Elise Turns 4

Someone said "It kills you to see them grow up so quickly but it would kill you quicker if they didn't". Birthdays are always bittersweet for us and while we want to get to the promise land of getting our adult life back, we truly wish they could stay young, sweet and innocent for a little while longer. They'll be running away from us soon enough instead of running into our arms whenever we walk into the door.

Elise still attends pre-school and is really doing well. She loves to see her name written and asks us all the time how to spell our names. She's really into writing and "reading" us stories from her favorite books she's memorized from all those years with us reading to her.

Lately, her tantrums are few and far between. She's had her fair share of tantrums times 10 but they are a rare occurence these days. This is definitely something we won't don't mind leaving behind.


Our birthday girl

Elise kept asking for a rainbow cake with ladybugs. Luckily, our local Baskin Robbins cake lady knew how to draw one so voila! here we are. She couldn't stop talking about this cake even weeks after her birthday.

Blowing out her candles, all four of them in one breath

Elise with Auntie Von (who just returned from Africa), Auntie Janet, and Cousins Calista and Jolie

This is a pretty funny picture because Sean is trying to blow out her candles and she's calling him out on it (unhappily of course)

Elise and all of her cousins

Elise and all of her cousins (Take 2)

Elise and Cousin Kaya

Every Saturday morning, Elise goes to tap and ballet class. While a little hesitant at first, she's really started to embrace the class. She even practices her moves at home, especially the bow at the end.

Striking a pose