So Strong

Ally was showing me how strong she was before bed the other night. She was so adorable I ran and got the camera, and she was in an accommodating mood and kept posing for me.

She is all muscle and bones.

Writing Words

Ally is very into writing. She has always enjoyed coloring and drawing and writing but now she knows all her letters and is often asking how to spell words.

Recently she wrote out her whole long name! I just told her the letters. (Last name blocked for privacy.)

Becky and Ally at the craft (aka little table) working on a project. Becky has been making books with Ally.

Lately Ally has really enjoyed her piggy bank (Thanks Aunt Martha). Everyday she comes home and has to "feed piggy" which means climbing up in a chair to reach our change jar and grab a fistful of coins to put in her piggy bank.

She decided to draw Piggy - this is her picture. I was quite impressed with the likeness.

Ally and her piggy (bank)

Adding words to the shopping list.

And one more very funny thing to report. We were eating dinner recently and Ally said "last night I could hear my hair growing" after swallowing our food so we would not choke laughing, Becky asked "what did it sound like?" and Ally replied "sssss....sssss....sssss" I just love the way a child thinks.

Easter Party

Last year we invited all of our neughborhood group and a couple of other families to join us for an Easter Egg Hunt and Spring Potluck dinner. We had a nice number of families come, then for Halloween we had lots of people join us and frankly it was a bit much for Ally to have that many people over. So for Easter this year we kept it small and had a great time with Thora's family, River's family and Liem's family. We're sorry not everyone could join us.

Ally waiting patiently for friends to arrive. She has decided recently that blue is her new favorite color. She looks fabulous in blue and was loving this Easter outfit.


Soon after everyone arrived, Thora's dad Sean and I hid the eggs. Then the hunt began. Here Thora and River and quite excited at finding some.

Ally found some too.

The little kids Auric, Kai and Lila were not sure what the egg hunting was all about.

River found an egg with his name on it!

After the hunt I sat down with Ally to see what she found.

All the kids! Lila, Ally, River, Thora, Liem (Orange shirt) Kai and Auric.

After dinner we brought out the basketball hoop and balls to play with.

Ally had lots of fun with her friends.

But she was quite tired when they left. She gathered all of her special things from their hiding place. Ally hides her special things when friends come over.

Our policy is that if toys are out you have to share them with friends who come over. She does not like to share her special things and we think that is ok so she chooses which of them she wants to put away and then hides them in her dresser until after all the friends go home. Sometimes she pulls one out to hold and carry around if she needs a comfort object and I'm always touched at how well every guest understands that its a special thing for just Ally. Its never been an issue at all. I think having some controll over the process helps Ally deal with company.

We feel so fortunate to have such wonderful friends to celebrate and share our lives with.

Easter Walk

After the egg hunt I took Ally for a walk - I walk and she rides in the stroller. Lately we've been walking over the footbridge to the opposite side of the river. There was a grassy area and a beautiful tree and Ally was excited to play with the tree.

She loves to jump - here she is trying so hard to reach a flower.

Of course she found the low branch to hang from and swing.

Investigating the tree truck - Ally found ants that I had to come look at.

I helped her sit in the tree and pose for a picture.

I also wanted to mention that Becky made these pants for Ally! In one night! She bought the pattern online, downloaded it, shopped for fabric with Beth on Saturday and Saturday night after Ally went to sleep Becky cut, sewed and fashioned these pants. They are adorable!

Easter morning

Now its time to play catch up on the Easter posts. Here is the first in a series of 3 Easter Day posts.

Aunt Beth was sleeping on the guest bed in the living room so Ally watched Curious George on the portable DVD player until it was time to go into the living room.

Starting the egg hunt.

Hmmm... can you see the eggs? There are 4 hiding in this picture.

Ohhh Ally found one.

Posing with her eggs and mama and mommy.

Aunt Beth and Mama with their baskets.

Look at the great Easter Basket Ally got! And that basket is very special - its one Becky made with her Grandma (Dolores) when she was a little girl. Ally loves it.

A new treat - chocolate covered peeps!

Tinkerbell and friends stickers and Spanish/English Story book, Good Morning Goodnight.

It was a lot of fun to have Aunt Beth visiting to share in the Easter morning festivities. Ally had fun looking for her eggs and opening her Easter basket.

Easter Preparations

Aunt Beth came to spend Easter weekend with us. She had a sprained ankle so was not very mobile but as usual we all had a great time.

From the moment Ally woke up the day before Easter she kept asking about coloring eggs. I had told her we would color them went Aunt Beth came. Beth arrived late after Ally was asleep so when Ally woke up she kept asking. We still needed to hard boil the eggs so to pass the time Ally and Beth stuffed the plastic eggs for our Easter Egg hunt.


Finally time to color eggs. Ally was so cute and ran to get her apron before she would start.

finally coloring eggs.

After egg dying it was time to decorate the cupcakes for our Easter / Spring potluck / party. We had a whole assembly line with tasks assigned to each of us. We made easter basket cupcakes. I frosted the base layer, Beth piped the basket, Becky sprinkled green coconut for grass and Ally placed the eggs in the basket.

We thought they came out great! Becky and Ally made the cookies earlier in the week.

After all the Easter prep it was time for some good old fashioned fun. Can you guess why Ally is so happy?

Because she is riding mama like a horse! She kept saying "giddy up mama"

but they eventually went "giddy down"

Popcorn for Easter!!!

Ally received a very large package on Friday before Easter.

What could it be?

Its so big

Please help me get it out of the box.

Mama came to help.

Its out - so Ally jumps with glee. I could not get her to stand still to open the container.

So excited to see what was inside. Ally LOVES popcorn, and that is a lot of popcorn. (Its only about half gone and its been over a week now.)

Thank-you Grandma Barbie and Grandpa Frank!!!