A letter to Ellie| Turing 4

Ellie, How can it be....you are turning 4. I look back at photos and videos of you and I miss you. I miss the 18 month old Ellie and the 2 year old Ellie. But you are constantly growing and changing and I LOVE the little lady you are becoming. You continue to be friendly and loving. Waving at strangers from the car window and asking people to share their snacks at the park. You are fearless one moment and timid the next. You have a memory that amazes me and you have recently taken an interest in singing. You are slowly becoming more independent at home, your imagination is taking off. I think there will always be moment when I still see you as my baby, and you still resemble one when you come walking into the family room after a nap with rosy cheeks and damp nappy hair. Even though I get tired of if sometimes I hope you never stop wanting to cuddle on the couch and holding my hand. Thank you for teaching me how to be a mom, thank you for loving me, being concerned for me and always making me laugh. I love you my little one. Happy Birthday.

February

How is it that every month seems busy these days. Life is just busier with two kids. In true Utah spring fashion the weather was sporadic. I can't complain though, we went to the park, the zoo, bike rides, and even broke out the flip flops. 

We took Ellie bowling for the first time. It was great until Lucy has a blow out. She is 6 months old, I the blow outs were over. 

We've started doing chores on Saturday morning. Ellie cleans her room, makes her bed, put away the library of books that have accumulated on her bed and anything else she is capable of. 

We put our annual zoo pass to good use. I bought a zoo pass for myself for Christmas and I'm excited to go as much as I want all year. We went and saw more animals than we ever have before. It was a really fun day. Ellie favorite part is always the merry go round.

Jared and I always get the bug to do a project during the winter since we have been deprived of yard work all season long. Jared has been taking photos for three cabinet companies, and comes home with all the photos of beautiful brand new kitchens. We have BIG ideas for this house, knocking down walls, expanding bathrooms, etc. That's not in the budget right now so we started painting the cabinets with chalk paint. We really like it so far. It a nice little face lift that really brightens up our kitchen. 

We wrapped up the month with a Good Dinosaur movie night. Ellie has been anticipating Good Dinosaur coming out on video. We had cousins over and converted the downstairs to a theater. It may have been the best idea we ever had. The girls had pop corn and candy and stayed downstairs the entire time. I think we will forgo the theater and just wait for movies to come out and do the theater thing in the basement. 

Next up Ellie's Birthday!

Ms. Ellie

I have been so surprised by how much Ellie has been changing lately. She is so observant, learning new things everyday. She still follows me everywhere I go. Constantly asking me what I'm doing, what I'm thinking, what am I looking at.......sigh. By the end of the day sometimes I ask her to stop asking questions. Most of the time they are questions she already knows the answer to. I'm really trying to encourage her to play independently, she has been doing better in the last few weeks. Her imagination is growing and It is so fun to hear her making scenarios and acting them out with her toys.

She started Sunbeams. She seems to be liking it, she comes home with new information every Sunday. Aparantly she raised her hand and volunteered to say the prayer in sharing time the last two Sundays!! We were told it was the cutest little prayer in her cute little voice. We were surprised to hear this since it's a little bit of a fight to get her to say the prayer at home. We are sure proud of our little girl.

She came home one Sunday and said she learned about Jesus getting baptized. I asked her who baptized him and she said "George the baptists" Close enough :)

other funny stuff she says lately:

"the sun gives me heart burn"
"I'm making ketchup apple pie"
"I'm a little bit crabby today" (I wonder were she heard that one)

She can retell the Good Dinosaur story from her book on tape.

She has been singing a lot. Jungle Bells, days of the week song, songs from tv shows, or just making them up.

She remembers all the information from her ranger rick magazines and finishes my sentences when we reread them.

Can finish her dinosaur puzzles all by herself and most of the United States.

She has mastered writing her name

Getting more and more creative with her drawing. (Person, Hippo, Dinosaur, Jelly fish, beaver, house)

She has loved doing the dishes lately. Hope that doesn't change.

Doing Yoga

Sent Valentines to cousins and even got some in return.