Life!

Life has been super busy to say the least.  I've been feeling really bad for EV because she's being forced to adjust to a lot of difference circumstances and for a kid that doesn't do well with change, it's asking a whole lot of her.  In addition to just craziness around us, we haven't had a whole lot of quality family time.  I am all about making memories, family traditions, and taking a whole lot of pictures.  It feels like none of that has been happening (although I guess you can say this whole renovation process is making a memory).

The other day we went on our daily visit to the renovation house and I hear EV say, "What happened to our living room?!?"  We had knocked down the walls to open up the house but in EV's eyes the living room has been destroyed.  Earlier in the process, she would get really anxious to see things get demolished so I thought it would be better not to take her to see the whole process.  But she asks to go see it everyday and I think it is actually helping her process to understand what is being done and why.  This time has also brought out EV's personality more and seeing how she deals with different things has been enlightening.

As for the renovation, it has been going really well and I can't wait until it is all done.  I daydream about living in our home, having bbqs in our backyard, and hosting family and church gatherings.  I have to say, in the end, it was totally worth it!  I feel super blessed to be able to renovate our home the way we want it and very thankful for those around us that has been supporting us through this whole process.  I want our home to be a place where people can gather and enjoy each other's company and feel welcomed.  I want it to be a place where EV will have cherished memories of her childhood. 

Since turning 3 years old, EV has been growing leaps and bounds.  She is very articulate and says the funniest things.  She's intuitive and empathetic.  She has an amazing sense of direction and a great memory.  She says things like, "are you kidding me?" and "check this out!" and "oh my!"  She's a complete goofball and loves to climb, jump, and dance.  The first thing she asks when she wakes up is, "Can I listen to music?" and the last things she asks before she goes to sleep is, "Can you please sing me a song?"  She likes to push her limits and see how far she can get without getting in trouble.  She thinks she's outsmarting us but we are onto her!  She's very animated, has a very vivid imagination, and loves stories and pretend play.  She can write her name "EV" and loves to tell us the time.  She is obsessed with her ballet class and everyday is ballet time with EV.  Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a teenager when we have conversations, especially when she tells me about how certain things make her feel.  I am thankful each day for this precious gift.  I love you, my sweet EV!

Montessori schools

We are considering moving EV to a montessori school.  We have loved Mount Pisgah and how they have nurtured and taught EV over the last two years, but we feel that she may have outgrown the school.  It's funny because the very thing I have been critical of Montessori schools is exactly what EV needs right now.  I was critical of how Montessori programs are focused on letting kids decide what they want/need to do.  The biggest factor is by being in a classroom with kids her age and having an age-centered curriculum, it feels like she is being held back.  Since she does everything well, she gets overlooked and is never challenged. 

Another thing I really like about a Montessori school is that the classroom has a mix of ages (2-6 years old).  One of EV's closest friend goes to a Montessori school and she is almost 5 years old.  Even though they are 1.5 years apart, they get along great.  But what I am also so impressed by is how much EV is challenged by her and learns from her.  For example, EV loves being outside and is very active, but she has been afraid of the monkey bars.  She would just hang off the first bar, lift her legs up to the bar, and be done with it.  She was too afraid to try moving from one bar to the next.  Well, last weekend, her friend glides across the monkey bars, and the next thing I know, I see EV trying to do the same.  She overcame her fear and at least tried it.  The idea of a mixed age class is more and more appealing to me--it will teach her to be a good example to the younger ones and challenge her to do things outside her comfort zone like the older ones.

I really struggle between pushing EV and letting her be a kid.  I feel like I was forced to grow up too fast and I don't want that for EV.  I want her to enjoy being a kid but at the same time I want her to be challenged.  We think this is the right move for her, she loves school, she loves being around other kids, and she loves learning.  We just want her to be in the right environment that can nuture these things and allow her to reach her greatest potential.

Do you have any experience with Montessori schools?  I would love to hear them!!

Happy 3rd birthday, EV!

This year because of our renovations, we had a small get together with EV's closest friends at my sister's house. But regardless of the size of the party, I had to make the most out of the decorations. Once again, Pinterest came to the rescue and gave me some really great ideas. The decorations came out the way I envisioned (even though I didn't get to do everything I wanted) and EV had a blast. I had EV's friends make a book for EV and it came out so well. It's the best birthday gift ever!

Story station:

Decorations:

The birthday girl:

Blowing out her candles:

Crafting and jumping:

Gina eemo and EV are partied out:

Ballet Class

I swore when I found out that I was having a girl that I would not put EV in pink and expose her to the world of princesses and ballerinas.  But almost everything cute out there for baby girls is in pink and so many playthings for toddler girls all reference princesses and ballerinas.  So, here we are the week before EV's third birthday at her first ballet class.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against ballet and she is the cutest little ballerina I have laid eyes on, but I just don't want it to become an obsession.

I have to say, I have never seen EV concentrate so hard and look so intense.  The ballet class is at a local community center, so it's a mix of beginners and girls who already have had a session or two.  I was surprised at how they jumped right into things, but EV kept up for the most part.  I was so proud of her, she would volunteer herself and when it was her turn, she would jump, skip, gallop, twirl her way across the classroom.  After class was over she said it was a lot of fun and she wanted to do it again.  Maybe we have a little ballerina on our hands.

Now you see it, now you don't

It's amazing how fast things can get torn down. This morning we had walls and a kitchen and in the afternoon it was all gone. I don't want to post too many pics and spoil the final reveal but I will post a few sneak peaks along the way. My prayer for this week is that the rain will stay away so that we can work on our foundation.

This is the view of our kitchen from our garage (before and after):

Book Exchange Party

I can't believe EV is turning 3 next month.  EV LOVES to read.  She can read the same book over and over again.  Currently, she loves any books that have to do with animals.  She's also been getting into classic stories like "Rumplestiltskin" and "Billy Goat Gruff."  So, we thought it would be appropriate to make her birthday party a "Book Exchange." I think Jimmy did an amazing job with the invitations. 

We decided to keep the party small and to ask guests not to bring gifts this year.  My sister is an awesome aunt to let us host it at her house since our home will be under renovation.  What makes this party so much fun is actually making decisions with EV.  She knows that she wants: pink cupcakes with ice cream :)

Sneak peak of EV and her dress:

First Haircut

We finally took EV in for her very first haircut--EVER!  I usually am not a very sentimental person but I have been attached to EV's hair so this was a very big deal for me.  EV has very beautiful hair--I am totally jealous of it--from the color to the texture to the thickness.  It's what I always wanted for myself. So, maybe that's why I'm so over-protective of it.  I have also vowed never to give her the type of haircuts my mother gave me (you know it's bad when Jimmy pretty much laughs every time he sees my childhood pics at my parent's house).  So, we made it a family event, momma, papa, eemo, and halmi were all there to witness EV's first haircut.  Her facial expression was priceless--she had a look of, "what are you doing, is this safe, should I freak out or am I okay?"

I loved how they gave you a certificate and clippings from her hair to save. They even put some jewels in her hair. How fun! It was definitely a moment we will always remember!