El Rocks!

El just received her TAKS scores for 4th grade.  She achieved "Commended Performance", the highest level, on all three areas of the test!  The test covered math, reading, and writing. For the written portion she earned a perfect score.  Rock on El!  OK, proud Mom will stop bragging now.

Sleeping Beauty Rock On...

Here is another clip from Sleeping Beauty's concert.  For this song she did not sing a known song.  You will notice that she is looking around the room.  She is using what she sees to make up the lyrics.  

Officer on deck!

El has been a busy girl this spring.  She served on Student Council this year and was elected as Secretary of Student Council for 5th grade.  This is the position she wanted and won by a landslide (it helped that she ran unopposed).  

The 4-H club also had it's elections.  This year she served as Reporter.  She was elected into the 2nd Vice President position for next year.  Way to go, El!

Weird but true story:

I have been getting calls from (I presume) a bill collector.  The calls are for Veronica Marks.  The other day I was finally fed up and spoke quite harshly that the caller needed to remove this phone number from their files.  El inquired about the conversation.  I explained why I was annoyed.  She then went off to grab her latest writing endeavor.  She returned with a grin and said, "Look Mom, the main character in my latest story is Veronica Marks!".  Isn't that odd??? What are the chances?

Dance Ballerina Dance!

For Daddy's birthday we had the pleasure of attending El's ballet recital.  The video shows the dress rehearsal and the recital.  

Luau

Yesterday we went to a Luau at the Lazy River in the area where we will be living eventually. There was food, drink, magician, water slide, swimming, live music, etc.  The picture below is a caricature drawn by an artist at the party.  As we entered the pool area Eva exclaimed, "This is going to be the best party ever!"  

My Young Poet

For teacher appreciation week the students were to write a Thank You note to their teacher on Friday.  El and her teacher, Mrs. Tilley, both enjoy writing.  So El decided to write her a poem about writing.  Here it is.

Writing

In a dash

Ink spreads upon the page

Leaving drops behind 

As the writer plunges their character

Through poverty and disaster

Or simply frolicking and galavanting through a field

The writer copes with surrounding nudniks

Just to record the words

Of an untold tale.

Waiting for Prince Phillip

This is where we often find Eva.  When the house gets too quiet we know it is time to find our sleeping princess.  She is most often found on the stairs or in her bed, arms crossed, with a rose on her chest.  She will stay there quietly for an amazing amount of time!  The other afternoon it was quite solemn, so I called her down for a snack.  She did not reply so I went to kiss her awake. What I found was that she had stayed waiting long enough to actually fall asleep!

Sleeping Beauty Rocks

We have had about two weeks of Princess  Aurora.  She found her sisters bed and guitar and had her own jam session.  This is just one of many songs I enjoyed that evening.  I chose to post this one as it is the princess's signature song.

My Jakey Boy

I was following the blog of my friend Laura's brother, wife and their new baby Jack.  I had heard so much about them as Laura's Bella and her cousin Jack were born only a few weeks apart!  On the blog was a picture of their dog Lucy.  She looked so much like Jake!  So here are a couple old pix of the greatest dog that ever lived!  Top is El and Jake kissing.  Bottom is Jake and me on the porch of the Hawthorne house.

Austin Arts Festival

This weekend was the Austin Arts Festival.  We had a good time.  Eva painted a rock pet and El had her face painted.  El learned the joy of cotton candy.  We were in a Recycle Parade.  Eva was the parade princess!  How she managed to snooze during this very loud parade is beyond me!     El and I also went ice skating last weekend.  I managed to land squarely on my behind!  Ouch.

Jasmine

Eva is, for a brief time, Jasmine.  Most days she is Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty).  At least for the time being I do not have to learn a new name every day.  Hail to the Princess!

You have cocktails on your belt!

As El and I discussed the new term heatherific... it reminded me to tell El the story of our visit to Little Rock, Arkansas.  We went up to welcome our new arrival, Lilly (Heather's first child).  Just as we arrived after a LONG drive, El said, "This better be good Mom, you were the wanter".  Yes, Lilly, I was the wanter to come and meet you:)  Anyway... as we walked along the street in the farm market yapping our gums (as usual).... El(4yrs old at the time) pipes up with, "Heather, you have cocktails on your belt!"  We cracked up.  How many 4 yr. olds recognize a martini glass and know the word cocktail?  I have to attribute that knowledge to her Daddy.  The picture is of Lilly and El 4 years later.

Heatherific!

Eva coined a new word today... heatherific.  She used this word and El and I joked that Heather would like to hear that word:)  Then through the evening she used it a couple of more times.  Finally I asked her what heatherific means.  She replied, "It is the fancy word for pink."

And suddenly the world makes sense.  

Clean!

Eva is fresh out of the Shower!  She wraps her hair just like a grown-up.  Eva (AKA Marty today) wants to be grown-up so badly.  I continually ask her to be my baby... but she flatly refuses.  At least she still likes to snuggle!

More A's!

El had another amazing report card... straight A's!  She enjoys working on Robotics in her discovery class.  I enjoy her writing the most.  She writes wonderful stories and songs.  The best birthday gift I have ever received was this past year when she woke me up singing a song she had written for me!!!

Future member of NOW???

When El was young we sang the "Mr. Golden Sun" song.  As an extension of that we always referred to the moon as Mr. Moon.  I have carried this on with Eva as well as talking about God.  However, when Eva talks about these three she ALWAYS refers to them as Mrs. Golden Sun, Mrs. Moon and God as She!  My budding feminist.  

Time to wash the car

It is finally warm enough to wash the car at home.  El and I have always made a good time out of washing the car since she was about 2.  Eva can now join the fun (now that we have a driveway)!  She loves it.  She also loves her bikini!  Somehow we always end up as wet as the car.

School carnival!!!

We had a fun filled weekend!  These pictures show Eva's new "do",  El on a bungee race, and our game for the carnival... the Toilet Toss (are they trying to tell me something?).  The video is Eva loving the swings!  

#3

Well, I will now see who is really reading my blog.  Those reading are the first to know of the next addition to our family!  Surprise #3!  Believe me, I am as shocked as you.  Well, here we go again... happy April fools day!

Just for you, Feather!

Here are a few requested pictures of our future home (hopefully near future).  The top picture is of the front of house taken from the side of the property.  Where it is white will be covered with stone and the black will be stained wood. 

The second photo was taken from the back yard. The third is Todd and El standing in the back yard.  Not a bad view.  

*note-El took the pictures of the house.