Day in the Life of Ellie

Ellie can be a handful. She can also be the funniest and sweetest kid in the world. Trying to raise her is like trying to herd cats (yes, several cats with all the energy she has), but I know that God is going to do something amazing through all that energy. Here are some of her recent one liners that just make me laugh:

While working with legos: "Well, I'll be jiggered."

Praying at night: "God go to Gabby's house and make her back to normal. You can do it." Gabby had the flu and wanted God to heal her. Sweet.

She recently watched the movie Despicable Me and loves it. While praying one night she talked to God about the characters in the movie: "God you know Despicable Me, don't you? God, you like Gru and made 3 girls."

While playing with the Little People Ark with Alex: "You can't fart on the ark because then it will get stinky on the boat." I think she was trying to give Alex advice. Great advice Ellie!

Lastly we were talking about our trip to America this summer. Somehow she remembered (or we said something about it) that my parents have a few cows at their house. While swinging today she said, "Grandpa has cows. Grandpa likes cows." She is pretty excited to get on a plane and see all the people she loves like Grandparents, Aunt Kerri, and their PETS. This kid loves animals. She might pet all their fur off in 3 months, ha!

I don't think she remembers America at all. The last time we were home was 2 years ago...April 2009. It was just for a month and she was only a year and 5 months old. Justin and I are learning what it takes to keep healthy (emotionally and spiritually) while living over here and we have GOT to go home more often. By the time we arrive to America in May, we will have been overseas 4 years consistently with a one month break back home half way through. This year will mark our 6th year living in North Africa. Talk about killer. That is too much time away from the country and family I love. Not to mention how encouraging it is to worship with a room full of people. This may sound really weird, but it is so cool to hear 1,000 people singing to God--like Holy Spirit overload. I took it for granted while living in America and can't wait to experience it once again. Nothing beats the intimacy and accountability of small groups, but worship on a large scale makes me think of heaven and how amazing it will be to see a sea of people worshiping Him-from all over the world. Ellie loves to sing and dance and I think she will LOVE the worship times this summer. We will be in the ones in the back of the church dancing and waving our hands, ha! Only 3 more months and I am counting down. Maybe I can find a pic or video to show off Ellie's amazing personality....um.....maybe this one of her washing her baby and using it like a drum too, but it's still pretty mild for her though.

Beginning steps with crazy hair

Alex is starting to get a little wild! Wild hair and crazy body movements as he is trying to walk. This video doesn't show the extent of his abilities, but it is a cute one of daddy and Alex. Hard to believe that we will be celebrating his ONE year Birthday next week. Maybe he will be walking by then.?. His little personality is just the cutest. Easy going and although he has a lot of energy like Ellie (ok, maybe 1/2) he likes to cuddle. He also likes to play with large legos, Ellie's hair, and balls. He is boy all the way: loves to figure things out, push buttons, and wrestle.