Grattitude

As much as I complain about the expense of southern California I am grateful to be here. One Year ago Charles started full time at PWC, since then we haven't really had to worry about how to pay the bills and put food in our mouths. Flashback to two years, Charles had made money by doing taxes for college students at a (really) low price. We were both in school and had a one year old baby. Those were financially difficult times for us. Every month I stressed out about money going out but not much coming in.

Today I just payed the bills without much thought about it. Its a pretty good feeling.

I am grateful for employment!

Visitors!

My best friend from college came to visit us! It was fun to host her and her husband for a night. Can you believe that they rented a car and drove from his business event in Vegas down here just to see us?! Jess and I haven't seen each other in awhile so it really meant a lot to me. They came in Thursday evening and had to leave Friday afternoon. It was short but we had a lot of fun! Ella loved the Rupunzel doll and seal they brought for her. She also loved their I-phone. I am not sure which she was more sad about. The fact that they had to leave, or that their I-phone was going with them...

Easter

We did three Easter egg hunts this year. I don't think we will do that again.Ella was candy crazy by the end of it. We did have a lot of fun spending time with family. We had a delicious dinner at Charles parents home and then the kids had fun playing and hunting for eggs. Ella loved Easter so much she still talks about it everyday!

Ward Easter Egg Hunt

The weather is so beautiful today! Perfect for the Easter picnic. It is always fun to watch the kids scramble around to find the eggs :)

Easter Gala

There is a lovely book by Jane O'Conner titled "Fancy Nancy's Elegant Easter"

My mom gave it to Ella for Easter last year. She loves it and reads it all the time! (She loves and reads all her Fancy Nancy books all the time:) In this particular tale Fancy Nancy has an Easter Gala. Which of course is a fancy way of saying Easter party. Ella has somehow associated Easter Gala with all things Easter. For example,

"Mom are those eggs for my Easter gala?" or, " Mom is this my Easter gala dress" The word Easter always includes gala. It is pretty cute.


Today Ella went to her first ever real Easter gala! One of her best friends invited her over. They decorated Easter bonnets played musical chairs and had a lovely tea party with fruit and french macarons. It was very Elegant! Ella has a simply marvelous time!

Devious Behavior

The other night. Ella took a bath. Ella loves baths. She will sit in there and pour water out of the cups, play with her repunzel boat, sing songs, lay in the water, and spalsh around. She loves to play in the water! However Ella does not like to get her hair washed. At. All. As soon as I mention it she starts to whine and cry. She cries through the whole thing and then whimpers from the time she is done till she gets out of the tub and gets dressed. It is quite dramatic.
So, back to the other night, I got her in the tub and tried to prepare her... "Ella, tonight we are going to wash your hair" (Immediate whining and cries of dismay) "Don't worry, I am not going to wash it yet. You may play for a while and then I will come in and wash it before you get out." She was happy, I was happy. I left Charles to keep an eye in her and went to do the dishes.
15 minutes later Ella prances into the kitchen fully dressed and ready for bed. I figured that Charles must have been trying to help me out buy getting her ready for bed. However upon questioning I found out that is not what happened at all.
Ella decided that she did not want to get her hair washed, so after she was done playing she put all her toys away, drained the tub, dried herself off, got dressed and put her dirty clothes in the hamper.
I have to admit. (Though I am not proud of it) At first I was a bit frustrated. Her hair was dirty, it needed to be washed. I told her it needed to be washed. She knew, I knew. In my eyes she had deliberately disobeyed. I had been thwarted by a 3 year old! I was all for getting her back in the tub and washing her hair just to make a point. Then I had one of those moments as a parent that I am grateful for. I looked down at Ella's smiling face. Yes, there was a glimmer of devious mischife in her eyes but I could tell that she was also proud of what she had accomplished. She had, for the first time, really done what I always ask her to do(many times over) without having to be asked once. I realized with a jolt that what she had done was really impressive. I knew I could enforce my will and make her wash her hair and have her be upset all night, or I could accept and praise the good in what she did.
I am glad that Charles and I choose the latter path. We told Ella how awesome it was that she had kept the floor dry, and gotten dressed. She was happy, we were happy.


She went to bed, and I lay awake thinking, wow, she is really starting to grow up!