"Mommy, do you wike GOATS?"

Goats....or, ghosts to the rest of the world. Ellie is TOTALLY in love with all the Halloween decorations around town and at the stores these days. We have to go out several times a week to look at the "decowations"...she can't get enough. Her Poppy is feeding her habit ... so far he has bought her 3 pumpkins (2 regular sized ones and one "tiny,tiny" one), a light-up jack-o-lantern, a witch door cover, a scarecrow, and a candy bowl with a skeleton hand that tries to grab you. Last night, we played Potato Heads and she put all the pieces in the skeleton bowl so that she could laugh hysterically when it went after us. Good times!

She loves to hide lately as well. Nothing better. She's not very good at it though, because she can't quit giggling. That, and her feet are always sticking out. She's easy to find. :) She just has such a joyful spirit. My new Mommy prayer is that THAT spirit stays intact even as she navigates some of the bumps along life's road. That spirit is an invaluable gift. I trust God will guide me in guiding her, so that it may be preserved. I know HE will....what a precious being He created.

Halloween Ellie-isms:

"GOATS"--- ghosts, you know, like "Capper" the friendly Goats?
"Pive wittle punkin sit on a bine" -- I THINK this is a Halloween song from school.
"How my wook?" -- she says this when she gets into her costume...or her clothes or pjs for that matter. You're supposed to say "Beautiful, as always".

Sister Golden Hair Surprise...

Today is my sister's 35th birthday. She is, ahem...the Younger One. Actually, she is the youngest of the three of us. Poor thing...she has suffered for it. She was the one we used as a guinea pig -- like the time we busted her lip open trying a circus trick in the living room. She was my Solid Gold Dancer partner, the co-writer of our song lyrics (the LOOOOVE BOAT....a,a,a,a,a,at NINE O'ClOCK) <~~~only she will appreciate that one. She was my tag-a-long when I went to a friend's house, the baby when we'd play house, the one who always made Barbie and Ken kiss "like they do on soap operas".

She was BORN with her own mind and way of doing things. I remember the day she came home. I had prayed for a baby sister with blonde hair and blue eyes. I remember that vividly...when I said I wanted the baby to be a sister, my mother told me to pray to God and ask for that. So I did. And He listened, all except for the part where I wanted her to look just like my Mrs. Beasley doll. In hindsight, that is a good thing. He really does know what's best. But I got that baby sister, and with the exception of a few years from ages 12-18, I have been very happy to have her.

And, though we used and abused her status as the little one (she could always get Mom or Dad to relent on whatever the issue was at the time), often she has been the trailblazer of the family. The first to do many things....some even good! She is, and always has been, wildly ambitious and intelligent. When something gets into her head or heart that she wants to do, she will do it or die trying. I admire that in her. It can be frustrating from the perspective of cautious older sister...always scared she'll be hurt or disappointed. But admirable still.

Recently, this baby we've spent so many years protecting and loving tells us she's getting MARRIED. WHAAAAAT?!!!? My world just went upside down! This person, the same one who has denounced marriage and all it involves, is -- dare I say it, in LOVE? (She'll gag when she reads this!) Whoa.

See, in my mind, she's not old enough for this. She's still six years old, with long pigtails and no front teeth. She's still my baby. But, I am SO happy for her at the same time. I want so much for her. I want him to be everything to her in 50 years that he is today. I want them to have one of those marriages that people look at and say, "That's what I want." And, though I know that no one or nothing can prepare them for the roller-coaster that lies ahead, I know he is getting a partner who can handle anything. I hope she is, too.

I know she won't ASK me for any advice, but my genetics make it impossible not to give it anyway. So here it is:

Be kind to each other. Respect that he is not you and you are not him. Know that there is more than one way to do many things. Hold hands. Let the little things go. Walk away when all you can think of to say is something negative. Don't try to keep up with the Joneses. Pray for each other. Know that all humans will fail us eventually, but you can always turn to God. Laugh together often. Do things separately sometimes. Have your own friends. Tell the other that they are appreciated. Love the other's family. Listen to your gut--ALWAYS.

I love you, little sister. I hope I have been as good a sister to you as you have to me. I wish you all the happiness the world has to hold...today and always.

Mommy, you my best fwiend...

...that is what my daughter said to me today. Out of the blue, with no prodding. Not like all the times I make her say "I wuv you, Mommy". This was real -- from the heart. I had been away from her for most of the day and when I got home she climbed up on my lap, put her arms around my neck, and said it.

I read someone's blog who had said about their child, "she is the answer to the question 'Why?' ". Well said.

Recent Ellie-isms:

"Mommy Kafween!" -- a copy-cat version of the "you're in big trouble now" first-middle name combo all parents do. "Ellie Kathleen!" She said this to me when she got mad the other day.

"Stinkerbell Tickers" -- stickers are her currency these days. She gets so excited that she gets her consonants transposed. She loves "stinkerbell" ....and tickers.

"I nakied myselp!" -- when she took her clothes off by herself without permission. She was impressed!

Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said. ~Author Unknown