These are the faces....

... of three little girls who are in need of some birthday party'n detox, loving on their great-Nanny.

... of one sweet birthday girl doing the "cheezy grin" face, and one adoring little sister looking on.
...of the littlest munchkin who just didn't understand what all the noise was about.

We celebrated Ella's birthday with cupcakes at school and family over for dinner tonight. Tomorrow we celebrate with a few friends after school, and after that all 5 of us will be in need of a little break from all the partying.

Tonight I'm feeling very blessed indeed!!

Kindergarten... the first

To say Ella is loving Kindergarten thus far would be a gross understatement! She walked in proudly on the first day, sat down, and got right to work. I was shocked that there were parents entering the classroom crying themselves.... I thought they would at least keep it together until they got out the door?!? Because she was so eager to get started and so darn happy, I didn't even tear up at all (very unlike my own kindergarten experience, right mom?).

The girls have missed Ella during the days, but for the most part they play incredibly well together when she isn't here. There seems to be more equality and sharing of the roll of "boss" between the three of them. I've heard Maggie say many times over the last several days, "I miss my Ella... when is big sissy coming home?"

After the first day Ella's report was that kindergarten was grand. When she climbed into the car and began chattering excitedly about all she had done and her new friends and her wonderful teacher, well, that was when I realized she had matured 5 year's worth in those 8 hours I wasn't with her... and then I had to try hard not to cry!

In the days since the first, she hasn't been quite as chatty but has asked if 1- I thought she might ever get to spend the night at her teachers' house, and 2- if she might call to ask her teacher about something, and 3- mom why didn't you tell me kindergarten was going to be so great?

I am incredibly excited that she is having such a great time! She is paving the way for Maggie, Kate, and Sarah too. Sarah has asked about a million times today if she will get to start kindergarten when she is only 4... seems she is ready for a little of the fun that big sis is having.

Tomorrow I've planned to volunteer in Ella's classroom. I can't wait to see her in action!

Back In May

I'm going to clean out my brain and my photo files right here on my neglected little blog over the next couple of days. Hopefully this will help me to get back to updating regularly because so much is happening and I don't want to miss this stuff! In no certain order:

Meet my Dad's dog Daisy Mae. She became his in May...

...on the same day that Ella graduated from preschool.

During the entire hour plus of graduation silly Sarah insisted on wearing her own personally devised clip on earrings. The hairbows attached to her earlobes looked terribly uncomfortable and she verified that they were in fact hurting her. Her words, "These things are killing my ears, but aren't they just the cutest?!?" Where do they learn this stuff??

Pastries with the Parents

This morning I had the pleasure of attending a special little breakfast with Ella at her preschool. While I was getting ready I had my usual crew of commentators taking note of every single detail. First it was the earrings.... "ooh, mama, are you gonna wear THOSE earrings??" "They are the prettiest!" Then I selected a cute pair of heels, and I kid you not all 3 of my helpers literally squealed with delight! They are such girly girls!!

After school Ella and I spent the afternoon on a special date. We had lunch at her favorite spot, did some grocery shopping, and then came home and finished up Valentine's cards and iced our heart cakes for Youth tonight. It really was a wonderful day spent with one of my favorite people!

Big Sis

Ella is quite a little socialite these days. She is thrilled when she is off playing with friends or spending time with her cousins. The only time the smiles turn upside down is when it is time for her to come back home to reality, and fortunately once she is welcomed home by all her adoring fans sisters the frowns are long gone.

In the car on the way home from a recent play date we had the following conversation:

Ella: "Mom, I'm angry with you for making me come home....... I'm mad!!"

Me: "I'm sorry to hear that, but it was time."

Ella: "I'm just mad, no I'm angry!! Hey mom, which is more... angry or mad??"

Me: "I have no idea, but we can look it up in the dictionary when we get home."

Ella: "Will you remind me, cause I need to know if I'm mad or angry?"

Of course I failed to remind her because I truly didn't believe we would be able to determine with the dictionary whether she was angry or mad, but I think she is pretty stinking funny.... even when she's had it with me!

Ella and Her Daddy

While the little girls and I were in Memphis, Ella and her dad had quite a large time. She stayed behind in order to not miss preschool class picture day, and because I wasn't sure I could manage 3 in the airport much less 4.

They did some local sight seeing and hiking and even sneaked in a quick visit with Scott's grandparents who were themselves traveling around our part of the state.

The did a little baking... cookies mostly, I think.

... and by her choice Ella slept in a tent in the living room the entire time.

She was glad for the girls and I to be back home, but I know she had a fabulous time having Daddy all to herself!

Four Silly Sisters On Weddings

Scott, Ella, and I had a night away back in October when we attended the wedding of one of Scott's buddies from Iraq. Ella was fascinated with the idea of weddings, parties, receptions.... remember all the talk about brides and brooms?!?

Ella and I really didn't know anyone there at the wedding except each other and Scott, but fortunately the groom had several cute little nieces who were excited to have another new friend to dance with.

Ella enjoyed the wedding ceremony. She soaked it all in and asked a bunch of questions. She has finally learned to whisper, thank goodness! She also loved dancing with her daddy.... but her favorite part was the wedding cake at the reception.

Scott had a good time hanging out with some of the guys he spent the last year with in Iraq, and I just enjoyed having a relatively quiet evening out with two of my favorite people in the world!

All the wedding talk leading up to our trip brought about lots of pretend play and dress up weddings. One afternoon when I arrived at Kay's house to pick up the girls I found them dressed as bride and bridesmaids. They quickly handed me a jacket, slacks, and black dress shoes so I could pwretend the broom.

Even still, over a month later they ask to play weddings and discuss it a bunch. We've even gotten out mine and Scott's wedding album and poured through it hundreds of times. As you can imagine one of the biggest questions they have is about the flower girl. At our family Thanksgiving gathering I pointed out the fact that my now grown cousin Callie was the little flower girl in our wedding. Sarah looked deep into my eyes and said, "Mom, if you'll let me wear your really, really, real veil and your really, really, real wedding dress when I get married I'll let you be MY flower girl"! So sweet... I'm sure it gives their Daddy heart palpitations to think about all the weddings in our future!!

To the Moon and Back and Then Some

Here in our house our favorite phrase for affection is, "I love you to the moon and back." If you ask any of the girls how much I love them they will quickly tell you "Mama loves me to the moon and back." I often overhear them telling each other that same thing.

So tonight, after a very lengthy bedtime conversation about our upcoming trip to the wedding, when Ella said to me, "Mom, do you know how much I love you?", I said, "to the moon and back?" She said, "Nope, we learned at school that a circle has no end, so that's how much I love you.... and please tell Daddy that's how much I love him from now on too."

Little Girl Excitement

Scott and I have plans to take Ella with us to a wedding in the middle of October. She is absolutely thrilled. The wedding will be the first one she's been to (that she remembers, sorry Kim and Dusty), but more than that she's looking forward to a trip alone with both Mom and Dad.

Her only disappointment with our plans thus far came when she realized we are not planning to travel there via airplane or "great big boat". I'm now trying to convince her of the merits of a simple road trip.... guess she was spoiled on her last Mom, Dad, and Ella outing since we spent the week in Hawaii!

We've discussed both our trip and weddings in general a ridiculous amount over the last few days, and just the other night we had a conversation that went like this:

Ella: "Mom, do you think the beautiful bride will be wearing white for the wedding?"
MB: "I guess so honey, but we'll just have to wait and see."
Ella: "Well, do you suppose the broom will wear white.... ooooh, will he cover his face with one of those thing-ys too?!?"
MB: giggling at her calling the groom a broom "No, the groom will most likely not be dressed in white and he'll definitely not have a veil over his face."


As it turns out the groom is a Naval officer, so he very well may be dressed in white. I don't think Ella has ever seen her Daddy in his handsome dress blues, but I am looking forward to being one of the two ladies on his arm that evening... every bit as excited as our sweet little Ella!

Wordless Wednesday: 1st Day of Pre-K

Big sis headed out for her first day of pre-K today all smiles. I walked her in and then had a hard time getting her attention for a goodbye. At pick up I was informed that her new teacher is the greatest... almost as good as Ms. Kelli. This is such a contrast to early last year! Enjoy more Wordless Wednesday posts at 5 Minutes for Mom.

Growing Things

We've talked a good bit around here over the past year about things we eat that are natural vs. man made because of the sensitivity that Ella and Sarah have to red dye number 40. Ella likes to excuse herself from eating strawberries (she doesn't like fruit at all these days, remember?) because they are red, but the other girls are all very quick to tell her that God makes the strawberries grow out of the ground. "They are natwally wred... we can eat 'em," they'll say.

After a lunch time conversation over a hamburger with a sesame seed bun the other day, I'm not so sure our lessons are really sinking in. As soon as the burgers were delivered I noticed Ella carefully removing the seeds from her bun and placing them in a napkin. When I asked if there was something wrong she declared, "I'm just gonna take these home and see if I can grow us some hamburgers, okay?"

If Only I Had a Magic Wand...

This afternoon I found myself in the kitchen having a leisurely lunch with Ella. Maggie, Kate, and Sarah had pooped out much earlier than usual today after a very early lunch, so Ella and I had a nice relaxing lunch at our normal hour while they were all sleeping.

While we were sitting there I realized that her self selected plate didn't hold a lot of nutritional value, again. She claims to not like any vegetables or fruits these days. I don't know how we managed to get to this point, but I spend a good bit of time pondering how to best get her to eat better. So while I had the opportunity I decided to put her to work on the problem. I said, "Ella, we're going to have to work together to come up with a way to get more fruits and vegetables into you." She thought for a moment and then asked, "Mom, do you have a wand?" Thinking of the 47 wands that the girls have as part of their princess attire and wondering what in the world she was getting at, I replied, "yes".

At that point her eyes sparkled and she said, "You mean you have your own wand?!?"

I told her that I was just thinking of hers and her sisters' wands when I answered yes.

She looked a little disappointed when she declared, "Mom, I think it's going to take a REAL magic wand to get me to eat more fruits and vegetables."

Just Gotta Dance

We had a "make-up" family movie night tonight because Scott and I had a date last night. The girls love family movie night and weren't about to let us miss it.

They picked a Strawberry Shortcake movie full of music for our feature. As it was nearing the end, while lying in her Daddy's arms on the couch, Ella looked over and said, "There's too much music... (long pause)... I've just gotta dance!"

All four of the girls watched the last 5 minutes of the movie shakin' their booties, and Scott and I giggled and watched them instead!

I guess we parents love family movie night too. Even though we had to watch Strawberry Shortcake and friends for part of the time, those last few minutes made it all worthwhile .

Hangin' with Dad

It's safe to say that Ella was the child most affected by Scott being away last year. She has been on an emotional roller coaster since the days leading up to his coming home. She was such a brave, wonderful, helpful, big-sis while he was gone..... and now, I'm happy to report that she is being rewarded with lots of extra Daddy time. Their favorite spot is the ice cream parlor.

She's also helped Scott take Maggie, Kate, and Sarah on several little adventures outside near our house, and I've certainly enjoyed having a few minutes to myself every now and then during the daylight hours.

Kate, Maggie, and Sarah are enjoying mine and Scott's ability to divide up and spend time with only one or two kids at a time as well. They all love to be heard, and sometimes it is just plain difficult when 3 of your sisters are talking at the same time as you, so it's nice to be one on one or two on one for a change.

So yeah, we're still getting used to having Dad home, and we're loving every minute of it!

Hooray!

Three cheers for our Daddy...

Do you know where he'll be around noon tomorrow?

HOME WITH US!!

And we couldn't be happier!

Reunion photos soon...

Best Fireworks Ever

Saturday night the girls, Mimi, and I met John and Mike on Lake Burton for the fireworks show.
We were a bit early so we spent a little time letting the girls have a shot at driving the boat. They all promptly drove us in circles.... it was too funny because they each thought they were doing the best boat driving job ever!

There was plenty of beautiful scenery, tons of giggling, and just an overall good time. I would have never imagined that seeing fireworks from the middle of a lake with thousands of other boats all around would be the best fireworks show ever, but it absolutely was!




It might have been due to the amazing fireworks display itself, or perhaps it was the nearly full moon shining on the calm lake below, but most likely it was the best fireworks display every because my heart was already so full of gratitude to God that Scott is safe and on his way home!

*** Scott is at Ft. Dix until the end of this week, but he's due home to us by the weekend!