Ballet Recital, June 18

This is Elli before the rehearsal on June 17.
Her class all lined up before their practice time on stage.
The beginning of the routine. "Feed the Birds."
Love this sweet girl. Gets me a little choked up.
Elli and Lily.
While backstage getting ready for the recital, one of the big girls offered to put some glitter in her hair. She was so excited.
Pre-performance pictures. Not many jitters for these girls.
So serious about her arabesque.
After the show. She was proud of her job well done. What a fun day.
Brent went out and got flowers for Elli before the show. She loves flowers!

For Elli's rehearsal, Kyle, Meg, Seth, Leah, Wesley, Luka, Heather, Mom, and I were able to watch her. She was so excited and was wondering the whole way there who could come. It was just Brent and I for the recital, but she was still so excited to perform and do her best. She is a sweet little ballerina and takes it very seriously. I really do love her.

Vacation Bible School, The Big Apple Adventure!

Thank you to all the crew leaders, but especially Brenda and Olivia for the Yellow Taxis #4. Elli had a good week, so did I.
Elli got mad at me one night because the big girls came off the stage to see the little ones and I had picked Elli up already. She said, "Mommy, I really wanted to see those cabin girls!" They weren't called cabin girls this year but Elli called them that! So, the next night, we stuck around a little!
The girls gathered around Lindsey's lap for a picture. She was one of two girls on stage singing and teaching the songs. The little ones want to be just like those girls!
Borrowing Heather's megaphone from game time. Elli told me she was a helper at game time and should have gotten a thank you card. Oh brother!
Look how fast she is. Well, I know you cannot see how fast she is by a picture, but she is getting fast!
Singing "Big Apple Adventure." At home, Elli pretends to teach others these songs and motions. She is really good at it.
As Travis called this, "The mini Mosh!" The preschoolers would gather in front of the stage to sing and dance. So fun for them.
Really singing those songs!

I taught preschool Bible story this year, Heather and Gary did games. (mom helped one night when Gary couldn't be there!) Fun week a=of teaching these kids about Jesus. We collected over $3000 to buy beds for kids in Haiti. It made quite an impact on Elli!

Heather's birthday celebration

Heather and grandma.
Cute poses:)
When you have a birthday party with aa lot of little ones, this is where you all end up. On the floor playing:)
If it looks like Elli is getting tired she probably is. She had a lot of candles to put on the cake for Heather:)
Elli loves to help blow out the candles!
The boys!

God's gifts

As we were reading the story of David playing the harp to calm King Saul, I was explaining that playing the harp was David's gift from God. That He gave him that talent. I then asked Elli what she thought she was good at. She said, "ballet, plie's, and twirls." I then said I thought she was saying she was good at dancing. She agreed then I told her that she is good at that because God chose to make her good at it, and that we all have different gifts. I then told her things I thought she was good at. I said, "Elli, mommy thinks you are good at making others feel loved and encouraged." I gave a couple examples of how she helps kids in her classes (church, preschool, ballet) when they are sad, she likes to give gifts (later that day she took a granola bar to the man measuring our roof!), and that she gives the best hugs. I explained that I thought God also gave her the gift of encouragement. She then said, "Mommy, you are making me sad by talking about sweet things." I pray God continues to make His gifts known to Elli as she grows into the woman God made her to be.

Toys for a neat freak!

She told me I need a close up.
We made this mask outside today on her playset. She wanted to look like an Indian as she practiced the monkey bars. Now she is dancing like a pigeon with the mask on. Love it!

Today as I was attempting to clean house, I noticed that there were toys everywhere! I have a princess book on my nightstand, there is a pinwheel in my bathroom, a baby doll is sleeping in the guest bed, a dog toy has made its home in the laundry room, there are tub toys in both tubs, the formal sitting room is home to Dora and ALL Elli's instruments, the formal dining room has Fergi's cage and toys, there is a bat and ball under my bar stools, a horse has its stable room by the back door, many toys are all over the living room floor as well as about 10 balloons, and I have a frog sitting next to me on the kitchen table as I type. I decided to leave it all where I found it. I love being a mom to the most fun, imaginative, sweet, ball of energy in the world. Thank you God!

Elli visits the Ice Cream Truck!!!! June 8, 2011

Enjoying her oreo avalanche!
Collecting her change and her treat. She was so very excited for this!
She counted out $4 from her bank, the store section, and used it to buy her $3.50 ice cream! She did a great job paying for her treat.
What to pick. She stood here for a little while, then her eyes lit up when she saw the oreos!

Elli has asked to get ice cream from the ice cream truck several times. (Her first few years of life it was the music and dancing truck, but now she knows the truth. That truck that drives around our neighborhood doesn't just stop so kids can dance, it actually has ice cream in it!) She finally had the chance today. The excitement was real!

Seth's dedication, Sun, June 5, 2011

Yes he is almost two, but that doesn't matter. Kyle and Meg have missed the dedications for one reason or another until now. Their pastor made a great charge to the congregation to come along side Kyle and Meg and help them raise Seth to love God. Then he charged Kyle and Meg to train him in the ways of the Lord. Finally he prayed over Seth and Kyle and Meg. It was a sweet time. Seth did great and even waved, "bye bye" on cue.

A day with the boys! June 3, 2011

Elli and I went to Leah's to watch the boys for a couple of hours. We loved it!

(Wesley, Luka)
Elli is a very good big cousin. She has always had a mothering spirit and it shows when she takes care of these boys:)

June 2, Strawberry Picking at Jackson's

The gang before th strawberry picking.
Pick a few for the buckets, pick a few to eat. Caroline and Madilynn walked all over the place eating strawberries. We joked that we should have weighed the kids before and after!
Emma Grace did her fair share of picking too! (mostly to eat)
A little snack for these two.
And now the kids are showing off the harvest! What a great day to go. Sunny, warm, but not humid. Cannot wait to make a pie!!!!

Memorial Day Weekend at Norris Lake

OK, we were posing, but the camera went off before Brent and Leah could run in. They were there, I promise! We were getting ready to eat our cupcake cones for Heather's birthday celebration.
Making breakfast casserole.
Ready for the pool!
They were ready for their first boat ride.
Brent and dad went golfing, but the rest of us went out on the boat for some riding and then swimming.
Elli was not afraid this year, at all!
The boys were out there with us, enjoying every minute...of getting out of the water. JK They calmed down after the first shock.
Evening ride out to get some ice cream.
And this group shot is blurry. Not doing too good on the group pics. Leah stayed back with the twins because they wanted to go to sleep.
Happy birthday Heather!

One Carefree Day!

Elli wanted to pose in front of our pretty rose bushes!
She thought a bun would be a good idea for rising her bike today.
Getting to be such a big girl.
Cannot get over how she loves to pose for pictures. She picked out her outfit, said it was perfect for riding a bike, and then asked if I could take her picture:)
How I love days with nothing to do but play.