So far behind I think I'm first & birthdays

Ellie's birthday bonanza. Featured here: Ballerina Eliza Mae; secondary pink princess Eden Powell. Pumehana Baldwin models the dark dress. Cinderella, Parker Hainey and Prophet (who's last name I cannot spell yet) wearing white. Madison Lombardo refused to be photographed. We see here The Cake (two hours) the table fit for princesses and the gang. Super cute, super good time.

I have a million things I'd like to blog about. My trip home, for starters, home being Nevada, the hills, the sage, the pine and all that jazz. Considering I went home for a funeral (our lives will never be the same without Joan. My heart just breaks for my sweet Uncle Poncho.) and ended up staying an extra five days for a second funeral (we will miss you Uncle Willie. The family will have far fewer hysterical moments without your Italian touch....) I had a fantastic trip. I felt like I got to really visit with family and I even got to see some old friends in Reno. However, I forgot my camera. And my cell phone charger. So, I bought a little point and click film camera and when I remember to drop it off to get developed, I will post pictures (HA!) and expound upon the trip. Lots of flying time, death, funerals, family, long drives gives on plenty of opportunity to think about life, the whole messy circle of where you're from and where you are and where your life is going. And I think I have a few things to say. Until then, wonder and await with baited breath.

We got home just in time to celebrate Ellie's 3rd birthday. I don't know what it is about age 3 that turns my kids into party planners, but just like her brother before her, she wanted to PARTY HEARTY. OK, so it was a princess dress up with her buddies, but she spent months talking about it and we spent just three days pulling it together. (The only downside of staying longer in Nevada: short party prep time). She is such a girl, my little Ellie. So full of vim and vigor and princess-ness. She calls her daddy "my prince." And runs around singing the song from "Sleeping Beauty" at the top of her lungs (sometimes, she is even marginally in tune). She likes to paint her nails, and to my great surprise, she can do them (and mine) without making a mess. (WHERE did she inherit THAT skill?) Given a chance, she will spend hours in the sandbox. She's a bit of a bruiser -- if there is a fight brewing in my house, chances are she started it. Jack has only learned to wrestle because she uses that as a way to get his attention. She's going through a biting stage of which I am NOT a fan. I think one of her funniest moments in the last year was while we were making applesauce. The boys (Jack and Ben) were very excited about the process of cutting, cooking, and milling the sauce. Ellie wanted to be involved. She gave the food mill handle a few whirls. Then, deciding this work too rough, she retired to a near-by chair and declared herself a cheerleader. She then spent a good half an hour cheering the boys' sauce work. Why funny: I am a sports girl. Ellie is a cheerleader. I need to learn to accept this. :)

She honestly is just fun. Witness the cuteness of two girls I like a lot:

Anyway, I should be writing a volunteer press release for a Haiti relief concert. I have the new BBC "Emma" paused as I came to work. I have a list of goals in my mind I want to commit to paper (one of which is less time on the computer, another of which is training for two spring runs). I need to finish the quilt I started for her birthday but left undone in our hasty exit West. Let's not discuss my need to de-clutter my house. But I'm blogging. And not even a very good post. Nothing profound, just a hello, wait and see and Happy Birthday.

Oh, I had a birthday. It was great. I got a jewelry box (which I needed) and a fry daddy (which I do NOT need and think I will trade in on a waffle maker and a laminater (which I do need).

Enough of this nonsense. "Emma" beckons. Good night!