The Secret Hiding Place

Along time ago, I used to crawl into a secret hiding place in my parent's house with a book and flashlight.  The all time best book ever read in the secret hideout, "The Secret Garden."  Years later, my little sister, Ashley, and my youngest cousins would turn the space into a fort and decorate the walls with homemade artwork.  Today, Aunt Ashley and Aunt Kimberly introduced Ellison to the Secret Hiding Place.  Who knows the last time, one of us hung out in there.  The artwork was the same, my sleeping bag was still on the floor, and well, it was still one of the best places in the whole house.

A Lebanese - Indian Celebration

The Flower Girls . . . waiting their turn.
(Somewhat patiently)

The Groom making an entrance with Belly Dancers!

The bride. . .  Ellison could not stop staring at beautiful Priya throughout the day!

  

My little Flower Girl.



The Bridal Party.

 Wow, what an affair this weekend was.  Something about mixing Lebanese and Indian cultures is ultra fun! Plus add in a beautiful setting and amazing weather and you have an even more pefect weekend!

So the question is, did Ellison and Alissa walk down the aisle?  YES! The girls were super excited from the start.  They wanted flowers, to hold hands, and for me to let them loose. (For a while, I was really crowding their style)

Alissa's mommy was a bridesmaid, so the plan was for Ellison to walk Alissa down the aisle in search of her mommy.  Ellison was happy to follow along and play "big girl".  Although at the beginning of the walk, Ellison would stop and explain to Alissa what the plan was.  They eventually made it down the aisle in all of their cuteness.

The fun did not stop there.  The most fun was at the reception, where everyone found the dance floor (including me - 30 days to go)! Who was in the middle of it all?  Ellison.  Do I have video... YES! She partied until 11 pm.  You go girl!

Practice makes Perfect

Friday, the Clarks and Beamans headed to the beautiful Hammock Dunes for my cousin, Haitham's, wedding to Priya.  Ellison was a flower girl with another 2 year old, Alissa.  We had no idea how it would go, but practice makes perfect, right?  These are a few shots from the rehearsal. 

A Conversation

Uncle Tim: "Ellison, I think you are smarter than me."
Ellison: "Yes, I am. I am smart."
Daddy: "Ellison, are you smarter than Daddy?"
Ellison: "Yeah. I am smart."
Mommy: "Ellison, you are not smarter then me, are you?"
Ellison: "Nope"

We all nearly died at her response to Tim.  She was not as quick to answer Daddy's question.  And well, let's just say I phrased mine properly :)

Success

The Clark Family had a lot of success this week... let me share...

This is Ellison's funny face.



Napping in her big girl bed with her "noodle" pillow and her Princess Belle doll.

1. Ellison successfully slept in her big girl bed. And she loves it! She has been sleeping through the night (although I still hear her talking in her dreams and run in to check on her), which is also pretty darn great.
2. Ellison successfully headed to school in undies. And even better, she was successful at using the big girl potty and not having accidents (sans the first day, but whatev).
3. I successfully rode a bike with Ellison in tow to Kim and Art's new house. Why is this deemed a success? Because most people think I should not be riding a bike with 5 weeks left, but I prefer to consider that more of a challenge.
4. Graham successfully enjoyed Gainesville without me on Friday night. Not really a shock at all, but thought I would add it in so we could all find success in our week :)
5. I successfully tailgated and went to the UF v. LSU game.  Unfortunately, I can not say the game was a success.  However, it does make it easier for me to be "ok" with not going to the UF v. SC game.  Previously, I was planning on asking my doctor and hoping he would say yes... date of game Nov. 13, date of delivery Nov. 16. Wait, who am I kidding... I am still going to ask!  I mean seriously that is going to be an awesome game.

Stink bug found her goggles... immediate action taken: bath time!

Just another example

So I mentioned last night about the fibbing... well, here is another example from this morning.  Ellison has Princess Gummy Vitamins.  Genious at its finest because what little girl would refuse a yummy princess gummy.  However, there are also not many girls who would be ok with the serving size of 2 gummies.  Well this morning, I gave her 2 and watched as she put one in her mouth, hid the second, and then came up to me and said, "Mommy, I need another one.  I lost it."  Graham looked at me and said, "Yep, she is a manipulator.  We are in trouble."  I, of course, pointed out to her where that second one was hidden. She smiled in a sort of evil and very cute way. I agree with Graham... we are in major trouble!

Time Flies

Wow, children grow up so fast! This weekend was a big one in Ellison's World.  We said an official good-bye to pull-ups and ventured out of the house in undies.  AND we switched our little baby girls room to a big little girl room (missing curtains, but otherwise complete). 

I have to admit, both are prompted by Dylan's arrival which is only 6 weeks away (yikes).  Have I told you about my International Law paper due on the same day as my scheduled caesarian... I digress.

Anyways, Ellison's learning has been crazy over the past few weeks.  She sings the ABCs, comes home with a new nursery rhyme daily, counts with her fingers, knows a few letters by recognition, and has learned to fib.  I could do without the last one. 

A quick example... as we all know, I do not condone burping out loud.  I am a girly-girl, I just can't help it (my sisters are rolling their eyes, I know).  Anyways, she burped at dinner last night and I asked her who taught her how to do that.  Her response, "Grandma."  Yeah, right.

Another one... she has been refusing to nap at school.  She told the teacher, "My mommy said I don't need to take naps anymore."  I would never say this. 

And if I tell her no, she will now tell me yes and that "Daddy said so."  Manipulation at its finest!  Love that little girl.

On a side note, Ellison informed me that I have baby brother in my tummy, and she has a baby girl in hers.  How does she know this?  We both have belly buttons, of course.  Also, her baby girl is "Lola".