Ellie Speaks

Somehow Clay gets Eleanor to make all these crazy faces. I love them. And I will have to start entitling these posts "Eleanor Speaks". She has decided she just wants to be called Eleanor. When we accidentally say Ellie she will say, "Can I just be Eleanor?"

The other day we were talking about the new baby. And Eleanor said something like, "...when Mommy has the babies." Clay told her that Mommy is only having one baby. Eleanor said, "Oh, I know. But when she has the first baby then in a few weeks she will have another one." We have actually had this conversation several times, she is having the hardest time understanding that there will only be one baby. :) Little does she know that one baby will be plenty for us to handle.

The kids have been sick, it all started LAST Thursday. My temperament doesn't really thrive on being still or staying inside all the time. But, it is good for me, as hard as it is. Yesterday was our annual church conference and I was really excited about going. I had big plans about bringing a blanket and sitting in the back with the kiddos enjoying pipe cleaners, play dough, and coloring. I'm not sure why, with having small children, but it is one of my favorite church events. But because of the sickness, which is the never ending cough and annoying fever, the kids and I stayed home and Daddy went ahead alone. This morning Clay was getting ready for church, he was pretty much dressed and ready to go. I was sitting on the rug in the living room trying to jump start my attitude for the day. Another day of movies, activities to keep the kids busy (because they do not believe us when we tell them they are really sick, did I mention that Athanasius will sometimes stand at the front door and cry because he wants to go outside...sad.) another day of being cooped up. Clay asked me if I was okay. I said, "Yeah, I'll be fine. I just feel a little bored." Eleanor, with her great smile looked at me and said, "Mommy, we don't say bored." ha ha! That's right baby, we don't say bored. Needless to say Clay noticed the morale of the troops (mainly Mommy...) was on the line so he stayed home and we had a wonderful day. We did take the kids outside for a ride in their wagon. Daddy's just have a way of making the whole house happy. :) It is always really weird when we have to stay home on a Sunday. It feels unnatural. But it isn't the end of the world, and in the scheme of things sickness lasting over a week isn't that long. But at the time it feels so. I was so thankful for Eleanor's reminder. I firmly believe one reason God wants us to have kids is to help sanctify and purify our lives. I think our kids are doing a great job at that. On a side note I made homemade jello for the first time. I mean I used unflavored gelatin and fruit juice. I was pretty excited about the whole thing and felt very productive. You know you do not have much going on when you feel productive from the act of mixing gelatin and juice in a bowl and then sticking it in the refrigerator. Sometimes it is the little things that bless us. We are hoping we are on the tail end of this sickness and that Clay and I do not get it. Ecspecially since we have a wedding to do this coming Saturday. I don't think a photographer canceling at the last minute would go over well.

I wish I could think of more things Eleanor has said lately, she says a lot. :) I should really write them down and then I would have a more substantial post.