Coffee With Elly

Corn dogs, chips, popcorn and oranges for a birthday party lunch. Monica’s first wardrobe change of the day. We borrowed the Shaw’s stash of dress-up again this year. The beautiful cake made by Aunt Abigail. I think she really outdid herself this year! Little Violet enjoyed the dress up and the party. Ella and Stella play with ponies! I love Monica’s expression: disbelief at her good fortune, I think! She was equally happy about the cake and about being the first-time owner of a Barbie doll. Since we couldn’t quite get a picture of Monica blowing out her candles, we had her do a re-do shot. I think maybe she is not going to be an actress. Note her second wardrobe change: Cinderella. The Fairy Cake in all it’s glory! Good friends: Monica, Stella, and Margo Old friends: Kylee and Monica! Friends New and Old: Ella, Addy, and Kylee Stella, Margo, Owen, and his mom. Opening presents: One of the big brothers of the attendees, Tyler. Such riches! Margo drew her a...

Focaccia/Cheese bread Hybrid Made with, baked in and drizzled with olive oil.  Yes, it is pretty good, if you don't mind me saying so myself.  :)

Judah is doing SO much better than in my last post! He spiked a fever every day for 11 days, but finally, one day, he didn't! He started to eat again and slowly regained his normal level of energy and, yes, noise. I'm so thankful!  While he was sick he watched a lot of tv, BUT he also read an unusual amount and the silver lining in that cloud of sickness seems to be that he is much more of a reader since his illness than he was before! Now I'm actually running into that problem that I've heard other people sometimes have with their heavy-reading children,  "Mom,  I have nothing to read!"

Ezra was exclaiming how lucky Judah has been to stay home from school for so many days because, "almost every time I'm at school, he gets to watch TV." I replied, "Yeah... but on the other hand, he's been sick as a dog." Ezra, always fast on the uptake, "It depends if the dog is sick or not." Yes, yes, it does, I suppose. Judah has been sick for 8 days - missed school 6 days in a row! But he should be headed back tomorrow, just taking it easy, I hope. You can tell he's not himself - he's still not eating much and the child is not only moving slowly,  and reading all the time, but he is QUIET. Yes,  I know, it is hard to imagine, but it is true! Hopefully he won't be sick as a dog for much longer!

Monica with her handmade (by her) braided headband: A craft which required NO preparation, and which I could practically do in my sleep. Perfect!   A Sunday afternoon stroll with the kids. Winter in the Willamette Valley people. On days like that you wonder why anybody lives anywhere else!     Ezra’s birthday card for his dad, in February:   The text: you’r the best Dad Ever because 1. you give us treats 2. you take us to school 3. you take us home from choir 4. your realy nice to us and I think that’s all. It’s not exactly, “Thank you dad for leading us in the way of righteousness” but it’s definitely sincere.     And finally a few candid shots of Elena enjoying her new favorite place: outdoors!  

I asked Monica to pick out some pretty clothes for Elena,  and she brought me the little cornflower blue dress I bought for her when she was little.  I thought,  "but that's a church dress!"  When she was wearing it around all afternoon, looking adorable, I was so happy I didn't kybosh it,  though! Why save all the pretty clothes for dressy occasions? Who knows what Sunday may bring?

Ezra asked me after a make-your-own-burrito dinner the other night, as he pulled a bowl of sliced olives toward himself,  "May I feast on the toppings?! Normally I would've saved them for later,  but how can I resist when asked so dramatically?