Happy Birthday Eleanor

Hi everyone! I am having problems downloading pictures but I wanted to give a quick Graddy update starting with Eleanor! Eleanor turned 4 yesterday and she was so funny all day she would say look Mommy and jump off the couch or blink her eyes or hold her fingers in a 4 on her hand and then say I couldnt do that when I was only 3! She had a Flower party with some of her friends on Sunday and they had a blast. Last night we opened family gifts and had her favorite dinner, fish sticks!!! Tomorrow we head out to Antalya for a long weekend. We are so excited...we are staying at a kids resort with pools galore and of course the bluest ocean you will ever see!

Maddie has school until June 12th and then we are going to start homeschooling. The pool opens this weekend and the girls will start swim lessons. Maddie has started piano lessons as well while Ella does Ballet...so we are certainly staying busy! Jack is getting so big! He loves playing with match box cars and pushing them all around the house. He also very much enjoys books and flash cars and wants to know what everything is called. The funniest thing he does is he goes through my purse and gets my keys and puts the correct key in our front door lock, he has done this 3 times now, good hand eye coordination for sure!

I am doing great, still running and working with the kids at church. I will be in charge of the libraries summer reading program this summer and look forward to reading with the kids every Wednesday. Bryan is doing really well. He is planning to climb Mount Ararat in July stays busy with work and exploring Turkey!

Hopefully we will figure out why I cant download pictures and why the vonage isnt working! We would love to hear from you all! Take care, Jessie

Lost Tooth

Maddie lost one of her front teeth on Easter and the Tooth Fairy left her some Turkish money. Ella made us all laugh when she asked me if the tooth fairy had any hair....Jessie

EASTER

Happy Easter! We had a nice day...Ella and Maddie have been sick but seemed to recover in time for the Easter Party. They had egg hunts for 0-5 and 6 and up...Mads getting so big she was with the big kids ad found an entire basket full of eggs. Jack had fun with the park and eating a cupcake Maddie decorated for him. Ella took to the bunny, she chased him with her friends and even had a blast playing duck duck goose. The bunny picture still cracks me up...Maddie would have no part saying hello to "that" bunny!!!! Jessie

Park Fun

We headed to a new park this weekend and wanted to show some more pictures! I have been pretty slow about updating the blog so if you havent noticed this is my third entry in one day, hehe! Things are going great here...we now have Vonage with a (501) area code so even though we are 8 hours ahead, it is easier to talk with friends and family. We also have started a nice routine of things...Tuesdays I volunteer at Maddie's school and get to help in the classroom and eat lunch with her. Thursdays I have bible study where Ella and Jack play with about 8 other children and Fridays Ella started ballet...after her first class the teacher came out and asked where she had taken ballet before and I laughed and said this is her first ballet class ever...right now as we speak she is dancing to the sound of music in a leotard, tights and ballet shoes, Jack and Ella love to dance all day long! Bryan has weekends off and we are getting excited as the weather gets better to start heading out to many new places. We love you all and miss you! Thanks Grandma and Poppy for the jackets the girls are wearing, we love them! Jessie

Movie night

The girls went next door and had a movie night with our neighbors girls. We are so blessed to have a nice family right across the hall. The girls play together at least once a week. They are from left to right...Addyson age 3, Ella 3, Maddie 6 and Sydney 4 1/2. They were just about to watch the Bee Movie which Ella tells me is very very silly and funny! Love, Jessie

Most Courteous 1st Grader

Madeline was voted the most courteous 1st grader this February. We attended an ice cream social where they called up each student per grade to receive their certificate and pen...included in the picture is the principal of George C Marshall and the Elementary student president. We are so proud of her and not surprised at all that she is polite and helpful, congrats Maddie! Love, Jessie