We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do!

Last week was Spirit Week at Olivia's school.

I love the dress-up part of it all.

Monday she was a ninja.

Tuesday she was a bunny.

Thursday she was mismatched.

Friday she was a junior cheerleader. (shown here, at the end, pointing)

Olivia is in the 2nd row of sweeties, toward the middle of the screen.

I thought I would die of all the cuteness!  She adored the big-girl cheerleaders, who were all totally fantastic (read: patient!) with the little ones.  She has already informed is that she WILL be doing this again next year!

Christmas Program 2011

Olivia is learning "How Great Thou Art."

The Butterfly Song

I don't know why Ellia kept her finger pointed to herself.

The hair-flipping makes me laugh out loud.

I saw a little worm,

Crawling up a tree.

It wiggled and it wiggled,

And it wiggled right at me!

I put it in a box. 

"Stay right there!" I said.

But when I opened up the box, 

A butterfly instead!

I couldn't do it,

Even if I tried!
For only God in heaven

Can make a butterfly!

 

This one's for Thoo-Thee (a.k.a. "Susie")

We miss you, Grandma Susie!
xoxo,
     The Michigan Clan

Crawling

Looking very proud of herself after her video shoot today.

Proof positive that the 6-month-old crawls!

Favorite Things: Sensory Edition

A few things which delight my senses of late.

(1) Things to SEE
* Brienna in her winter hat

















* Bows in my girls' hair


















(2) Things to Touch/Feel
* My slippers
* A scalding-hot shower

(3) Things to Smell
*Brienna, after her bath

















*Coffee



















(4) Things to Hear
* the song, "His Robes for Mine", by Chris Anderson
* my kids, making each other laugh


(5) Things to Taste
*coffee, again
* ww banana flax muffins (Since they're so healthful, it's okay to eat 3 or 4 at a time, right?)

What things send your senses into a tailspin?
I'd love to know!

Like a Stuck Pig

(Does any of you hate the sound of your own voice/laugh, as I do?)

This is Me, by Brienna

This is me. This is the face I make most often, the face which looks like my Daddy.






This is me, trying to crawl already. See how I'm trying to get my ham hocks up underneath me? And my mom is gettin' after me for growing too fast; that's why I'm laughing.




This is me, doing yoga. This position is called the rolie-polie-toe-sucker. I'm not very good at sitting yet, but I'm very good at this position.





This is me, grabbing my toes. They're fascinating, and I love them.










And this is me, laughing at you! Have a great day!






P.S. This video is for the grandparents. You can watch it if you want, but it's probably pretty boring, unless you find scooting babies particularly interesting.

Ellia Speaks

Ellia has had a language explosion! Her vocabulary expands daily; it's so much fun to hear her repeat words (usually!). Here's a little sampling. My favorites are "Grammy" and "don't know." Did your little ones have cutesy names for things?

Such a Proud Mama am I!

This week, Livvie's K4T section focused on The Trinity. I worried, unnecessarily, that her verse would be too long to learn in just one week. Silly me.

(Sorry about the big BLURB at the end. I'm afraid my camera is on its last leg, so to speak.)

Ellia on the Slide

I forgot about this video, taken while my parents were here. Ellia was so proud of herself for going down the slide all by herself!

Helper-in-Training

Oh yeah, I start 'em young around here.

In fact, I firmly believe that's why they make the dryer doors soooooooo low.

Little Old Man

I've never thought my children to be ugly, but this new face Ellia makes...

...it surely isn't pretty! She looks like a little old man!

Reading Time

Hours upon hours of reading Little Mommy have paid off.

Livvie can now "read" it, almost word-for-word, to Ellia, who sits at rapt attention and helps turn the pages.

"My neighbor comes for a cup of tea. We have a party by the cherry tree...Oh, dear! I'm afraid Betsy is ill! I put her to bed and give her a pill. I call on the phone for Doctor Dan. He says he'll come as soon as he can. ...Don't worry! She'll be well as quick as a wink. It's just the mumbledybumps, I think... Dinner is ready, don't be late... sit up straight! Eat your spinach; it's good for you. It's storytime. I'll read a poem and a nursery rhyme. It's bath time now for my little dears. I scrub their necks and wash their ears. I tuck them in bed and sing them a song, and they'll be asleep before very long... Goodnight, dollies. I'm sleepy, too."

...not that I advocate dancing...

...but fewer things are cuter than a dancing baby. Even if she is dancing to "Do Lord."

Fun in the Tub

In case you're wondering, cherries have an immediate laxative effect on a 13-month-old baby.

Immediate and dramatic.

She didn't seem to mind. After all, she got a bath out of it all!

"Hi!" (Ellia's first word)

Ellia has learned her first word! And boy, o boy, is it cuuuuuute!

Energy, anyone?

This video will either make you feel some of that lost energy of your youth...

...or it will drive you to take a nap.

Olivia, Caela (cousin), and Beth (Pastor's daughter)

A Merry Old (walking) Soul

Ellia Joy has started flashing this cheeky grin all the time. The squinty eyes, the wrinkled-up nose, the 2 little teeth... irresistible! Makes me want to stuff her inside a tortilla & eat her right up!

And look out, world! I think we're about 2 weeks away from having a full-blown walker on our hands. Of course, any child of mine will walk, run, or turn somersaults when food is the teaser.

(please pay no attention to the big caboose on yours truly.)