Swim Lessons

Penguins, Penguins Everywhere!

Ellie wrote a story about the Gentoo penguin for her class project.  Today in class she got to read her story to the class.  Here are some photos from her class!

Saturday, and the living is easy!

Today Ellie started Creative Drama at the ISU campus.  They teach song, dance, movement ... grouped by age!  She had a ball.  Can't wait to go back next week.

"Mommy, I didn't know anyone!  That's so many new friends to make!"

After her class (which runs for 5 weeks) we made a couple stops and headed back home in hopes of connecting with Lindsay ... After lunch Ellie was so excited when the doorbell rang.  After we assessed that the girls were dressed alike, they immediately headed to the Wii to play Just Dance 4.  They do so well together!

It's a new day, it's a new dawn ...

Add we're off to start our day ... lots of fun planned to counteract the very cold temps!  Hopefully we'll have lots of photos to show the fun later!

In honor of MLK day

Ellie's class learned about fairness and peace.  They re-created a photo that exemplified the message of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Ellie did a great job telling me how different things are today and how the color of a person's skin doesn't matter.  I was very proud of her!

Ellie is in the top right corner .. with the white New Direction watch!

 

52 inches tall!

Ellie is studying penguins and in class they made a height chart to see which penguin they were closest to in height.  You can see her chart here on the wall - 4 ft, 4 inches tall!  Whodda thought!

And of course her new Sketchers sneakers that light up!

More Penguins

Penguins!!

Ellie's new subject at school is learning about penguins.  She is thrilled!  She has a project to complete about penguins for January 28th and in the meantime they spent time this week making penguins in class.  Here are some photos to show her experience.

Those are Ellie's hands making the penguin!

Ellie tearing black paper to make the Penguin.

Benny - who Ellie has explained is always really nice to her!

Playoff Sunday!

Routing for the Seahawks in the early game and the Pats in the late game .. only time will tell how we fare with our picks today.  We were two for two yesterday with the dreaded Packers losing and the Broncos going down too!

Our girl is ready to rumble!

The basement is complete!

Starting the day

Instagram has a weekend challenge to tap your photos #WHPlookingup to share what you see when 'looking up'.  I'm already having fun with this one!  Ellie and I went outside first thing to enjoy the morning sky .. and sunrise in the Mid-West.

It's going to be a great day by the looks of things!

Instagram filter Hi-Pro

Instagram #nofilter

Lost another tooth!

And that makes 3!  all in a row on the bottom ... the middle two have, of course, been replaced by her new teeth.  And now a new gap where the 'wiggly' tooth fell out tonight right before dinner!

She was happy as a clam!  And now we await the Tooth Fairy!

Weekend Wrap-up

We had some beautiful snow over the weekend.  It flurried and flurried ... and left us with a dusting of wonderful.  As you know, Ellie loves getting out there and playing in it, and today was no different!

She put those boots, hat, coat and scarf on and trekked out to the backyard .. again!  Thank goodness there was no strong wind to speak of so the bright sunshine kept her out there for quite a bit!

Another weekend in the books .. she goes back to school tomorrow.  We'll cross our fingers all goes well!

More snow photos from today..

2012 closes with ** SNOW **

Snowy day!  Ellie loves to be outside in it .. running, making snowballs and snow angels!  Not very bright, but you can still see the joy on her face!

Saturdays are the MOST Fun!

Lots of wonderful errands to get caught up on today ... picture frames for things to hang, Toys R Us gift card for Ellie to use and somewhere in between we stopped for brunch ... at Wild Berries.  Here's a few shots of our adventure ..

Breakfast

She sure does love her peanut butter and Nutella!

Dancing Queen

Ellie's present from Santa this year was a sparkly dance outfit and Just Dance for the Wii.  You should see her go!  She's practiced every song and every move .. she'll be ready for Just Dance 2 by her birthday!  I remember when we were  in Charlottesville, Ellie was 5-ish and two of the older girls, Elyana and Kayla were 8 teaching Ellie all the moves in Miss Vivian's living room.  Funny how life moves so quickly .... Lan's twins are now 10, and Miss Vivian has twins of her own that are 3 months old .. Haley and Riley ... and Ellie has mastered Just Dance!

Ellie's new camera

Ellie is learning to use her new camera .. with lots and lots of blurry photos to show for it.  We tell her she's practicing .. and practice makes perfect.  Here's the best of the best ... and we're working on her focus!

Boxing Day in Canada - December 26th

A few shots of Ellie in her new winter coat - love the Gymboree color!  And a scarf from Aunt Maureen~ she loves it .. it's soft and colorful!