In trying to find a picture to use for this blog, the above one came up in a Google search. I could see me and Sam filling up multiple volumes with just the things Ella says. Just within the past 2 weeks, there have been plenty of potential entries. Here are just a few:

Manger Stories

Ella loves Little People by Fisher Price. She has a ton of them. We recently received this manger scene as a gift. When you push the button on the top (where the angel is in the photo), it plays Away in a Manger and the star lights up.

Manger Story #1:

Ella keeps pushing the button and playing the music. I said to her, “You must really like that song. You are playing it a lot.”

She looked at me funny, looked back at the manger, back at me and simply said, “Daddy, I’m turning on the light for Jesus!”

Manger Story #2

You may recall that Sam’s sister, Grace, passed away recently. Ella and Grace were very close.

Ella was playing with the Little People from the manger set. So Sam placed the angel on the roof.

Ella: Mommy why you put the angel on the top?

Sam: So she can watch over everyone and keep them safe.

(There must have been some conversation about angels living in heaven.)

Ella: Angels live with Jesus? Like with Gracie?

Sam: They do.

Ella: Mommy, that means Gracie is an angel too! Oh mommy she has a beautiful crown! And beautiful wings!!

Sam posted this on Facebook with the story: “This girl melts my heart!

She sure does!!

Keeping the Peace

Sometimes, Ella makes me laugh so hard. A fine example happened a week or so ago.

Sam and I were in the kitchen talking while I was making dinner. Ella comes up the step into the kitchen from the living room and says loudly, “Just stay calm, everybody!”

Now, I could see if Sam and I were arguing or in a heated discussion about something, but we were literally just talking. This was so out of the blue and random! Both of us looked at each other and started laughing. We have no idea where she heard this from.

There was no indication that she had done anything wrong, or that she broke something, but we walked around the house anyway to make sure everything was ok!

Please Shut Your Mouth!

Remember how as a kid you would put your fingers in your ear when you didn’t want to listen to what someone was telling you? Ella has no issue just letting you know she’s done listening.

From my wife’s Facebook:

When I’m telling her something she doesn’t want to hear Ella’s new thing is to say “Please stop talking to me mommy!”

So tonight I decided to listen to her. I started talking to Andrew…

Me: Here Bubs, let’s get you some chocolate milk. What a bummer I can’t ask Ella if she wants any.

Ella: Oh, mommy, I want chocolate milk.

Me: Here Bubby. (Hands him chocolate milk in sippy cup)

Ella: Mommy! I said I want chocolate milk too!!

Me: Oh, I thought I wasn’t allowed to talk to you.

Ella: Mommy, I love you so much! You’re so special to me!

As my wife said in her post – We are in so much trouble with this one!

Jewish Italian?

One of Ella and Andrew’s favorite shows to watch on TV is Blue’s Clues and You. Sadly, it doesn’t come on as often as I’d like (Because they play Paw Patrol for HOURS at a time!). We set the DVR to record episodes and watch them whenever we want.

They have been running many holiday themed episodes of the show over the last week or so. One of the episodes (pictured above) is based on the neighbor’s celebration of Hanukkah. Sam and the kids were watching it tonight as I drove into work. Sam calls me to tell me about the following conversation:

Ella: Mommy, where is our menorah?

Sam: We don’t have one, baby.

Ella: Why not?

Sam: Because we are not Jewish.

Ella: Why not?

(Long Pause)

Sam: When Daddy gets home – ask him!

Maybe Josh and Blue can help me answer …

Ella, you are such an amazing little girl. We are so blessed to have you! Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our lives!