New Beds!

Now that little Ella is getting to be to big for her current sleeping arrangements, she will take up residence in the crib. That, in turn, rquires Livi to vacate the crib. So we decided to get bunk beds for the girls. John C. came over for the day and helped me put it together. The girls love it, and Olivia even stayed in the bed without getting out. This was, at first, a worry. It seems that she felt walled in enough to stay. Here are some pictures of them getting ready to sleep.

So I am bad at updating...

Ummm...well, a few things have happened since we last spoke. Let's begin, shall we?

We moved into a new house, had a third child, added a nephew, a sister-in-law, and a brother-in-law to the family. I got my Master's of Education, run a school football league, workout every morning with P90X and John, and am the K-2 technology facilitator for Paxtonia Elementary. Katie works at the Hershey Med Center AND takes care of the 3 girls full time. Maddie turned 3 and started Preschool, Olivia is almost 2 and Ella is now eating rice cereal. Wow! Are you kidding me?!?

Let me lay some pictures on you cuz... I am going to put more on here, but these are a few to get you started.

My 3 year old playing the pink axe.

Maddie and her Aunt, Emily. Em married a fine young man named David Ingram. David is in Med School out in Arizona, where he is from. The time difference makes it hard to Skype with our little laddies, but it creates quieter phone calls to Katie. ;-)

Steven "Trace" Mahan, my sister's youngling. Trace is only a few months older than Ella, but I think Bethany and Steve give him growing pills...hmmmm He's so cute. I have to hold him often to help ease my "no boys zone" blues.

Ella Lynn Deitrick - June 22, 2010

It could be said that Maddie loves her a lot...maybe a bit too much.

Daddy in love again.


The sweet smell of victory!

The new house. We are home.

Lifestyles of the rich and infamous

This summer we went on a trip with Kate's family to Georgia. We got to stay at a huge house that sat right behind a golf course. It was beautiful, but I think that Maddie's favorite part was taking bike rides. Figures. . . The house and the newly acquired Minivan.

View at the beach club.

View of the beach club from the ocean.
Maddie playing in one of the fountains.Waiting for ice cream.

"Beep beep" singing into a microphone that Maddie got for her birthday.

Maddie surrounded by the essentials.

Livi's face says it all. . .

Deitrick out.

Maddie's Birthday Extravaganza

The festivities started off with a trip to Baltimore with our friends the Colts.

Here is a picture of Maddie and Declan at the dolphin show in the Aquarium.A dolphin in the show.

I think it was saying, "so long, and thanks for all the fish."

But I can't be sure.

Then my parents and Bethany and Steve came over to have a cake making party for Maddie. Mom and Kate made homemade icing and we all tried our hand at decorating. I think Maddie might have tried both hands, however.

Maddie had a hard time with the candles. . .but not so with the presents.

This was one of the first presents that she opened,

stickers from Aunt Bethany, and she was very enthusiastic about them.

Bethany and Steve look on approvingly.

Happy Birthday #2, Madison!

End of line.

Let me catch thee up

Wow, has it been a long time since last we blogged! Our little family has done quite a lot, and I am sure you are more than eager to hear about it. Right?

For starters, Maddie brushed up on her ninja skills.

Then, we had our good friends from college, Marci and Ryan come for a weekend with their son, Wyatt.

Then, Maddie learned to walk in heels.

Then, Janet came to visit us, but ended up in the ER for a few days.

:(

(Don't worry though, she is feeling better now.)

Later, a few of my friends came down from New England to hang out with the girls and play a little frolf for our birthdays. (JFK and his wife, Kate on top. Brian Ford below.)

. . . and just the other day, I put together a swing set for the girls. They both love it, and Maddie can't get enough.

So, there you go. Feel caught up?

Deitrick, signing off.

Enter the First

Today was a very fun day because Kate's sister Emily is here visiting, and we have been doing some interesting things. We enjoy having her here, and she is loving holding her nieces.

This morning, we gave Olivia her first bath. Not yet a "dunk in the water and splash the bubbles" bath, but a "Daddy holds her while Mommy wipes her off with a cloth" bath.
Then, later on, we took Madison to get her first haircut. She did well, but was not all that convinced that what was happening was a good thing.

In the end, she looks good, and feels like a movie star.




End of Line.

It's all who you know

Already, Olivia has been in some great company. Here are a few of her companions.


Grandma Myers. This would not be the last time that week she would hold her, and unfortunately not the earliest in the morning either. Thanks, Mom for helping us out so much.

Cousin Kristen. The ladies came up all the way from Maryland to visit with us.

Uncle Benjamin. My brother fortunately got to see her in the hospital, because he was down from New York over Christmas.

Grandma Deitrick. My mom is gonna need a bigger camera now that she has two granddaugthers to photograph and put up on Facebook. ;)

Great Grandmother Knecht, "Gagu." Kate's Grandparents drove up from Maryland as well, and were greeted by the cold and complements on Gagu's green sweater.

Aunt Janet. Janet was so kind and generous with her time and energy taking care of the house and Madison while we were at the hospital. Maddie had a blast and a half, and even got an Elmo out of the deal. Thanks, J.

The best big sister of all. This is her new favorite thing to do. Mommy is ecstatic because Maddie gives us kisses too.

End of Line.