Girl's Day

I know I often talk about cousin Mason, probably because she is Ellie's best cousin (ever, in the whole wide world - she just said) on my side of the family- but Ellie does have fantastic cousins on her dad's side as well. One Saturday, May 22nd I decided to take Ellie and her cousin Analia out for a girl's day. (Analia and Mason share the exact same birthday.)

We went to lunch at Noodles...this was Ellie's choice. Her favorite thing there? Buttered noodles. Analia trusted that she had good taste, and went with it.


Then we were off to the Children's Theatre to see Busytown. By far my favorite play so far this year. So cute. Ellie and Analia were laughing and happy throughout the entire thing. So was I. Analia had not been to a play before and wasn't sure what to expect, but after she asked if she could come with us again to the next one.



The chef in the play decided to pick on me for part of the play and said that I was the most beautiful girl and spent a few minutes talking to me and telling me the recipe for friendship..Ellie and Analia couldn't have been more excited yet shocked....and couldn't stop cracking up.


We then spent some time at Boondock's and then off for some ice cream before we had to call it a day.

Dance Dance Dance

Ellie and her friend Isabel have been in a dance class together this year. In November they did the Nutcracker...in May (the 19th) they did Alice in Wonderland as well as a tap number to the song "Fabulous." We had been singing that song for months in our head before. Ellie would practice in the bath tub, in her room, anywhere really.

After looking at the pictures, um...she looks way too old all done up.



I was so proud of her. She was so awesome. She remembered her dances (she was nervous about the ballet number in Alice because she didn't know it as well) and did them so well. Her and Isabel were for sure the leaders in their class and I am not just being a proud mom - they were so awesome! Ellie's face was priceless...I think my mom said precious...it really was. I just love watching Ellie involved in things and I couldn't be a prouder mom, especially on nights like this.


Ellie too was proud of herself and had a great time. She loves dance and she and Isabel both tried out for the next level competition team and made it. So this summer and next fall we are excited about more dance and performances like this!

We are thankful for Grandma, Dad, and Kevin who are always big supporters - thank you!

More Missing Teeth

I was excited for Ellie when she lost her first tooth. It was fun to experience the tooth fairy and just Ellie in a new experience. Ellie lost another tooth on May 7th while we were out at dinner for my mom's birthday. We were in St George and yet the tooth fairy still found her. It was her third tooth on the bottom to lose.

Then...it hit....I went to pick Ellie up from school one day and she had lost her first front tooth (on the top) - her little friend Kayla had bumped her and knocked it out. I was excited for her, the first front one is a big deal...but oh my gosh I hate it! I am so over it! I think this was bigger for me than kindergarten or five or walking...she is getting big teeth!

Looking at her is so different now and it is just a reminder of how big she is getting and how she will just continue to get bigger and bigger. I am just so not ready for that. I am sure I will find as much joy in the next few years as I have in the past, but I'm still not ready. I love my sweet "little" Ellie. Does this mean I need to have more kids to do this again? Yet I am sure I will still feel the same way.

So funny side note...Ellie wrote the tooth fairy a letter to ask her to leave her tooth...she also left her $2.25 for other kids. Then...the tooth fairy left her $10 and her tooth! So....she brought the tooth to my house and left it under her pillow again (I think the idea was prompted by dad) and the tooth fairy came again...this time leaving a silver dollar. She was generous enough to know she could not leave it a third time. :)

St George

Ellie and I are blessed with an incredible extended family. We get together at least twice a year and it's awesome the effort everyone makes to attend. Some years we are blessed to see each other more often...this year is one of them. Three of my cousins' children were or will be married this summer. They all live in St. George. I love that they live in such a beautiful and warm location. It makes visiting that much easier. Ellie too has become enamored with St George. She thinks it's the greatest vacation. I have to agree.

The first weekend we went down for Magen's wedding. She was a beautiful bride and Ellie thought she was a princess. It was fun to watch her steal glances and dances with the bride. We also spent part of the weekend golfing, which Ellie really enjoys. She doesn't golf yet, but she loves riding in the cart and she found that washing the balls was her favorite part. We had fun eating at Marv's and swimming at the hotel. It was a fun, relaxing weekend with family and friends. It really is ideal.

The second weekend we went to St George for Kylie's wedding. She too was a beautiful bride and the girls all wanted pictures with her. It was my mom's birthday as well as mother's day weekend. As if that is not enough for the perfect weekend, Levi and his family (most importantly, cousin Mason) joined us there. Of course we golfed again. This time Ellie found that raking the sand is just as fun as washing the balls.

Uncle Jed also taught her the "golf clap" which she used the other night in a different setting and cracked me up. We ate at Marv's again, and spent many hours in the pool. The best part was just being with family and enjoying each other. I didn't do a mother's day post last year or this year, but I am thankful to have spent both years with Ellie and my family. I am thankful for the most incredible person as my mom, and I am more than thankful to be a mom to Ellie. She is the true joy in my life.

The third weekend wedding is coming up this weekend. This time we travel to Kolob for Jacob's wedding. We will be very lucky to have Mason join us again - but just Mason this time. We will just be driving down and back because Uncle Levi will be in SLC to run the Provo Marathon. Last night when we said our prayers, it was my turn and I didn't mention Levi or the race. Ellie decided she needed to say a second prayer to ask that Levi will do good in the race and be safe. What a great niece. Like I said, I am blessed with incredible family, immediate and extended.