a new game

Ella is going through this thing right now where she's constantly wanting to play a "game". Yesterday Simon was napping and Ella and I were playing in her room when she asked, "Mommy! Let's play a game!!" "What game would you like to play, Ella?" to which she replied, "Let's play Jesus!" Hmmm...not sure how I feel about this one but I inquired, "How do you play that game?" She said, lying on the floor, "I'll be in the water and I'll call you and you grab my hand and get me out of the water!" So, there she is, pretending to struggle in the water (which is just her wriggling on the floor) all the while calling out, "Jesus, help!" So I grab her hand and she tells me to put her in the boat (which is her bed). As we sit there on the bed, she looks at me with loving and gratitude in her eyes and says, "Thank you, Jesus, for saving me." That was pretty incredible! I hope she'll say that someday and it won't just be pretend.

girls' night in

Tonight was a special treat for Ella and me. I feel all warm and fuzzy and loved by my little girl. After Simon went to bed (he still has a pretty early bedtime for his own sanity) we stayed up for a "girls night." We popped popcorn with lots of butter, plopped ourselves down on the couch in our pjs, snuggled up with blankets and pillows and watched "Mary Poppins". We were having a good ol' cozy time each with our own big bowl of popcorn in our laps when Ella snuggled up extra close and said, "Mommy, I'm so glad you're here." UGGHHHhh! My heart just about exploded! I don't know if life gets much better than that moment right then.

And so as not to leave out my charming little Simon, I must make note of the phase he's in right now (not sure it's one he will grow out of, but I digress...) Simon sometimes feels very confined in his clothing even though they fit him quite perfectly. He'll tug and make a grunt and pull until I finally peel off his shirt and then he grins the widest grin of satisfaction and stomps around here with his arms outstretched like he finally knows freedom. And then sometimes, he beats his chest. Yes, beats his chest proudly like a man, not a toddling boy. He is alllllll boy, that is for sure. Oh, and by the way, HE POOPED IN THE BATHTUB TONIGHT! What a boy!!

if mac & cheese grew on trees...

Today was a glorious day and we spent a lot of time playing outdoors. Daddy got home and joined us in the back yard and Ella was playing with her gardening tools and had taken me by the hand to lead me over to the part of the yard she wanted to "water". That gave Bryan an idea. He said, "Ella, what if we gave you your own special place in the yard where you could plant some flowers or vegetables and you could take care of them and water them all by yourself?" She loved this idea so he asked, "What would you like to plant?" Ella replied, "I'd like to plant some vegetables!" "What kind of vegetables?" he inquired. "Ummm....I'd like some lettuce, some pickles, peppers, carrots annnnnddd....mac n cheese!" Wow! What a great idea! We'd be the talk of the town!!

today was a double doozie

Ella was an ornery yet funny girl today. So I have two stories to recount. First off, we went to Trader Joe's for groceries which is always a treat for her because #1: free helium balloons and #2: if you spot the hidden elephant somewhere in the store, they let you pick a treat out of the treasure box. So the treat Ella picked was a butterfly temporary tattoo. Now, I am somewhat alarmed or at least cautious because Ella has a fascination with tattoos already. She is very careful to keep them unwashed for as long as possible. So after we applied the tattoo in the kitchen, she decided her new name is going to be "Jada". Now doesn't that sound like a name for an exotic lady with tattoos? WHaaa? Fortunately, she informed me that it was only her pretend name. (pheew! I was just imagining Ella getting herself emancipated from us at age 16 so she could change her name and cover herself in tattoos and piercings!)

Ok...story #2. We were discussing vacation plans today and Daddy asks, "Ella, do you want to go on vacation?" to which she replies excitedly, "YEAAAH!" Daddy teases, "Do you want to go on vacation by yourself?" She says, "No." He continues, "Why not?" And her very obvious answer is, "Because I don't know how to drive." Of course!!

you're having triplets?

Tonight we ate a heaping helping of red beans and rice with cornbread. After we were all nice and full we lounged on the couch together commenting on how round our bellies looked (a real American moment, right?) I made some silly comment about having a baby in my tummy at which point Ella chimed in that she too had a baby in HER tummy. This is not the first time I've heard this game...So I ask, "Is it a boy or girl?" Ella says, "Girl. Her name is Aina." (Pronounced EYE-nah) She continues, "And after I have Aina, I'll have a baby called Joseph and then Unu." (Pronounced OOO-noo.) Ella's imagination is something to behold, lemme tell ya...I just don't know where these names come from and I'm wondering why she threw the plain ol' "Joseph" in there. Silly girl.

mountains were meant to climb!

We visited my mom this week and when we were packing up preparing to leave this morning, I had propped up the queen size air mattress against the couch so I could look all over to make sure I hadn't left any toys or belongings on the living room floor. Then I moved on to the kitchen to pack up (in my multi-tasking sort of way) and a few moments later, I came back into the living room because I hadn't heard anything out of Simon. I GASPED!! He had climbed up the mattress which was leaning at about a 35 degree angle and was at the very top about to teeter over and fall behind the couch. Instead of being afraid or intimidated by my response, he turned his head to look at me and gave me the biggest grin as if to say, "Look at me Ma! Aren't you amazed at me?!" He was very proud of his accomplishment.

talkin' crazy

Inspired by Jodi's blog accounting all the wonderful intricacies of Elliott's childhood, http://jodi-e.blogspot.com, I attempt my own journal of child-rearing minutia. Sometimes I'm afraid I will forget all these wonderful little things Simon and Ella do each day. So, though it may pale in comparison to Jodi's detailed and beautiful descriptions, at least there will be a collection of recollections on file in cyberspace to chronicle some of the wonderful things you kids say and do that light up my life so wonderfully!!

This last week we've had a wonderful couple from the Ukraine visiting us (Illya and Alyona). We didn't know much about them before they came late last Monday night but we soon found out that Illya spoke fluent English, while Alyona was very reserved in trying out her English on us. Very often she would speak to him in Russian and he would translate for us. At one point, Ella was in the hallway with them, looking up as they carried on a conversation in fast paced Russian, her head following along back and forth like she was watching a tennis match. When the conversation ended, she asked, "Why are you talkin' crazy?"

Oh the hilarity!