Lucky Seven

big green party honors

pancake honors

big sis flips for Ella

family cupcake honors

we have heard that seven is a lucky number. it certainly is for this lass. we celebrated seven years filled with her laughter, love and optimism this month.

the day began with our customary pancake breakfast, made by a loving big sister no less.

and the week was filled with family well wishes and mass preparation for a st. patrick's day party. the house was bedecked in green, party games were planned, all made complete with a barbie cake made lovingly by mom. (you would never know I swore I would never embrace barbie anything - oh the the torn feelings I endure even still. it was the one request I hoped would make it THE birthday to remember.)

memories were certainly made as we searched for our own pot of gold, made good luck charms, and giggled and romped with 15 little misses in our home.

when all was said and done, Ella blew out candles four different times and she reveled in the all deserved attention. I have often heard not to do too much or make it too big a deal, but why not? shouldn't they know they are adored and revered by the ones who usually micro manage every aspect of their lives? the day they came into our lives was a big deal, and lots of reminders, even lumped together once a year birthday reminders, help make this known. well, this year I think she knows.

one more year until a milestone is set, already we have begun talk of what we get to prepare for next year. so grateful for the sweet whisperings of encouragement I have received in behalf of this miss. a growing testimony and an enthusiasm for faithful steps thrill our hearts as we watch her continue to grow into an amazing girl.

happy to you Miss Ella, our love for you is never ending, kinda like that rainbow we keep chasing.

full circle

a few of you may remember this from Gracie's past. (click on the name)

that was our first crazy hair experiance. and I have since improved in confidence, if not just improved. we had another first this week - Ella's first Crazy Hair day, hence we are full circle.

it was "de ja vous" this week as we hustled to prepare two heads for Crazy Hair day at school.

not bad, eh? not sure why it's the pipe cleaners,

but they are most always somewhere in the requested plan.

I missed the photo opp before Grace was off to school - and of course it was all out by the time she made it home. gratefully they were both satisfied, although they ended up trading ideas.

Grace had great "alien" hair and was quite pleased, although it looked more like bead head.

Ella requested bed head, and this is a bit more alien. alls well that ends well, right?

now I just need to replenish our pipe cleaner supply.

apparently, Ella likes to wear crazy things on her head.

the flying nun get up was to honor St. Patrick.


and I thought the green eggs and pancakes John whipped up would be enough of an honor.
guess I'll know better next year!

we are off to continue to enjoy the delightful start to spring weather!
hope your week has been as beautiful as ours.

lala turns six.

we had a birthday to start our week.

complete with pancakes and candles for breakfast.

dad got creative this year and added a chocolate smile.

this year Ella was unaware it was even going to be her birthday.

when I informed her a few days before it was a rush to count it down!

better to make it a short wait I say.

we do simple birthdays every other year, to keep mom sane and the pocket book in check.

this year we had some family over for homemade pizza and strawberry shortcake.

come to find out Ella meant she wanted Strawberry Shortcake the DOLL on her birthday cake. oops. but it was well received regardless. unfortunately mommy has a bad head cold and am less than sharp, so not all the calls were made to family to join us! oops again. that's OK - it's no trouble to do it again soon, sans the birthday song.

she was really expecting LOTS more family you know, ahem.

just so you know you are now all on notice!

I mean any opportunity to hear "noodle noodle" rock and see those fancy tricks on drums and guitar are welcome fun for any one, right!

good times and a great occasion to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Miss La.

so happy you joined our family.

first days...

of school that is.

summer was such a blurr! John and I have been so preoccupied with other matters that time has just whizzed by. but we did our best to revel and enjoy!

this is the first year since preschool that Grace was not antsy with anticipation. at least she was still looking forward to it, even if not overly excited. it is just so sad to see the enthusiasm for school begin to fade, inevitable I know. contrast that with Ella, who is beside herself excited! it has been so hard for her to wait the extra week for assessment testing in kindergarten to be complete. but today is the day - and that leaves me with one at home three out of five days. sounds lovely. happy first days ladies - love our elementary school beauties!

spring forward

seems like daylight savings is kickin' our butts. how's it going at your house?

(and this is not staged - Ella is dead asleep on the stairs)

BIG 5

Ella officially turned 5 this week. and as customary for odd numbered birthdays we got to party! of course she wanted everything princess, but since the first names on the guest list were boys I figured we should try a different approach. so Ella hosted her own movie "premiere". Everyone came as their favorite "movie star", we made party hats and played games. The candles had a little extra sparkle for the event (although you can't tell in the picture) Ella played her first game of "heavy heavy hang over" and everyone got to watch a show on the "big screen". and of course each movie star had to take home some swag, it was a fun filled day for all, we hope!

my favorite part of the day was how it began. traditionally, we have pancakes on each birthday with candles for the birthday girl. Ella could hardly contain her excitement, it was, after all, her day. so candles were lit and the special song sung and Ella glowed with happiness at this simple act of love from her family. that is a great word to describe my la la girl. glowing - a smile lights her face in a new way each day.

Ella has a very strong spirit, so determined but so sweet. she is the one who ALWAYS reminds us when it is time to pray, that Heavenly Father is watching over us, and that pink is now one of her favorite colors. persistent and fun, always looking for someone to play with, can pick up a conversation with anyone with out thinking twice. and her vocabulary sometimes scares me, this one is smart. and she is mine. that puts a smile on my face.

Happy #5 La La Princess!

A mommy's Lament

my four year old is growing up. YAY her!

BUT, alas, my four year old is growing out of some of my favorite things about her.

for four and a half years her favorite color has been yellow,

orange a close second. lately though, pink is her standard.

my four year old has an adorable little voice with a darling lisp of sorts.

lately she is correcting her words.

BIG SIGH. what is a mommy to do?

gratefully as she is growing so is my love for her,

regardless of how head strong she is becoming.

another BIG SIGH. gotta love being a mom.

Fair Fun gone wrong

So after our fabulous time at the Utah State Fair we enjoyed a couple of quiet days adjusting to life with two students and a baby's changing nap schedule. Then things got a little ugly. Ruby got sick on Tuesday, but was such a little trooper. We were not alarmed until Friday. After a Trip to the Pediatrician's and the E.R. for her, Ella decided to get in on the action. She got sick with a vengeance. After a day and a half of nonstop trips to the bathroom, Mom got fed up and took her to the E.R After a short conversation they pretty much nailed what was going on. The culprit EColi, although it would be another day before we had concrete evidence.

Wow, where do you pickup Ecoli? Oh Cows carry it?! REALLY?!!! Apparently cows are common carriers, although you do have to ingest the germs to actually contract this bacterial infection. So if you happen to have contact with a cow and then you don't wash your hands and say eat something or just suck on your fingers, Voila, EColi! And since Dad was oblivious to the many signs directing everyone to wash up, it's not a real surprise. Mom knew better, too, but hey what's a few germs? It doesn't help that it is actually one of the more infectious intestinal diseases, it takes a fraction of the germ spores to infect compared to "regular" bacterial infections.

Ella got an overnight stay in the Rapid Treatment Unit, she thought it was almost as good as staying in a hotel. All I know is that I walked in with a child writhing in pain and crying for help, and by bed time our Ella emerged. Dancing around next to her bed and eager to explore the toys outside her door, she thought it was all fun and games. Gratefully, for all of us, that was all she needed. She was back at school two days later.

The discharging Doc was anxious to have us understand what they had discovered and what it meant for Ella and Ruby. Oh, how bad could that be - they seem fine! The strain they had contracted was the worst kind to get - the same kind that got dished up in the big spinach epidemic - cows pooping in the irrigation water. It can cause a syndrome called Hemolytik Uremik Syndrome and can wreck havoc on Kidneys and cause you to attack your own blood cells. OH POSH - we are sooo fine NOW! It was so nice to get everyone under one roof, even one night in the hospital is one too many.

Here are a couple of highlights Ella Shared while we sat in a hospital room together.

"Mom, why are we staying in this life, i like being Chinese people." Hands up in an I don't know sort of shrug.

After a day of IVs and E.R.'s, just before drifting off to sleep. "Mom, today was fun."

"Wow mom, I am so much better feeling! Can I go to school today?" said in her best enthusiastic voice, and with an I.V. dripping into her little vein.

"Mom, my best invention is LOVE." how do you ever top that one?

Another First!

It finally arrived, a little later than Ella would have liked, but the first real day of school is here! Ella has been asking for days and days when she would get to meet her new teachers and go to school - just can't stand being home with mom I guess! It's all good, so glad she wanted to go. I am thrilled by Ella daily. I love her words of "wisdom" and her many intense "Mommy, I love you." 's I'm gonna miss having her around. Happy ABC's Ella! I love you too!

Ella's Tag

We had a request for Ella's "Tag" information - so I thought why not? Here we go!

Jobs Held
1. Making Bed
2. Getting Dressed
3. Setting the Table
4. Wash, Flush, Brush

Movies I can watch over and over and over and over and over and over......
1. Ice Age the Meltdown
2. Cinderella
3. Clifford
4. ANY movie

Guilty Pleasures
1. T.V.
2. Candy
3. Shaved Ice
4. Do I feel guilt over things at this age?

Places I've Lived
1. With my mom and dad
2. Salt Lake City

Television Shows I enjoy
1. ALL of it
2. PBS Kids
3. Sat. Morning Cartoons

The boys I like
1. Toby - someday we are gonna marry
2. Porter
3. My Daddy
4. what other boys?

Places I've been
1. Boise
2. The Beach (Newport)
3. Disneyland
4. Lagoon
5. St. George for Cousin Camp
6. Si's Cabin to "Mobile"
7. Jackson Hole, Wy.

My Favorite Foods
1.Calzones and Pizza
2. Chicken Nuggets
3. Candy
4. Ice Cones!

Body Parts I have injured

I hope this doesn't jinx anything - nothing injured in my 4yrs yet!

Awards I have won
1. Flowers after Ballet performance
2. Soccer Medal

Nicknames I've had
1. La La
2. GrrElla
3. Van Ella Bean/Beans/Beanie
4.Ella Bella - Thanks Uncle John!

This is Ella at 4, what fun!

The Village

This is Ella and Grandma April. Does anyone see any resemblance here? How can you miss it is the better question. John and I hear all the time how much Ella looks like him, well to be honest I couldn't always see it. I think that is because she looks so much more like someone else. Our daughters are extremely lucky. They have Grandmothers, Aunts, cousins, Great Grandmothers, Great Aunts, all worthy of emulation.

They say it takes a village to raise a child and I am so glad to have a family village full of amazing women. I know that my Father in Heaven was very mindful of my daughters when he put us all together. I won't bore anyone with all my short comings; He knew I could help make up for some of them by utilizing my sisters and sisters in law, not to mention our fabulous mothers. This gives me a lot of peace of mind. I love how my daughters beg to go visit their Grandma's and how their faces glow after an aunt has offered a hug and compliment. To have so many beautiful vibrant women in their lives not only blesses their lives, but mine as well. I am still learning and grateful for each lesson witnessed at the hands of a Grandma or a sister. So I am paying homage to our Village of Women - may you all realize how you bless our lives continually. Thank You!

The Invincable Moustache Girl

This is Moustache girl. A.K.A Ella Shirley. Armed with a bright smile and energy that would shame the energizer bunny. She can leap four steps with a single bound, or two. Master of disguises she is most often spotted in a tiara and princess attire. This super hero has the tenacity to outlast any villain out to bed her. She can run circles and dizzy you into sedation. Her 4 year old voice carries for miles. Her greatest weapon - canon balls into the bath tub; a great way to wash down the bathroom! Ella is vigilant at all hours of the night. ( someone needs to keep watch after mom and dad are asleep.) It is now rumored that Moustache girl is secretly training a side kick to aid her "good" deeds and super conduct. Citizens in the Shirley household say they are grateful for this 'stache wonder and expect many future sightings and adventures.