Random updates on Ellie's sisters

At the shoe store Liz begged for heels.  I initially refused to let her have any heeled shoes because, frankly, I think they look really weird on little kids.  At one point during the discussion I said that when I let her start wearing shoes they would be wedges.  So she tried on wedges and started begging for those.  I took a shot of her in the wedges and texted them to Drew thinking he'd say absolutely not.  His response was "those are cute, get them."  I was a little surprised.  When Andrew noticed that Liz had worn (clear) lipgloss to church he frowned and said "I don't like that."  Anyway, Liz got the wedges.  Lainey begged for some too, but she had no chance.  I think heels and even wedges on girls her age make them look like pageant kids.

Lainey toilet trained late (last July, just two months before she turned four).  I was frustrated that it took so long, and continued to be frustrated that she had frequent accidents after that.  One day, completely exasperated, I told her that the next time she peed in her panties she would have to change into pants instead of a dress.  She hates to wear pants (dissolving into tears if we insist on it) so I thought this would be a good incentive/punishment to avoid.  However, when I tried the pants punishment she said, "These are cute!  I like pants now!"  So that totally failed, but it was fun to see how surprised people were to see her in pants.

3 year old Ellie Update

Her stats:
height 37" (50%)
Weight 34 lbs 8 oz (83%)

She picks at her lip, likes to dance and sing, is very cuddly, is unpredictable (hates pink and flowers one minute, insists on wearing them the next), has virtually no volume control for her voice, her favorite colors seem to be yellow and orange, she likes to terrorize/taunt her sisters (especially Lainey), and constantly amuses us with the stuff she says. 

She likes to go on the slide at the pool after swim class and always says the same thing:
Elle - Ready to catch me?
Me - Yes.
Elle - If you say so!

 Along with her glasses Ellie has to wear an eye patch for a couple hours every day.  These patches are not expensive (50 for $20), but they are not free either and she is not at all careful with them.  I have frequently find them stuck to her toys, cereal containesr, the table, and her dresser.  Awesome.

Ellie regularly wears her shoes on the wrong feet, socks with sandals, and unmatched pairs of socks and/or shoes.

Ellie's eye doc wears a sticker on his forehead while he examines her eyes.  Sometimes after her appointments she does the same.

Ellie's "Fishy Party"

Ellie picked the theme of her first-ever birthday party back in January.  She had just gotten her eye patch and I tried to get her excited about it by telling her that she looked just like a pirate and suggesting that we have a pirate party for her third birthday (I had previously been thinking of a puppy dog party since she likes them so much).  She immediately said, "No, I want a fishy party" and has stuck to it ever since.  Even when we'd reference her "third birthday party" or just say "birthday party" she'd get upset and say, "No!  Fishy party!"

The party itself went well.  Fabulous weather.  Great turnout (we invited 15 and 8 came which was plenty).  

THE DECOR:

Liz helped Drew and I blow up the balloons.  She also melted crayon shavings between two pieces of wax paper to make the orange fish.  Ellie painted the jelly fish tops.

THE ACTIVITIES:

We started the kids off in a borrowed bounce house.  We did the same thing for Lainey's third birthday, only this time we wised up and had a blow up air mattress at the bottom so the kids wouldn't roll out onto bare pavement at the bottom of the slide.  

The kids also played hide and seek, thanks to Lizzie for leading them (below Ellie is taking her turn counting), and drew with sidewalk chalk.

 Inside, the kids went fishing in hula hoops with magnetic fishing poles (also initially led by Liz).  Each fish had an activity written on it for the kids to do (a last minute suggestion from Nana) such as clap hands, wiggle hips, and jump. 

 While the kids waited for their lunch they put scales on the fish.

After eating we let the kids return to our outside activities or play in the basement with balloons and toys.

THE FOOD:
We gave the kids PB 'n J's, blue jello filled with swedish fish, goldfish, and apple slices, but the kids pretty much just ate the goldfish.

 

 We served mini cupcakes instead of full-sized ones because at this age the kids usually just eat the frosted tops.  Of course we felt that with a mini cupcake there wasn't really room for three candles.  Elle didn't seem to mind.  She was mostly excited about having everyone sing to her.

PARTY FAVOR:

Ellie picked a random stretchy ball, creature thing as her party favor because she was convienced that it was a fish.

THE GIFTS:

We didn't have Elle open her gifts until after the other kids left because we figured it would be boring for them (plus we weren't sure she'd actually open the gifts since she refused to at Christmas).  Well, she opened them, but it took awhile because she had to stop to examine and play with every gift.

Beauty & the Beast musical

A couple weekends ago Lizzie was in her elementary school's annual musical.  It was a lot of work, very exciting, and also a bit exhausting for the whole family.  (Most of the following pictures are from a fellow play parent, Marco V.)

Prepping backstage:

The beloved Director:

 Amazing Face Paint:

During dress rehearsals the makeup people practiced on adult chaperons.  So funny.  Something else that was a kind of funny was how terrified Ellie was of the cast once they were in makeup, especially  the head wolf (as seen on both the adult and boy below). 

Later Lizzie's face was also bejeweled.

Cool Costumes & Sets:

Pillow, paintbrushes, paint palette, and candlabra:

Clock, books, chair, pillow, Belle:

Beast (I painted the stars on the background windows, my only contribution while on the set committee, Drew did more):

Lizzie as Rose Legend (the person who tempts Belle's mom into taking the Beast's rose) and her little roses:

Dress Rehearsal:

Actual Performance:

Curtain Call:

I forgot to get Lizzie flowers on the opening night because I was so busy working at concessions and dealing with Lainey and Ellie, so on the closing night we tried to make up for it with multiple bouquets.  

Liz did three shows and Lainey watched (and loved) each one.  Ellie only made it through one show (just barely too).

Liz was grateful to have friends (and even her piano teacher) come support her in the show.