Reading

Elise has really developed an interest in words and reading lately.  She keeps asking us to tell her what certain words say and she talks about how she wishes she could read.  Last night, she seemed really bummed and said, "I wish I could read so that I can read books all by myself".  What's funny is that she seems pretty frustrated that we can read and yet she cannot. 

Tomorrow is her birthday.  Can't believe she's turning 3.  She has requested that we go to "Panda Bear Restaurant" (Panda Express).  She has her Christmas concert tomorrow and we're all excited!

So Thoughtful

As I'm trying to get Elise to fall asleep:  "I have a booger-present for you, Dada.  You can put it in your nose."

Lipstick

Elise has been talking about lipstick and I think must have seen her teacher put some on because I never wear it.  Today I hear her talking herself and saying the word "lipstick" and the next thing I know, she comes out of our room holding a purple marker with purple lips.  Hahahaha...  Too bad I didn't get a good picture.

Peer Pressure

Elise: Leah wears a belt.
Me: She wears a belt?
Elise: Yeah, she wears a belt everyday.
Me: Ohhhh.
Elise: Her mama bought her a belt.  Can you buy me a belt?  I want a belt.  Can you buy me a belt please?

She was very insistent.  She actually doesn't ask for a lot of things and so when she does ask, I do seriously consider it.  She's lucky that her birthday/Christmas are right around the corner.  Today we went to a baby shower and they had cake pops.  She asked if we could have Daniel Tiger cake pops for her birthday party.  I tried to explain how that would be really hard and hopefully she'll just forget about it because the last time I made cake pops, it was a disaster.  

Elise and Toby

We went to a friend's baby shower and Elise and Toby had a great time playing together.  At some point, Elise got really upset and she came to me and said, "Toby said that he wouldn't be my husband!!"

Writing letters

This morning, as I was rushing to get Elise off to school, she sat down at her little table and said that she wanted me to write an "E".  I quickly wrote it and then she tried to copy it.  She wrote 3 horizontal lines and seemed pleased with herself.  I was so surprised!  So I sat down with her and tried to teach her the vertical line to complete the E and she was able to write an E.  It never crossed my mind to teach her to write letters but it looks like she's developing an interest! 

Operation Christmas Child

We are doing Operation Christmas Child through our church, a project where we fill a shoebox with toys to send to a child in the developing world.  I've been teaching Elise the concept of poverty and how there are some children who do not have toys and even basic things like enough food and a bed.  To make the experience more personal, I showed Elise a random stock photo of an Indian girl and told her that was who we were sending the shoebox to.  She stared at the photo for a long time and then said, "Why is she smiling?  I thought she was sad."  I just about died laughing.  I then told her that she was smiling because she was excited about the present we were about to send her.  And then Elise replied cleverly, "But you just showed me this picture right now".