"Think Inside The Box"

Elli has been working on Kaitlyn's favorite little girl Cinderella puzzle with plastic dress-up pieces.  I read an interesting blogpost from howweelearn.com about "Why you should think INSIDE the box: 10 Benefits of Puzzles".

"Problem solving…attention…fine motor skills...

…sorting…vocabulary building…independence...

…persistence…perception…imaginative play and self-talk...

…and confidence building"!

Elli and Kaitlyn had fun putting the Cinderella puzzle together when Kaitlyn got home from college last weekend!

 So sweet.

Cuddled up with Kaitlyn is where Elli wants to be when Kaitlyn's home from college.  ;)  

Tuesday is Library Storytime!

Elli looks forward to going to the library every Tuesday morning for preschool storytime!  There are stories, singing and dancing, a video, a craft for the letter of the day, educational games on the computer, meeting new friends, and fun books to check out and bring home!

Light Blue and Red

Elli's favorite color is light blue…"like the sky", she says.  During the Chinese New Year Lantern Festival, a light blue lantern launched in the night sky means "hoping something comes true".

Elli also likes red (my favorite color on her), which in Chinese culture symbolizes good luck, happiness, and joy.  Launching a red lantern during the Lantern Festival means "good fortune".

 Elli looking pretty in light blue.  :)

Here are some pictures from our adoption trip to China in July 2011.  Notice all the red Chinese lanterns decorating the buildings.

Elli looked precious in her red Chinese dress. 

Leaf Raking Party! (Videos!)

Last Saturday, we raked leaves and had fun playing in the leaf piles!

Elli went to the hardware store with Daddy to buy leaf bags. 

Elli had fun using her little rake!

Video #1

"Got it."

Video #2

"…Get these leaves by that tree QUICK before they blow away!"

Video #3

"That was so [fun!]."

Video #4

{Laughing} "I'm…[Mom?]...burying you!"

 Mommy taking a selfie in the leaf pile!

 Elli trying to bury Mommy in the leaves!

Daddy found a good technique for packing the leaves in the bags!

Elli helps us remember to have fun while we work! ;)

Beauty Sleep...

Tinkertoys with GeGe!

I found the set of Brady's wooden Tinkertoys.  Brady and Elli had fun constructing some cool designs! 

 Building an abacus.

 Counting.

 Threading the string through the spools.

 Swords.

Pulley.

 Fishing pole.

 The fishing reel worked!

Later, Daddy made another working fishing reel!

Back in the "Swing" of Things! (Video!)

Now that marching band season is over, Brady had time for a tennis lesson again.

During the colder months, there is a big bubble tent that goes over a few of the tennis courts for indoor practice and lessons.

Swing it!

It wasn't too cold for the playground!

Elli did not want to go down the tube slide…even with Mommy at the bottom ready to catch her!

 Swinging!

Elli is still a little unsure about the big kid swings.

Here's a video!

"Cooking" up some leaf and acorn soup!