Ella's MIssingTeeth

Well... here we have it!!! 4 missing teeth all at once and 6 total that she has lost. She is so excited about all her missing teeth. We were at some friends for Family Night and she pulled one out at their home. Their daughter wanted to pull a tooth out too but her's are not ready and her parents told her that she would have to wait a while. She was very sad!!! Ella is ready for the tooth fairy to come. I think if this keeps happening the tooth fairy is going to be broke Oh wait she already is :) :) :)

Ella's 2nd day of 1st Grade

Here is Ella on her 2nd day of 1st grade!! She came home today and said "mom, I just love school it is so much fun" I told her that I was so glad and happy that she liked school. I was thinking to myself "I hope it lasts" Her teacher took a picture of all the kids in front of a measuring chart and it looks like Ella is 50 inches!!!

Ella is in the 1st Grade

Can you believe my baby is in the 1st grade!!! I can't. She was so excited to start school today!!! She wanted to ride the bus today and we are so excited because Frank is the bus driver again. It was really weird though because Ella rode the bus with 3 other children that lived on our street and now she is the only one. Frank (bus driver) said that he will still come down our street to pick up Ella even though she is the only one now! So sad :(
She could not sleep last night at all and so we wrote down some things that she was thinking of about starting school and here is what she wrote:
1. My teacher is the bestest!
2. I like her a lot
3. Excited
4.Can't stop smiling
5. I like my new backpack and excited to have it!
6. Can't wait to fill backpack
7. Can't wait to wear new school clothes
8. I was so excited to see my Kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Williams)
9. Can't wait to meet new friends and likes the friends that I have already

Yesterday was "meet your teacher day" Mrs. Roberts is Ella's new teacher and she was so sweet to Ella and I know that this is going to be a great year for her.
Here is the picture that Ella drew of herself today!!!
Ella, Mom and Dad love you so much and we are so proud of you. I want you to know that spending time with you this summer was the greatest thing in the world. I couldn't have asked for anything more. I know that you will do great this year. We love you so much!!! Good Luck our little Ella Bella Cinderella :)

Swimming Lessons

Ella starting taking swimming lessons this summer. It started out in Utah with my Niece Chelsea (thank you Chelsea) who spent 1 full week everyday for 30 min or more teaching Ella how to swim. Ella, did a really good job and I was so excited to see her get excited about swimming because it has been a big fear of mine and so I am not about to let Ella feel the same so I am making sure she sticks to it!!! Well, here in Kirksville they have red cross swimming lessons and I jumped all over it and put her in. She watched this little girl in her 1st lesson and by the time that 1st lesson was done Ella was swimming like a little fish! I could tell that she wanted to swim like that girl and I knew that she would just go fo it so she did and did great! She passed the 2nd level and went on the the 3rd. The 3rd is the hardest to pass because of all back and front strokes that they have to do so the instructors did not pass any of the children. We are ok with that because level 4 is all laps without standing or stopping and Ella is ok with doing level 3 over so that she gets really good. The lessons start back on Sept 15th and she can't wait!!! I should do swimming lessons too but don't want to :)

Nauvoo Pageant!!

Every year they have a pageant in Nauvoo and we were able to go with some friends! It is a really neat experience. Before the pageant they have all sorts of activities that you can participate in and so we went around and did a few of them. Stephen and Ella made this game out of a button and then they both did braiding! I couldn't believe it but Stephen is really talented at braiding. Even the people watching him braid couldn't believe it. I think he has been hiding out when he could have helped me braid the girls hair lol :) Ella learned how to quilt and we just had a lot of fun! They turn out the lights to the temple and then at the end they light it up and man you could really feel the spirit. It was a really neat experience for us all. We were thankful for the friends that went with us (McClures) becasue on the way home we were getting tired and they watched out for us. Besides there was a lot of deer on the side of the road and everytime they saw one they would slow down so Thank you, thank you so much!!!!

Summer Full of Fun!!!!!

Well... Where do I begin!!! We had a blast this summer. From water fights, rock climbing, Steve riding a John Deer lawn mower and wishing :) meeting new friends, I was able to see my best friend Angie this summer. We have been friends since the 3rd grade!!! That is a very long time ago but it was sure fun seeing her and spending time with her! 4th of July, going to the zoo, lemonade stands, swimming, boating, the girls making their own grocery store, our dog lacy going into heat on our way home, spending time with Steve's family and Julie's family, Ella getting a new quilt from her Aunt Gina which she just loves to pieces, being able to go the the new temple open house which was just awesome. My girls loved going in all of the rooms and thought that the mirrors were just so beautiful. Ella, said "I can see a lot of me way down there!" It was really special to be able to talk to the girls about the temple and how special it is!! After explaining to them a few things they are so excited that they get to go there for real someday!!! It is never an easy thing to say good-bye but we knew that the trip needed to end sometime but we can't wait to see them again!!! I think one of the hardest things for us was saying good-bye to Reilee. We had to drop her off at the airport and every time we do we just bawl our eyes out!!! Oh how we miss her but we are looking forward to seeing her for Christmas! Yeah!!!!