EVB: 5 Years Old!

Ellen is 5! ... Halfway to 10! ... Starting Kindergarten within the year! ... 5! I can't believe it! This seemed like a big-deal birthday for our big girl (and for Mom & Dad). Ellen had been counting down the days to this milestone and, thankfully, I think it was everything she hoped it would be.

Ellen celebrated with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins during her party, which we had the day before her actual birthday. It was Muppets all around and Ellen was SO excited to wear her favorite Muppets shirt. She had so much fun playing her cousins (it was a warm enough for the kids to run around outside!) and, of course, opening presents. Ellen did a great job opening the card first and thanking her guests. I think her self-consciousness got the best of her because Ellen was very stoic while unwrapping her gifts even though I know she was bursting with excitement inside. (One dead giveaway was when she'd frantically tap her little feet on the ground when she opened gifts that had been on her wish list!) Ellen received so many nice presents and it was a great day to celebrate our little lady with her most important people.

On Ellen's actual birthday, she was excited to wake up to find five streamers hanging from her bedroom door and loved having a special breakfast (cinnamon rolls per her request). Dad took the day off from work, which was extra special since it meant he could come to Ellen's school with Mom & June to help hand out treat bags to her friends. Ellen's teachers made Ellen a nifty crown, she got to be the "Frog of the Day" and her friends serenaded her with "Happy Birthday" and "May the Dear Lord Bless You."

For dinner, Ellen picked macaroni and cheese from Noodles & Company for her special meal. We all enjoyed some birthday cake that was leftover from her party and then finished the day with presents from Dad, Mom & June. SO MUCH FUN!

We can't wait to see what this next year has in store for Miss EVB! (Also, not sure if we'll stick with monthly updates now that Ellen is 5. Her major milestones seem to be spaced much farther apart at this age, so maybe I'll think about doing bigger updates at the half-year and year marks and/or on an as-needed basis. I think I'll continue with the monthly chair pictures, though, because it's fun to see the physical transformations throughout the year!)

F-I-V-E!

Hehe ...

Ellen-o-saurus

Big helper at the pumpkin patch

 

How is this little nugget already 5?!

 xoxo

JEB: 31 Months Old!

Miss June had another pretty great month! Here's what our goofy girl has been up to lately:

• Enjoying her weekly ECFE class. June especially likes painting at the easel and playing with playdough. She also loves when her class gets to go to the "motor room" to run, jump, swing and slide.
• Being fascinated by shadows. June loves to spot shadows and talk about how big or little they are and what is making them.
• Putting her hands on her hips. I think it's a subconscious habit, but June's hands usually can be found on her little hips whenever she has something to tell you. It's pretty adorable.
• Being a typical 2-year-old. It's June's way or the highway most days ... Things must be done precisely how she sees them playing out in her head; otherwise, look out! We're dealing with lots of screaming, foot stomping and needing to repeat tasks (e.g., getting into/out of the car, going up the stairs, brushing teeth, etc.) if something is amiss (according to June) on the first attempt.
• Giggling. June has always been a bit of a ham, but more than ever before she's super quick to laugh or burst into a fit of giggles.

Truck painting at ECFE

Like mother, like daughter, apparently

Little Ham!

EVB: 4 Years + 11 Months Old!

The countdown to Ellen's 5th birthday is officially on! Everyday, Ellen asks, "How many days until my birthday?" She is SO excited! In the meantime, she's making the most of her final weeks as a 4-year-old. Here's what she's been up to lately:

• Loving preschool. The Frog Room has proven to be a big hit with Ellen ... she looks forward to each school day, is super excited when I drop her off and is nothing but happy when I pick her up. She seems to feel very comfortable and is enjoying her new teachers and friends.
• Rocking swimming lessons. Ellen has been doing a wonderful job as a Stingray at the YMCA (so I hear ... swimming lessons are a Daddy/Ellen activity). With just one other kid in her class, Ellen has been getting lots of one-on-one instruction and attention from her teacher, Mr. Aaron. So far this session, she's learned the elementary back stroke, jumping into water over her head and treading water.
• Still loving The Muppets. Ellen is still a huge fan of Kermit and pals and recently talked me into to buying "Muppets Most Wanted" on DVD during an outing to Target. Can you guess the theme of her upcoming birthday party?!
• Coloring a little more often. Ellen is starting to show greater interest in coloring and drawing, which is something she/we have struggled with up until no. It's still not her favorite activity, but her attention span for coloring seems to be increasing.
• Being a great big sister. Ellen continues to take excellent care of June and including her when playing. Ellen especially enjoys teaching June all the fun things she learns at preschool.

JEB: 30 Months Old!

June is 30 months (or, in normal-person language, 2-and-a-half years) old! June is stoked about being 2.5 and having an updated response to the question, "How old are you?" ... Mom, on the other hand, is a bit saddened by this milestone and the fact that she is officially halfway to 5 years old. Yikes!

Things are going pretty well in June's world ... She's continuing to work on potty training (she is fully capable of being done with diapers, but her stubborness is keeping her out of big-girl undies for the time being).

June recently started an ECFE class, so it will be fun for her to have her own thing each week and to play with her peers. (It will be good for Mom & June, too, to have some separate time on a regular basis!)

June Bug is also loving puzzles, showing greater interest in coloring and imaginative play and, most importantly, making us all laugh countless times a day.

 Special treat on a recent date with Mom & Dad

 

Ellen's First Day as a Frog Friend

Ellen's second (and final) year of preschool has begun! She was more than excited to start in the Frog Room (having graduated from the Caterpillar Room, which she was in last year) and jump right into her new routine. Ellen's teachers this year are Ms. Barb & Ms. Nicole and it looks like there will be plenty of fun activities taking place in the classroom. Next year, Kindergarten ... Ah!

EVB: 4 Years + 10 Months Old!

Ellen is BEYOND excited about being *this* close (picture EVB with her little thumb and index finger almost touching) to being 5 and can't wait to be "a whole hand" old. While she waits anxiously for Oct. 27, Ellen has been busy sneaking in outdoor activities as the summer weather dwindles ... She's still enjoying riding her bike and scooter, playing on our play set, swimming in Omma & Boppa's pool and climbing to the very top of the giant rope web at "Spiderman Park" near our house. Ellen continues to be a drama queen and martyr, so we've been working on appropriate ways to express our feelings. (It's a work in progress.) In other news, Ellen is looking forward to starting preschool in the Frog Room and she recently spent the day at Minnesota State Fair for a special date with Mom & Dad. It's good to be Ellen and almost 5 years old!

Face art by Ellen

Taking a break to people watch at the Great Minnesota Get-Together

We all have our own way of eating a Pronto Pup ...

Giant Slide with Dad

... and Mom

Ye Old Mill

Ellen remembered these free apple magnets in the Horticulture Building from last year and her 2014 fair experience wasn't complete until we located them and chose just the right ones to bring home.

JEB: 29 Months Old!

Miss June Elizabeth is another month older and she's as awesome as ever! As JEB approaches the 2-and-a-half mark, it's more evident than ever just how different she is from how Ellen was at this age. Ellen was (and still is) content to sit quietly for an extended period of time reading a book, watching a movie or playing by herself. June, however, is constantly squirming and itching to get on to the next thing and she prefers to have a playmate. She keeps us on our toes, that's for sure! Here's what Junie has been up to lately:

• Testing out rides: June recently took her first spin on a few rides at Como Town and she loved it!
• Going to the movies: I took the girls to see "Rio 2" a few weeks ago, which marked June's first time in a movie theater. She did OK for the first 30 minutes or so, but after that it was all downhill. She spent the majority of the time wandering around the empty rows of seats and complaining that she was hungry/requesting snacks. I was pulling out all the tricks to keep her occupied and quiet; thankfully, there were only a few other people in the theater ...
• FINALLY loving water activities! After refusing to don a swimsuit or so much as dip a toe in a pool all summer long, June finally caved and put on her suit to try a local splash pad. Since then, we've visited two other splash pads and taken some dips in our kiddie pool as well as Omma & Boppa's pool. June loves to swim and is pretty fearless when it comes to putting her face in the water and jumping off the side.
• Making us giggle with her unique little voice, cute phrases and mispronunciations. June has always had a guttural tone and we finally decided that she sounds just like Gonzo from the "Muppets." So, June has a new nickname ... June is always saying funny things with lots of personality, but her newest favorite is, "Hmm, I don't 'sink' (think) so ..." in response to most questions or suggestions ... We also get a good chuckle out of June's request for her new favorite song, "How Much is That Doggy in the 'Wimbow?'"
• Participating in a hunger strike. Or at least it seems that way. June has been nothing more than a nibbler at meal times lately. However, she has yet to meet a salty cracker, chip or hummus she doesn't like. Thankfully she still manages to drink her breakfast smoothie (sneakily packed with fruits and plenty of spinach) each morning.

Eureka! This girl loves water!

"No, Mom, I promise I didn't splash my sister."

Thrilled to be behind the wheel ...

Hanging out with Boppa at the zoo

June's furry friend

Fearless ...

My snuggle buddy!