Christmas with Daddy and Grandma

Friday evening was Ell's Christmas 'show' at school. (I was told earlier in the week not to call it a program, that made Ell frustrated and nervous. I had to call it a show.) Then sang "I'm Going to be a Little Angel" and "Feliz Navidad" and they all did a fantastic job!
Ell was wonderful! This year she actually sang! That is such an improvement from years past even though she got very bashful and nervous when she looked at anyone in the family. I guess that ruins my plans for being the front row parent for the next couple of 'shows'!
Seriously though, not much is cuter than a group of 4 and 5 year olds singing Christmas songs!
Ell's pre-K class... Takara, Casey, Robert, Ellie, Jayda, Conor, Garrett, Nora, Max, Meredith, Ethan, and Noah.
Margie, Meme, Ell, and Papoo

After all of the singing was over the big man in the red suit stopped by for a visit. Bill asked Ell if she wanted to go up and tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas. She looked at Bill with all of the seriousness of a 5 year old and said, "No Daddy. I saw Santa last week and told him what I wanted then. So, he already knows, I don't need to tell him again."
Saturday, Bill, Deb, and I took Ell to see the Nutcracker at the Baltimore School for the Art. It was a fantastic performance!
Ell and I at the Nutcracker.
I made sure that Ell knew that the Claire was dreaming and that is where some of the bizarre things were coming from. Then about half way through the second half she leaned over to me and asked, "Mama, why is nobody talking?" It was interesting explaining to her, in hushed tones, that the music and dancing are doing all of the "talking" but hey, she is a sharp one and told me that she understood.
Bill, Deb, and Ellie out in front of the Baltimore School of the Arts in Mt Vernon.
Quick stop at the market for afternoon snacks... YUM!
Saturday night we headed down to Hampden for dinner at Cafe Hon and to see the 34th street lights.
Ell and Grandma at Cafe Hon.
Mommy, Ell, and Daddy.
Ellie posing with the cherry from her Shirley Temple.
MB, Ell, and Deb at dinner.
Daddy, Ell, and the sweater tree.
Deb showing off her new boots in front of our new favorite store!
34th street lights
Lights in Hampden! They were very pretty but we sure weren't counting on it raining the whole time... Oh well, we all had fun anyway!
Ell and Schatzie taking it easy on Sunday morning.
Ell and Grandma at the "E" hotel.
Ell with her Mommy and Daddy.
Sunday we went to see the trains at Kennilworth.
Then Bill and Ell went to the movies to see Megamind. Deb and I went shopping but we never managed to get past Greeting and Readings!

Presents and thank you notes on Sunday night.

Monday night Ellie, Juliet, and I went down the street and braved the cold to see Santa visit the neighborhood in the firetruck. It was really cold!
Here comes Santa Clause!!
Santa and his helper!!

And sew it goes...

Ell told me she wanted to make something and here it is, her first project...
She decided to make a bah-bah for Bennett and she wanted it to look like hers, green, and fish. She cut everything on her own, fabric and ribbons. She positioned them but I pinned them in place for her.
Now we are ready to sew.
I raised the pedal of the sewing machine on a box so she could reach it with her foot. she controlled the speed and I guided the fabric so her fingers didn't get mushed. She also controlled all of the buttons and turning of the fabric. I think she is a natural!
She removed the pins and helped turn it right side out then finished the corner.
Here she is with her finished project. She was so proud of her work!

It ended up being a great lesson on hand- eye coordination, planning, thinking in reverse, and teamwork. But more than that, it was quality time with Ellie and I.

In one ear...

Well, as luck would have it Ell ended up with another cold that led to another ear infection. I am now having flashbacks to the days when she was just months old and I actually went for days without sleep... Please, not again!!

We headed to the pediatrician and left with a confirmation of what I had expected, a prescription, and a bonus referral to the ENT. A week later, at the ENT, I was told that there is thick mucus in her right ear and it has been there for some time. It is effecting her hearing now and something definitely needs to be done. Looks like the tube in Ell's left ear will be removed, new tubes inserted in both ears, and her adenoids will be removed. Ell is taking the news like a champ and surgery is TBD but I will keep you posted.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Happy 30th Birthday Margie

The Eckert tree trimming party on Sunday. Ellie and my "pink friends".
Out with some of the girls... Ell, Julie, MB, Lisa, and Heather.
Margie's friends at her surprise party... And yes, she was surprised!

Santa and Trains

How do you measure success??
Getting 5 cousins around Santa, smiling, and sitting.
Yea, this is what success looks like!!
Ell looking at the trees.
Ell, Erica, and Andrew
Crazy (running) Erica
Andrew giving Santa his wish list.
Ell and Santa... Way to go kiddo!
Last year she wouldn't get within breathing distance of the big guy and this year he has his arm around her... Awesome!
Ell and I by one of the trees.
The (fussy) Oster clan.Andrew and Erica
Cousins!!!
The train garden at Kennilworth... Every year it gets better and better.
Ell and Andrew.
Watching the trains.
Cousins and buddies.... I would say that is pretty cool!

Wise beyond her years

The other day Ell and I were in the car and the song "You Are The Best Thing" by Ray LaMontagne came on the radio. Mid way through the song this conversation, small in words but otherwise huge, occurred...
Ell: "Mama, do you know what the best thing is?"
Me: "No kiddo, tell me. What is the best thing?"
Ell: "Loving your family. That is the best thing."
Me: "You are so right, Ell, you are so very right."