E turns 4!

Happy birthday to E! It is hard to believe that she is already 4! Her arrival changed everything. Four years ago, I was teaching in Port Huron. Jut was a youth minister in Algonac. We were living in Algonac enjoying walks along the river and eating entirely too much DQ! Now, we live in Alma near family. I get the privelege of staying home with E and X. Jut is currently a youth minister but is in the process of transferring to the roll of lead minister. Our life is so different, but we love it. We walk along a tiny river and do it without ice cream, which is probably better for us anyway.

At 4, E is so much fun. She is a great big sister to X and will be wonderful with the new baby coming this fall. I love watching her explore nature. Going on leaf hunts is fun. Watching E pick dandelions for me is precious.She has had more fun digging in the dirt in our backyard this spring. I'm excited to plant some flowers and veggies. I think E will be a great little farmer.

My favorite time of the day is nap time and bedtime because I love cuddling you and reading stories.  I love when she quotes stories throughout the day or acts out the scenes.  People comment all the time what an active imagination she has...and she does.  At story time at the library or music class, she is the first to blurt out something like, "I see a crocodile!" when Miss Tina takes a breath.  Drives me a bit crazy but Miss Tina is very gracious and says that she adds life to story time.

E's favorite books right now are the Bernstein Bears, Arthur, and Little House on the Prairie picture books.  Although, we read a great variety of books each week.  E also loves our new On Demand box from Char*ter.  She can watch the Bernstein Bears and a slue of other wonderful shows whenever she wants.  I think she'd watch TV all day, if I'd let her!

 

She still enjoys watching and playing with her Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake.  She still dresses up as Cinderella and the fairies, but right now she'd rather be outside swinging or digging in the dirt or blowing bubbles.  Candyland, the fishing game, Memory and Scrambled Eggs are her favorite board games.  E loves getting to stay up 'late' after X goes to bed so that she can play her special games.

We are working on 'school'.  E wanted so badly to go to school this winter that I started having lessons in the afternoon when X napped.  We are working on writing her name.  She can write all the letters...but somehow I can't quite make her understand that the order of the letters matter.  But, we've had a month plus break from practicing writing...as she's been napping quite a bit and I've been napping a lot (good thing she always does an hour or so of quiet time each day!).  So, maybe when we start up again, it will all become clear and make more sense.

We've been sporadically working with the 'l' sound...but we still visit the 'hibrary' and eat 'hogurt' and pray for 'hindsey' at night.

She wants the new baby to be a girl.  She alternates between thinking she (the baby) should be named 'Strawberry Shortcake' or 'Angel Cake' or some other name from Strawberry Shortcake.  So, we'll see in a few months whether she'll be disappointed again or not...it took a couple days to convince her that X was indeed a boy and not the girl she originally wanted.