Aquarium and Baseball!

We've had a full couple days! Chris decided to take a day off since Ella was off school yesterday and do the aquarium trip we've been talking about for months. Sadie has never been and I knew they were both at ages where they would live the aquarium. And they did! Within minutes they were both literally squealing with delight at all we saw!

Afterwards Sadie got to make her own pizza at lunch which was a hit :-) she passed out, fully satiated about 30 minutes later when we got in the car.

 After that, the kids spent a little time with my parents making me a Mother's Day surprise! They made an impressive platter of fruit, vegetable, and meat and cheese skewers! They also stuffed beautiful pillow forms for me to have as a gift as well! 

Today, we got to do our first full family baseball game! Sadie had never been and she did well. Snacks and eventually doing puzzles on my phone kept her happy for a 3+ hour game!

Whew! Fun but exhausting weekend so far and a full day ahead tomorrow. Good night!

More Conversations...

We were talking in the car about why I gave money to a homeless man
Me: Some people don't even have a place to live so we want to share some of what we have
Ella:Yeah. But there's one thing we don't give away.
Me: What?
Ella: Money. We save it in the bank.
Me: But we also give it away to people who need it.
Ella:Well, I'm going to save my money and buy us a house with stairs and a basement.
Me: (chuckling) Ok.
a minute later
Ella: Mom? You're right. We have a lot of stuff and we just keep getting more! I think we have enough now. We should share.
Me: I agree.


At lunch with my sister
Ella:Ok, who is one of my favorite people, who lives with Abuela, who is very funny?
Marissa and me: (laughing) ummm...we need another hint
Ella:ok...oh! He loves diners!
Us: Popeye!!
Ella: You got it!! Let's play again!
(she had just invented this game and we kept playing for a while and she was always surprised when we guessed right!)


In the car after picking Ella up from school
Ella: Mom? Does God ever tell you stories?
Me: Ummm...what do you mean?
Ella:You know, I hear God tell me stories all the time!
Me: Really? What does it sound like?
Ella:I dunno
(then I tried lots of voices but none of them sounded like God apparently)
Me:What kind of stories does he tell you?
Ella:ones like the kind Daddy makes up
Me: Oh! Those are good ones. When do you hear Him telling stories?
Ella: all the time! Like when mommy or daddy aren't talking to me...
Me: You hear it in your head when you're by yourself?
Ella: yeah, or when it's night time. He just tells really good stories.


After my dad read her bedtime story when he was over for dinner
Ella: Mom, Popeye is one of my favorite boys. He's great. He's so great at reading books and everything. He's my favorite boy. And I really like Daddy too.

Evening with Abuela and Popeye

Ella spent a few hours with my parents last night and my mom sent this email this morning recounting the highlights :-)

 

Last night as we were driving to your house, we were all quiet for a moment.  Ella then said, "Abuela, pause, Popeye, pause...I want to tell you....I REALLY LOVE YOU GUYS, I REALLY, REALLY LOVE YOU GUYS. "  We both choked up and responded, "we really love you too"  She responded....I Love you guys.

 

It was such a moving moment...Daddy and I looked at each other and the tears welled up...as they are now. She seemed to be practicing  "you guys" but in her voice, in her eyes and on her face...there was deep feeling.

 

Daddy went into David's to get Cherry juice...At one point we could not see him, in spite of the fact that all the walls are made of clear glass. Ella asked, why did Popeye leave us?  I explained that he went to get Cherry juice...I said, what color shirt is he wearing....She said RED!  That was followed immediately  by Ella singing loudly ...Jeshush loves the little children, all the children of the world, RED and yellow, black and white, they  are preciouis in his sight, Jeshush loves the little children of the world...HEY THERE IS THE RED SHIRT.  There is Popeye...Popeye loves us. He is coming back. (so typical of 3 year olds fear of abandoment and separation).

 

Dr. Andre, my friend stopped in for about 30 minutes.  We were sitting in the foyer.  Ella ran in, introduced herself spontaneously, pulled up her rocking chair, sat down and joined in the conversation, talked quite appropriately...then suddenly disappeared.  She came back 5 minutes later and announced to me and to my friend.  "I DID IT.  I went poo-poo by myself and flushed and I washed my hands"  Dr. Andre applauded her.  We celebrated.  She responded..."Thank you very much!!"

 

At one point before we left, my left foot was hurting something awful...I sat and Ella asked, "can I help you?"  I said, Pray for my foot.  She reached down and touched my foot, then jumped up and ran to the kitchen...Popeye, we have to pray for Abuela's foot and I don't know how to do it by myself.  They both came and she reached down and touched my foot and closed her eyes...Daddy had no choice but to pray.

 

What a splendid afternoon and evening.