Caterpillars

Last year for her birthday, Eliana got a butterfly garden kit. It came with everything but the caterpillars. We finally sent off for the caterpillars and they arrived in the mail about a week ago. Very soon they should be turning into chrysalis and then becoming butterflies! In the meantime, they are eating, getting fat, and wiggling around like so...

Easter Basket

data, originally uploaded by elizabethwickland.

This year I decided that Eliana didn't need an Easter basket full of candy or cheap toys. So... this year she got a small basket with a cute pinwheel and a jewelry set. Eliana has been more and more interested in "real" jewelry, so I decided she was probably ready for some. She got a Stella and Dot pearl bracelet with pink enamel flower and a necklace with 3 charms, including a matching pink enamel flower. She was absolutely delighted to wear her new jewelry today, which made up for the lack of a new Easter dress. ;)

Operation Christmas Child

One of the things we have done for the past couple years is fill shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. This year, again, we are, only this year Eliana has much more of a say in the matter. She has suggestions for what to put in the box, as well as an opinion on the gender of the child. (girl, ages 5-9) She wants to give it to someone she knows, but we have been talking about the kids around the world who do not get gifts every year like she and her friends do, and how they would really appreciate someone caring enough to send them something.

I keep a stash of gifts on hand so that I am not stressed when a birthday party comes up, so the first thing we did was raid the stash for things the little girl might like. So far she has...

* a hello kitty tote bag

* 2 washcloths

* a bouncy ball

* a squiggly straw

* Elmo "Go Fish" game

* Sunglasses

* Small kite

* Pink and purple rubber ducky

* Stencils

* Dental Floss

* Toothbrush (I keep those on hand for guests)

* Notepads

* Princess stickers

* Mints

Then Eliana and I went through and made a shopping list of things she thought the girl would like to have in her box. So far the list includes:

* Pencils

* Sharpener

* Crayons

* Stamps and Ink Pad

* Coloring book

* Picture book

* Dolls

* Stuffed animals

* Slinky

* Toothpaste

* Soap

* Comb / brush

* Play jewelry

* Hair clips

* Shirt

* Skirt

* Socks

I am not sure that we'll be able to get all those things, or fit all those things in the box, but it is nice to get Eliana to start thinking about what other people would like. Sometime later this week (probably Wednesday after gymnastics) we will head to Target and see what we can find to finish filling the shoebox.

Eliana also wants to make a Christmas card for the little girl, and I think that's a great idea! Perhaps we'll include a picture of Eliana so the little girl knows who it came from.

We are also going to take advantage of the EZGive online donation this year, including the shoebox tracker! So this year we actually get to know where our shoebox is going and can track it online. I am excited about that!

Online Stories

When I was in Barnes and Noble the other day, I noticed a sign that said they had an online storytime and this month's book was Where The Wild Things Are, one of Eliana's favorites. We like to read this book in October, because it is sort of Halloweeny, without being too focused on the scary, spooky things. It's read aloud by the author, which is kind of cool!

They also have Olivia, Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (one of my favorite poems from elementary school!), and a few others. How fun!

Schedule...

It looks like we are settling into a schedule here. I'm hoping that will continue, and be a good thing. It's not exactly down to a science yet, but here's approximately what we have going on...

Monday - Home Day

On days that we're home, it means Eliana gets up, dressed, breakfast, then has some sort of activity to keep her busy. Sometimes the activity is with me. Sometimes it's by herself. Sometimes she has wild imaginative play, and others she runs like crazy outside. No matter what the activity, it gets her energy out and she plays long and hard. She usually has a snack somewhere during her play, then it continues until lunch time.

After lunch, Eliana has quiet time. It might be nap time, if she is having a rough day. It might just be time to read on her bed. Today she was allowed to listen to an audio book. Other days she just has to stay in her room for an hour. She seems to need the down time, so I think this is good for her.

After quiet time we have some quality time. Maybe reading books together, or playing a game, or going to a park... Whatever we do, she has my full attention and she knows it.

Tuesday - Josie Here

On Tuesdays, Ellie's friend Josie comes over from 9-3. We follow more or less the same schedule as a home day, with play, snack, play, lunch, quiet time (usually a movie), and then quality time once Josie goes home.

Wednesday - Fun Day

Wednesdays are going to be Eliana's busy day this year, but I've hopefully planned it in such a way that she can maintain her basic schedule without becoming overwhelmed.

10:30-11:15 - We have signed Eliana up for gymnastics in Bozeman. She has been asking ALL summer if she can be a "gymnastics girl" in the fall, so we're going to give it a try.

After gymnastics, we'll have lunch (maybe at a park with a picnic lunch, maybe stop for lunch someplace fun, maybe just head home for lunch) and head home for quiet time in the afternoon.

3:30-5:15 - We are going to have Eliana in AWANA this year. I think she is going to love it! I know I really enjoyed AWANA in my growing up years, so we're going to give it a try. We don't have a strong sunday school program at our church, so I feel like she needs some additional structured Bible time, and AWANA can provide that.

5:30-8:30 - Every other week this is date night for us, and on the off weeks it is date night for Josie's parents. So Eliana will get to spend this time with Josie. I'm thinking it will be largely play, dinner, then quiet down with a movie or story time before bed.

Thursday - Josie's House

Thursdays are my Ellie free day and she spends from 9-3 at Josie's house. I have no idea what they do there, I just know that Ellie loves it and she comes home worn out and ready for some quiet time. =D

Friday - Home / Gym Day?

Eliana likes being at home. I, however, am not a homebody. I like to go and do. I also have a Mary Kay business, and need some regular hours for meeting with clients and making deliveries. That's what I do on Thursday. I need a separate time for running errands for our household, since I can only seem to do one or the other on Thursdays. There is a program that Ellie can go to at Lone Mountain from 12-4 on Fridays (or Mondays or Wednesdays, but I really see this as a Friday thing...). They have lunch (from home), quiet time, and activities. I have been impressed by Lone Mountain when we were there for swim lessons, so I think this will be a good program. Again, we're going to give it a try.

I'm not sure how the whole schedule is going to work, but we're going to try it. This week got messed up because of Labor Day and Josie being here on Friday instead of today, but I think we'll get the hang of it eventually. =D

While the basement floor was torn up...

... we took advantage of the bare concrete and did some fun painting!!

I just rolled out the paper, squirted some paint, and let Ellie paint with her hands and feet to her heart's content! She had a lot of fun!

A New Park

Yesterday we were driving about town, headed to the Dinosaur Park, when we passed this little park. It's one we'd never come across before, so we took the opportunity to stop and play!

Ellie liked it because she could pretend it was a castle and because there were "rings that are just my size!!!"

I liked it because there was a covered pavilion with tables right next to the play area where I could rest in the shade and still interact with Ellie!

I wish I could tell you where this park was, because it's a little gem! I anticipate that we will stop and play at it again, especially if we ever go driving down that road again! I guess it will be like a treasure hunt for us!