ellie bellie

Tonight as we were leaving Enrichment Ellie saw her Primary teacher, Karen Foster, and ran up and gave her a big hug and said, "I miss you!" (She really has no concept of time.) Karen pulled me aside and told me how much she enjoys having Elisabeth in her class and how she's so loving and sweet. She said, "I always need a hug."

That got me thinking about Ellie's loving personality and about two things that happened at our Utah reunion in July. At the 24th of July parade in Salt Lake, all the kids in the extended family were sitting right in the front, so I wasn't right with my kids. I didn't notice what was happening until someone said, "Who's Ellie sitting with?" I realized that the people right next to our kids weren't part of the family, but Ellie didn't. She had just made herself comfortable with the nice lady by her and ended up in her lap. The lady didn't seem to mind at all. Ellie loves to be loved and cuddled--she'll take it from anyone she can get it from!

Later in the day we had our reunion lunch, games, stories, etc. at a park. Garrett's Aunt Pat had brought a lady from her ward who doesn't have any family. She sat alone most of the time as the rest of us had responsibilities, kids to feed and chase, games to play, etc. But later in the day I noticed Ellie sitting by her and chatting away. No matter that she didn't know her. It's like she knew that this lady needed a little attention, and Ellie needed someone to listen to her for a minute. From this picture it's obvious that Ellie made her day!

We love our sweet Ellie Bellie. She has her moments of strong-willed stubbornness, but I'll take it if it means we get our sweet, loving, hugging, giggling, silly, happy girl.