EVB: 3 Years + 9 Months Old!

EVB is just three months shy of her 4th birthday ... I wouldn't believe it except for the fact that she already looks like a 4-year-old. Ellen continues to grow taller (I swear she wakes up taller every day) and take on even more of a big-kid look. Ellen has had a great month. Here are some highlights:

• Loving her dance/tumbling (always pronounced by Ellen as "dance-slash-tumbling") at the Y. Ellen enjoyed class time on her own, always insisting that she be dropped off while Mom worked out and June went to Kidstuff (the Y's childcare). Although I wasn't (ahem) "allowed" to observe her, EVB was always grinning from ear to ear when I picked her up after class.
• Policing everyone's manners. I've been reprimanded more than once recently for accidentally saying "butt" in the presence of Ellen. EVB is VERY serious when she tells me that "butt" is not a polite word and that I should instead say "bottom" or "buns." Likewise, Adam has been told to now refer to the private parts of the buffalo statue at the Minnesota Zoo as "frank and beans" (he's a mature one, that Adam ...). Besides the impolite choice of words, Ellen insists that it is not good manners to talk about private parts. And then there's poor June who gets scolded by Ellen for not saying "please" and "thank you" ... EVB doesn't quite seem to understand that June is not yet capable of saying these words. :)
• Having a strong aversion to bows and buttons. I never realized how many little girl clothes are adorned with buttons and/or bows (both functional and purely decorative). This has made getting dressed each morning very challenging!
• Sharing random thoughts. My recent favorites from the backseat of the car include: "Mom, God gave me just a little smile because that's what I wanted" ... "Mom, dolphins don't have feet"... and "Mom, my stuffed animals don't have bones."