Berry Nice

Me: E do you know why I love you?
E: Yes, because God created me berry nice!

I love the way she says berry instead of very.  Not looking forward to the day that changes.

Preschooler No More

Last Wednesday was E's last day of school.  She has had an amazing year of preschool and is beyond excited about going to kindergarten in August.  I have always said I would not be one of those moms who cries on the first day of kindergarten but even now as I type this my eyes are a little misty.
My sweet baby who entered the world a few weeks early and took the world by storm is no longer a baby.  She is a "big, 4 and a half year old" as she will quickly inform you, who is quickly approaching her 5th birthday and the big milestone of kindergarten.

I just want to hug her and kiss her and spend hours rocking her in the rocking chair because before to long she is going to be getting her driver's license!

No Need for Exercise

This morning while talking with E, I mentioned being physically fit.  E responded, "I'm physically fit.  All my bones fit in my body."  Right you are my girl!  I like your definition of being physically fit.

E-isms

E keeps me on my toes.  She is constantly saying something that makes me want to bust a gut.  In the past few days she has said some really funny stuff. 

The other day I took E to Dunkin to get some donuts.  As we were driving one of my favorite songs came on the radio, Good Morning by Mandisa.  E and I both started dancing.  While we were in the drive thru line I continued to dance and E says as serious as can be, "Mama, if you keep dancing like that your head is going to fall off and roll out the window." 

Fast-forward a few days...I was looking at a Dove chocolate catalog and E walked up.  She said "if you are talking about sweets, now you are talking my love language."

This kid cracks me up!

Easter Egg Fun

We used Kool Aid to dye our Easter eggs this year.  We had fun watching the eggs change color and another plus of using the sugary drink to dye the eggs is that they smelled wonderful.

Winter Wonderland

I am not a big fan of cold weather or snow, especially when it comes to winter clothing.  Gloves, coats, hats, snow boots, etc. make everyday tasks more difficult than they already are.  However, I must admit the snow creates a beautiful winter wonderland.  Yesterday and today I tried to capture just a little bit of the beauty.  Photos hardly do it justice. 

Nature Preserve near our home

Dock in the frozen lake

Solitude

A Morning in Mostly Pictures

This blog is often neglected as I try and keep up with a very active four year old, adoption paperwork, and keeping my house from being in shambles.  However, I am not entirely ready to part with this blog since it has been the story of our lives for the past 8 years. 

Saturday, Daniel was gone to a conference and E and I were home trying to keep ourselves busy.  I decided to take pictures throughout the morning to  document our day.

 This little girl loves her some pink and princesses

A special breakfast of pancakes with M&M's and sprinkles

 

 

 

 

 

Sledding in the freshly fallen snow

Snow bunny

Hot cocoa with marshmallows to warm up

Journal time

E loves to put the dishes away

Working on school valentine's day cards

Another trip outside to play in the snow

From Our Family to Yours

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 

Merry Christmas from the Cooley Family! 

We Give Thanks

A Happy Road

Not sure who all visits this blog but wanted to let you know we have started an additional blog HERE.  Please hop over and join us in this new chapter of our lives.  I will still post here on occasion as this serves as a baby book of sorts for E.

Pack Rat

E:  Mama, Daddy is a pack rat.  That means he doesn't like to throw things away. 
Me:  Eleanor, where did you learn that word?
E: Caillou, of course!

Eleanor on the Doctrine of the Atonement

This morning Eleanor was being dishonest about something and this is the conversation which insued.

Me: Eleanor, you are not telling the truth.  The Bible tells us that dishonesty is a sin.  It says, you shall not lie. 

E:  Mama, Jesus already died for our sins.

Me: But that doesn't mean you should keep on sinning.

Daddy: Yes Eleanor, that is correct but when we love Jesus we do not want to sin.

Theology with E

E:  Mama, when did God die?
Me:  Well E, Jesus died on the cross for our sins about 2000 years ago.
E:  No Mama, when did God die?
Me:  God did not die, Jesus died and Jesus is God's son.
E: Mama, Jesus is God so God is God's son.  Now that's funny!

ROY G BIV

The other day E and her Na Na were coloring a picture.  E asked me, "Mama, what colors are in the rainbow?"  I replied, "ROY G BIV" and E replied, "I don't have that color!"

Friday Funny

This morning Eleanor crawled up in my lap while I sat at the kitchen table drinking my coffee.  After a couple minutes she poked at my belly and said "Mom, you are getting a little squishy!"  Nothing like your child telling you that you are getting squishy to motivate you to exercise.  It's a good thing I joined the gym this week.

Yee Haw Cowgirl

Eleanor has spent the week at horse camp.  A local riding place was holding a Vacation Bible School/Horse Camp and we decided to let E participate.  This girl loves her some horseback riding.  She has even started talking about taking riding lessons.  It has been interesting to hear the things she has learned about horses while at camp.  She can tell you all about how you can tell how a horse is feeling by the way it holds it ears (if they are flat back they are mad and will nip you) and she knows why they flick their tails (to rid themselves of flies) and she can tell you that their eyes are on the sides of their heads unlike ours.  She was one of the youngest kids at camps and I would chuckle watching her try to mount the horse.  Her very long almost 4 year old legs are still not long enough to reach the stirrups.  I am looking forward to many more horseback rides in the years to come!

Our Little Track Star

Wordless Wednesday/ Where Did My Baby Go?

Lake Cherokee

Here are a few pictures from our trip to the Cooley Lakehouse over Memorial Day weekend. 

 Eleanor and Mama riding the wave runner.

 Splish, Splash

 The beautiful backyard

 Cutest boat captain ever

My handsome hubby skiing slalom

First and Last

Last Wednesday was Eleanor's last day of Pre-K 3.  She had a great year and loved her teachers and friends.  Over the year E developed a love for letters and writing.  She has also become quite the crafty little girl despite her mom's craft deficiencies.  Eleanor loved to be the pledge helper and as her teacher's have told me she is quite the mother hen in the classroom.  Her teachers also said she loves to help and was always willing to clean up (hmm, how come that doesn't happen at home?!?).