Ellie's first Ballet

David and I decided to take Ellie to see the Nutcracker as part of her birthday gift. We wanted her to get a taste of how far this dancing thing can go if she's interested. Today was the day. Ellie and Mommy were off for a 2pm show in Frederick. SHe was very excited and I was too. The walk from the car to the theater was about the top point for her I think. She was nearly pulling me along the streets. She couldn't wait to see what this was all going to be about. We got our tickets and went inside. SHe stayed close becuase it was really packed. We had good seats. When we sat down she wanted to know where the Nutcracker was. (We had read the story to prepare.) I told her it was appear after the show starts, taht it hasn't started yet. So she waited patiently.

I find Ballet quite strange really. I don't get much without words. I know, that makes me boring, but I'm so literally that ballet can nearly put me to sleep. However, I enjoyed snuggling Ellie and watching her look around and take in the experience. She sat at attention for the first half and really enjoyed it. I am not sure she was all that impressed with the dancing, but she enjoyed the scene and the environment for sure. We had a snack of some M&Ms at the half and I think that may have been the highlight for her. The second half was more entertaining for me. I really enjoyed the snow queen dancing. She got a little antsy at the end. I think it was hard for her becuase it was during naptime. I underestimated how hard that would be for her. But she said she really enjoyed it. I asked her if she wanted to dance like the lead does. Her first response was,"No." Then she watched another 15 seconds and turns back to me and says, "Maybe when I grow up I want to."

It was a great Mommy and Ellie afternoon and I hope to always remember the excitement of taking her on this new experience. Ellie was so tired, that she was asleep in the car before we made it home (which is very unlike her.)

First emergency daycare call

I was a mother for just over four years before receiving that dreadful call from daycare, "Come now, Max banged his head and needs to go to the doctors." (Or something like that). Apparenly he ran full speed into the corner of the wall. It was about 10 am and I had just put my car in to be serviced and was going to work from the car shop for the morning. I quickly rushed to tell the guy I needed my car back and had to go. I was desperate to get to see him and figure out what to do. I ended up calling the doctors in Urbana and they told me to bring him there as soon as I could and we'd go from there. When I got to Sara's to pick him up, I was greated by a little boy with some red left on his face, but happily eating his snack at the table with the other kids. I scooped him up and gave him a kiss. Sara had him bandaged up well and I didn't want to see. I just took him to the car and we headed to the doctors. Luckily my favorite doctor was there. Max acted a bit like a caged animal while we waited - trying to climb on everything, slam doors, etc. It's no wonder we were there after 18 months with something like this. I'm only suprised it hasn't happened sooner based on the amount of falling this boy does. After about a 15 minute wait, she looked at him and decided he didn't need stitches, but could use glue instead. I was a little skeptical, but I trust her and really didn't want to go to the ER for stiches. Max didn't like the procedure, although it was quick (and honestly Max doesn't like getting his nails cut when he has something else on his mind). He was a trooper and the tears stopped as soon as he was freed to return to doing what HE wanted to do. We left with my instructions - to keep him from touching it for at least one hour, and keep it completely dry for at least 48 hours. Otherwise, he's good to go. All in all, this wasn't too bad. I hope it doesn't get any worse though.

Max and I came home to play for a little bit while I watched that he didn't touch it. He did great. He and I then had a little lunch date at McDonalds before picking Ellie up to head home for afternoon naps and Mommy to get back to work. What a morning. He's doing fine and I'm very thankful for how this ended up.

This is how I found him at Ms. Sara's:

This is how he looked when we got home. He was exhausted.

And this was him after his nap, patiently building blocks. This is a new skill he's showed off today.

Max loves to dance

We were playing tonight when David decided to turn on the Kinect to see how Ellie liked it a year later. When he turned it on, immediately the room was filled with some loud hip-hop like music with a beat. Max stopped what he was doing and immediately started dancing. He assumes this cute little position with his arms out to his side somewhat in the air, his legs a little bit apart, his bottom sticking out behind him a bit and begins bouncing up and down and smiling. It was clearly his dance position. He thought it was so great. He wanted us all to dance with him. We mostly humored him. He kept it up the whole time the loading song was on and really enjoyed it. When the song stopped and the game David put on started - soccer - he then proceeded to try to figure out what kind of dancing daddy was doing to the cheering crowd that involved strange leg movements and fast jumps back and forth across the room. He really thought this was hallrious and was laughing so much. That boy is something else!

Santa Claus 2011

Sunday evening we were invited to a family gathering at the firehall where Santa comes to visit with all the children. We've done this a few years since Ellie was born. It's a great time for the kids to talk with Santa, a nice Santa, without all the commercial drama and waiting in line. It is really a nice evening.

Santa arrives on the fire truck and brings a few sacks of toys with him. Each child gets called up to sit with Santa, get a photo, ask him what they'd like for Christmas and receive a little early Christmas present. The children are full of energy but generally pretty good as they wait for their turn to see Santa.

Max was one of the early ones to be called, which didn't work out to his favor. I took him up and plopped him on Santa's lap. He started trying to get away and crying. As I encouraged him to stay, it only got worse. The only pictures we got were of him screaming. I finally took him back on my lap and tried to get him to speak with Santa. He starred at him a bit without screaming, but wasn't in the mood to make friends. He was really skeptical. He did get a nice little tool set with a real drill though. He had some fun with that. Amy was called shortly after, followed by Erika, Emily, Lauren and finally Ellie. Ellie did a great job smiling, talking with Santa and taking it all in. She was a pro and remembered to be thankful. She told Santa that she wanted a pincess babydoll. She was then the lucky recipient of a glow in the dark art kit which has been quite a hit.

Max managed not to cry for a family photo at the end of it all. He was tired and he had his Daddy, so that really helped. I'm really happy with this family photo considering the mad chios of it all.

A Daddy Day

This past Saturday I got up at 6am and left the house while everyone slept to go with Mom and Katie on a bus trip to New York City. I was hesistant to go becuase I didn't want to leave David alone with the kids for a whole day, mostly becuase I just miss spending the time with them since I don't feel I get enough time with them. However, I decided to go and enjoy the time with Mom and Katie, and visiting my favorite city in the country.

We had a great time in the city. We saw a lot and endured the Christmas crowds. Our packed day included Top of the Rock, the Tree, sight seeing on Fifth Avenue, then over to Lexington, down to Eataly, further down to SoHo for some shopping and street vendors, dinner at an old favorite pub - Puck Fair - and finally a return trip to Time Square where I fought with a vendor who tried to rip me off before loading the bus and heading back home.

I made it home just before midnight and found David happily holding down the fort. Apparently they had a great Daddy day without tears. Daddy took Ellie for dance class, ran some errands, shopped for himself, got treats at Starbucks, had healthy meals, did lots of playing and even topped the day off with a nice long bubble bath in the big tub. Daddy is a great Daddy and husband for letting me have my day!

Max and Daddy

Max is a happy little boy. He loves to giggle, play and horse around. He and Daddy are buddies. Max may be turning into a Daddy's boy. In the mornings when I go to get him up, he smiles and then immediately asks for Daddy. I tell him Daddy's at work, and he smiles and asks again. We do this many times in the morning. It's cute.

One of Max's favorite games to play is to have Daddy chase him around the house, crawling on his hands and knees. This game is really cute. For the longest time Max would start to run away and then turn around and sort of head butt Daddy and roll over laughing. The game is now progressing to where David will hide from Max and sneak up on Max in the game. Max things this is hallarious. They often play this while I'm preparing dinner. It's the number one thing that is gauranteed to put a smile on Max's face and stop any tantrum! Go Daddy!

My little fashionista

This morning I was wearing a pretty manly suit to work for a couple of presentations I had to give. I had mixed the suit with a soft feminine black top with ruffles on the top. After getting dressed I went it to wake Ellie, which is always a dance of a delicate nature to try to avoid tears. I sat on her bed and she smiled, but then went immediately to my outfit. First words were something like, "Mommy, what are you wearing?" She was eyeing me strangely. I respond, "A suit. Do you like it?" Ellie, "Not really, but I like the shirt. (rubbing her fingers all over it.) I like the shirt a lot, especially these things (rubbing the ruffles)." Me, "But not the suit part huh?" Ellie, "No, not really. But the shirt is really nice."

I am not quite sure how things will go down when Ellie's a teenager. I didn't know four year olds could be this fashion conscious, more less of what their mother was wearing.