Not About the Kids

I know, it's a shocker but I am going to talk about something else today......I want to talk a little about friends, because I am a lucky girl (am I still a girl or should I say "woman" or "lady"?)

Last night I had a Girls Movie Night at my house. We watch "The Importance of Being Earnest" and ate some seriously awesome food. I was looking around during the movie and thinking about how lucky I am to call these people my friends. They are all so different and each has influenced my life in many ways....but mostly, I was thinking about........

The tomato plants that a friend of mine grew from seed and then gave to me after I killed all of mine. Our garden would be a failure if it weren't for friends.

And, the wall that we just painted green because a friend gave me the rest of her paint just because I said I liked it.

Also, the beautiful pictures all over my walls that a friend of mine took that are such treasures to me.

And I can't fail to mention the many conversations with a friend that made me feel like it's ok that I'm not perfect or getting things right and that I am just...not alone.

Or all the times each of them has made me laugh or brought me a meal or a super yummy treat or babysat for me and the list goes on and on.

I guess basically I am saying that without friends I would have a dead garden, white walls, no family pictures and would mostly just be really lonely.

Yep, that's right....I am a lucky girl!

An Update...

Ella:

She has been watching a lot of Tangled and has learned a new phrase from the movie. She walks around saying "I'm malicious, mean and scary and I'm going to______". She fills in the blank with any cruel act she can think of. For example; "I'm malicious, mean and scary and I'm going to hit you with my shovel." or, "I'm malicious, mean and scary and I'm going to poof you away." You never know what a child can learn from TV.

She has also finished her first year of preschool with flying colors. Her teachers even said they want her back next year. I knew she had it in her to be obedient. School taught her a lot of things this year. From her first swear word, "Jesus Christ, I am so frustrated at you" (I could have home schooled her right then and there). To how to count objects (she counts everything now). She also learned a lot of independence at school that really helped with her maturity and now is an awesome swimmer. I would have to say, I could have never imagined a better preschool for her.

She has also decided it is time for another baby (she is the ONLY one who has decided this). She is trying to convince Will. I found her yesterday telling Will, "Will, Do you want Mommy to have another baby? Go like this (shaking her head yes)."

And last but not least, is trying to convince Chris and I to call her "Rose". We have told her over and over again that "your name is Ella" but well like all things with Ella, that backfired because now if I call her Elle, or Ellibean, or Banana, or Sweetheart...she is quick to remind me, "My name is Ella".
















Will:

Takes steps every now and again but is mostly obsessed with climbing. I am amazed at where he ends up (on the back of the couch, on top of the table, in the tub, in Ella's bed...). He keeps me busy and tired...very, very tired.

He says a few words. I think he is holding out on us but if screaming works then why ask nicely? He says "Mama, Dada, All Done, and Ella". Basically, everything he says sounds like "Ella". I swear, if the kid yawns it sounds just like "Ellll--aaahhh".

He has started to sing. Like I said before, he can't talk so there are no lyrics and it is only one tune that he performs. It is a favorite around the Sturgill home (and by favorite I mean, "seriously, make it stop"). It goes a little something like this; "ahhhhhhhhhh-ahhhhh-ahh-ahh-ahhh-ahhhhh-ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh". Did you guess it? Well here is a hint: It's from The Little Mermaid. You know the part where Ursula takes Ariel's voice and yells "Keep singing!!!" And if it wasn't bad enough that Ella sings it none stop and asks, "Hey Dad, Do you know this song?" "Ahhhh-ahhhh-ahhh-ahhh-ahhh-ahhhh-ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh". She taught it to her brother to sing it for a charming duet.

Will has also learned to fold his arms for the prayer. He folds his little hands together. Now of course, he doesn't do it when we ask him to (neither of our kids do for that matter). But it is as cute as can be when he decides to do it on his own.

And last but not least, has learned to hit a baseball off a Tee. This was a skill we were working on with Ella but she isn't great at it (she takes the Tee and runs away with it). But William picked it up and as you can guess Chris thinks he is destined for greatness.


By the way, the pictures are from a little trip to Ontario Beach to listen to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Have I ever told you that Rochester is awesome?