H is for Horse

Since we were learning about the letter H, I decided to let Elli see some horses. When I called Shannon Stables and told them I was teaching Elli at home and we were learning about the letter h, she said to bring Elli over. She let Elli brush the horses hair, watch her clean the horses hooves, and told her about feeding them hay. Elli also got to pet a baby horse and then even ride one! What a fun day! We really enjoyed the horses.

Heather's Birthday

For Heather's birthday we went to Thai 9 for dinner. Yummy! Elli ran right into Gary's arms. We all had great food then headed to mom and dad's for presents and cake. Gary had an idea to wrap different sized cutting boards and then pretend we all got her one. She was trying to be thankful but we knew she wanted more:) Mom finally gave in and got the real presents. It was fun. Mom made cupcakes and we had ice cream. It was a great night celebrating Heather's birthday.

School/Cool

Elli is still enjoying school with me. We work each day on lots of things, one of which is rhyming. She said this morning that school is cool. Then she smiled and said she rhymed. Good job Elli. Brent and Elli are planting two rose bushes because we did G for g-g grow. She is excited to water and help these plants grow this summer. She told me that they also need sunshine, but God would give them that!

Rainbrella

Elli went to Toys-R-Us to use her birthday coupon. (I thought it a good idea to save it for a little while so she could get something new away from birthday time.) She walked around picking lots of things out. Then, she saw this "rainbrella" and decided that is what she wanted. She has played with it everyday. Thankfully it actually rained this week so she could stand under it. (She is wearing a beautiful dress yes, but she does everyday:)

Strawberry Picking and Jelly Making

We love the time to pick strawberries. Elli did such a good job this year. Mom and Heather came with us as well. We picked a ton of strawberries and made lots of jelly. Over 65 jars! It was a great day and we had a lot of fun together.

Elli enjoyed eating the strawberries. I told her not to eat too many because we needed to buy them first. Her reply was, "Mommy, this is not Kroger." Goodness.

Happy Graduation Devin

Happy High School graduation Devin. We are very proud of you. It was great fun being there with you in this celebration. Elli thoroughly enjoyed herself as well, whooping and hollering for all names announced, especially yours! She also enjoyed the dessert and staying up until 11:30! Can't wait until you come to Cedarville and live so close to us!

We forgot the baby

We were putting away some of Elli's toys that she has outgrown into the attic and she wanted to play with them one last time. She then said, "Mommy, we forgot the baby." I said we didn't have a baby but she said she wanted a real one. I asked her where she wanted the real one and she told me "in your tummy." I replied that she would need to ask Jesus for that and she immediately said okay and bowed her little head. Here is her prayer,"Thank you Jesus for today. I really want a baby in my mommy's tummy. Thank you God." She looked up at me and said, "God said yes." So all of you who read this, pray for a baby in mommy's tummy. How fun to let Elli see a HUGE answer to her sweet little prayer!

Summer School with Elli

Istarted "preschool" with Elli at home for this summer. We have had a great time so far. She is painting an apple for the letter A. We then made applesauce to go along with the letter A where she learned about heat and what it does to water and apples. She especially liked putting in the cinnamon and sugar, then eating it:) We have practiced kicking, catching, and throwing the ball to go along with the letter B, and looked up pictures of cats on the computer to go along with the letter C. She has also practiced her letters, numbers, coloring, cutting, glueing, painting, and other things. So far so good.

Memorial Day at Norris Lake

Brent and Matt right before the jump into the lake. Thank goodness the water was high.

Elli went to sit on this bench away from all of us because it was close to some little girls. Uncle Matt decided to go sit with her so she wouldn't be by herself.

While we were swimming in the lake, these ducks flew right over to see if we had food. Elli was ready to share her peanut buuter crackers with them, with daddy's help that is.

Ice cream trips are a big part of our time at the lake. Elli asks for it all the time. We made two trips, in the same day:) How yummy.

Elli is definately crying because she doesn't like the "little" boats. I was torn between making her ride on it and see that it is not scary, and just leaving her alone. Obviously, I made her ride. She did calm down but doesn't want to ride on it again. We'll see.

We ran out of eggs and needed them to make brownies and breakfast. So, when we filled up the boats we asked if we could buy some eggs. They sold them to us from the kitchen. Brent drew the short straw and had to ride with them all the way back to Gary's condo. None of them broke.

I know Elli doesn't look happy, but she really is. She loved sitting with Leah and did most of the time while riding on the boat.

This is HEather and I riding towards the boat for a picture. We had fun playing on the jet skis and we didn't even knock each other into the water this time.

Puggles

Puggles are the youngest group in Awana. They are 2-3 year olds. I have worked with them all year and have enjoyed it though, most of them are girls and very independent at that! They are sweet and have been a blessing to me. The last night of Awana, they sang their song on stage, except they didn't sing. The leaders sang while the girls who were brave enough to get on stage just stood there. Elli mouthed all the words, but made no sound. So sweet though.

I love my girl

I got Elli a new toothbrush simply because she needed it. After brushing her teeth with it, she looked at me and said, "Uh oh mommy. You got the wrong one. This isn't for kids, it's for people." I asked why it wasn't for kids and her reply was, "It's a good one."

We started summer school at home because I wanted something productive to do over the summer. (The days can get long:) The first day was yesterday and Elli said to me before we started, "Do I call you Mrs. Ferguson?" I told her she could and we proceeded to have a wonderful 40 minutes filled with lots of fun and learning.

Elli is at an age now where she really enjoys playing with other kids. We went to the park with some friends yesterday and she played with a little girl most of the time. Last night we met some new neighbors with two girls ages 4 and 5 and Elli played with them for 2 hours. This morning she asked me if we were going to find more friends to play with.

I really love my little girl. She has the cutest things to say, very funny reasoning, and the best higs and kisses ever!

Mother's Day and Post Mother's Day

I never get bored of my baby girl playing at Young's. She loves it there and asks to go often. Here she is waving to her "friends" while driving the tractor. (There were no friends:)

I had to run to save the baby goat, before I showed her how to hug gently. She said in a very labored voice, "I'm just trying to hug this baby goat." She loves animals and wants to hold, pet, or hug any that she comes upon.

My sister Heather had a wonderful Mother's Day lunch for all of us at her house. It was a beautiful day and we got some pictures. This is a great picture of the wonderful mother and grandmothers I have. Also, of the legacy they are raising.

Being a mom is a great blessing in my life. I am reminded that I have been given a miracle in Elli and want her to know and love the Lord with all her heart. I am praying for wisdom and guidance in order to teach Elli the right ways and to watch her grow in the Lord. Thank you God for the gift of Elli. Thank you for her joy, smile, and her sweet hugs and kisses.

One story to share from my precious gift. We were walking on the beach, just the two of us holding hands when she says, "Mommy, I do not want to go in the water by myself. I will get lost and lost and then I will get died. Then I will be in heaven with Jesus and he will need to make a new Elli for you and daddy because you will be sad." I told Elli God can't make a new Elli because she is the only one. I was amazed that she understood she would be in heaven and we would miss her. I really do love this girl.

This was Elli at 5:15 in the morning the day we left Florida to go home. She said, "Mommy I am still sleeping. It is not time to wake up." Look how small she is on this huge king sized bed. How did she get so turned around? Look at her little babies sleeping next to her. She is so like me in that area. Also, no pillow. Much like me as well:) (Just to clarify, I do not still sleep with baby dolls. Elli does things like me though and I didn't even teach her how. Strange. How do those kinds of things get passed on?)

Last Day of vacation

I want to start with a couple funny stories. One story is that she was crying while walking on the beach because she wanted to go to the pool. I asked her to stop but she kept whining. Later, we went back out to the beach to walk and Elli said, "I am sorry I cried. I love you, mommy. We are best friends again."
While playing at the pool one afternoon, there were some older people all sitting around and talking. (They lived there.) Elli "took" to one of the older gentlemen and asked him over and over to watch her do this and that. They loved her and obliged her requests. When we left, she waved bye and said, "See you around."
Elli went under the water and got it in her eyes. When she was done wiping all the water off her face, she looked at Brent and said, "well for crying out loud."

Another park for Elli to play at after dinner. She loved finding a new park everyday. They were all different.

She looks so long/tall here to me. She loved jumping in and would do it constantly. She would also come up with a different story as to why she was jumping. For instance, she was getting away from the lions, it was time to go to school, she needed to ride the horses, etc...She doesn't know yet that if you cross your legs while laying out, you'll get some crazy tan lines:)

We buried Elli's legs in the sand, then she did it to us, again and again. Fun times on the beach. She told me as we were walking back to the condo that she "loved this." I asked what she loved and she said, "just walking on the beach."

Okay, we used all the tickets, then decided we all wanted to race the go-karts. Elli giggled the whole time. She was pretending to drive the car, wheel going crazy! When I came up beside them, she laughed so hard and acted like she was going to drive away steering like crazy and smiling the whole time. We have truly had a blast this vacation.

Elli chose to use her last two tickets to ride the bumper boats with daddy. They had a lot of fun. Elli even got me wet as I was trying to get their picture:)

Elli loved riding the train. She got to sit up front and ring the bell the whole time. She said she was tired at the end of this ride:)

We got a "thumbs up" at the end of the airplane ride. Brent and I couldn't get over how cute she was being so independent. She looks so sweet with those pigtails too. Brent said while watching her ride this, "I am really going to miss these sweet days."

We went once again to the miniature amusement park. She of couse went to the horse ride first. She enjoyed this so much, but here is that little serious face she wears! Only a hint of a smile.

This is Elli putting on her sunscreen. Cute!

One of Elli's new adventures. She hangs onto the bar, slides under it, floats, then goes over to the other side. She has lots of new tricks in the pool this time. She has really gained confidence.

Golf Day on vacation

Sliding with mommy on the playground at Fudpuckers. What a great idea for a restaraunt to have this play area while we wait.

Dressed up and ready for a walk down the road to Fudpuckers for dinner. Elli had a great time there. We picked flowers on the way, she saw some alligators, she played on their playground, and even wrote her name on the wall! Brent and I enjoyed it too and had a great dinner.

Elli getting a tan with her 50SPF. She was acting like the ladies she was watching at the pool.

Brent golfed a beautiful course today. He had views of the bay, gorgeous weather, and a great round on a difficult course. He is loving vacation too!