A few pictures

I love prunes!

We got our tree the earliest ever!

Finding shaggie taggie on Christmas

Gabriella loving on brother while he takes
the opportunity to grab Clara's hair (her new doll)

I'm a big boy now

The FOUR year old!

Ella

September 29th
Lincoln Square

Yes, it's true that on September 29th Miss Gabriella Marguerite turned four years old. I can hardly believe we've had her for four years. So much has happened and she has grown from our baby girl so fast into our little girl. Stop growing! I keep telling her as a joke, but sometimes I wish we could make time stand still and savor the special moments like holding your newborn for the first time and feeling the strongest instant bond.....spending long hours ummm "peacefully" discussing what her name should be.......finally naming her....... being thrilled when she rolled over, crawled, walked and said Mama as her first word (of course)........ wondering on her 2nd birthday if I would ever get to "fix" her hair in ponytails, pigtails, braids, etc. and then slowly seeing her bald head finally turn into beautiful long golden curls through four years of time..... sighing a big sigh of relief when she finally learned how to jump (seriously I once googled: "age 3 + can't jump")..... being amazed at how her long legs continue to grow and how graceful they can be in third position during ballet class..... loving her beautiful buck tooth smile and being ever so thankful we just acquired dental insurance that includes orthodontia.....wondering how on earth this innocent, sweet child has turned out so beautiful, smart, sweet, considerate, kind, caring, observant and so creative and fun by spending her days with you.....and watching her cherish and love on her baby brother like she needs nobody else in this world.....and then realizing that you can't stop time so you try to soak it all in because you know how quickly another four years will pass........

Reprise of the cake on the real birthday

This little girl loves her Papa

The infamous"If you take a mouse to school" lunchbox cake
And I thought Ella the Elephant was hard last year! (I have more pictures if you want to see them just let me know :-)

Doing the Hokey Pokey with her friends

Ella requested the events of the day: Lunch of PBJ, go see the play "If you take a mouse to school", face painting by Mama, eat cake, do the Hokey Pokey"

My favorite two faces

Ella by "Mouse"

Posing for a picture in the courtyard:
Ryan, Ella, Braden, Asha
Nicholas

Uncle Jeff and Aunt Marion have been at all four of Ella's birthday party's!
This was in the lobby of the Apollo Theatre where we saw the Emerald City Theatre production of
"If you take a mouse to school".

My little dress-up girl

"The best 4th of July ever"

So Ella just declared this the best 4th of July ever! She and I went up to the roof of our building and looked all around the city to see fireworks going off all over the place, and then sat and watched the fireworks show from a very exclusive private club that's right up at the corner. It was perfect. No crowds, no smoke, no dangerous fireworks being set off by drunk people around us. (I still don't get why they sell these things in the grocery store. I grew up in California where they are illegal and completely understand why!)

It was just the two of us and the sliver of the moon. A lifelong memory for both Mother and daughter. This was the first year that she was not terrified of the noise and we could actually watch a fireworks show. Thank you Papa for keeping our sweet sick Nicholas sheltered safely inside from the noise, and chilly night.

Happy Independence Day and remember this is how we received our Independence.

Old

That's what my daughter thinks of me. Old. All day long this is what I heard, over and over again:
"Happy Birthday Mama!"
"Thank you Ella."
"How old are you again?"
"37"
"Wow!" (long pause)
"You're really old"

And then she looked into my eyes and lovingly asked me the newest quote of the week in the sidebar...which by the way was definitely caused by her (and Nicholas).

Happy Birthday to me!
Happy 2 month birthday to Nicholas!

Picture catch-up

Here are some pictures from the last 4-6 weeks.

Dress-up

Opening my package with my new Ballet Kitty doll and book.
Thank you cousins Lexi & Gracie! I love them.

Playing with Nana and "New Baby"

Happy Birthday to Nana!

Drawing on my easel while dressed up of course.

The best Chicago Hot Dog ever!
Chicago History Museum

Miss Kristie putting toppings on her Chicago Hot Dog.
Chicago History Museum

Mr. Craig riding an old-time Chicago bicycle.
Chicago History Museum.

The Earnhart Duo

Jockey riding her horse to Paris as usual.