Funny things over heard at our house

Bella: "Why didn't you name me Pretty Sparkles?"

Ellie: "Mill(milk) - hoppy in dere" (think of the Nesquik mascot)

Lilli: "I think I've had enough of those lettuce balls!"

Where did November go?

I have no idea where the whole month of November went. We had a fun Thanksgiving at our friends house and then a second one on Friday (If you don't cook it, you don't get the leftovers!)

We had company for a long weekend too, it was fun to show Ruthie and Shane all around Duke's campus.

The girls have been keeping me very busy.

Lillian was getting behind on her math and we have tried to buckle down and get it done, but she just doesn't like it. But she is progressing well with her reading and science. She has also been enjoying her Girl Scout meetings and playing with the neighbor girl.




Bella had her first violin recital, it was so cute! Bella showed off her terrific violin posture and then her teacher played "All Around the Mulberry Bush" and Bella would pluck the E string for the "POP". Very cute. I finally gave Bella her first hair cut, it isn't very even but she only allowed me one snip, you would have thought I was hurting her, I think she has a lot of self-identity in her hair and doesn't want short hair. I took the back and twisted it then one snip and we were done, she cried for about 30minutes after. It looks a lot better and is still hits her mid-waist.





Elliana is adding to her vocabulary and cuteness everyday. We have tried a new sleep training technique that seemed to be working, until she got sick again, she was up twice last night.


There were also 2 field trips, one to Agapé Center for Environmental Education

and to Falls Lake. We also had our homeschool groups family event. It was a fun time outside with lots of food and games. The theme was based on the book The Gullywasher. So we took a Mexican theme with it. I made the girls skirts so that they could look like the American Girl Doll Josefina. But then it was cold that morning so I also cut some fleece ponchos for them. We also took Carnitas with cheese and tortillas and a bean and corn salad that I want to make again. I was also in charge of the sound discovery/make your own instrument table. Thankfully one of the other mothers made everything and I just had to "man" the table. My camera died half way through the day so not many pictures...






I guess that is November in a nutshell.
We are having a good start to the Advent Season, the girls are relearning the Christmas carols, the tree is up, most of the shopping is done and hopefully I won't get as far behind this month.

Jasmine

Picture thoughts from today

My Bella...

For some reason the girls have been talking death, so I have had many questions to answer. I am doing my best to tell the truth without telling too much if you know what I mean. Well, Bella has decided that when she goes to be with God she is going to be a butterfly, not just dress up as butterfly, but be a real butterfly and then she will come back to our house and live in my flower garden. I don't even know what to say, but she is so sweet.

Oh kids

Lillian is sick so she was watching a movie in my room while I was downstairs with the other girls, I am hoping that no one else gets sick. Anyway, I hear the phone ring one time and then nothing, I didn't think much of it because that happens from time to time. But...then Lillian came downstairs and said "Mom, I called 911, I was watching the movie and got scared"
Me: "you what!?!?" "for real?"
In the meantime I am looking through the phone book for the police phone number. The phone rings again and I can't find the cordless (John had left it upstairs) I run upstairs to find it and decided to dial *69(we are so 1990 and don't have caller ID) and the man that answers says: "This is the relay operator, your call is being recorded".

Me: "um this is the last number that called me, do you know why?"

"I was calling about a 911 call"

"That was my 6 year old we are all fine, I am so sorry"

Oh boy, we've already had the fire department out for a false alarm, but that can be blamed on my cooking :)

"Well, I got the 911 call and no one talked and then I called back and heard someone breathing and then hang up after a minute or two and then called and got your voicemail"


"I couldn't find the phone, but we are ok"

"I will tell them but they may still come out to check, at least you know she knows how to call 911"

"um yeah, I guess"

Then I see the message from the relay operator.

I start speed cleaning the downstairs, nothing like knowing the fuzz is on the way to get you off your duff and cleaning. Lillian is hiding in the bathroom.

The officer shows up, I apologize, and tell him Lillian wants to say sorry and how we talked about how it's only for emergencies. She didn't, she hid behind the door. Then he gave Lillian a police badge sticker! Way to reinforce calling 911.

A fabulous trip...

I love, love, love the beach. John, not so much, but being the fabulous husband he is, he took us all to the beach. Granted he was in a conference the whole time, but he did arrange for us to stay in a beach front hotel. It was such a nice break; warm sun, soft sand, crashing waves, water that was nice and warm. The girls and I would get up, take daddy to work and then hit the beach till they were worn out hungry. Then it was back to our tiny hotel room for a picnic lunch and naps. After naps we picked up daddy and then dinner out and some time in the pool. On the beach we found a huge crab, saw dolphins, and played in the sand (and we didn't even have sand toys!) We were very sad to leave. Here are some pictures from our adventures.






I love this man, thank you honey.

The Fourth of July!

I love the 4th of July, it has everything I like about summer. In our quest of making great memories for the girls we went to downtown Durham and the girls decorated their bikes and wagon with supplies from the Scrap Exchange and some American flags. Then we had a parade around the block that ended with some frozen pops. The Durham fire department was there too and they sprayed their hose to cool of those who wanted it, it was a lot of fun for the girls to run in the water.















After a quick nap we headed to our pool, Parkwood Swim Club, for their pool party. They had an awesome waterslide that both Lillian and Bella loved! There was cookout, potluck and we let the girls eat some delicious cupcakes. Our friends Norah and Kristen were there too!

Easter 2009

The big girls had a blast coloring Easter eggs, we didn't do it last year because I was very pregnant with Ellie and had her the day before Easter (they day my mom got her and I was going to make her do it) Anyway, it was great fun, they also had glitter in the bags to make glitter eggs.





I guess that is what Ellie did during the egg coloring.




Easter Morning










Then we went to our friends house for an Easter Egg hunt and delicious dinner.






Checking out their loot