Ellen Smith, Fashion Plate

Sometimes I just feel sorry for my poor kids. . . I just have so many excellent blackmail pictures to use when they are teenagers. Take for example tonight: Ellen was such an adorable hot mess at bedtime that I couldn't resist taking a few photos and documenting her appearance for future generations.

Observe the too short night gown (leftover from last year) and the even more too short leggings. Edited to add: Doesn't she look sweet with her hands clasped to say prayers?









Let's get a closer look at that hair, shall we?


And the real fashion coup de grace. . .



She insisted upon wearing these boots to bed.

That's my girl, a fashion trendsetter!

Happy Birthday to Sam!

My sweet baby boy turned four years old on the 1st of this month. . . He is not a baby at all any more, but a cheerful, handsome, smart little boy with opinions and ideas all his own. This is wonderful, but it also makes me want to cry sometimes. It's true what they say; kids just grow up too doggone fast.

So today we celebrated with a small family party at Nana's house. Cake, sherbet, and potato chips, plus cousins to play with, and of course, lots of presents!

Sam wanted a "lizard cake" this year, so that's what he got. Chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.

Sam, Conner, Alexis, Taylor, and Ellen all had a great time!

And at the end of the day, Sam went to bed in his nifty new Transformers pajamas and robe. It was a terrific day!

At the movies

Today, in honor of Sam's birthday (which was last Sunday) Anthony took off work and spent the day at home with us. We packed Ellen off to daycare this morning, and Sam had both parents all to himself. He spent most of the day running around giggling and acting silly and generally having a great time. He helped me bake his birthday cake for the party tomorrow. Then he helped me clean up the kitchen and start the dishwasher. After that he had a wrestling match with his dad, which pretty much consisted of Sam running fult tilt at Anthony, and Anthony picking him up and throwing him onto the bed. Hilarity ensued and a good time was had by all.

We picked Ellen up from daycare and then headed to the cinema to treat the kids (and ourselves) to a movie. We watched The Tale of Despereaux, which to be honest wasn't the best movie I've seen, but it was cute enough. The time with family was the most fun part anyway. We splurged on snacks and were amazed as Ellen scarfed piece after piece of popcorn and Sam gnawed his way through a whole pack of Twizzlers. We shared our sodas with them and Ellen peed on Anthony's lap.

Sam was pretty nonchalant about the whole 'movie' thing, but had a blast eating candy and then playing one of those video games where you drive a car around town. (I have now decided that Anthoy will have to be the one to teach him to drive!). Ellen loved the popcorn and slurped up her weight in soda, and wiggled and clapped and cheered and pretty much had a ball. She even sat on my lap and tried to dance to the background music.

And then we got home and everybody was tired and coming down from a sugar high and so they had to go to bed at 630. I am seriously thinking of joining them.