Dairy Daze...and Now Beyond

 Yesterday, February 27, 2024, she turned 17.  Amazing.  But of course I didn't get any recent photos.  Here she is from about 6-7 years ago when her hair went down to her butt.  This was when I was the one still brushing it for her.  She was in middle school, I believe; maybe 5th grade.  Her hair caused more stress in the mornings than anything I can ever think of.  I am not sure of the exact time, but not long after this picture was taken I advised her that she was quite old enough to be brushing her hair for herself.  It was not long after THAT when she decided she wanted it cut.   I think the above photo was from just last year maybe.  She has kept her hair about as above; short enough to handle easily, but long enough to do different styles with.  She has mastered French braids, and does other random pony tails or braids, along with curls and the like.   She keeps herself busy.  At the moment she is wor...

For the past few months Ellen has been asking for a "real" Barbie doll for her birthday. She has several 11 inch dolls, knock-off Barbies, if you will. But she knows the difference somehow; she wanted a REAL one. I would rather she not have anything to do with Barbie dolls. I am not a Barbie fan; at all. However, you have to pick your fights. I have expressly forbidden anything "SpongeBob-ish" to appear in this house. Maybe I am wrong in this; maybe I should allow him and ban Barbie, but we all have our likes and dislikes. To me SpongeBob is much uglier than Barbie. But I digress. So I told my mom about the Barbie wish, and she said she'd get Ellen a Barbie. Behold an enchanted Ellen opening her Barbie: Now behold what kind of Barbie my mother got for her. (Keeping in mind that you can hardly find just a Barbie doll; they must needs sell them in little sets or scenarios; jogging Barbie, baby-sitting Barbie, breakfast Barbie...etc) Puppy potty...

Way back when I was younger and single I always wondered what would ever possess someone to have children. My main influence in this was my first nephew; he and my sister came to stay with us during his first 2 years of life. I was a self-centered 12 yr old...as most 12 yr olds are. I rensented the intrusion of a self-centered baby (as all babies are). At age 12 one sees all the trouble, work and distraction that go into raising a child. One does not see how a child can add anything to life. When I grew old and married I began to see things differently. I began to believe that a child might add something to my life. Ellen came along soon after this revelation. But it was not until AFTER she entered our lives that I realized how much a child can add to your life. And how the trouble, work and distraction are more than compensated by love, laughter and the satisfaction of seeing a life being formed. For five years I have marvelled at her growth, watched her personality form...

Ha ha. Ellen went to a cousin's birthday party last night. Well, I took her there of course. The cousin turned 8, but she has a younger sister who is Ellen's age. They had hit it off at a family reunion back in May. There were quite a few older children there, mostly family members and friends of the teenaged sister, so Ellen was quite shy at first. However she got her bearings, after a little cake and keem, and ended up having a fine time with her cousin. This is a picture of them. This cousin's birthday will be in Sept, so perhaps there will be another party to go to soon. And it has been revolving around in my mind that since Ellen's next birthday will be year number FIVE, perhaps we should have a party for her. We shall see. Where to have it is the question.

"I'm THREE!" Yay! Yay! Yay! Ellen had a fine time at her birthday party on Saturday. She didn't eat much, due to too much excitement, but she loved most everything she got. At first she wasn't sure about opening the presents, but by the third one or so she was really into it. I say that she liked MOST of her gifts because there was one she DIDN'T like at first. Her MO aunt got her one of those really tall dolls, almost as tall as she is, and when you set it on the floor and move it just right it appears to walk. Her grandma did that and Ellen freaked out! Wouldn't have anything to do with it and left the room until it was out of sight. But by the next day she'd warmed up to it and was playing with it. (Thank goodness!) She only got two books, which was nice, as she already has a full library of them. But two new books were nice as well. It gives ME something new to read. Ellen didn't want me to take down the decorations, she wanted her...

Here is Ellen on her "motorcycle." That is what she calls it. Her dad got this for her in lieu of a Radio Flyer wagon, which was too expensive. Not that this was cheap by any means, but she loves it, so it's all good. She had a great birthday party; such as it was. She got quite a load of loot and was very pleased with herself. The only toy she isn't quite sure of is the animated Tigger that plays a song and "bounces" when you squeeze his tail. She says she doesn't like it. But I am sure she will get used to it eventually.

Baby Ellen had her first birthday last Wed, Feb 27th. Here's a bit of the story on it. Husband and I were in a quandry on what to get for her. We didn't really want to get her any of the China stuff from Wal-Mart, but he desperately wanted to get her a little rocking pony. We went to Wal-Mart and they said that they only carried those ponies during Christmas season. So DH went to Craig's List, but wasn't successful there either. So that did it for that idea. The week before her birthday I told DH that what I wanted to get for her *eventually,* maybe for her 2nd birthday, was a nice little child's rocking chair; not one of the pressed wood, mass-produced ones, not a personalized one, or one with some freaky cartoon character on it, but a nice little chair for her to be able to pass on should she have kids. Apparently this idea had to gel in his mind for awhile, but Sat DH said that we were going to go to Lead Mine on Monday. Lead Mine is Mennonite country, he...