Real Ice Cream Doesn't Come on a Stick

According to Ellery.....ice cream on a stick isn't real ice cream or that good. It did take her eating the whole treat on the stick to come to the conclusion that it isn't good, but at least she figured it out!

Guess the Size

This afternoon Ellery came to me and told me that her pants were leaving a mark on her. I asked her if she wanted to change and she told me no, she is fine. As I examined her closer I realized she wasn't wearing her shorts, but her brothers shorts. Her younger brother that is who wears 12-18 month old shorts! She is our little bit! A little bit packed with a mighty mind! The sad part is that it was a tiny tiny indention on her skin. It wasn't bothersome enough for her to go change, I think seeing her skin change ever so slightly was more disturbing to her! Like always I will point the finger to Rob, but he doesn't do laundry very often so this blame is a bigger stretch than most! I'll just place it on my ever so building "mother of the year" nomination form.

Dressing

Ellery is working on dressing herself! What a thought to have two children that can dress themselves. She does great as long as her undies are set out for her. If she has to do any figuring out how they go on, they go on like this. I can't imagine how uncomfortable that it, but it doesn't seem to bother her!

I can whistle

Ellery is a self taught whistler. She can only whistle by sucking air in, but she is getting pretty good! I am not sure where her motivation came from, but she has determination when she wants it!

Soft Blankie

The true highlight of the visit was the discovery of soft blankie. Grandma Debbie has a gift on finding the best blankies and the softest hence the name the kids came up with---soft blankie. We had to take turns on who got to sleep with soft blankie along with time each day to play and wrap up in soft blankie. Ellery was nice enough to share her time with Grandma Debbie, what Ellery didn't realize is that Grandma Debbie was the one doing all the sharing. I now can't wait for my birthday because Grandma Debbie had an extra one she gave the kids to give to me for my birthday! I even like soft blankie!

Carton-Wheel

We don't have Ellery in gymnastics, but she is interested. For some reason Mason calls them carton wheels. We corrected him for a bit, but then we decided to call them carton wheels too!

Left vs Right

Ellery is taking twirling lessons and we were practicing and she informed that Mrs. Sue doesn't know her left from her right. I was confused at first and then I figured it out. The girls face her and the teacher faces them. So when the teacher says left she actually goes to her right and vice versa. It is because she goes the same way of the girls so they follow.  All I know it is cautions a bit of confusion for Ellery on her left and right. She is our thinker!

From Cheerleader to Volleyball

We have now progressed from Cheerleader to Volleyball player. Ellery loves wearing her outfit now minus the skirt!

GO KU

Better start saving our pennies now so she can go to KU.

Ellery 4 Year Check-up

Height: 39.1 (35%)

Weight: 32lb 2 oz (25%)

BP: 90/58
Ellery wasn't near as excited to go to the Dr. We opted for her to get all of her shots so when she comes back for her 5 year check-up/kindergarten physical she won't have to get any. She wasn't prepared and wasn't scared to show her feelings. She did however enjoy the stickers and bubbles she got for being so brave. She remains our tiny below average kid in height and weight, but her personality is big and mighty and makes up for it! If she doesn't start putting on the weight she is going to go to kindergarten in her 5 point harness. I am not sure she will gain 8 pounds in the next two years??

The New Way to Wear a Coat

Ellery has always been on the independent side so dressing has always made an interesting time for us. I let her pick her outfits during the week, but on Sunday I tell her I get final say on what she wears and it has to meet my approval. We still have some interesting discussions to get us into clothes, that don't quite meet my standards, but compromising is in my vocabulary even if others in our family don't think so-Rob.  Today she decided to wear her coat as she felt fit-upside down. I am not sure if she meant to do it or just liked her mistake?

Ellery 4th Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Ellery

We have a 4 year old! 

I don't have a tattoo, but I might as well get one that says sucker or deal catcher. I generally don't like to shop, but when I do watch out. I am either in a buying mood or not. I happened to be in a  buying mood when I hit toys-r-us. Phey on them for having mark downs. I had some deal bucks to spend and did I spend them. It really is a brilliant marketing ploy on their part. Spend money in our store and we will send you coupons so you can buy more. I had $40 to spend and I went in with the intentions to find something that was $40. Not spend an additional $40. They marked down this Barbie car to $90. I couldn't resist it so I got it for Ellery's big 4. When she turns 16 and asks for a car we can tell her we already bought one for her! She did have a really short list for Christmas, she wanted a Barbie car and a Barbie doll house. Now she has both! It did also give us a glimpse of what it will look like with Ellery driving Bryson around. He was a compliant passenger and happy as can be to be a part of her driving life. She was happy toting him around, we might have to show them their compliance in a few years! Mason was also super excited to drive and run after everyone!

Birthday Pizza Dinner

We took our little miss 3 year old out for a pizza dinner for her birthday. Not quite her birthday, but almost. I can't believe she is going to be 4. She technically isn't a handful yet, but sometimes we think she it. If you ask her she would tell you that she is handful. She is by far more opinionated than the rest of them. I have said it before and I will probably keep saying it. She knows what she wants, when she wants, and how she wants it and you have to plead a hard case to convince her otherwise. She loves everything life has to offer her and isn't afraid to try it. The only time she is clingy is when she is competing with Bryson for my touch. I always say my kids are my greatest accessory, but Ellery and Bryson would let me carry them to the end of the earth. Personal touch is high on their list. If I sit, one of them is in my lap. If that one gets out the other one will get it!
List of Ellery's likes:
She adores books. We usually have a book on us at all times. Not to mention her bed is full of them. If you move them off her bed she pouts and puts them all back in place. Sure it looks like they don't have a place on her bed, but she has her own dewy decimal system and it actually works for her. If we don't have a book she likes to bring a stuffed animal. She isn't stuck on one animal, but they are all named the same or similar names with an H. Hailey or Hayden are her current favorite names. She still loves her blankie and sucks her two fingers when she is tired or relaxing. I think we are going to have to take blankie from her to break this habit. She loves the silky textures. She is a huge fan of Barbie. She will play at her Barbie house for an hour+. Her Barbie house is also occupied by Lego men, my little ponies, Batman toys, and princess dolls. Princess dolls are a strong second for her. She also loves anything that is girly girl. She loves pink and purple. I could ramble on on about her. Rob keeps saying he is in trouble because she is a mini me. I take it as a compliment, but I really do understand what makes her tick! I am one blessed mom to have this little girl!

Mail is Here

Papaw and Grandma Debbie are on top of sending presents in the mail. These cute PJ's are silky and came with cute house slippers. I thought when Debbie was ordering them, she was ordering for Christmas so I told her to get a bigger size, but they decided to send them for her birthday. I need to open my ears better. It really didn't matter because Ellery LOVES them and just wears the shirt as a nightgown. Her love for them will last more than one season, and who doesn't love that?!

Bryson Position

It isn't that uncommon to now find Bryson sitting in chairs and getting into things that he really shouldn't be getting into. He loves digging through the desk drawer and finding items I didn't know we had. He still loves carrying around tiny objects, the tinier the better! He also likes to find the right size pencils and pens and drop them through the cane seat of the chair. Ellery then comes running trying to find her papers and pencils that Bryson isn't allowed to have, which then turns into our everyday situation. Bryson wants what Ellery has or anything that is hers! She loves pink therefore Bryson loves pink. He is biased to anything she shows a preference for. She is starting to figure the system out. Give Bryson what she has, go find something else so he will want that, he then drops what she originally had, and goes for the second object, she then gives it to him willingly. He now has something that she just had, but she got back what she originally wanted.

God Made Me

We are playing dolls on the floor and Ellery is admiring the girl and wants green shoes like her with pink flowers. She then says she wants to grow her hair out so she can wrap her braid around to the side and have it over her front shoulder. Then out of the blue she states "Why didn't God make me beautiful like her" Pull out the parenting books! I haven't had to have these talks with Mason so I stuttered over my words with Ellery, but I think we are on the right path!

Ellery Singing

Ellery is a funny girl and I can't remember if I wrote this story? We listen to Christmas Music year round.

Ellery: "I don't need any help, PLEASE!" While we are singing Away in a Manger in the car

onto the next song of We Three Kings

Ellery: "You can help me with this one is you want."

Hysterical, she views my singing in the car with her as help not as a duo. She is a one girl show! In her defense, I really can't carry a tune! She also really does enjoy music and singing. She sings songs she knows and if she forgets she just makes something up. I never caught Mason singing songs off the radio, but Ellery listens to Rob's music and has started singing some Kesha. I think it is time to switch from hip hop listening in this house. Nothing like hearing a 3 year old sing "Wake up in the morning.........Tick Tock Don't stop........on and on she goes!

Hair

I think we broke this wig out almost a year ago. I think we got Bryson wearing it last year, but he wanted nothing to do with it this year! Ellery is our dress up queen! She doesn't want to cut her hair, she wants to grow it out like Tangled aka Rapunzel.

Oh Ellery

What are we going to do with this sweet girl. She is really into head bands these days and even wears them at night.