Phone Calls

Right now I am out of town without Ellie. It is Garred's year for Thanksgiving and so I didn't really get the option to bring her. I miss her when I don't see her every day. Talking to Ellie on the phone is usually hit or miss. And honestly, miss is usually the outcome. In person she doesn't stop talking, but she must be like her mom on the phone - which is - get me off as soon as possible. Anyway, when I'm out of town the phone is my only option. I asked Garred to have her call me when she was free Sunday night. She called and the typical conversation began by me asking her how she is, what she had been doing, etc. and I got the usual one word responses. I try to ask open ended questions that require more than one word, but Ellie finds a way around it. I knew she had been at my mom's for some of the day on Friday so I asked her what fun things her and my mom did. She said, "It's kind-of a long story mom." I couldn't help but crack up.

--redeeming phone call--
I called her yesterday in the day (which is usually a little better because she's not tired) and asked how school was, etc. She gave me a few longer answers so I decided to press my luck and ask about the "long story" - she said it was a long story because they did lots of things - but she did tell me a few of them. The best part of that call was that she kept saying "just a second mom" to tell her friend Luke something that was more urgent than the phone call to mom. How old is this kid anyway?

I posted this picture because it is Ellie doing something for mom that she would rather not do - just like the phone call. At four - sometimes it is hard to smile in front of pupkins and talk on the phone. Actually, I know there are days when I don't want to do those things either.

Shooting Stars

At school Ellie's class was learning about the solar system, comets, stars, etc. Her teacher, Miss Courtney told them that if they saw a shooting star they should wish on it. Since that day Ellie has been in search of shooting stars. When we drive in the car at night, we are on the lookout. We have even been on late night walks to see if we could find one. Nothing so far. I showed her some pictures, but that doesn't satisfy the desire to see a real one or to wish upon it.

I really hope she gets to see one soon.

On our way home from school Monday she said this:

"Mom, if I ever do see a shooting star, a real one, I am going to wish that there are no bugs in PG or in California. None. Ever."

Ellie doesn't like bugs much. Neither do I really. And she can't figure out how they sometimes get in houses when the doors and windows are shut. Those sneaky little bugs find a way. I thought it was cute that she didn't want them in PG where we live, but just as cute that she included California - which is where cousin Mason lives and where we visit often.

October Round Up

Here is a quick round up of fun events and pictures from October.

• Blending Badge - Ellie earned her blending badge at school.
• Cousin Birthday Party – Early in the month Ellie got to put on her costume and go to a Halloween themed birthday party for cousins Isaac and Addie.
• Football Party/Sleepover - Ellie got to have a sleepover with cousin Addie. It was a game night so I made treats and the girls decorated pumpkins and made Halloween cards.
• Crafts - We were almost Martha Stewart crafty this month: mummies, spiders, trees, and ghosts!
• Hee Haw Farms - A must do for every October!
• Girls Night- My fun friends Kaylyn, Caycie, and Kimese came over for dinner and a fun night for Ellie playing with their kids. Come back more often girls!
• Going to Bed by Herself - Ellie has successfully gone to sleep by herself most of October. For this we had a fun trip to Barnes and Noble for a reward.
• Another Trip to Los Angeles - This is our yearly shopping event which includes fun friends, lots of shopping, lots of eating, and of course seeing cousins Mason and Logan.
• Pumpkin Carving– When we were cleaning our pumpkins this year I said that it wasn't the most fun part, just then a seed came up and hit Ellie's face sticking to it which caused us all to laugh - we decided the cleaning is probably the most fun part! While with Garred, Ellie won a pumpkin carving contest. She made her pumpkin look like a cat. She won an itunes gift card, but she promptly traded it for a pez dispenser. What a good dad.
• Halloween Party at Dance - Ellie's dance class got to play fun games, dance, get treats and have a costume contest. Ellie won the cutest costume. Prettiest was taken by Cinderella. :)
• Enjoying the Warm October Weather - We took as much advantage as we could of the nice October weather and went for several walks (mom went golfing) and a few bike rides.
• Costume Hunting for Mom and Kevin - We spent a couple of days dragging from store to store until we all decided on costumes we loved.
• Halloween! At school on Halloween, Ellie's class had a parade and a program. It's so cute to see them all dressed up and singing. Of course our Halloween night was filled with Trick or Treating (we made it up and down one entire street this year!) and then giving treats out at Grandma's house.