Pigtails!

Thoughts on a Saturday evening

Ella notices pretty things everywhere -- flowers, lights, her new tutu, sparkles on t-shirts. "Pwetty pwetty!"

Rand asked for Lisey to sleep in his room tonight. Rand also loves Butters, a little Maltese puppy that we're babysitting. When we picked him up, Butters rode home on Rand's lap. Butters is too little to get up and down the stairs by himself, so Rand helps Butters move from floor to floor.

Ella took a bubble bath tonight for an hour and a half. She put her stacking cups on her feet and said, "Shoes!" and then laughed hysterically.

I think the Netflix/wii combination may make up for the fact that we don't have cable.

I love how Ella confidentally backs up and plops herself into your lap when she wants to read. There is never any doubt in her mind that there will be a lap to catch her.

Our house is a decorator's nightmare. There is not one spot that I look at and go, "Wow, that's perfect!" Slow but steady, no?

I got an unexpected check for dogsitting that I did almost a year ago. It's always lovely when being nice pays off.

I made monkey bread last night for the first time in ages. It was such a hit that Rand requested it again tonight. I thought that sounded delicious so I obliged.

When you ask Ella to give you a kiss, she turns her cheek towards you so that you can kiss her.

Smiles

It's been a long week.

But even so, there are some things that I want to remember about this week:

Rand had his first soccer tots class on Saturday. He was hesitant to participate at first, but had a great time. He always wants to talk to the coach, and his favorite part was when they all got to throw their soccer balls at the coach to practice proper throwing techniques.

Ella thinks the computer is magic portal that can show her whatever pictures she wishes to see: "Horse!" or "Baby!" or "Dog!"

I caught Ella yesterday holding a box of cold cereal and standing next to a Labrador who was tied up in the kitchen. She very seriously would pour out a few pieces, wait for the dog to eat it, and repeat. Very cute. This is why our dogs adore her.

Rand loves to play on the wii. His favorite games are Mario Kart and Lego Star Wars. I have to set a timer otherwise he would play on there all day.

Ella loves loves loves reading books right now. She always wants to sit on your lap, and when the story is over will get up, run over to the bookcase, pick out another book, and then walk backwards to you so she can plop! right down on your lap and read some more. Sometimes she misses when she sits down and tips over.