book photo

December 2012

December 1, 2012

Ellie got really mad at Melania after she knocked over a bracelet that she was beading. She cooled down and I pretended to do the Melania voice and apologized for Melans.  

“Its ok, even if there was only one crumb left in the world, I’d give it to you....or someone in our family.”  So sweet.  

elated about Christmas time

(For the better part of 2011 and 2012 she is always talking about having brothers and sisters, two fathers, having a brother, etc--talking about Heavenly Father, Jesus, and her extended family of brothers and sisters.)

December 24, 2012

Tonight in Ellie's prayer: ...and I hope that nothing sad happens tomorrow, that no one will get coal in their stocking...

December 24, 2012

A: I’m going to kiss you...

E: And hug me, and call my name George.  (A phrase we say a lot, from a cartoon.)

December 27, 2012

When Afton was decorating Felicity’s cake (bundt, chocolate and peppermint):

Afton, you’re a really good artist.

December 28, 2012

Found this in an excel sheet I was working on a few days before:

i         em       frushtaraded      mommy

November 2012

October 2012

October 13

I really wish I remembered the context of this question-I asked Ellie if something was cool.  I think it was after co-op, I asked if one of the classes or things in class was cool.

Well, not like dark-skinned people who listen to bad music cool, but it was ya know, kind of cool.

--

I think your breasts make you prettier.  You know, they’re kind of pointy, not fluffy.  I think they make you prettier!  

--

A few days later:

E: I think you were prettier when I was a baby.  

A: Oh yea?  How?  

E: Your hair, your face...everything.

--

October 19

You’re the prettiest girl in the world, even though you have rusty hands.

--

October 19

You were going to go to the zoo with Zachary.  You said “Zachary hasn’t been himself lately.”  i asked why.  “I don’t know how to describe it, but he just hasn’t been himself.”

--

October 20

Your breasts are kind of like buns on your front.  

(So I guess she’s into looks right now...)

Halloween

Ellie was conscientious at Halloween-she was embarrassed about people thinking she might want a ton of candy.

September 2012

September 12

Having so much fun listening to Ellie and Jake making up jingles upstairs about "ears being so important" and "she is right". We have no song-writing capabilities in this family, which makes it that much more entertaining!

--

We hear different languages all the time around here. Ellie wants a piece of the pie, so she came up with the idea of talking in our own language. I feel so incredibly ridiculous but love that she wants to do it--after hearing another language tonight I'm convinced that our jibberish probably means something in another tongue. One day someone's probably going to give us a look after we accidentally call them bad names.

September 18

Evening prayer:

...and help us to love you more as we read the scriptures more and learn about your power and word.

August 2012

August 2012-The months she turns 6!

August 1

She asked a question about which season it was.

E: Then why would Sister Mullins (primary president, who taught primary sharing time that day) say “we have to make the most of summer”?

--

Ellie was telling me that she wants a suit and she wants to hold meetings and have surveys, and go to hotels, all by herself, she doesn’t want us to go with her.

--

Ellie thought I was taking up too much room on the couch.  She told me I was too big.  (She was trying to be mean.)  I told her that was mean.  

E: I didn’t mean it like that...I just meant because (hand motions) you’re older, so...

(I gave her a look.)  She started laughing and kept trying to cover.

August 3

Ellie is really interested in the Olympics.  She keeps talking about Gabby Douglas; she is definitely Ellie’s favorite.

E: I think we’re kind of like twins but really far apart because we’re both so good.

(Another day)

She did a trick on the couch.

Do you think that was like Olympics?

August 4

You’ve been interested in healthy foods, what is healthy, what isn’t.  You wanted to eat Nutella.

E: Is it healthy?

I explained that it wasn’t really.  You also did this the other day with something.  I can’t remember what it was but it was very middle ground.  I tried to explain that it wasn’t really healthy, but wasn’t particularly unhealthy.  You really wanted to know if it was healthy or not!  I’m a bit worried about this going overboard so I have to be careful about being honest and not allowing you to become a nut about this.

August 5

Ellie was wearing a hat to church.

E: You should have worn a hat too.

A: I don’t really like how hats look on me.

E: They look good on you!  (Pause.)  Besides, Heavenly Father thinks you’re pretty anyway!

--

Is Heavenly Father for real?  How do we know?

(I told her everything around us shows us that Heavenly Father existed.)  She asked Jake the next day and told him that she had asked me, told him my answer.

--

August 14, 2012

We were at the post office and Ellie saw a lady who had a covering on her head.  

E: Are you a Jew?  

The lady didn’t hear her--or just didn’t respond which is very possible because we were pretty close--so Ellie asked me if she was a Jew.  She sometimes thinks Jewish people are Amish because of the covering.

--

Was Jesus a Mormon?

--

(Can’t remember what food she was contemplating eating but...)

Does this have fat?  I don’t like fat.  

(I hate that she is concerned about this and talking about it.  I have no idea what has sparked this.)

--

A: Ellie you have such good ideas.

E: Do you wish you could trade brains with me?

--

Ellie you are always asking me how many months Melania is, and you then tell everyone how old she is, strangers at the store, etc.

--

(I don’t even remember the topic, but...)

A: Jake you know I don’t like to talk about that, especially in front of certain people.

E: LIKE ME!

--

Teenagers get annoyed a lot.  They just like to talk on their phones and stuff.  They ignore their brothers and sisters.  I won’t do that to Melans!

--

I think she was talking about the Olympics.

….and I’ll be famous!

(A different day)

Telling me how she wants to be on TV.  

--

We were discussing Ellie’s birthday invitation list.  

...and Brynn, of course, because, Rett’s Syndrome...(saying she didn’t want to leave her out.)

Sunday, August 19

We were transitioning the basement and moved a bunch of stuff from the basement into Jun’s room because he wasn’t home yet, but Ellie thought he was coming home that night. In the prayer that night:

Help Jun to not be sad that his room is destroyed.

--

New Chinese exchange student, John: I like dogs.

Ellie: Then why do you eat them?

(He clarified very quickly that he doesn't eat them.)

August 23

Ellie was talking about eating sugar.

E: I think you drink fat, that’s why you’re so....coochable!

August 24

Earlier in the day I was telling Ellie that I was cancelling the party so she wouldn’t actually be getting older.

E: Are you really sad that I’m growing up?

A: Kind of, I’m happy, but it does make me sad too.

Nighttime prayer:

...help mama to not be as sad that I’m growing up.

--

Months ago Ellie asked when Melania would lose her fat, I told her probably when she was 1.  Before her birthday she said she didn’t want her to turn 1 because she didn’t want her to lose her chunkies.

July 2012

July 2012, 5 years 11 months

Mom can I  be on TV?

A: I don't know how to get you on tv.

E: I think you go to this meeting, and your parents wait outside...they do something, they have challenges...(the TV show Ruff Ruff has challenges...)

...so can I be on tv??

--

Ellie gets in super nice moods sometimes and is overly gushy, sweet, etc.  She kept offering to do things for me.

A: Don't worry about it.

E: (Adamantly) I WILL worry about it!

July 11

Ellie was trying to get a break from Melania patting the TV during her show. "Mom, could you put her to sleep or put her in a cage or something?"

July 20

Ellie buys into all the infomercials. She'll randomly come up to me and tell me about one, and how Jake or I would love something.

Today she came up to me and was telling me about this great shampoo "They showed the before and after pictures"...she told me how it smooths out your hair and makes it look better. She then recommended I try it. (This is the second beauty product she recommend I try.) She was kind of surprised when I told her my hair could look nicer if I just spent more time on it. (As in-then why wouldn't you?) Yeah...I should probably do that...

July 21

The other day she was telling me how she thinks teenagers get annoyed all the time, that they just want to be on their cell phone or talking to their friends.  I don't know how she caught onto that.  

July 21

Ellie was really hungry yesterday. She figured out why. "I think I'm so hungry because Ramadan started!"

July 24 From Maury Bevan

I. Love. Ellie. Here's why: Molly was watching Diego and Ellie came in and said, "Does this show promote brain development?" She said she thought it did so sat down and started watching it with her. Awesome.

July 26

This is embarrassing to admit, but for the sake of remembering it...

Jake and I were arguing in the car.  She bribed us to stop and offered us a quarter to whoever stopped first.  We kept "discussing".  

If you guys want to stop, just stop!  

July 28

After seeing an ad against Obama blowing tons of money on failed programs, Ellie asked about it.  I explained that he wasted our tax dollars.  She was blown away.

I can't believe Heavenly Father loves Obama!

July 29

E: Melania's not a mormon.  

A: Yes she is.

E: Not really because she doesn't pray and read the scriptures and stuff.

July 29

We were watching the Olympics.  

E: This is the best show ever!!  (With excitement): Lets pack our bags and go right now!

July 29

I was eating bacon.

E: If a pig is your favorite animal, then why are you eating it?

July 30

I was particularly frustrated with Ellie and Melania and very much ready for a break, but Jake wasn't home...my frustration must have shown.

E: Mom, if you are frustrated with her, try to talk softly, like this (softly) Melania.  Not like this (loudly) Melania!  

I was still frustrated.

E: Here, let me take her, its not hard for me.

Made me sad that she felt more capable that I was at the moment.

--

We were on East Broad Street and there was a car wreck. Ellie said we should stop and help them. I explained that it was okay because there was an ambulance there and they were helping them. She didn't approve. She paused and quietly said "I think you need to CTR."

July 30, 2012

A: And um...

E: Um what?  I think that's a figure of speech.

July 30, 201

We were having the missionaries for dinner in about a half hour.  Ellie wanted to go to the library,  

A: We can't go to the library, we have to finish getting dinner ready for the missionaries.  

E: Well we can just have them over.

A: They don't want to come over just to stare at us-they want to eat!

E: Well actually they aren't just supposed to eat, they are supposed to PREACH THE GOSPEL!

--

We were reading about the Angel Moroni visiting Joseph Smith.  We were discussing the final visit of the night.

E: OH MY!!  Not again!!

July 26  from Grandpa Southam:

While Ellie was here, I was in the hallway musing to myself. I was growling a bit, but nothing serious. Ellie piped up with “Grandpa, you sound irritated.” She talks like a dang 20-something! It really cracks me up! Love, Dad/Kurt

(Found this on this document:)

  hi        mommy   it     is   me      ELLie    now       why    are     you     so      happy     today     will     you    stop   I

--

Ellie was extra hungry one day.  It was also the first day of Ramadan.

I know why I'm so hungry!  Maybe its because its Ramadan!

--

I offered Ellie pop with our pizza (I think it was)

No thanks, I want water.  I'm addicted to water.

--

July 31

While watching the Olympics, we were reading the scriptures during the commercial breaks.  I told Ellie to look away from the TV so she wasn't distracted.  Turns out she was watching the TV.  

Mom, in case you're wondering why I'm watching the TV, its so I can imagine what you're saying on the TV.

--

Always interested in Melania's age, wants to know how many months old she is, then she tells everyone how old she is.  Strangers at the store, etc.