Here’s Lookin’ at You, Kid!

Last night we celebrated Ellie’s completion of eleven full years of life. As an eleven-year-old now, she’s in that awkward present-buying stage where she’s too old for the simple toys of childhood yet too young for presents like, oh, diamond necklaces and such. So, we refrained and she got to enjoy unbejeweled, simple gifts like this compact mirror, a detangling brush, and Chap-Stick.

Thankfully, we had grandma and grandpa on hand to bring out the big guns with a brand-new bike! Sure, it’s not diamond-encrusted, but Spring is upon us and it’s time to get out and ride!

Happy Birthday, Ellie!

» #photography #iphoneography #birthday #daughter #celebration

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Time to Wake.

She hates to wake up for school. I almost hate waking her.

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Circles, Curves, and Colors, by Ellie.

Ellie is proud and happy that her artwork was selected for prominent display at school (she’s in 5th grade). We are proud, too!

I didn’t even know she had this in the works, but she kept asking me to come inside the hallways, she had something to show me. When I saw it, I was blown away by the shapes, the colors, and the blending. She’s got quite the eye.

For Christmas, this year, Ellie received a table that has a camera built in. She’s started shooting stuff around the house, and I can tell: she’s got the eye. I can’t wait to see what kind of an artist she grows into. And she’s quite the inspiration for her little sister, Juli.

» #photography #iphoneography
#ellie #art #chalk #artwork #abstract

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Snow Day

Apart from Christmas and New Year celebrations, about the only thing winter has going for it – to me – is the promise of a snow day. The benefit? This means I don’t have to get up at 6 AM to bundle the kids off to school.

On the other hand, it also means that Ellie gets to co-opt possession of my jacket for her own cozy purposes.

“This is now my new favorite coat,” she announced. “It’s mine!”

» #photography #iphoneography
#winter #coat #cozy #snowday #family #love

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Christmas at the McClains

A typical McClain Christmas tradition: Kids get up way, way earlier than the adults want to. Ellie generally sits and stares at all the presents, in the dark, until a yawning adult stumbles along. (This year, she awoke at 5 AM and I had to cuddle her back to sleep. Unsuccessfully: “Can we open presents yet?”).
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Once coffee is adequately prepped and quaffed, we begin with the stockings, then move up to the gifts, doleing out one gift per person, then rinse-and-repeat till all gifts are opened. At last, with more coffee at the ready, we feast on pancakes..
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It was a good year. Grandma and Grandpa got the kiddos their very own tablets this year — which is fantastic because they were really feeling left out. (All their peers have phones, tablets, and notebooks. Our digitally deprived kids can finally catch up!) Elllie got lots of artsy stuff, AJ got some gadgety and fidgety stuff, Julie got some artsy stuff, too, and they all got hand-crafted treasure boxes from Grandpa’s workshop..
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Jen and I couldn’t afford much this year, but I was delighted to receive my favorite coffee, a Michigan Cherry blend from Grand Traverse Pie Co., and I was able to get Jen’s wedding ring repaired. She got the more comforting gift, but mine is tastier!.
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We are so grateful to the Lord for the gift of his Son and I hope and pray that I can carry within myself an perpetual sense of gratefulness, joy, and generosity in light of the gift and sacrifice made on my behalf..
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Merry Christmas, friends!

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Meu nome é Vasco da Gama!

Today, Ellie was part of her class’s “Wax Museum,” a presentation including costumery, a poster/collage, and a memorized presentation that she was required to give any time a visitor pressed her “button.” It was an impressive feat!

I was proud that she actually memorized her presentation when so many of her classmates merely read off of index cards or read the poster they stood in front of. Way to go, Ellie!

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#ellie #VascodaGama #school #homework #beauty

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Ellie, on stage.

A few weeks ago, Ellie’s elementary school gave a performance of “Go West!” She was so delighted that I was able to make the drive home from work in time to catch her performance—reports indicated there was much squealing when I pulled into our driveway.

It was a superb production—as good as any elementary school performance I’ve seen yet, the kids all had their lines down cold, and the recorders all seemed on key!

Ellie practiced so hard, she was right to be proud.

» #photography #iphoneography
#daughter #ellie #love #family #school #fisherelementary

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A beard in hand.

A few weeks ago, when Ellie’s elementary school gave a performance of “Go West!” we sat on the edge of our seats to watch her perform. Well, some of us sat on the edge of our seats—Juli kneeled on my leg and distractedly tugged on the hairs of my chinny-chin chin.

I think I took this shot just before my leg fell asleep.

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#juli #daughter #beard #sepia #bw #blackandwhite

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When Buddy met Sally.

Ellie’s best friend in all the world is her little Buddy (a gift from my mom at Ellie’s birth).

He’s more than ten years old now (something like 70 or 80 well-loved Velveteen Rabbit years) and he’s really showing his age. Seams are popped, stuffing is coming out in threadbare spots, and extremities are threatening to wander off. For several weeks Ellie’s been really worried about his health and carefully swaddles him to protect him while he sleeps at night.

We’ve searched for any of Buddy’s family to come join him for years—years. I even found a former exec of the now-defunct manufacturer—but they’d liquidated all inventory. I’d given up hope.

But Jen found Buddy’s twin on eBay a few weeks ago and we placed a bid, beginning our “adoption” process.

And at last, we welcome our latest addition to the Tatum household: Sally.

Hooray!

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#Ellie #Buddy #Sally #clown #doll #friends #childhood

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Ellie × Ten!

Last Monday my little lady, Elisabeth Rose, completed her tenth year and we were delighted to grant her birthday wish: a trip to McDonalds and his bacterial nightmare Playland. Ellie’s friend, Sierra, came along for the fun (on Ellie’s left), and she truly made Ellie’s birthday complete. Here, Ellie’s enjoying her birthday cards while her sister, Juli, her brother, AJ, and Sierra read along,

Ellie’s first decade with us has been a delightful blast. I’m so proud of her sensitive, tender heart; her creative eye and love of colors and patterns; and her bright, toothy smile. She’s a total Daddy’s girl and has me utterly wrapped around her little finger!

I love this age and can’t believe ten years has already passed, but I look forward to every surprise she reveals in the next decade.

Happy birthday, Ellie!

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#daughter #birthday #celebration #beauty #love #family

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