Homework

Ok-I am going to be straight up admit it-I was hoping Ella would never come home from preschool with homework. I imagine that I feel this way because she is my 4th child and preschool for me is a place for mom to drop off a child for a couple hours-no homework strings attached. I am ok with providing snack, doing show and tell and even a field trip, but please no homework. Ella goes to preschool 5 days a week and her teacher sends home homework every night. So, my "no homework strings attached preschool" is not happening. Today, her brothers decided to put their scholarly wisdom to good use and help Ella with her homework. What they did not expect was the sour reception by Ella. Although, who could blame a girl when all your brothers tell you is that you are going to get an "F" on your homework because you are not following instructions. My oldest, who has never gotten below a "A" was freaking out. He kept telling Ella that her name was below the baseline, her letters were not straight and asking her, in a very loving older brother way, if she was ok with getting an "F" on her homework. I was cracking up watching this whole show go down in my kitchen as I was explaining to him that Ella is only in preschool-doesn't really count when applying for college. Remind me in 10 years not to let him teach her how to drive.

First of all, thanks for all of your comments and personal emails about how to help me get Ella to sleep through the night. Ella is sorta doing better-she starts out sleeping in her bed, but eventually ends up on my bedroom floor. I think getting back on a regular schedule helps and at least she is going back to sleep instead of staying up for a few hours. I was beginning to wonder if I would get back to normal...you know its bad when you wake up in the morning and all you can think about for the first hour is getting back in bed that night. Life is settling in a normal routine. School is fully underway, the boys are starting football and Ella starts ice skating lessons in a few weeks. I took some pictures of Ella in her new Livi Lu. Ella loves wearing it and she looks so dang cute (biased mom). Thank you to a very talented Lynn.

Holy Batman, I can't believe I haven't posted in about a month! Yeah, date night was seeing that movie (I would have preferred to stay home and read my vampire book.)
I have been in a funk these last few weeks. It all started when we got home from vacation a long time ago. Ella has been off her sleep schedule-the vacation really messed her up. Ella will fall asleep for about 2-3 hours and then wake up for about 2-3 hours. It does not matter when I put her to bed, she follows the same routine. She is up at times from midnight to three in the morning. I need help...anyone have a suggestions out there? I have tried everything...I am out of ideas. I just need to her sleep through the night in her bed.
Madison moved out. Wow is that exhausting-getting a teenager ready for college and to move out. Her excitement is contagious, but underneath I am crumbling. I start crying at the oddest moments-not sure if it is the sleep deprivation or the fact that my oldest is leaving. I am having a hard time letting go-letting go of her childhood...it definitely comes way to fast.
On a lighter note, Ella is loving preschool. Our family is WAY into the Olympics, although, we are always Olympic junkies when they come around every two years. My boys asked if they could start fencing classes...hummm! Boys with fake swords-not sure if it is a good mix.
And the MOST exciting news ever, after TWO LONG YEARS-the braces are coming off my teeth on Monday! Yahoo, Yippe and Jump for Joy. Now, I will post more pictures of myself-I did not like pictures of me with a metal mouth =).

Ella says "My China-I love my China."

Pre-school

Ella got to finally meet Sammi (in the pink bow)-she was visiting from CA. Her mom is my good friend Jamie, married to Henry who is Chinese. Sammi is a good combination of her parents gene pool-Chinese dad and blonde hair Caucasian mom.

Self-Protrait

Going to a "Tinkerbell" birthday party