September 2013

 Here we go with September.  Just a quick look at some happenings through the month.

Elly, Maddie and Sammie on one of our trips to the zoo.

My sweet little girl on her way to school.  She looked so cute.

Elly was very intently helping Daddy peel some hard boiled eggs.

Elly had her first homework assignment this month.  She had to make an "all about me" board to present to her class.  She took it very seriously and worked very hard on it.  I helped her gather pictures to show her favorite things, but she did all the cutting out.

Elly's finished project. She's very much into drawing rainbows so she added one to her board ☺ In case you can't read it her sections were Favorite Toys, Favorite Activities, Favorite Foods and Family & Friends.

In our little town there is often a circus set up on the edge of town.  Elly kept asking to go to it, so one evening we were out for a walk and we wandered along in that direction, but didn't tell Elly.  When we got in front of it we asked if she wanted to go see the circus.  Of course, she was very happy.  It was a nice show. 

I thought this was really cute.  I always pick out two outfits for Elly to choose from, so this night she told me she had her outfits out for me to choose (she turned it on me). I went up and this is what I found.  She had three outfits, complete with jewelry and shoes, for me to pick from .  

Elly's first day of preschool ~ 3 September 2013

The beginning of September brought about a big change in our routine. Our sweet little girl started Preschool. We talked to her about it a lot to try and prepare her for the change.  She was excited about it, but didn't really know what it meant.  As the time got closer she started saying she didn't want to go, but we talked it up to her and told her she would have lots of fun.

The morning she started preschool was terrible.  She DID NOT want to go to school.  It got to the point where she was laying on the couch screaming and crying "I AM NOT going to school!".  It went on for a little while and finally Sam got firm with her and said "You can either have me carry you screaming to the car or you can be a big girl and walk out on your own, but you ARE going to school".  She was just so nervous and it was hard on me to see her scared, but I knew it was for her good and that she would enjoy it once she got over the fear of going.

These pictures were taken after her screaming and crying.  She looks a little nervous. :(

We got to her school and she was feeling a little better.

Signing in at school.  All the kids sign themselves in to learn how to write their names.

When I went to pick her up from school, she was just fine.  As I was buckling her into her car seat she said "Well Mama, you were right.  I had fun." ☺

Her preschool is 5 days a week for 3 hours a day.  I would have put her into it 3 days a week if that had been offered, but she loves going so it has worked out well.  I would have just kept her at home with me forever, but I know next year she has to start Kindergarten and I thought it would have been cruel to keep her home until she suddenly had to start going to school all day long.  I wanted something to transition her into school and this has worked out really well.  We're very happy with the program and she has so much fun.  It's a win for all of us.  

August 2013

In pictures, it doesn't seem like we did much in August. It was busy though. We had lots of company from the end of July on.  At the end of July we had friends, who were PCSing, stay with us for a few days.  Then after Dana and the kids (our neighbors) left in early August we had Brad staying with us.  I think I just didn't take many pictures through the month.  Here is a glimpse of our month.

I love Elly's style ☺  I just love how free she is.  She doesn't think a thing about what she looks like.  I love her so much! From the front she looked alright, but the back view was something else.

The kids next door played with Elly almost every day the last few weeks they were here.  Elly loved it even though I knew it would make them leaving even harder.

That's it. Like I said, it doesn't look like we did much during August. Oh well....on to September ☺

July 2013

July was a nice month spent doing things with friends.  We have made some great friends over the last 6 years.  It's just sad to have to see them go every couple of years.  We love our neighbors and hate that they had to leave.  They left in August and it was so hard to see them go.  Elly loves them so much.  They have been in her life since she was born.  I still remember stopping by their house one evening when we were still pretty new neighbors telling them we were expecting Elly.  She never knew life without them right next door. We put off telling her they were leaving for quite awhile because we didn't know how to tell her and didn't want her to worry about it too far out.  We told her about a month before they left and almost every night after that she would ask me if Audrey and Linnea were going to be there tomorrow.  It's sad to me that she doesn't speak of them much since they left.  I know she thinks about them alot, but I think in her mind they are just gone and so she doesn't talk about them.  Today, for the first time in a long time, she said out of no where "I miss Audrey and Linnea.  We need to talk to them on the computer".  We sure do miss them.

Early in the month (of July, as I'm writing this much later) we went to the Stuttgart Zoo with them.  I love that zoo and always enjoy visiting there.  This little monkey was so cute.  He saw Elly's almonds that she was eating and begged for them so sweetly.  He followed her around and was right up on the glass trying to see what she had.  Wish we could have given him some ☺ 

We brought sandwiches from the bakery with us to the zoo, so at lunchtime we found a nice shaded area to sit and eat our lunch.  Elly had so much fun being with them.  The girls spoil her rotten and carry her everywhere.  I don't know how they do it.  Elly is probably at least half of Linnea's weight and yet she carries her.  

Elly with Linnea.  She sure loves them. 

For the 4th of July we again went to the celebration at Patch.  Elly always has to go on a horse ride there.  We stood in line for about an hour for a 3 minute ride, but she was happy.

Elly with all her sweet little friends.

And 5 minutes later she was off by herself pouting about something.

Then back to having fun with friends. 

This is the emotional roller coaster of a 4 year old.  We go on through this several times a day ☺

Ready to watch some fireworks with Kim and Sydney.

Elly and her best little friend, Sydney.

A Sesame Street show came to Patch and we were waiting in line.