homeofthebudds

Walking home

Yesterday, Ellen started walking home from school by herself. Well, with friends. She's never really by herself.

She's currently loving school. She loves that she knows kids in the neighborhood. She loves that she gets to have hot lunch periodically.

She's learning all kinds of things I never thought to teach her about - like the World Series for instance. She gave a speech last week. And tonight she taught us all how to draw cats and dogs through a story. I gotta say, I've been much more impressed with this whole experience so far that I expected to be.

Soccer camp

(***All images in this post shot by Dave)

This year Ellen and Isaiah participated in a soccer camp.

They really liked it.

Ellen was most interested in the new friends she was making.

Zai was pretty interested in getting open and getting that ball kicked.

There we go, there's Ellen involved in some ball action.

...aaaand back to the friends.

ball!

friend

Ellen's birthday

Ellen has turned eight. EIGHT!

Many, many months before her birthday she became certain that this year she would have a friend party. Her friends. (Not mine. Dang it.)

She was also quite certain her party should definitely have a theme. A Harry Potter theme.

So we baked wizard hat cupcakes,

made owl crafts,

played "Pin the glasses on Harry Potter",

and snacked on broomstick trailmix.

She was thrilled out of her mind.

She's tried to start planning next year's party, but I told her I need a few months off first.

Hairy Otter

Ellen's new favorite shirt.

Ellen faces

Ellen had a birthday recently. During her birthday breakfast of Lucky Charms and Powdered Sugar Gem Donuts the kids made faces at me.

Brennan and Ellen found ways to keep themselves busy during Isaiah's game.

(Joel was sleeping away in the Moby, which made picture taking of the other kids easier, while simultaneously making picture taking of Joel impossible. You can imagine him.)

My girly, the cheerleader

Ellen had her first game to cheer for this last weekend.

She's pretty amazing. I've never seen her so confident or at home as when she's cheering.

I didn't get a video or a photo that does her justice, but she's totally got the most energy and spunk on her squad. And she's not nervous about anything.

At half time, the cheer leaders ran out and invited a parent (totally Dave) to come do the chicken dance. Ellen and Dave and the boys and I were in completely opposite corners so I couldn't get any documentation, but I can tell you my girly was going for it without a care in the world.

I was pretty impressed.

Some light reading...

Ellen's on her second time through the Harry Potter series. She was a little irritated that I won't let her read #7 or watch the movies, so she started over again.

And now we are seven.

There was cake,

and there were art projects/presents,

(greatly enjoyed...

by all)

...and there is Cookie.

Everyone is absolutely head over heals for Cookie. She has spent a large amount of time traveling our house in her little plastic exploring ball.

Ellen is amazingly confident with this little creature. Even after she's been nibbled a few times. I'm rather impressed.

Happy Birthday Ellen! We love you tons & tons & tons! I'm so glad you're a part of our family!

Bringing it all together

How great is it to be two different characters from two of your favorite movies at the same time?

Anybody guess the characters?