Ellie's Big Debut

This past Sunday I sang at our church. I have done this since I was 14 years old, and went back to it this year after a baby sabbatical. I brought Ellie to church with me, thinking my Nana would be there to sit with her. Nana didn't make it to church this Sunday, so what was I to do with Ellie? We got her a stool to sit on and her own microphone (upon her request). (no chord attached to hers). Ellie was beside herself happy. She sat there and sang every single song, she was so proud of herself, it was hysterical. For some reason, Ellie has a huge affection for any Alleluia. This past Sunday, I was canting the Alleluia. As I was trying to sing, all I could hear was Ellie singing behind me full voice, I couldn't concentrate on what I was singing because it was so distracting, but more than that, I was trying not to laugh and kind of a little choked up all at the same time. Ellie sang every single song, making up words and singing loudly the entire time. At one point, I had to ask her to sing a little more quietly, and she told me, "No, I like to sing loud." The whole congregation could hear her, and many of them commented on how much they enjoyed her singing after mass was finished, and she ate it up. And although I was a little sweaty after mass was over, it is a memory that I will cherish forever. She told me today that she wants to sing like me, (it made me feel so good) I told her she can do anything she wants to do, and she said, "can I sing at church too?" Take that Hannah Montana!

Oh...and just a little Ellie-ism for you....She is just learning to bless herself, and the other day randomly wanted to show me that she could do it all by herself. "In the name of the father, son, holy effearament, amen." (I think she thinks spirit, is experiment) I had to stifle a laugh long enough to get out of earshot and then called just about everyone to tell them.

Hannah Montana

I have discovered that pop culture invades life as early as 3. I am really amazed, and I guess slightly scared. The other day, while giving the girls a tubbie, Ellie informed me she wants to be like Hannah Montana. (pronounced Hannah Onhannah) STOP. My 3 year old knows that someone else lives a life that she does not. I collect myself, and ask her, "what is it that you would like to be or do like Hannah Montana?" The answer, "I want to sing like her" OK I think, I can handle that, admiration of talent completely acceptable. "I want to have a lot of shoes like she does, I like her clothes, and I like the way she talks." I don't think I can handle this. It completely freaks me out that she is cognizant of this person as something to be. Help! Am I overreacting?

I think from now on I will stick to singing our Bob Marley tunes in the tub, no more deep discussions, I can't handle it.

NO SNOKING!

Have you ever seen the commercial where the Mom is talking to a child about how bad smoking is and how she never wants the child to smoke? They show the Mom in this monologue and you assume by what she says that the child is at least an adolescent. The camera pans over to show an infant in a high chair, slightly ridiculous, or so I thought.
One night the girls and I were finishing dinner as Warren was weed whacking before he mowed the lawn. All of the sudden, Ellie starts going on and on about, "Mommy, look, Daddy is snoking out there!" (sm's are all said as sn's in Ellie's vocab). Once I realized what she was talking about, that there was dust flying up where Warren was weed whacking, I decided to talk to her about smoking.
I said to her that sometimes people put something in their mouths and blow out smoke, and asked her if she had ever seen anyone do this. She told me, "YES! Mr. Scott does that!" Scott is Warren's best friend, and Ellie has probably seen him a total of 3 times in the last year. But, as usual, Ellie is right. Mr. Scott does smoke, this kid doesn't forget a thing!
I tell her that yes, she is right. I also tell her that Smoking is not healthy, and that i never want her to do it, not ever. This conversation happened once in the month of April.
On the way to Rushford on Friday, while waiting in the car at Walgreen's for Warren, a man got out of the car next to us with a cigarette in his mouth. Ellie says to me, "Mommy! That man is snoking, and that IS NOT healthy, and Mommy doesn't EVER want me to do that!"
I guess the commercial is not ridiculous after all!

Father's Day

We spent the first half of Father's Day at home, and then went to my parent's house for a nice get together for dinner. It was a really great time, we got to hang out with both sides of my family and had an awesome meal too! I have been very blessed to have amazing male influences on my life, more than many people will ever have, and I am grateful for that. And because many of these people are still a part of my life, and I gained a few with Warren, Ellie and Gracie will experience that too. How Lucky!
Warren is such a good Dad. I know that sounds trite. I mean it sincerely, and with great pride. I love to watch him with the girls, they love him so much, look forward to him coming home, and spending as much time as possible with him. There is something so different about the way they relate to each other than the way the girls and I do. Warren is more the challenger and 'rough play' parent than I tend to be, but he is so loving and tender with them too. Ellie and Grace so value the time they spend with him!

Obviously when you get married, you look for someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, I knew that I had that in Warren. And while I would like to say that I picked a man I thought would make a great Daddy, I don't think I had any concept of what is actually involved in being a parent, much less picking one out. I am a truly lucky woman to have found both. We Love You Daddy!

Rushford

We went to visit Grammy and Grampa in Rushford this weekend. We left Friday afternoon and got home after dinner time Saturday. I have to say, I am really blessed with my "in-laws", that might sound really sugary sweet, but it is the truth. Rita goes out of her way to make our stay there as easy as she can. She knows that it is an ordeal for us to pack up and come there for even just a night. I tell her all the time it is like going to a spa for me when we come there. She tries as much as the girls will let her, to take care of them, she makes us unbelievable breakfasts, and waits on us hand and foot the entire time.

When we got there, even though it looked like rain, Grandpa made a fire in the notorious fire pit, and after a great thunderstorm, Grandpa re-lit the fire so Ellie could have her first S'mores ever! Ellie got to sleep in her Disney Princess blow-up bed/sleeping bag which she was super excited about. And, after the kiddos were finally in bed the adults had a nice time around the fire.

Saturday, Gram and Ben joined us for a Father's Day celebration, and we enjoyed on top of all the snacks and homemade waffles Grammy made, a perfect dinner of goulash! I told Rita that I need her to have a clinic for me to teach me her art of meatball making, as poor Warren could have bounced the damn things like super balls the last time I made them! Sorry Babe!

Summer was here...

Briefly. Last week, we had temperatures in the high eighties, full sun and all that humidity! WE LOVED IT! We were outside as much as possible, and because of all of the hard work Warren has done, we were able to be in the pool. Warren does not rest. He has been working since the weather broke (or "broke") to get the yard and pool in shape for us to enjoy as soon as possible. He has taken down trees, landscaped, finished a deck, dug a gas and water line for the pool and pool heater, and we got a concrete patio along the existing deck. When the weather gets nice again, I will take a picture and add it to this post so you can see the work we get to enjoy!

I can't take the girls in the pool myself just yet, Ellie and Gracie are both pretty clingy in the water. Ellie really enjoys her kiddie pool, and I moved their plastic play set with the slide so it emptied into the pool. That thing moves when it's wet! It made me laugh for Ellie to tell me that she was a humpback whale, and also when she told me she was the Little Mermaid and asked me if I needed help. She is too funny! Oh! And, by the way...today it was a nice rainy sixty-five!

Chris and Sarah

My brother Chris, and sister-in-law were in town for a brief visit from South Carolina and they didn't freeze for once! Last week we had temps in the high eighties, AMAZING! We had the family together both Saturday and Sunday and it was another great time. Chris and Sarah left for China on Friday for 17 or so days as chaperones with People to People. People to People is an amazing organization that brings students to other countries as international ambassadors and provides them with hands on cultural experience and unbelievable adventures. I can't wait to see all the pictures from this experience, the Great Wall is in the background of this picture that was sent from someone's blackberry.

Chris and Sarah moved to South Carolina after graduating from Geneseo around 7 years ago. Chris is a high school English teacher, and Sarah is a special education teacher in the area. They are amazing at their jobs, and I believe, much like my Sister-in-law, Tina, are highly regarded in their schools. Honestly, I read Tina's blog and hear Chris talk about the things they do in class and outside of the classrooms and I wish I was a student again! (and it isn't often I wish for that). Sorry, Sarah, I really don't want to be a student in your classroom, but, well, if I needed special education, I ABSOLUTELY would want you as a teacher!

I used to visit Chris and Sarah as often as possible before I had my own family. I love it when they visit, although it never seems long enough. The hard thing, is that it always makes me so sad when they go. I talk to Chris or Sarah on a weekly basis, and while I miss them, when they are here and we hang out, it always makes me miss them that much more when they go!

We are waiting for them to sell their house, move home, get jobs here and have some babies!!! I don't ask for much do I?