Hi, I'm new in town (Act 2)

Introducing our new baby sister, Holland Harper.  In typical second child style, she's been home a month before she gets her own blog post, poor thing.  I promise to update the homecoming story and more pics once I've slept (so maybe in another 8 weeks?)  :)

Long Time No Post

In chronological order, here's what we've been up to lately (and for the prior six months...):

Abilene in April to visit Jackson and Alice Anne and check out the zoo.

TCU Easter Egg Hunt with Baird.  These guys were serious about their egg-gathering strategy. 

On your mark, get set... 

GO!

Another egg hunt in our neighborhood.  See that motorcycle wheel in the background?  That's what the Easter Bunny rode in on - Steel Magnolias style.

May marked preschool graduation.  Ellie majored in printing (summa cum laude) with a minor in bead sorting.  She's contemplating post-graduate work in two-digit addition and subtraction. 

Hanging with her buddy Embrey at Central Market celebrating the end of patio season before June came and IT WAS 1,000 DEGREES EVERY DAY FOR THREE FREAKING MONTHS.   

Super Hero Day at the science museum.  Ellie and Superman traded cape styling tips.  

What's that old saying?  June comes in like being locked in a blast furnace turned up on high while wearing a wool sweater and an electric blanket?  I don't mean to be dramatic, but it was a pretty miserable summer, weather-wise.  But for those who didn't have to work, June meant pool time!  Ellie enjoyed several weeks of swim lessons this summer and lots of days cooling off in the backyard pool at Bubbie's house.  She got very confident in the water and has an enthusiastic (although not very efficient) swim stroke. 

 Fourth of July!  The kids on our street got together to make decorations for their bikes in preparation for the neighborhood parade.  The parade was a lot of fun (for about 20 minutes, then it was mostly about full-body sweating and melting popsicles and how it really FELT like the 105 degrees that it was and "When can we go inside?")  God Bless America!

Ellie Day!  We celebrate Ellie's homecoming anniversary every year with a special day full of fun things just for her.  This year she insisted that she wanted a "Dallas cupcake" (Sprinkles), so we had a girls' day in Dallas - Breadwinners for banana bread french toast for breakfast, North Park for shoe shopping and duck watching, some window shopping for bunk beds at PB Kids and a cupcake and milk on our way home.  

 Ellie's first time at Czech Stop!  In August we headed for a weekend in the hill country with a group of friends and made the required stop in West to stock up on kolaches and pastries for the weekend (and for the parking lot, since that's about how far we got before breaking into them.)

 As with any road trip, there were indulgences.  Mr. Cass bought Ellie her first Fun Dip - here Lauren explains the concept. 

 It was so fun getting to spend the weekend with fellow Ethiopian-Texan Calvin.  The dance party started almost immediately and lasted all weekend long.  These kids have some suh-weet moves. 

 We made a pizza or two (or eleven.)

Pool time with Cal.  It's a shame they aren't more comfortable in front of the camera.  

Then August was almost over and someone was getting ready for her FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN!!!!  Since big school starts and hour and a half earlier than when we usually rolled into preschool, we are slowly (very slowly) becoming morning people.

Just to compare - here's first day of preschool ever in 2009 (age 3) and 2010 (age 4):

See ya, Mom.  I got this.

 A few weeks ago we hit the flea market in Canton with Rachel and Alice Anne.  Here the girls are demonstrating their readiness for convertible season.

That's about it - I noticed that madras sundress was a real staple of our spring/summer wardrobe.  This Friday we leave for a week at the beach so stay tuned for more updates (and probably more madras sundress)!

Homecoming

Two years ago today cousin Suzanne, Ellie and I were somewhere over the Atlantic on our way back to Texas from Ethiopia. What an exciting travel adventure - Airport Power Outages! Surly Lufthansa Attendants! Lost Strollers and Crying Jet Lagged Children! Fortunately there were some tender mercies along the way - children's Benedryl; Uncle Harry and Aunt Georgie waiting with wat at the D.C. airport where we parted ways with Suzanne; the nice ticket agent at the American counter who must have seen the last 20 hours of travel weighing heavily on us and who bumped a grumpy man out of his first row seat so we could have it on the way to Dallas (trust me sir, we needed it more than you).

Little did I know it was the beginning of a much more pleasant adventure with this incredible little person. Happy homecoming anniversary, kiddo. I'd take that trip again and again to get to you!

If you hadn't seen Ellie for the past few weeks, you might not know last Saturday was her birthday. If you have seen Ellie in the last few weeks, you know that she was going to have A BALLET BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH TUTUS AND CUPCAKES AND I'M TURNING FIVE AND THE CUPCAKES WILL BE PINK AND WHITE AND STRAWBERRY AND EARS PIERCED WHEN I'M FIVE AND THERE WILL BE BALLERINAS AND JUST GIRLS AT MY BALLET PARTY NO BOYS WITH EARRINGS FOR ME AND PINK CUPCAKES AND TUTUS. And so it was.

One of Ellie's friends declared on the bouncy bridge: BEST! ELLIE! BIRTHDAY! PARTY! EVER!



And so it was.

4 years, 364 days old

A month (or two) in pictures (and a few words)

Mommy splurged on an InStyler (as seen on TV). Next stop, Toddlers and Tiaras.



"Dear Santa, I've been good. I love you. I wish it could snow this year. Please bring me a guitar and drum. Love, Ellie" (Our fireplace is blocked with a panel since I fear the gas logs, so we had to leave Santa a key. Thankfully she didn't ask how he would get inside the house to get the key.)

We called NORAD's Santa Tracker hotline and were informed that Santa would be entering Texas airspace at 9:00p.m. EST. She was out by 8:55.

Bedhead and Christmas morning excitement!

Way to deliver, Santa!!!



Those of you who heard me talk about not going crazy with the Christmas gifts can stop laughing now. (Not pictured - she also got a big girl bike.)



Or maybe start laughing at the "Bob the Builder" get-up (accessorized with a chocolate milk mustache.)

MORE presents at the grandparents'. Not spoiled at all.







Green Eggs and (not green) Ham - courtesy of the grandparent bed & breakfast. Huge hit.

Happy New Year! Ellie insisted she could stay up until midnight to see the "party" so we opted to celebrate on east coast time. Sparkling lemonade in fancy glasses and a tiara constituted a sufficient party that she felt it was worth it.

Any snow is cause for gearing up and outside dancing.



Happy 2011 everyone! Hopefully my resolution of posting more will become a reality this year. What? It's February? Chinese New Year resolution it is!