The World According to Ellie (5 years old)

In case you're keeping track of how much this lovely little girl has grown, here is The World According to Ellie at 4 years old.

My name is LORI-ELLE VINCEN(t)

I am FIVE YEARS OLD AND I'M IN KINDERGARTEN ALREADY!!! THE FIRST RULE OF KINDERGARTEN IS TO HAVE FUN! THE SECOND RULE IS TO RESPECT YOUR TEACHER AND DON'T INTERRUPT. I FORGET WHAT THE THREE-D RULE IS.

This is how I write my name:

This is what I look like:

I have DIRTY BLONDE HAIR. THAT MEANS IT'S DARK BLONDE BUT NOT REALLY DIRTY. I have brown eyes and have lost one tooth!

I even have my ears pierced!

The people in my family are  MOMMY, DADDY AND ADD-A-LINE.  SOMETIMES MY FAMILY IS ALSO LOTS OF PEOPLE LIKE AUNT ERIN, AUDREY AND CLIVE.  AND GRAMMA.  AND NANA.  AND GRANPA.  AND GRANPA LOU.  AND GRANDMOMMY JEANNE.... 

This is what my family looks like:

I love my mommy because SHE GIVES ME LOTS OF LOVEY KISSES.

I love my daddy because HE GIVES ME LOTS OF TICKLES AND WHEN I HUG HIM IT MEANS I WANT TO BE TICKLED!

I love my sister because SHE GIVES ME LOTS OF HUGS AND SHE THINKS I'M FUNNY.  I LIKE TO MAKE HER LAUGH.

My favorite toy is BUN BUN. I'M NEVER EVER GOING TO FORGET HER!!! TELL ME A STORY ABOUT BUN BUN WHEN I WAS JUST A BABY...

My favorite friends are BRYNN AND  IZZY. I CAN ONLY PLAY WITH BRYNN FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES IN THE MORNING UNTIL SHE GOES TO HER KINDERGARTEN. THEN I CAN PLAY WITH IZZY UNTIL BRYNN COMES BACK IN THE AFTERNOON.

My favorite thing to do is LEARN AT SCHOOL. I LOVE TO LEARN HOW TO READ!! I CAN READ ALL OF THE WORDS. REALLY! I CAN!

The best things about me are I'M TICKLISH, I LAUGH GOOD AND  I LOVE DADDY AND I LIKE TO HUG HIM.

I'm good at playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on my saxophone, doing flips in the water & swinging on monkey bars.

I'm especially good at writing my words all by myself!

My favorite color is PINK THEN PURPLE THEN BLUE

My favorite food is MAC & CHEESE AT RED ROBIN. MY FAVORITE DESSERT IS PUMPKIN APPLE BROWNIE SURPRISE!

My favorite place to go is WHAT'S THE PLACE WHERE WE GET TO COOK OUR OWN FOOD? (Melting Pot)

My favorite game is TAG THE MONKEY!!

My favorite animal is A GIRAFFE AND HER NAME IS SPOTTY!

My favorite magical creature is A UNICORN AND HER NAME IS FLOWER! SOMETIMES HER NAME IS SNOWFLAKE IF SHE'S A WINTER UNICORN. HER NAME IS FLOWER IF SHE'S A SPRING UNICORN.

My favorite song is THE RAINBOW SONG THAT GOES LIKE THIS: WE'RE A RAINBOW MADE OF CHILDREN. WE'RE AN ARMY SINGING OUR SONG. THERE'S NO WEAPON THAT CAN STOP US. RAINBOW LOVE IS MUCH TOO STRONG."

My favorite book is ALL THE BOOKS AT MY SCHOOL LIKE "12 LITTLE PIGGIES ARE HUNGRY." WE GO TO THE LIBRARY EVERY THURSDAY SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE BRING MY BOOSTER SEAT OK? WE GET TO PICK OUT OUR VERY OWN BOOKS EVERY TIME!!! BUT DON'T WORRY, MOMMY. THE BOOKS STAY AT SCHOOL SO WE DON'T LOSE THEM.

My favorite weather is WINTER TIME BECAUSE I LOVE TO PLAY IN THE SNOW. IT'S FALL TIME NOW AND THAT MEANS WINTER IS NEXT! I'M SOOO ESS-CITED!!!  I LIKE WINTER THE BEST BECAUSE WE GET TO SLED DOWN THE HILLS!!!

When I grow up I want to be A BALLERINA TEACHER AND I WANT TO TEACH MY KIDS HOW TO BALLERINA DANCE. I WANT TO BE A MOMMY AND I WANNA HAVE 5 KIDS!

I'M GOING TO MARRY MICHAEL WHEN I GET OLDER. HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO MARRY ME RIGHT NOW BUT THAT'S OK BECAUSE I'M NOT READY. MAYBE HE'LL BE READY WHEN I GO TO SCHOOL WITH HIM AGAIN IN FIRST GRADE.

My favorite place to visit is GRANPA LOU'S HOUSE AND PAPPY'S HOUSE BECAUSE I LOVE GRANDPA LOU AND PAPPY!!!

The most beautiful place I've ever seen is INSIDE DA CHURCH WITH CHURCH WINDOWS.

I would like to help the world by TELLING THEM "SAFETY FIRST!" AND RESPECT EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. IT MEANS RESPECT THE PERSON AND RESPECT THE TOYS. BE NICE TO OTHER PEOPLE AND BE GENTLE WITH ALL THE TOYS.

My thoughts on God are: I THINK THAT GOD IS IN THE STARS SO WHEN WE FEEL ALONE WE CAN GO TO THE STARS AND SEE HIM. I LEARNED THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SIMBA'S DADDY TOLD HIM (from The Lion King). SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IN GOD AND SOME DO NOT AND THAT'S OK. I DECDIDED THAT I DO BELIEVE IN HIM.

My thoughts on Santa & the Tooth Fairy: I THINK THAT SANTA IS REAL BECAUSE HE LEFT ME PRESENTS LAST YEAR. FAIRIES AREN'T REAL. THE ONLY FAIRY THAT IS FOR REAL IS THE TOOTH FAIRY. I BELIEVE IN THE TOOTH FAIRY BECAUSE I WANT TO BELIEVE SHE IS REAL. IF I DON'T BELIEVE SHE IS REAL THEN SHE WON'T BE REAL AND THAT WILL MAKE HER SAD.

How long did it take for Rapunzel to grow her hair out? 50 HUNDRED YEARS!

How many people are in the entire world? 50 HUNDRED!!!

What we will remember most about Ellie at this age is...
In the last year something just clicked in your head.  It's as though there is now no limit to the things you can learn and you are doing so at an exponential rate.  Whether it's writing, reading, biology, or even how the world works around you, you amaze us with your new knowledge every day.  You like to remind people that "I know better than you because I'm in Kindergarten now."  You're so proud of your achievements, as you should be, and you say your favorite thing about school is how much learning you do.  If there was one single thing that you are most proud of yourself for, it's that you are always coming up with good solutions.  When you list the people you love, you remember to include yourself and tell us that it's ok for you to love yourself because you're a very nice person.  When I ask you what you love most about yourself, there is no hesitation.  "I love that I can always come up with new ideas."  Yes, Ellie, we love that too.  I love that you know that if something is difficult, you just have to keep practicing or think of a different solution.  My hope for you is that this will remain a strength in your character and that you will always have the love and belief in yourself that you do right now.  You continue to be a good sister and I'm so blessed to have two girls who love each other so much.  It still amazes me when I see the two of you reach for each other in need of comfort or support.  Your best friend is still Brynn, though Izzie now takes a close second place because Izzy is in your Kindergarten class while Brynn is just with you before and after her Kindergarten.  This will be the last year you're with Brynn and I try not to think too much about how difficult next year might be for you.   I'm sure you'll handle it with grace and view it as yet another challenge that just needs a good solution.  And you're good at coming up with solutions, aren't you?

You know how life works: I LIKE TO PLAY WITH MYSELF AND I LIKE MYSELF BECAUSE I'M WONDERFUL JUST LIKE A PRINCESS. NOT A PRETEND PRINCESS. A PRINCESS FOR REAL LIFE.

Ellie if you keep that kind of confidence, then there is no limit to the places you will go!

The World According to Ellie (4 years old)

In case you'd like to see how much Ellie has changed in a year, here is The World According to Ellie at 3 years old.

My name is LORI-LELLE VINCENT

I am FOUR YEARS OLD. I'M ALMOST FOUR AND A HALF! WHEN MY BABY TURNS TWO, I WILL TURN FOUR AND A HALF AND DEN I WILL TURN FIVE!!!

This is how I write my name:

This is what I look like:

This is what my family looks like:

I love my mommy because I SNUGGLE WIF HER and SHE'S PRETTY. SHE IS MY MOMMY FOREVER.

I love my daddy because HE PLAYS WIF ME, HE TEASES ME AND HE IS MY FRIEND FOREVER.

I love my Addie because SHE'S MY BABY and SHE MAKES ME LAUGH.

I love Merlin because he is BIG.

My favorite toy is still Bun Bun...

...but Lambie, Squeakers (see above), Baby Dragon, Baby Turtle, Pink Bear & Mommy's bear have all threatened to replace her.

My favorite friend is... I DON'T HAVE A FAVORITE FRIEND RIGHT NOW. MOMMY YOU CAN BE MY BEST FRIEND AND WHEN I AM FIVE, I WILL GO TO A KINDERGARTEN AND FIND A NEW BEST FRIEND. BUT DON'T WORRY, EVEN DOUGH I WILL HAVE A NEW BEST FRIEND, YOU WILL STILL BE MY FRIEND TOO.

My favorite thing to do is WHAT EVER YOU DO, NO WAIT... SWIMMING!

The best things about me are I AM NICE TO MY SISTER BECAUSE IT MAKES YOU HAPPY and I CAN RUN REALLY REALLY FAST!

I am good at jumping on one foot...

... spinning around really fast...

... standing on my head and getting dressed by myself...

... swimming...

... holding my breath under water...

... and knowing the words to lots and lots of songs!

My favorite color is WHAT DID I SAY WHEN I WAS EATING? IT STARTS WITH AN OH OH OH... ORANGE!

My favorite food is PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY POCKETS.

My favorite animal is A DRAGON! CAN I BE A BABY DRAGON FOR HALLOWEEN?

My favorite song is THE CHICKEN SONG!!! ("If the Stars Were Mine" by Melody Gardot) I LIKE IT BECAUSE SHE SOUNDS FUNNY WHEN SHE IS TRYING TO BE A CHICKEN. I KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT! DO YOU WANT TO HEAR?

My favorite book is THE RAINBOW FAIRY BOOKS.

My favorite weather is WHEN IT RAINS BUT IT IS SUMMER TIME. I CALL IT SUMMER RAIN.

If I were a superhero, I would be RAPUNZEL AND DEN I CAN SWING IN A TREE WIF MY HAIR! BUT MOMMY? I'M NOT A SUPER HERO. SUPER HEROES ARE BOYS. I'M A SUPER **STAR** HERO INSTEAD.

When I grow up I want to be A MOMMY AND I WILL HAVE A BABY IN MY TUMMY! AND WHEN YOU PUT YOUR HAND ON MY TUMMY, YOU WILL SAY "OH, I FEEL THE BABY MOVING!"

My favorite place to visit is THE PLAYGROUND.

The most beautiful place I have ever visited is DA MOUNTAINS. REMEMBER WHEN WE WENT CAMPING UP DERE AND DERE WAS A DEER???

I would like to help the world by PRETECTING PEOPLE FROM BAD GUYS! I WILL PUT DA BAD GUYS INTO JAIL AND TELL THEM, "TIME OUT UNTIL YOU SAY YOU ARE SORRY!!!"

How many people are in a hot air balloon? THREE, BUT MOMMY? WHEN CAN I GO IN A BALLOON? MAYBE WHEN I'M FIVE?

How many people are in the entire world? (SIGH) I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE I CAN COUNT THAT HIGH WHEN I'M 10. I ONLY KNOW HOW TO COUNT TO A HUNDRED.

What we will remember most about Ellie at this age is...
You are still a wonderful big sister and always want to teach Addie how to do new things. When she learns how to do something, you are usually the one cheering her on the most. Sometimes you use this to your advantage and trick Addie into doing things she wouldn't otherwise do, but for the most part you use this power for good and not evil. You love to wake her up in the morning and still give her lots of hugs, especially if she us upset. You are starting to learn that sometimes friends grow apart. Though Brynn is still your favorite friend, you struggle with her not being as nice to you as you wish she were. You have decided that you do not need a best friend right now because you are sure to find a new one in Kindergarten. You still love books but have started to enjoy the longer chapter books, which is quite exciting for Mommy and Daddy. You can spell a few words and are very proud of yourself for it, but the thing that brings the most pride to your face is your ability to swim. If you can call it that. Imagine a bobbing butt, with legs and head sprawled out under the water. That's ok, though, because after only a few weeks of swim lessons, we are blown away by your confidence. You even try to convince us to let you go down the big water slides by yourself. You adore your grandparents and even have a photo of Gramma and you by your bedside. You are a tender, kind girl who seems to consider her friends and doing nice things for them more than I would expect a girl your age to do. Your confidence allows you to ask grown-ups questions and you act more grown up every day. You have a beautiful soul and you make Mommy and Daddy smile every day with your growing wisdom.

You know how life works: IF SOMEONE DOES SOMEPING MEAN DEN DEY THINK DEY ARE FILLING YOUR BUCKET BUT THEY AREN'T. THEY'RE CALLED BUCKET DIPPERS. BUT IF YOU ARE NICE, DEN YOU ARE A BUCKET FILLER. AND IF YOUR BUCKET IS FULL DEN YOU ARE HAPPY. I DON'T LIKE BUCKET DIPPERS. IF YOU ARE A BUCKET DIPPER DEN PEOPLE WILL NOT WANT TO BE YOUR FRIEND.

The World According to Ellie (3 years old)

I've been waiting a very long time to post this. I got the idea from this book I found online. I figured that I could save money and make it more personal if I just wrote about it on my blog. So without further ado, I present you with the World According to my Ellie... All answers and drawings are provided by Ellie herself, with a little help from Mommy.

My name is LORI-LELLE VINCENT

I am TREE years old. STILL?

This is how I write my name:

This is what I look like:

I have LELLOW... NO, BLOND HAIR. DA SUN MAKES IT LIKE DAT. I have BROWN EYES - JUST LIKE MOMMY! AND DADDY HAS BLUE EYES.

The people in my family are MOMMY AND DADDY AND ADD-A-LINE AND MERLIN. AND DERE IS GWAMMA AND NANA AND GWAPA AND PAPPY AND GWAMMIE AND AUNT ER-YIN AND UNCLE DAVID AND UNCLE JACOB. OH YEAH, AND GWAPA BLUE AND GWAMMA DEANE.

I love my mommy because SHE IS PRETTY. I LOVE GAMES WITH HER.


I love my daddy because HE LIKES TO PLAY WIF ME. HE LIKES TO SNUGGLE WIF ME.


I love my baby sister because SHE LAUGHS AT ME. SHE IS REE-AH GOOD AT CRAWLING.


I love Merlin because he is soft and HE LOOKS REE-AH REE-AH FUNNY.


My favorite toy is BUN BUN. I love Bun Bun because SHE'S MY BABY. SHE'S REE-AH SOFT. WANNA SEE?


My favorite friend is BRYNN. I love Brynn because SHE LIKES TO GO TO BOUNCE TOWN WIF ME. SHE LIKES TO CATCH ME. SHE IS MY SPECIAL FWIEND. WE ARE FWIENDS FOREVER.


The best things about me are I HAVE A BABY SISTERY and I'M A PWINCESS.

I am good at spinning...

... standing on one leg...

... and swimming.


My favorite color is GWEEN:
My favorite food is CHICKEN NUGGETS.

My favorite animal is A LION.

My favorite song is DA I LOVE YOU SONG! ("Say Hey" by Michael Franti)

My favorite book is THE SLEEPING HOUSE, WHERE EVERYBODY'S SLEEPING!

If I were a superhero, I would be ARIEL.

When I grow up I want to be TINKERBELL! NO... NO... ANGE-O-LINA BALL-O-INA!

My favorite place to visit is NANA'S HOUSE.

The most beautiful place I have ever visited is GWAMMA'S HOUSE.

I would like to help the world by... YOU KNOW DA RULES. IF WE ASK-A-NICK-KLEE HURT SOMEONE WE HAF TO SAY WE ARE SORRY. AND WE DON'T TALK WITH FOOD IN OUR MOUFS.

How many people are in a hot air balloon? SDIRTY FIVE.

How many people are in the entire world? SIXTY FIVE. ASK ME HOW MANY PEOPLE DERE IN DA SUMMER!

How many people are there in the summer time? FIFTY FIVE. ASK ME HOW MANY PEOPLE IN DA HOUSES!

How many people are in their houses right now? SDIRTY HUNDRED. NO, TEN! NO, TEN SDIRTY TWO HUNDRED!

What we will remember most about Ellie at this age is...
You are so proud to be a big sister and you take it upon yourself to make sure Addie is as happy as possible. You absolutely adore your best friend, Brynn. The smiles that the two of you give each other are so big and contagious. There's nothing else like it in the world. You are a very serious little girl, but you like to tease us and play certain little games with us. You love to read books and are very proud that you know some of them by heart and can read them to your sister. Whenever you're in a new, unfamiliar setting, you usually stand back and take it all in before deciding what to do, but to our surprise you're also very brave and have no problems with things like swimming (with a life jacket) or walking across a balance beam, even though many other kids might. You absolutely adore your grandparents and get super excited to visit either Gramma or Nana and always assure us that you will be back really soon. You are very smart and know so many numbers, letters and even the spelling of some words. You are very confident and very tender. You have a beautiful soul and you make Mommy and Daddy smile every day with the things you say.

You know how life works: First you grow up. Then you find your prince. Then you kiss for this <----> long. Then you are married. Then you spin and dance. Then you live happily ever after.