worth it! Did I miss anything? Comment below!

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Show and Tell Tuesday: Memory Lane

I'm joining Andrea today for Show and Tell Tuesday. Today we're taking a trip down memory lane to talk about our favorite childhood shows, toys, movies, etc.

I'll start with movies. All I Want for Christmas was a favorite growing up and I still watch it every Christmas at least once. It just makes me happy.

I also loved the old classic Christmas movies. Christmas Comes But Once a Year was my very favorite though.

Cinderella has always been my favorite Disney movie. I loved the book, too and still have the copy from when I was little.

I also remember loving a movie called Serendipity. My mom got me a copy on VHS for Christmas several years ago as a throwback. We still have a VHS player in our closet to play such gems.

I adored every movie with the dreamy Jonathan Taylor Thomas in it, haha! I'm pretty sure at one point I had every line to Man of the House memorized.

The very first thing I thought of when I saw the topic for today was Pretty, Pretty Princess. It's a jewelry dress up game and I loved it!

I loved playing dress up and was always putting on little performances for everyone.

I loved my little nurse kit!! This picture is especially sweet to me since I ended up becoming a nurse.

I had lots and lots of barbies!

Does anyone remember Quints? I loved taking care of those sweet little babes.

I loved Lisa Frank everything!

I'm holding Lil Miss Makeup in this picture and remember adoring her.

Also, I collected trolls... I've often thought back on what a weird thing that was to collect. It's funny how trolls have now made a comeback with the movie Trolls. "I've got this feeling inside my bones..."

Aw! Polly Pocket!

I also loved those velvet coloring posters.

As far as shows go, I loved watching TGIF. You know, shows like Full House, Family Matters, and Step by Step. But my absolute favorite show from this time was Boy Meets World.

Gilmore Girls is another favorite of all time! Dreams came true when Netflix released A Year in the Life reboot episodes last fall. Boy Meets World and Gilmore Girls are still two of my all time favorites, only rivaled by Parenthood and most recently This is Us.

I've always loved to read. These were some of my favorites growing up. I had to stop myself because I kept thinking of more!

I still remember how silly Amelia Bedelia cut up a calendar when her recipe called for dates. LOL

I still have these last two and love reading them to my kids.

Such a fun trip down memory lane!

Happy birthday to my big brother Billy! Love you! Looking forward to celebrating with you tonight! :)

Monday, May 1, 2017

Emma's 1st Birthday

Our sweet baby girl Emma Joy turned ONE on April 18th! Michael took the day off work and we had the best day celebrating our girl. It has been such a precious year and Emma has been such a joyful addition to our family. I can't help but think back to one year ago when we welcomed this sweet girl into our family.

Emma really is such a JOY!!! She is constantly smiling, waving and saying "hi" to just about everyone she sees. "Hi" was her first word at seven months and she waves like she's pageant queen on a parade float, turning her wrist back and forth. Emma crawls quickly to wherever she wants to explore or get into something. She loves playing with Clara and Davey. Emma stands and even dances a little. She walks along furniture and if she's holding onto someone's hands or her walker. Emma's favorite toy are these pull string wind up butterflies that are actually meant for the bathtub. She loves bath time and being outside. Besides "hi," she can also say "buh-bye," "mama," "dada" (but more often it's "hi da"), and she just started saying "baby" the night before her birthday. Emma has lots of lovey nicknames including joyful, sunshine, blessing, newborn, smoochie, smooch ball, eminemy, mama's baby, and missy lou. She is adored by all of us and we lover her so much! Thank you Lord for our little sunshine!

We waited until Emma was one to give her strawberries and egg whites so Daddy made her scrambled eggs and cut up strawberries the morning of her birthday.