Baby Birds

There have been baby birds living in our stone pillar.  We have watched the mommy and daddy bird bring food to the babies and we can hear them every time they are hungry.  I have wanted to show Ellie the birds but didn’t know how to get her up to the top of the pillar.  We decided to wait for some extra hands to help. 
Grandma and Granddad came out for a visit and the baby birds were on our list of things to do.  Ellie at first was excited then when she understood how we were getting up to see the birds she had a change of heart (ladder and car roof).  With a little coxing and lots of help from Mum, Grandma and Granddad; we made it to the tops and were able to look in and see the birds.

Dance Concert

Ellie was in her first dance concert in November.  The picture above was taken during her rehearsal, for her show she wore a bumble bee costume with a backwards baseball cap.  Ellie now loves putting on dance shows for Victoria and I any chance she gets.

Water Colours

Ellie was enjoying her water colour paints.  She likes to mix the paints to see what new colour she will get. She even signed the painting without help from us.

Blog Update:  I have been trying to catch up publishing all the photos and stories I have.  Currently, these posts are from November.

Practicing Photography

Ellie and I went out to the playground to practice taken photos.  She had her camera, I had mine, we had props (little people), and the light diffuser. I held up the diffuser next to the little people and showed Ellie the difference in the light and then took a few pictures.  Ellie decided that she wanted to hold the diffuser and then use it as a blanket.    While these lessons are short, I think she does learn a little, even as I am writing this, she is talking about the pictures and I learn how to use the light diffuser.

Ellie Quote of the Day

When the new baby comes out, I am going to teach it how to unwrap presents.

Merry Christmas

Ellie, Giraffe, Victoria and I wish you a Merry Christmas.

Watch Out!

One would think doing laundry would be a safe activity away from dangerous animals.  This is not the case in our house where I found an Alligator eating garlic on our cloths drying rack.

Working Outside

Ellie wanted to be outside on this beautiful day but she also wanted to do some “work” cutting and pasting things to paper which is normally an inside project.  So we carried Ellie’s table and chair outside under the tree for her to work.  She loved it!  She helped set up her area and found other things outside to paste on to her paper.

Tissue Paper Play Time

The Jewelry Ellie received was wrapped in brightly coloured tissue paper.  She decided to use that tissue paper to wrap her toys and dolls.  Then she hid them behind her reading pillows.  What fun she had!

Tire Swing

Ellie and I set off on a mission over the weekend, making a tire swing. We used one of the old tires in Ellie’s playground that have been used for a balance beam, jumping and our free-running course and some rope.  Ellie went for a swing sitting in the tire and thought it was alright.  Then I told her when I was a little boy, a little older than her, I would climb up and sit on top of the tire when swinging.  She wanted a try and said she would hold on tight.  She loved it and now can climb up on top by herself.

Dressed up Doggie

Ellie received lots of fun jewelry from her Grandma Gwen that she has been wearing around the house.  This occasion Doggie, named Bonnie, joined in the fun.  I don’t know where they were pretending to go but Doggie was dresses up for an outing.

Planting a Tree

We bought this tree a while ago and finally planted it by the bunny’s cage in the back yard.  Ellie helped by keeping the worms entertained, not necessarily safe, and by watering the tree.

The Return of "E"

Ellie’s Christmas elf “E” returned to our house on the first of December. Every night, after his trip to the North Pole to see Santa, he finds a new place to hide and watch Ellie.  This year, Ellie goes down stairs in the morning to find “E” and then will come back upstairs to report on his new location.

Ellie thought it would be fun to make a Lego chair for “E” to sit in for the day.  We made the chair and Ellie created a letter for the elf to understand that the chair was for him and also included some drawings of Christmas presents.

Mum's Card

Ellie has been working on writing her letters.  She can write her name and other small words.  Victoria and I have been putting words on her blackboard for her to copy or sound out.

Dino Puzzle

Ellie was very proud of herself finishing the Dino puzzle on her own.

Ellie Sheep Playing

Ellie was trying to feed the new lambs some grass but the mum sheep wasn’t happy with Ellie being so close and was stomping her foot.  Ellie thought the sheep was playing with her so Ellie started to jump up and down.

Cards from friends

It’s amazing at times to sit back and just watch, unnoticed, at the enjoyment she gets from simple things.

The Ellie didn’t know I was taking this picture of her reading a card from one of her best friends.

Washing Baby

In our house; any reason to play with water is a good reason and if you can put a baby doll, soap, a sponge, and a water bottle in the mix all the better.  Ellie is working hard to keep her bath babies clean.  On this day she ran out of soap and requested more. I can’t remember how this baby bath ended but they usually ends with Ellie taking off some wet, water logged clothes and running around on the grass.