Recent Quotes and Recent Pictures

Avery: "Why do strong scents of stink make you want to cough?"

Elena: "Hip hip....todaaaaay!!!!"   Later: "Hip hip.....tomorrow!!!!"

Avery's 1st grade roller coaster!

All the friends together at Avery's 7th

Strike a pose

Karate kid

Karate kid with awesome karate teacher!

Cool girl at Ashboro Zoo

Checking out the sleeping lions

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Elena Quotes of the Day

I congratulated her on her first trip out of the house (to the grocery store) without diaper or pull-up, which occurred today.  She even took advantage of the public restroom while we were there.  She accepted my praise by saying matter-of-factly: "That's my job!"

Later, playing in the house, she declared that she was older than me.
"Are you?"  I replied, distracted by something I was doing on the desktop.
"Well,"  she amended, "I'm older than Avery."
"Oh," I said.  "How old are you?"
"I'm three." (pronounced "free") "So I'm tiny and fly-ee."

Spring Fling face painting...wow!

Exploring at the Ashboro Zoo

Loves her some goggles.

Posing in princess attire

Watching a scary episode of My Little Pony with big sis

She's 3!!

What a great birthday for our little "baby" Elena!  It was 70 degrees and sunny all day.  Dead of winter.  We took Avery to school in the morning, then went to Target at Elena's request (she loves to "go to the store").  Picked up some streamers and other party necessities.  Went home and played outside, decorated her cake, played outside, cleaned up the house, and played outside.  Elena set the kitchen table, carefully pouring a cup of water for herself and each of her party guests (that would be Mom, Dad, and Avery), and scattering party hats & funky sunglasses around.  After we picked up Avery from school, things got even more exciting.  Avery put on some dance music and we started hanging steamers and balloons, and after about an hour the kitchen looked like a party store exploded in it.  Elena was ecstatic.  "Don't sing Happy Birthday to me," she told me at one point.  "It makes me feel like I can't talk."  Dad came home from work early so he wouldn't miss the party, and we played with the 600 balloons we blew up over the course of the day, and Elena opened her presents.  She got a unicorn pillow-pet constellation light, and a barbie princess fishing game from Dad - a huge hit.  Played with those a bit, then dinner under the streamers, then cake - yes, we did sing Happy Birthday, and she was delighted after all.

Three years ago yesterday she was born in the luxury of her own home.

First birthday:

2nd Birthday:

3rd Birthday:

Dressed up for the (briefly) cold weather

70 degree January day = wild horse rides

In Big Bird hat, getting ready to decorate cake

Just finished hanging streamers with big sis

Princess

Avery puts the final touches on the cake

Elena's 3rd Birthday

A Few Pictures, Before, During, and After Thanksgiving 2012

Ready to run the Turkey Trot at big sister's school.  Goggles are important.

Avery's popsicle stick boat

Side dish: biggest potsticker in the universe.  Avery's idea.  YUM!

To the beach with Aunt Megan

It's never too cold for the beach.

After diving full-body into the waves, in 60 degree weather.  Luckily Mom made her bring her fleece.

Ahhhhhhhh!!!  Water's cooooooold!!!

Tree is decorated!

Hmm.  May have found another ornament.

Mischief time!!

Halloween 2012

This was really E.'s first trick-or-treat experience.  She would have gone last year, but she was sick, so stayed home with Dad handing out candy.  She was so excited for this, and she kept up with big kids every step of the way.  Became enraged when I demanded she hold my hand to cross the street.  Weaved through undulating seas of costumed teenagers to extract her piece of candy.  Did a wonderful job saying "bink you!" every time she got one.