Idol Favs

Although I feel that this year cannot compete with last year's talent, we are still huge fans of American Idol!!! Here our the Elton family favorites from this Season of Idol. . .

Miss Jillian is by far the most passionate fan of the show. Her emotions run high - we haven't made it through an episode yet without tears. Her original favorite was Jasmine, who didn't make it at first to the final show, but was eventually brought through by the judges as a wild card. If that wasn't enough, she was then voted out after the first round. I wasn't sure Jillian was going to continue watching, but she found another teenage idol to set her hopes on. . . Allison Iraheta.

Delaney loves those dreamy boys . . . she quickly chose Kris Allen as her favorite. Jillian refers to him as Delaney's "Tender Dog" - a term used by Randy after one of his performances. This immediately turns Delaney's cheeks red!!! Ryan is quite concerned about our oldest - she's already quite a flirt and loves the attention of the boys!!!

Ryan's favorite this year -- Danny Gokey. You'll have to ask him why. . .

My favorite this season is Matt Giraud -- I think he is interesting and has the biggest range of musical talent.

While no one is this household is a fan, we have a strong feeling that the winner of this season's American Idol will be Adam Lambert.

April Fools?

This just shows us that even the Big Guy has a sense of humor -- snow on April 1st!!!

Fun and Great

To quote Elliott, "It was fun and great!!!" Here is just one picture from our spring break getaway to Wisconsin Dells. When I have some 'free time' maybe I'll get to sorting through the rest of them!

flat stanley

My kids were very excited to recieve a letter in the mail earlier this week. Inside, they discovered "Flat Stanley" sent to them from cousin Kennedy. Stanley has been enjoying his time in our home, reading lots of books, playing Polly Pockets, hanging out with the letters on the magnetic bulletin board, and venturing out and about in Buffalo. Here are a few snapshots from his time here. We'll keep him for one more day, so he can channel his inner cheerleader with Delaney and his inner ballerina with Jillian!

Flat Stanley is the best patron at the library - extremely quiet at a fantastic listener!

Buffalo has many, many painted bison throughout the town. Here are two of our favorites - one painted with the businesses of downtown welcoming guests to our community, and one painted like a fish to represent the two lakes within our town. We have plans to visit a few more of Buffalo's landmarks before Stanley returns to Moorhead!

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Just when you thought he couldn't get any cuter!

must read

One of my favorite times with my kids is story time. I always made an effort to read with them for 1/2 an hour a day before naptime. This looks a little different with Elliott than it did with the girls. He's not so much into the actual reading of the words, but prefers to open flaps, put together puzzles or place magnets on the pages of books. We have a lot of "active books" that allow him to be involved while I essentially read the story to myself. Delaney and Jillian love for me to read to them, but are now proud to read to me at bedtime instead. They've even begun reading on their own in their beds (with flashlights, of course!). It's a time that I miss, snuggled up with my girls and being transported away into a fantasy world. I am proud of the love for reading that has developed in each them!

Delaney couldn't put down her book at breakfast this morning -- check it out, the fork is even still in her hand! (and yes, that's a toaster waffle she's eating - just call me mother of the year!)

my little cowpokes

Elliott spends his entire morning asking "Jillian home from school now?" They have the best time together - setting up a zoo with the blocks and animals, playing with every toy in the basement, bowling on the wii. . . She even put him down for his nap yesterday - complete with stories, lullably and somehow getting him into his crib (glad I wasn't in there to witness it!). She's like the cream in the middle of the oreo cookie - stuck a little bit to both of her siblings. She definitely looks up to her big sister, wants to be like her and craves her approval. They enjoy playing make-believe together - barbies, petshops, school. Delaney is sometimes too grown up (and quite bossy) for the silly side of Jillian. It's a good thing she has such a goofy little brother!