Telephone

Watching the daddy duck chilling in the grass. Mommy says "he's catching some zzzzzzs". Ellie hears, "he's got baby disease". 

Dancing queens

Thanks to some totally Faboo aunts uncles and cousins Molly and Ellie are finally able to have the dream of dancing fulfilled. They have so much fun at hip hop. Ellie has a great time expressing herself during the freestyle and really has worked at the fundamental moves.    Molly has been able to learn each new routine. She pays such close attn to the teacher and practices at home. But in ballet she is receiving one on one instruction and complete happiness follows:

 Thank you all who pitched in to make this possible!  Love you all! 

School prep

Ellie is not a fan of clothing as she is likely to tell you. So seeing this challenge in advance we are trying to prepare her for school which is a mere two weeks away. In an effort to get her used to and comfortable in her school uniform I encouraged her with a donut. Not Entenmann. Not Publix. Dunkin donuts-the king of donuts. 

Her idea for wearing her dress:

That didn't cut it. Here is our final compromise. After ten minutes sitting and watching Molly and me enjoy our delightful treats, thus is as far as she could go: 

But she did share her "zebra" donut with Kitty. So tender. Love this child. 

Make believe

Ellie's creative play is fierce. She asks to be the "bad girl" and not the police and creates new games like "dead mermaid". Ka-Chop has a run for its money!

They DO listen

Ellie: I'm a mother

Molly:  Ellie, when you're a mother you'll be 31.

Ellie:  ok. I'm 31 and I'm the mother. 

Yes. I sing!!

Catching UP... kind of anyway

Well, I have been tardy!   The girls are now 5 and 7! Yes, just this week.  I missed a whole year of blogging moments!! So, let me rack my brain as far back as it will go and begin with recent Ellie-isms which include the following:

In response to my question about why she was saying hateful things lately, "Well, Mama. they pop in my head and they puke out my mouth".  Can't argue with that, it's happened to me!  So, we decided to pray for self-control.

After initiating a new rewards based chore system, she finally came up with a contribution of a chore for herself.  "Mama, I didn't make a poopers yesterday or the day before that.  That's what you can reward me for.  Making a pooper!".

Ellie has a wonderful love of music. (Much like her grandpa!). Like the song says, she learned to dance before walking and sing before talking. It's just in her. So I knew the CD Boombox would be a great hit. What I hadn't considered was the past year under the influence of two incredibly wonderful Spanish speaking ladies as preK4 Teachers.  So I was a bit surprised to walk into her room to find her jamming to the spanish station on the radio!

Molly has her sweetness coming through the written word these days.  First Grade has brought with it a wonderful new way of expressing herself. I am seeing glimpses of myself in her so much.  She writes some days about how she loves me, her dad, her sister... and on others, she writes me a note, slips it under the door and runs off.  Those generally discuss her frustration with me... at least we're communicating! Praying that always continues, no matter the vessel used.  Her passion and sensitivity are unique to her.  She is a nurturing teacher type and loves to help those around her, any age.  I love that compassion about her.

Ellie had Kindergarten round up recently where she had the exciting opportunity to meet some teachers, see the classrooms and learn about some of the things she'll be doing.  Her response to the Kindergarten Teacher's three questions based on the excitement she must be feeling to be entering kindergarten were all met with her Stone Cold Face.  No emotion, just held the stare of her teacher.  what a handful.

Molly had a less wonderful year this year.  While First Grade improved writing and introduced more advanced math skills, it was through a rather cranky teacher who yelled frequently at the class. she was brought to exasperation when it happened one day that the teacher actually yelled at her!  She had come to terms with the class being yelled at, but was appalled that she would be singled out.  Maybe mortified is a better word.  this teacher brought my daughter to tears on more than one occasion. We are all glad to be going into 2nd grade.

Well, we have family here for a visit today so I'll do more catching up later.  I'm gonna figure out how to blog from my phone... love that thing!

Love you all!