I admire so many of you who keep blogs so regularly. I really wish that I wasn't such a "all or nothing" person. But, after 5 months or so, I will attempt at an update. I think it will come in parts, and I can't guarantee there will be pictures right at first! But hopefully eventually...
So first of all May is birthday month in this family. All three kids have their birthdays within a ten day time span. Let me tell you this makes life busy around here! Not to mention school getting out, the summer garden being planted. Finding the yard again as it creeps out from behind the melting snow... making that frozen yard beautiful again. etc. etc. But it's all good!
I'll start with an update on Ella. Ella my now 5 year old. This year Ella has blossomed as a dancer. She is very coordinated, has a solid rhythm, and is very creative in making up her own moves. Maybe a little too creative for her parents! ha ha. Truly she is a natural. She has the most amazing dance teacher. While her studio is 15 min away, her teacher lives 3 blocks away, is right in our ward, and her little daughter is one of Ella's good friends as well. She is soooooo good with kids. Ella loves her to pieces! I get thrilled when it's time for her bi-annual recitals. They are one of the cutest things I ever see as a Mommy. (Yes, I will post pictures and video.) I love showering her with attention when it's over. The rose after the finale is a must. I love to see her beam. I was thinking today how grown up she's become just in these last 18 months or so since we've moved into our house. She was only 3 1/2, after all, then... which is so hard to imagine.
Ella is also an extremely talented caregiver, nurturer. I seriously don't know what I would do without her around. Quincey is always attended too, doted over, played with, and lately even challenged (with her gross motor skills) when Ella is around. I used to think what a blessing it was that she was so willing to be a helper to me. But now I see that she isn't just trying to help, she honestly considers Quincey to be one of her best little friends. There are many days when she comes home from preschool to be informed by me that Quincey recently went down for a nap. Of which news Ella is always very disappointed. She will exclaim "But I haven't even gotten to play with her yet, Mom!" She makes Quincey laugh and she loves giving her trails (she calls them trailers sometimes accidentally) of Cheerios for her to walk around the couches and eat.
Quincey isn't the only recipient of Ella's love. Every day, Tessa gets a "puppy house" made for her. It's usually right after I've picked up the house of course :) that she decides to gather all kinds of items to build her just the right comfy, fun, perfect little house. She uses blankets (oh no, now I have more wash to do), the metal quilt holder (please don't scrape the walls) her ropes, bones, and toys. Sometimes she even gets her food bowl brought to her like a queen (Ella, her food stays on the tile floor, please) and sometimes all kinds of other creative, (i never would of thought of that) sort of things. OF course at times, Tessa is grumpy and just doesn't want to lie exactly were Ella wants her to and I have to remind her that it doesn't mean that Tessa doesn't appreciate it or love her... etc etc. In addition to her puppy homes, Tessa gets more loves and kisses (no not on the mouth, mom and dad. Just on her head or cheek. Yes, we've worked on that and it's as good as we can get) than the rest of us combined.
Ella is not only sweet but hilarious. Her preschool teacher (who is another amazing teacher who we love) always tells me how much she cracks up at her. Ella is very good at quoting movies including the body language, sound of the voice, etc. She is especially good at quoting Doofensmirtz, from Phineas and Ferb.
One last thing... Ella is quite an independent at getting herself ready. She picks out her outfits, likes to do her own hair, choose her own shoes, etc. I have to remind myself often that this is a normal stage for preschoolers. Otherwise, it would probably cause more problems between the two of us. (Often her outfits do not match, her shoes are completely appropriate for a different season, and... no i don't think copying Muffy's hairdo from Arthur is a fantastic idea either. But... hey it's what she wants right?
Ella is excited to start kindergarten this fall. She will most likely be in a class which teaches half the day in Spanish, and half the day in English. This is to immerse them at a young age in another language, which I think is a great idea. I'm excited for her next year!
That sums up our Ella!
I will try to post some of her dance pictures now...
