The Joys of Being at Home

Dancing with her Hula Girl outfit on. Dancing takes up a big part of our day.

Elli likes to be with me all the time. When I was making dinner, she asked me if she could sit up on the counter and play dinner with the dishes. (She was very careful.) This is typical of our days as well. Elli likes to be with me doing what I am doing as much as possible.

Elli was taking her baby to the "store" and it was raining outside. So, she is dressed up and ready to go. So practical she is.

She still likes to dress up. I love seeing my little princess ome down in a new dress every so often.

Elli also still enjoys doing school with me at home. She is doing very well. She has also taken on two responsibilities that she does without me asking. She wakes up and turns off her heater and makes her bed, all by herself, before coming out of her room. What a big girl!

I feel very blessed to be able to be at home with Elli most days. We truly do have a wonderful time. I have the opportunity to witness this amazing person's growth every day. What a blessing. Just when I think there is no way I can ever forget the things she says and does, I seem to forget them. Too many memories to keep them all inside. So that is why I have this blog with these pictures and stories, to help me remember the best days of my life:)

The Snow is Melting Fast

I really wanted to make a snowman, but by the time the snow was ready to make a snowman, it was melting. So Elli and I ran out quickly today to build a snowman while we still had snow. Elli noticed she was taller than this snowman as well:) We also had to make a bunny and a turtle so the snowman would not get lonely. She makes everything come alive, like I did when I was a child. She actually asked if we could wrap the bunny in a blanket. I love imagination.

Elli's faithful Friend

When I was making dinner, Elli was playing cash register and she told me she needed more customers. Curious to see who the other customers were, I peeked over to see this...little snowman.

"I can jump as far as snowman!" (June 2009)

This little snowman used to be a decoration I got out at Christmas time. But, for the last year and a half or so, it has been Elli's friend. It has taken on many names, played many games, been to school and church, slept in her bed, and participated in countless other adventures. Today she said, "Mommy, look how much taller I am than snowman." A sad realization on my part.

Science Experiment

The end result.

I feel that my school with Elli has been a lot of memorizing and not a lot of content, so today we did a science experiment. We got a cup of snow to see if it would melt and make a cup of water. We also kept track of how long it took the snow to melt. After 25 minutes, we only had about 2 ounces of water. Elli was surprised we didn't have more. Her excitement was fun to watch.

Illness Shared by Mother and Daughter

Both Elli and I have been sick with a stomach virus. I ended up sleeping on the floor of her room last night, which Elli loved! Then, all day today, Elli has not left my side. We even napped in my bed together which NEVER happens! She has been the sweetest little girl, hugging and laying on me. She is feeling better than I am at this point, but she is so sweet. I guess if there is a good thing about throwing up all night, it is that Elli and I got to spend so much sweet time together. She has such a "mothering" spirit.

Real Hills this time!

On Saturday morning we went to Hawkins Hill to do some sledding. The walk was brutal, for Brent, but the sledding was awesome. Elli wasn't brave enough to go down this hill by herself, nor was I all that willing to let her try, but she loved taking turns with us!

Look at those smiles. Elli was having a blast!

The hike back up the hill at Shawnee Park was not as bad as it was at Hawkins Hill. Elli started out only wanting to ride with one of us, then once Brent put her on by herself, we had to beg her for a ride:) Her giggle and smile were so fun to watch.

Snow Day fun

We had some sledding neighbors stop by for a visit. Literally, they sledded down to our house:)

Elli's first snow angel of the season.

This is the real angel. Brent made a path in the front yard for Elli to sled down. It isn't very big and not that fast, but for a girl who wasn't so sure about sledding, it was perfect.

Grandpa came back down for a visit to help Brent fix the truck, but they ended up getting into an unknown problem that required the resources of a garage. Bummer.

Story on my eyes

Elli woke up this morning and said to me, "Mommy, when I was sleeping, I had a story on my eyes." I thought that was the cutest expression I had heard in a long time. I asked her what kind of story it was. She replied, "A Lily story."

Grammy's Funeral

Our family before the service began.

Grammy's four kids. From the left; Sharron, Sheila, Cheryl, Greg (dad). You can't see the flowers in the background, but they were very pretty. Thank you to all who contributed!

This picture was taken of all 9 grandchildren about 28 years ago. Front:John Scott, Jennifer, Leah, Jeff, Mary Ruth. Back:Ben, Heather, Michael, Lori.

We took the updated version at the funeral home. We are all a little bigger and Leah refused to sit on Jennifer's lap:)

The grandkids, all grown up.

Grammy's funeral was very well done and ended up being a blessing. Dad read 1 John 4:7-12 which is Grammy's favorite passage, and he prayed, Mary read from Romans, Ben read a devotion Grammy wrote on the hymn Blessed Assurance, Jeff sang and played his viola and Heather, Leah, and I shared some stories about Grammy. Pastor Matt Fleck read her eulogy and gave a messgae. Overall, it was very good. Los of people that were near to each of us were there as well as MANY who came out of their love for Grammy. It was a ad day as we said goodbye, but a good day visiting and sharing with each other as well. I met my cousin's youngest child for the first time. She is now 5! I also saw another cousin I hadn't seen in about 15 years! We all love and miss Grammy.

Christmas Week with the Fergusons

Okay, Linda you may not like this picture all that much, but your expression is priceless. The kids went together and got mom and dad money for a new dishwasher. So fun to watch them open up a wad of cash!

Getting ready to open gifts. As you can see, Seth is so impressed:)

We loved having Jenna and Justin here and cannot wait for them to move closer!

Justin got lured in rather quickly to an extenisve time of playing dollhouse with Elli. She'll rope in anyone who comes close so look out if you are not planning on spending lots of time on the floor.

Brent's family, missing Lance and Lana, came to our house the week after Christmas. It was fun to all be together. We opened presents Tuesday evening. Mostly though, we enjoyed spending time together.

Don't worry Mommy

When I told Elli this morning that I was sad that grammy died, this is what she told me; "Mommy, don't be sad. We are all dying. Grammy is not dead, Jesus made her alive with Him in heaven. She is with Jesus in heaven now so you do not need to worry about her."
Thank you God for sending wisdom through my sweet Ellianna. May she come to know you more and more. May Grammy's testimony of prayer live on in Elli's life.

1 John 4:9-11

Mother's day at Heather's house.

Grammy and Grandma watching the sunset over the ocean in Hilton Head. How Grammy loved the ocean. I have such wonderful memories of our time in Maine and our trips to the ocean.

Look at that smile! The doctor's couldn't tell that she had a beautiful smile, and that was one thing that made me sad seeing her in the hospital. When Grammy smiled, her whole face smiled, especially her eyes.

I will sure miss you Grammy, but my memories are there. I only wish you had a chance to write your best memories down for us so we could tell your wonderful stories over and over to our children. Elli loves her Grammy too and will miss her.

My sweet Gammy went home this morning at 3:15. She entered the hospital on Monday the 21st thinking she may have had a heart attack. It ended up that she had a blood clot that passed through her heart and was in her lungs. From that diagnosis, it seemed everyday was getting worse. We were able to visit with her on Christmas Day and give her presents. The next day she was moved to ICU and we were able to spend a little time with her then. She seemed to be improving. Then, Sunday morning, she knew things were not quite right and she asked her pastor to come down as well as Marlin who was sick. We got there just as she was going into cardiac arrest. From that point on, there were only little points of recognition, but we had a wonderful time singing and reading scripture to her. We also enjoyed visiting with each other as all four of her kids were there, their spouses and several of us grandchildren. I will miss my Grammy as will all who knew and loved her. She was a woman of the Lord and if she said she was praying for you, she was! She left a legacy of prayer and scripture reading as she always wrote scripture in our cards, letters, or told us on the phone. Some of her favorites were 1 John 4:9-11 and Psalm 139. Over the years there were many others, but these were recently in my birthday card:) I know I will see my Grammy one day. She will be able to see clearly, walk without pain, and hear without the use of aids. Right now she is in the presence of her Father. "O Happy Day!"

Christmas Day

One last Christmas Eve picture of Elli and dad playing with her new doll house from eather and Leah. She has played with it so much already!

Yes, Elli got a violin for Christmas. She had a wonderful list for us to work with like a blue Christmas tree, a new barbie with two legs, a guitar with strings on it, sucky things, chap stick, and several other small things. So we got her a couple of things on her list, but then she asked for a violin and wouldn't talk about anything else. So, last minute, we found a $12 violin on ebay and it came in time. She loves it and claims she already knows how to play it. It is very sweet.

Look at that face of surprise.

All of our presents to each other, I mean, from Santa. Brent got me a jewelry box and two sweaters. Elli and I got him 3 new outfits and the Bible on CD. Elli got a book, an outfit, a game, a camera and the violin. Brent actually had the game for her a month ago, but she said she couldn't get anything new until Christmas, so it became a present. Crazy girl. We had a great morning together, then we went to my grandma's house. Dinner was fun and we enjoyed a time of opening gifts together afterwards. Then, we went to the hospital to see my Grammy. She went in on Tuesday and was hoping to be home for Christmas but is still too sick. After our visit with Grammy, we went to Aunt Sharron's house to spend time with dad's side of the family. Very fun day overall. We love you Grammy and are praying for you. Merry Christmas.

More Christmas Eve

Elli's one present for Christmas Eve were her new jammies. How fitting for our candy girl:)

Elli and Matt playing in all the wrapping paper.

I love this picture of dad in his new coat and Elli picking up all the paper.

"Where are my presents Gonga?

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Heather and Gary

Leah and Matt Mom and Dad

Elli in front of all the presents. She could not wait!

Elli loves to help me cook. She has really mastered the art of rolling out the dough. It was so much fun baking these cookies with her.

Christmas Eve began with a great morning of baking and ended with desserts and coffee at our house. What a wonderful day. Elli and I enjoyed baking cookies of reindeer, trees, stars, candy canes, snowmen and bunnies. There was flour everywhere and some cookies lost their parts. Other cookies were not even distinct cut-outs, but we baked and iced them anyway! We danced to Christmas music, played, and had the best morning! After her nap, we went to mom and dad's for dinner and presents. We then went to our church for the service. It was an excellent service.

I turned 33 on Dec 18th

What better way to celebrate a birthday than to play Duck-Duck-Goose? I love that Elli has her hand up trying to get me to pick her. We played for about 20 minutes. Some of the most fun I have had!

Love you mom and dad.

CHeesy grin for our family photo, but so cute:)

Before the present opening began!

Tha birthday gang minus Heather who was taking the picture and Kyle, Meg and Seth who came shortly after dinner, which was P. F. Chang's by the way. Delicious.

Elli's Preschool Christmas Party

Santa came to the party. Elli wasn't nervous today. She hugged him and told him what she wanted...

...a violin. Uh oh. This is not the present we got for her, but she has mentioned nothing but this the last few times we have talked to Santa. We have now had the discussion that we don't always get what we ask for. Sometimes we get other fun things:)

The pastor of the church where Elli's preschool is, gave the best explanation of Santa at Christmas that I have ever heard. He explained to the kids today at the party that Santa was a man named St. Nick and that he loved Jesus. He knew that Jesus was a gift from God to us and that those who believed He was God's son could receive even more gifts such as love, joy peace, and even eternal life in heaven. St. Nick was so excited about this that he wanted everyone to experience the joy of the gift of Jesus, so he took gifts to others and told them about Jesus. Now, today, we remember the joy of St. Nick when he learned about Jesus and we give gifts to each other as well, in celebration of the greatest gifts given to us by God. Isn't that great?