Life with E.

Tonight as we were driving home E. started singing a song...
"the itsy ditsy spider" I think she is the blond relative of the itsy bitsy spider :) and may be somehow connected with another of E's favorite characters - Dora the Displorer (distant relative of Dora the explorer) but I'm not for sure.

First Day of Jr. Kindergarten

Where does the time go?

A New "Do"

About six months ago E. took a turn at cutting her own hair....without permission, of course :) we had a long tearful discussion about who should be cutting E's hair and she promised me she would never do it again....HA! Famous last words.....a few weeks ago she came upstairs and had given herself a "mullet"! Oh my....I was mad. I know, it's just hair, but it's the second time she has done  this.....
Anyhow, the lovely and talented Julie fixed the mullet yesterday. Here's the new pixie cut :) on the pixie at the pool...

E. Funny....

Tonight we were having a tickle fight and I pretended to take E's ear off her head....she of course thought that was hysterical and joined right in the fun trying to get it back from me. Here is the conversation that ensued...
E. "give it back"
M: " you have to pay me with three hugs and kisses"
E. looks puzzled...."no, give it back"
M: "as soon as you pay me with three hugs and kisses"
more tickling and finally 3 hugs and one kiss...
a restored ear.
E. says she is taking my nose and my ear...she is not as gentle as I am in the removing of body parts :)
M: "give me my nose and my ear back....I need them"
E: "no"
more tickling
M: "what can I give you so that you will give me my nose and my ear"
E: completely straightfaced and hand out...."eight dollars"
No hugs and kisses will do...cold hard cash.....too funny!

Oh, those Summer Nights

Getting outside in the evening after work is such fun. E. loves to get wet in her turtle pool, with the sprinklers, in a puddle, you name it, if it's water she's ready to get wet.

Fairy Tea Party

E. and I went to a Fairy Tea Party with Becky back in February - all the little girls got to dress up in their princess outfits, wear some pretty fairy wings, have their faces painted and have a lovely tea party. It was so much fun and a great way to spend a winter afternoon. E. loved it.

Courageous

In a word, that is E., courageous! Today we went swimming with friends outside and E. says she wants to jump off the diving board...and she meant it. I have to admit I was nervous...it's over 8 feet deep in the deep end - ok maybe only 6....but still, she's not even three feet and the girl hasn't even had one swimming lesson yet! But my dear friend Seana, who is also a swim teacher was confident for her - if she wants to do it she'll do it. "I can do it, mom!" she tells me confidently. OK...off they went. E. waited in line with Seana and Syd and watched as other kids flipped off the thing and swam to the side. She climbed the few steps walked out to the end.....deep breath (from mommy not her) and she jumped. No hesitation, no turning back she jumped! She came up, no panic, she started paddling for the side - it took her longer than most kids, but she made it. And she was thrilled. "I did it!, she squealed and she was ready to go again.
Oh how I wish I had my camera.
Courageous....as I reflect on her little life that word truly describes her. And I just know it will serve her well throughout life.

Sleepover with Syd

Recently we have had a few sleepovers at our house...most times Syd and E. like to setup the mattress in Syd's old room and sleep together there....but on this occasion E. decided to sleep with me and Syd decided she didn't want to sleep alone...so all the girls (including Cleo) slept in my room. This was the view from my bed the next am.....what cuties.

Fun with Pull-Ups

I suppose someday E. will not be thrilled by this post....but it is so classic E. - she has such a silliness about her - she is a poser at heart - loves to be goofy and loves to have her picture taken. What a difference two years make - the very first time we met I could barely get her to look at the camera now she is always wanting to take pictures :)
I love this girl!

The View from the Backseat

My little photographer thinks it is too much fun to take pictures from her carseat...here are some of her creations.

Crackers and processed cheese...yum! :)

Love those piggies!

Budding Photographer?

One of E's favorite things to do with my iPhone, besides watching Masha, is taking pictures...sometimes I find the most interesting photos in my camera roll - I love it!

Sweet Cleo is one of her favorite subjects :)

Horsey...

Through the screen on the sliding glass door....artsy ;)

Hunting "wabbits"

Last week of pre-school...part two

E's actual last day of pre-school was this past Thursday and we went on a field trip to the Urban Farm. What fun - it was a beautiful, but windy day. E. loves animals and loves to be outside so it was the perfect combination. Here are some photos of the fun.

Feeding the sheep.

I know you can't see her that well, but her expression is so sweet

Look over here guys....

E. and the baby goat...

Last week of pre-school...

E. had such a wonderful experience in pre-school this year. Every Tuesday and Thursday from 8am-1pm at Summit Elementary School. It was a small class with nine kiddos and three lovely teachers. Talk about a great ratio! She really loved it. She learned lots and grew in her ability to sit, listen and focus during circle time.

E.'s first school :)

Her Cubby

Her favorite teacher Miss Lorie

E.'s favorite hill to run on after each class.

Moments Worth Remembering...

A couple of nights ago as I was laying beside E.,  who was trying to fall asleep, she reached over and put her hand on my face and said, "Mommy, I just love you so much..." Long pause and then, still with her hand on my face and tears in my eyes she said, "You make me soooo happy" I feel so lucky to be her mommy - this sweet little girl has willingly opened her heart to me....I feel so grateful. I was reminded of my first trip to Vladimir, my referral trip. At the end of our third visit together she touched my face in the same way. She had no English words at the time, but her eyes said it all. Here is where I posted about it.

Yesterday morning, on the way to Emily's house, E. asked me where she could see Jesus? Ummmm that's a pretty tough question to answer to a four year old - I would have no problem responding to an adult who asked that question, but how do I give an answer a four year could understand? So I said a quick prayer and then stammered and stuttered my way through an answer.
Me: "well, He is everywhere, but you can't really see Him with your eyes, you can feel Him in your heart"
E: "But I want to see Him, where is He?"
Me: "Well you can feel Him in your heart. Jesus can live in your heart and then you can feel Him. Do you want to ask Him to live in your heart?"
E: "Later, when I get bigger"
Me: "Well, did you know you don't have to wait until you get bigger. You can ask Him right now. Do you want to ask Jesus to live in your heart?"
E: "Yes"
Me: (in tears now) "You can just say Jesus, will you live in my heart"
E: "Jesus, will You live in my heart?"
Me: "Amen. Now He will always live in your heart and you will feel Him"
Now, I know this wasn't the most detailed theological discussion, but I truly believe something happened in my car that morning - life changing, powerful, the beginning of a lifelong relationship. I was humbled beyond belief, overwhelmed by His goodness and thrilled to have been there when it all started for E. I'm praying that the Lord would make Him self real to her all the days of her life. That she would know Jesus in a deeper way each day.
Today was also my dad's 72nd birthday. We had him over for taco dinner tonight - one of his favorites. It is such a delight to watch E. giggle and hug and snuggle with him. I feel so grateful that she gets to see him often.

More Fun...

Notice the matching converse :) Syd picked them out for both of them.

Ready to head out for some candy!

My little flower

 Halloween was a fun day.....Syd was on Fall break last week so she came over and spent the day with E. and I. It is so fun to watch those two play. Syd likes to dress E. up like her personal dolly. E. tolerates this....sometimes :) The weather was amazing. Often the weather is snowy on Halloween, but not this year it was close to balmy....over 50 degrees even after sunset. It was a busy trick or treat night....we had loads of fun gathering candy from the neighbors.

This past weekend E. and I were out on the deck and I happened to look up to see this beautiful creature in our Aspen tree.....it was amazing. I don't think I had ever seen an  owl this close up - outside of the zoo.

He was sitting there so peacefully.

I snapped pictures and he just sat there blinking and winking at us. E. was just as captivated as I was.

We have been going through lots of changes lately at our house. Changes that leave me stressed and sweet E. is feeling the effects of it. She is so clearly impacted by changes no matter how small. Even something as small as the end of daylight savings - driving home from Emiliy's tonight in the dark at 5pm was hard for her. She is - easily stressed - easily overwhelmed. Her little brain doesn't have ability to regulate quickly...it will come with time and more healing, but right now she is just a pile of tears often. It's exhausting, but I know she has been through far too much for a 4 1/2 year old and it will just take more and more love and prayers to overcome it. But overcome we will! With the Lord's help and healing.

Boo at the Zoo

What a lovely weekend. Yesterday we had an E. and mommy day - just hanging out at home...we tickled, played, we planned a grocery store trip and survived without any extra purchases...I always consider it a victory when I exit the store with nothing more than what I planned to buy :)
It was a very nice day. Last night I was thinking about what a great balance there was between interacting and playing and then doing our own thing....I got chores done she played happily by herself. I feel like that is something really new - it has taken a long time to develop. I feel so grateful...
E. is such an extrovert and days with just she and I are sometimes hard for her - she loves the interaction with people and of course with her friends. But I also see how too much stimulation sends her easily over the edge and she becomes a puddle of tears....enter Boo at the Zoo....too much fun....too much candy.....way too many people....too loud....all leads to a very long ride home with one whiny, tearful girl.
Glad we went also glad to leave :)
I only got a few pix, but they are cute - we went with our dear friends and E's BFF Jaedyn.

E. and J. talking with the UNC Mascot - she chatted with them and they loved it :)

Fall Fun

It is so much fun to be celebrating a 2nd year of traditions...like pumpkin carving. This year we added our friends Kenzie and Maddie to the party. The girls had so much fun. Playing in the goo...marking out their pumpkin faces....it was such a glorious afternoon...gorgeous weather.

Pumpkin guts....ooey gooey fun!

I really don't even know what to say about the band-aids.... goofy!

Tons of fun was had by all :)

The Death of .....a nap :(

Ever since E. first came home -  almost 18 months ago - I can't believe it - she has napped, daily! This summer saw the death....of a daily nap. I've heard other moms talk about grieving this, now I'm living through it. It's a tough one - she plays so hard...she really still needs it, but she refuses. And how do you make someone sleep...especially a four year old someone? You don't. It's been and some days still is, a tough transition...especially on grouchy days, where a nap would be so sweet. But she's a big kid, she'll tell you and naps are for babies...sniff...sniff...insert stuck out lower lip here...from mom :)
She's growing up...too fast. 

Long Weekend

Bittersweet....the end of summer...the end of swimming outside. E. and I were at the outdoor pool every day this weekend. We made the most of it, especially since we got the green light from Dr. Sarah to swim again. E's collar bone is healing.Thank You, Lord.

This is E. and her BFF Jaedyn posing at the pool

E. wearing Jaedyn's goggles and lifevest. 

E. is an amazing swimmer - she doesn't wear a life vest in the pool at all - she is a little fish.

We had a lovely, relaxing weekend..