Fall rec sports have started

Although school is virtual, we made the choice to let each child play a wreck sport this fall. It’s more important than ever that they get some time socializing with other kids. 

Ellie is playing softball and actually started Rec softball this summer after I decided to end the travel stuff during Covid. It’s been going quite well. In fact, yesterday evening she had her first ball out to the warning track in the outfield. She and I were both very proud of her.

Max is playing 11 U rec soccer. We moved from travel to rec this year hoping it was a better fit for his level of interest. He seems to be enjoying it! I have not seen any practices because David has been taking him, but he told me tonight he scored seven goals during practice. He seems really happy with it.

Claire started it you soccer tonight. She really had mixed opinions about it. This week she told me she didn’t like soccer and she didn’t want to play. But I told her it was too late and she was going. She decided to approach this evening with an open mind. I’m so proud of her for that because she really had a good time. She ran hard, she played great, she was a good teammate who wanted to high-five everyone (despite covid and the new rules her mamma forgot to tell her about), she learned two girls names, and she scored a couple goals! I managed a few pictures from tonight since I don’t coach soccer. 

And score!!!

Learning to play Pokémon

Friday night our babysitter taught Max and Ellie how to actually play the game Pokémon. I’m so glad. Now there’s something more to do then trade these cards. Max and Ellie have been playing a lot this weekend. There’s definitely some arguing and bickering going in with it. Hopefully that’s all part of learning how to work out dissagreements with others later in life. 

Character Counts

The school lets each teacher pick one student a month to give a character counts award too. Ellie has wanted to get this award since she started kindergarten. This month it was finally her turn. She received the award for being Caring. See the sweet note from her teacher in th picture below. 

As part of this celebration we go to school and have lunch on the stage while the guidance counselor distributes the awards. Ellie was so pleased to have is there. 

I'm proud of my girl!

Christmas traditions

I don't feel we have really established any particular Christmas traditions with the kids. That said, I've recently tried two new things with Ellie - we stayed up to watch sound of music live one night and also welcomed an elf on the shelf which Ellie has named Gabriel. 

Watching the movie in bed with Ellie was so nice. We both enjoyed this time. 

The elf has prove. Quite exciting as well. When he arrived Ellie was in shock. Despite asking for him, when she spotted him she ran upstairs almost in tears screaming "there's a real live elf in the house!" Tears quickly turned to smiles and she has left him a card, some activities and even some challenges already. She likes having him. 

First Lost tooth

Ellie has been wiggling around a tooth for months. She finally lost it first week of August when we arrived at Connie and Toms while eating a snack. It was very exciting for her. 

She sent it away to the tooth fairy once we made it home. The tooth fairy left her a dollar. She was really excited. She ran down in the morning to flash me her dollar bill with pride. So cute!!

Our little flower girl

Robert Perrotta married Colleen this weekend. This was a fantastic day for many reasons.  Robert and Colleen seem really happy , though its hard to believe Robert is married already. Ellie got to be their flower girl. Though she was nervous, she had a fantastic day as a mini princess. Colleen really involved her on everything. She got to have makeup done and hair done. Ellie ate up every minute of it. As Colleen got ready, as asked Ellie to help her get dressed too. It was so sweet of her. 

Ellie was a trooper and kept good spirits most of the day. She and the ring bearer played their roles perfectly at the church, despite why father Kyle thought might happen. Then, they even started to enjoy each others company too. 

The reception was awesome! It was great seeing everyone and I loved having Ellie and Max there to whiteness the event and learn about weddings. Max enjoyed drinking his bubble juice. He mentioned it was like wine! Turns out he didn't like re taste at all, but the experience was too much to turn down. 

Ellie told me her favorite part of the night was dancing with Anna, Mike an Shannon. She had a lot of fun and so did I!

Engaged

This week Ellie went to Vacation Bible School. It was the first camp like thing that she has done, and meant that she was away from mommy each morning all week. Drop off on Monday was sketchy to say the least, and I watched her hold back the tears. I was proud of her. As the week progressed drop off became easier, and it was obvious she was having a lot of fun. However, when I picked her up she was always very excited to see me and always ran to give me a hug.

Friday morning when Clair and I were waiting to pick Ellie up, I noticed she wasn't scanning the room for me as she walked in. And I noticed she was holding hands with the boy. Then I watched her kiss the boys hands. I was gob smacked to use the word David likes. I said, "hi Ellie, who is your friend?" In a very giddy voice she smiles and announces "we are engaged! "

Oh my goodness. You can imagine how I felt. I could not believe this had started so soon. Ellie had not really shown interest in boys, other than Owen from daycare years ago. But she never used words like boyfriend or engaged or kissing or any of those such affections.

I watch them as they ran around the room. Her fiancé ran to her seat and picked up her things for her and was yelling "Ellie, Ellie." It turns out his name was Owen too. They were both very fond of each other and having a good time. I was just in shock.

As the day went on I got the rest of the story. Apparently, in the big room, Owen kissed Ellie on the cheek and then got down on one knee and asked Ellie to marry him. It surprised me was that all the teachers seem to think this was cute. Perhaps I'm an old fuddy-duddy, but at their age I don't think they should even pretend to be getting married.

Needless to say this adventure has sparked many conversations with Ellie Including the one about when she can date, and when she can kiss boys. I tried to explain to her that she should not be kissing boys that she's not related to at this point in her life. She asked me when can I kiss boys mommy. I said, when you are 16. Ellie responds by huffing, crossing her arms and saying, "no way, that's way too old!" What in the world?

Later in the day we also had a conversation about what makes someone special, and how boyfriends and eventually her real fiancé needs to be very special. When I asked her what was special about Owen her first response was his name. We talk to bit more about this concept, and I guess it's hard to understand. As Grannie later said, I guess we better take keep her away from Wales. And so it begins.....

A dream come true

This week we had the driveway redone. It was a dream come true for Max. Ellie really enjoyed it too.

On Tuesday they showed up just after lunch with a big digger to remove the old blacktop. Kids sat glued to the window watching it.  They watched the whole thing. It was about hours worth of entertainment. I nearly took out popcorn for them.

On Wednesday they came back just in time for lunch. Goal of Wednesday was delay the new blacktop. The kids were just as interested. The digger came as well as a roller and a black top spreader.

I ended up fixing them a picnic lunch so they could sit at the window and watch. They enjoyed it immensely.

Big girl helper

Ellie is ready to do grown-up things. She's probably ready to do more grown-up things that I am willing to let her. Since granny has been here, I have noticed her getting to try things. For example cracking an egg and, or driving her own hair. I know that it is good that granny is giving Ellie change to try these new things. I need to look for opportunities as well.

Over the past week I have asked Ellie to help me get clear bottles a few times. She has jumped at the opportunity, and denigrate job.

Grannie projects

This morning Max and Ellie are downstairs with Grannie spread out on the floor with many cardboard boxes and scissors. They also have toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, and paper plates. They're trying to construct their very own castle. That they will painted. Ellie is in her glory. Grannie is a patient, brave woman.

Playing

A recent hit with the kids has been pulling Ellie's cash register out of storage. They've really been into playing store and having someone but things from them. Last night I had to buy about 15 toys from Ellie. She was quite serious about it all.