Head Bugs

Though there is no part of me that enjoyed removing the head bugs from Addie's hair and eyelashes, I did love Ellie's reaction to her sister's sorrow and/or pain. Ellie was sad for her sister and said "I can not see my sister so sad" and would hide away without looking until it sounded like everthing was ok again.

Afterwards she drew a picture or two of Addie and Ellie standing in the sun with happy faces and no bugs. The words "I love you" on the picture spoke strongly of the sister bond the two of them have.

Definition of Fun

After a few days of picking head bugs (were they lice? I'm not so sure) out of not only Addie's hair, but her eyelashes as well, her definition of "fun" has changed.

Mommy: Did you like the boat ride?
Addie: Yeah! It was SOOOO fun because it didn't hurt me!

With such low expectations, I'm thinking she's going to have a blast with all the nominal activities we have planned for the weeks to come!

Rain Fairies

Without going into details of why I was in a bad mood, I'll set the scene for you. Picture us standing under a tree trying (but probably miserably failing) at staying dry in a torrential downpoor of rain, followed by a sprint to get to the bathrooms in teim. I'm in a bad mood as it is, completely drenched and wearing my favorite sundress - one that apparently clings to my skin when it's wet so as I'm running the dress is creaping up my thighs to become a nice-form fitting mini skirt that barely covers my @$$. It's not a pretty scene but it's a realistic one.

Ellie: STOP!!! Mommy, STOP!
Mommy: Ellie, we have to hurrry so that you don't have an accident.
Ellie: But Mommy, this is IMPORTANT! PLEASE stop!
Mommy: Grrr. OK. What do you want?
Ellie: I think I need to turn you into a rain fairy!
Mommy: What? No, Ellie we don't have time. We're getting very wet.
Ellie: But Mommy, we're already wet and if I turn you into a rain fairy that means you will like the rain and you can be happy. We can still move really fast if we dance and skip!

Leave it to my daughter to remind me that magic can be found in even the most frustrating of moments. She turned the three of us (Addie included) into rain fairies and sure enough we danced and skipped through the downpoor and made it to the bathrooms just as quickly, if not quicker.

It was a blast. That's REAL magic for you.

Little Sister Quote of the Day

Overheard from the next room over...

Addie: You are a good sister and you are mine!

A special day for Ellie

Though I've been calling her "Kindergarten Ellie" since she turned 5, and she had her preschool graduation a couple months ago, today is technically the last day of preschool for my Ellie. This morning she informed me "Mommy, today is a special day for me because I get to hear about why everyone will miss me."

Apparently when it's someone's last day, the entire class takes turns to tell them how they will be missed. Quite honestly I think it's a nice tradition. I know Ellie is looking forward to hearing the compliments!

A Princess Tea Party

A couple of weekends ago we took all the girls and had a wonderful princess tea party. Though it wasn't what I had expected (I was focused on the "tea party"), it was a lot of fun to dress up as princesses for a day.

First we all picked out fancy dresses to wear. Then we got our hair and nails done, all the while the girls put on dance shows for us with their pretty outfits. After we were all ready, we gave a fashion show and showed the girls how to properly show off their stuff. I absolutely love how the photos show each girl's personalities. Some quiet and shy, some more goofy and others think they're prim and proper. Too cute.

There is just something about little girls feeling like they're special that makes my heart sing. What about you?

Our princess adventure ended with a tea party. I LOVE myself a good tea party and though this one didn't have the tasty finger yummies that I would typically drool over, it was still fun. I especially loved how big and grown up Addie felt having tea with Gramma and I loved how Ellie would dance with me to the music. I'm trying to teach my girls that life isn't always serious. Sometimes even a pretty princess needs to be goofy.

After our tea party, we had to get back into our peasant clothes. We all agreed (some more strongly than others) that it was a shame we couldn't always wear princess gowns all day long.

Wordless Wednesday

Our Zoo

You gotta love the dog pen! Every zoo oughta have a dog exhibit.

My Little Teenager

Mommy: Wow. Look at that shirt! Where did you get it?
Ellie: Paige gave it to me. Really she did!
Mommy: I really like it.
Ellie: It's my teenager shirt!
Mommy: Oh? Why is it called that?
Ellie: Because it's what teenagers wear.
Mommy: Oh. I guess that makes sense.
Ellie: When we get home, can we take a picture of me wearing my teenager shirt?
Mommy: Sure!

... I have to both laugh and cringe at the growling face she insisted on having in the photo. Apparently that's what teenagers are like.

Tid-Bits

To Addie, elevators don't exist, but it sure is fun to ride the aligator up and down. She especially loves pushing the buttons herself.

Addie: I'm almost five years y'old like Lori-elle!
She's so proud of her potty-training.

We had a cousin visiting us (how did I manage to not write about it?) with his family. Selah (age 4) and I were hanging out together and she told me "It feels like we are friends." I sure hope so, Selah.

"No matter how big and bad you are, when a two year old hands you a toy phone, you answer it." Love it.

I love that when I ask Addie to help me up, she generously offers me a single pinkie finger to hold onto.

I love sniffing Strawberry Shortcake dolls with Ellie. She collapses into a fake coma on the floor just like I do. Good stuff.

I love seeing the girls' eyes light up when they see each other at the end of the day. Ellie runs up to Addie and gives her a big hug, picking her up and (barely) carrying her towards the front door. Addie squeels with delight. "Look at my sista!"

Olympics with the Girls

While watching synchronous diving...

Ellie: WOAH! How can they EVEN. DO. THAT???
Addie: WOAH! Dat was a good splashing!!!

Wordless Wednesday