New Month, new start

So far, 2012 has knocked us down and out of our routine.

We seem to be drawn to every icky sickness that comes our way.

But I am confident that we've paid our dues and will be immune to anything else.

I can't believe we are 2/3 through the school year!

Lillianna has grown so much this year and continues to make me so proud each and every day.

She humbles me with her patience, her kindness, and generosity.

My Ellenie has grown up so much since her birthday.

She makes me melt with her funny faces, her sweet hugs, and precious imagination.

This is what most of March looked like...but with my girls, each day is a blessing.

She fits right in

The Winter blahs

So the rest of January hit us like a hammer.

It was three weeks of constant sick days.

But we made the most of it...

Like on those crazy, warm days when we could run around the yard in short sleeves.

Or take strolls around the block with Baby Belle.

Rides too.

And then rush to bundle up to enjoy the "big" snow.

 We had fun decorating our Gingerbread House...finally.

Maybe it's more exciting in January than December.

We celebrated L's 100th day of Kindergarten.

And dressed as a Princess for the wedding of letter Q to letter U.

Once we all felt better,

we got back to business of normal life...

homework, playing, and making lip balm.

I really do have a terrible memory.

These pictures are just for me.

For me to remember pajama days.

Fore me to remember what giggles look like.

For me to remember all the little things that make them happy.

For me to remember how much they enjoy playing together.

For me to remember it all.

It's going by so fast.

Her Highness turns 4

Ellenie wanted a party fit for a Princess so that's just what we had.

The Princess and her castle.

Lady Ella decorating the castle.

So happy Lady Daisy made the trip from her village as well.

Lady Lillianna with Sir Bentley preparing for the ball.

The royalty is busy with all their royal duties.

Lots of Royal games were played...including Pass the Poison Apple

and Sleeping Beauty Says.

Lady Leah tries out some of her prizes.

Sir Connor can't believe how successful he's been at all the games.

Snow Vivien White helped serve the Royal Lunch.

Princess Ellenie blew out the candles as she was seranaded with song.

A delicious dessert

Before the carriages arrived to go home, everyone took a turn opening a pinata.

After a regally exhausting day, we celebrated our Princess as a family at our favorite Japanese restaurant and a very mini, and very blue cake.

All of it was super duper fun.

My baby

Dear Ellenie,

You are four years old now.

I don't know that I've ever seen a child more excited to have a birthday and be a year older.

You have talked about it since last summer.

I kept teasing you that I wasn't going to let you turn four, that I'd keep you three forever.

You did not think that was funny.

You spent this last week experiencing everything as a four year old...

"This is the first time I'll go to school being four," or "I've never worn this dress since I've been four."

You also told me several times that you no longer did certain things because,

"I am really big now.  I am not a baby at all any more."

And as much as I REALLY hate to admit it...you are right.

You are not a baby any more and you are set on reminding me every minute.

But I've got news for you.

You will ALWAYS be my baby.

You couldn't be any cuter right now.  

You love to make faces, talk in funny voices, and make us laugh.

I really love your "dead pan" humor - 

 how can keep such a straight face when you are being so funny?

You've got great comedic timing and with your love of make-up and dress-up,

 I'm seeing stage time in your future.

Speaking of the future,

I asked you yesterday what you thought you might be someday and you replied, "a pig."

So I clarified and asked if there was anything you might want to do as a job someday.

You said, "I want to me a mommy, a painter, a vet.  I also want to ride a king elephant, have a painting in a store, and be a person who cuts off hair."

I know you will do all of these things and so much more.

Since August, you and I have been bosom buddies.

Lillianna is at school and it's me and you, side by side, until she gets home.

I have treasured this time together.

We color and paint, clean up and start laundry, take walks and cuddle up.

You make your own peanut butter and jelly sandwich every single day for lunch

 and accompany it with "snail ears" (puffed popcorn) and yogurt.

We also run lots of errands together and no matter where we go,

someone comments on how beautiful you are

You also turn a lot of heads when you talk.  People love to hear you talk.

It's both what you say and how you say it.

Your voice is so precious - its like a tiny pixie voice.  I said tiny, not quiet.

And boy can you use it.

  You talk, ask questions, sing, ask more questions, narrate what we're doing, sing, and ask more questions.  All before we get out of the driveway.

My lovey, my Awesome Possum, my Junkyard Judy, my Ellenie bo Bellenie,

you bring such joy to our family.

You are sweet, curious, and kind.

You are often whiny and sometimes frustrated.

You love notebooks and pens, you love music, and you love the color blue.

You eat green beans and edamame but no other vegetables.

When you go to bed, you have to have 5 giant blankets spread on your bed,

 the fan on, and the closet doors shut.

You love books, play-doh, and painting.

You love your sister more than I could have ever hoped.

I can tell at four years old that you are going to make my heart soar with pride

 and race with fear with all that you are going to do someday.

You are the most amazing tiny package of confidence, personality, spirit and love.

I love you so much.

Please don't grow up too fast, my baby.

love,

Momma

Back from Christmas (blog) Vacation

The month of December was very full.

Full of gifts and parties, food and decorations.

More importantly, it was full of friends and family, full of laughter and excitement,

full of traditions new and old.

It was full of wonderful moments that I hope will always be precious memories.

Here's a few:

+ Attending the lighting ceremony of the hometown Christmas tree.
+ Making and baking ornaments with friends
+ Listening to "Do You Hear What I Hear?" 1,000 times in the car.

+ As 3rd place winner of the Fire Prevention Poster Contest, 

Lillianna rode on TOP of the ladder fire truck with none other than...SANTA!

(Gotta love a small town!)

+Posing with Santa at the elementary school's Christmas carnival.

+ Then telling him everything on their lists.

+Attempted Christmas card pictures one afternoon...

 after nap, after some tears, after a few shoves off the chair.

+ Made cookies for neighbors and delivered them as a family.

+Decided hot chocolate makes almost everything better.

+ Cheered on Ellenie and classmates during her first Christmas concert for a community benefit.

+ Last year, she made the front page of the paper for crying hystercially during this same concert.

This year, she was the first one out and the most proud child up there.

Which made me the most proud Momma.

+ Celebrated Christmas at E's preschool with some festive attire,

+ Loved seeing Miss E's official list to Santa that she recited to her teacher.

(Make-up, "Real" baby hamster, "Real" puppy)

I love the picture on the left so much.  She was so excited to see Santa again. 

This was her probably 9th sighting but he never lost his appeal....especially since she got to talk to him again.

  This time, I took the opportunity to ask Santa if he allowed "real" pets on his sleigh.

Guess what?!  His answer was NO.

  "It's too cold on my sleigh and if you want a real pet, Mom and Dad will have to help me." 

Talk about passing the buck! ha!

+ Enjoyed getting dressed up for some holiday parties.

+ Didn't enjoy managing the girls as they crashed from party sugar highs.

+  Loved reading our Advent devotionals each night

+ Opening Christmas cards each day...one of my FAVORITE things in the world!

+Couldn't help but join in and sing with Lillianna and her classmates during their Christmas concert.

+ Wrapped presents and then realized the girls were old enough to help!  waa hoo!

+ Loved teaching and explaining the girls the words to "Christmas is Coming" by the Muppets.

+ Making cards and treats with the girls for their wonderful teachers.

+ Headed down to Alabama to have Christmas with family and took in Zoo lights.

+ Spotted the cutest two headed giraffe ever!

+This is the first year the girls have watched (and loved) the Grinch movie.

+ Think they liked listening to the song/story in the car even more.  Ellenie can recite huge chunks of it.

+ Driving past all the "Bravo" houses in our neighborhood on the way home.

(Someone said "Bravo" to a house decked out in lights and it stuck as the term for any well decorated house)

+ Played with precious cousins.

+ Then played Dirty Santa with the adults in Brad's fam - a real hoot!

+ Loved seeing them all together!

+ Bathing and holidng our new daughter for the first time. :)

+ Keeping her quiet, content, and most of all hidden on Christmas Eve.

+ Taking mental pictures of the girls holding candles and singing Silent Night at church.

+ Watching Christmas Vacation and getting ready for Santa.

+ Having my sweet Mom stay with us.

+Eating too much peppermint bark all month

+Eating too much candy cane Oreos all month

+Eating too much all month

+  Feeling excited nervousness before the girls ran out to see their gifts.

+ Loving how much they loved every single detail of Christmas.

+ Moment on the left:  Remebering how I too always wanted to know what my sisters got more than knowing what I got.  Guess the grass is ALWAYS greener.
+  Moment on the right:  Following the girls around the house as they followed string around the house that led them to their new REAL pet...Jingle BELLE Parsons

+ Watching their complete disbelief that a puppy was in that box.

+  Ellenie asking us a hundred questions to make sure this puppy thing was really real,

 "Is she going to spend the night?  Will she still be here in the morning?  Is she really our dog?  How is she so little?  Will be be here tomorrow?"

+ Grateful for our many, many, undeserved blessings

+ Enjoying one of the most memorable Christmas's ever!