Picture Thursday.

 

 

I couldn't have said it any better :). ~H

My Daddy Does Cool Stuff.

 

 

Dear Daddy,

 

 

I want you to know how cool it is that music is so much of my young life. More times than not, I fall asleep to the sound of your drums creeping up through the furnace vents in the evening. I like your bandmates a lot. In fact, I like them so much I spend a great deal of time being bashful around them. When our traveling musician friends come through Ella-land for performances, it makes me happy that they stay under our roof (sometimes taking up every bed and couch available). You and mommy are teaching me to be kind and to share what we have with others, unless of course it is my Thomas Train and that is another story entirely.

 

I get to go to grown-up places sometimes to watch you play. This is a big deal for me, especially when we go to the place that has the HUGE bowl of suckers (you know what I'm talking about!). Mommy and you do a really good job of including me in your world.

 

Whether you know it or not, I'm paying attention. And your recent blood, sweat and tears behind the 4th Annual Raise Some Cash fundraiser for the food pantry located at our church is a big deal. Like last year, I will help you get things together for Sunday's event. I'm looking forward to some good Johnny Cash dance parties this weekend to get us ready.

 

I don't really understand how God is always with us, like mommy says, because I don't see Her. (God is a She, you know.) You tell me that God wants us to be kind. I think God will be with us on Sunday and that She's already happy at the kindness you and all our musician friends and artists are showing those who need our help. 

 

 

 

You do cool stuff, Daddy-o. You are teaching me that serving can take all sorts of twists and turns and that's even cooler.

Love, Ella Man Li



PS: Of course, Mommy does cool stuff too :)

Light.

It has been a week. Our friend Matt (check out their family blog here) ran in THE marathon on Monday. I'm relieved to say he finished it and was out of the area before the bombs exploded. Relieved is kind of an understatement, I guess. We've spent more time watching the tele this week than we have in months. Because we kept it under Ella's radar, I didn't have to explain anything to her. I know that will change soon.

It felt that much better to hit the zoo in brisk, windy weather on Wednesday, as if to say, "Darkness, you got nothin' on us." So we walked in the light.

Laughed. Explored. Learned. Blew kisses at orangutans. Danced.

 

 

We tired our bodies out. (evidenced by this expression)

And we were thankful then, and continue to be.

 

Have a good Monday, Ella-Land. ~H

Wearing blue and other happenings.

Here in Ella-land, Wednesday was Wear Blue to support child abuse prevention. Our local yarn lady 'bombed' just about anything she could to rally awareness. Bombs were made by knitters locally, across the world and even Newtown, CT and shipped to her. Unfortunately, the weather was ridiculously lousy...but it didn't stop us.

 

 

And then there was dancing. Because Larry was busy at work in his office (you can see his building in the distance - the dark brown gingerbread looking one), the girls performed a bit for him while dodging cold raindrops.

 

The girls then took us to the fabric store. My mom is making the girls pillow sleeping-bag mats. After an hour of "I want this one!", the girls made their selections. Any guesses on who picked the pretty kitties and who picked the rockets??

So perfectly balanced, these two.

Our weekend was filled with FCC friends in kind of a whirlwind-last-minute-great-way. We met up with Ava and her parents at our museum on Friday night complete with a surprise from Roz when we had an ice cream nightcap.

On Saturday morning we bundled up (rain, wind gray AGAIN) for a playground fundraiser carnival at the Metro Park just up the road. It was indoors thankfully :)

Forget about all the cute games Emmett, Ava, Roz and Ella played, or all the silly plastic toys they won. There. Was. Cotton. Candy.

 

This will prove one thing: Ella doesn't get cotton candy a whole lot.

She held the paper cone of air blown sugar for at least five minutes, marveling at its beauty. All of the parents were giddy at her giddiness to the point that she asked me to turn her around so that no one would watch her savor each bite! Funny girl.

~H

 

Energy Boost.

Gray. Rainy. Windy. Cold. Sick (me, not Ella).

That's on the agenda today.

In an effort to provide an energy boost, here's a little pick-me-up from a late afternoon trip to the playground last week. It was gorgeous and the static in her hair was surreal!

Hoping to get back to the blog soon with the energy it requires!!

~H

Snapshot Saturday.

A day filled with breakfast and tunes with Larry, family, KatieRoz and neighborhood friends. Dancing in the streets of downtown to the music spilling out of the café. An afternoon filled will bubbles and bike rides to Grandma and Papa's house.

 

 

 

 

Note how far she is off the ground!

A night filled with giggles, snuggles and exhausted bodies! ~H

How I almost...

...beat you in front of the Risen Lord.

I apologize. This is probably not how you thought my Easter 2013! blog post would begin. When you are living with a near-four-year-old powerhouse, not much begins the way you plan.

She seemed cute and happy enough to be in perfect form for Easter Sunday at Ah-men. I mean, she was blowing the trumpet for Pete's sake! "Her room" (the nursery) was filled with new faces. The sanctuary was packed long before start time (woohoo!). Her radar was heightened, things weren't the same. How dare we change things up!

We sit in the same general area during worship. In fact, for my near 45 years I'd venture to guess my family has graced that general spot the entire time. When Ella realized someone different was in our pew she lost it. And by lost it I don't mean cried silent tears and pouted...she screamed MOOOOOOM at the top of her lungs, and cried, and stomped her feet, and ended up on the ground in her awesome Easter frock made by my mom. I walked away. She screamed louder. Onlookers watched on trying desperately not to burst into laughter which was fine because I too almost found it laughable.

So yes, I almost lost my religion on the kid in front of the Risen Lord. I think He was even laughing a bit. (And she did get it together and turn on the angelic awesome behavior for the entire service.)

And her dress was beautiful.

Chilly, wet beginning to the day.

 

She was amazingly cooperative and imaginative in her poses.

Hands-on-hips-bossy-face is NOT a pose. This is the norm.

My brother hosted a smaller family gathering that day. Even though Ella was the only little sprout, he had eggs hidden for just her. (spoiled) The sun finally peeked out and so did Lambeau. He is one cute puppy.

Allison and Grant. Hard to believe he's graduating from college next month!

Cousin Dawn with Mom.

Busy mind getting ready to issue wake-up call to Grant.

Music with Papa.

Oh and the horn was in the Easter basket. The Easter Bunny did not deliver the basket or come to our house. Ella was petrified about the concept of this huge human-animal thing coming to her house while she was asleep. So, we told her the truth - that we would have a basket waiting for her that morning. Forget most of the candy, it was this horn that made her happiest.

When you have a horn and a duck that sings "You Are My Sunshine", compliments of Grandma and Papa, you really don't need anything else.

Happy Friday! ~H