A visit to Ellie's castle (a.k.a. the river)

About three blocks from our house is the Ganges River, and we occasionally walk there to get out and about and relax a bit. During winter/dry season, the river pretty much dries up and you can walk far out onto land that is like sand dunes. Ellie loved to play there.
Now, though, as rainy season has just ended, the river is full, and instead of just rushing out to the sand, she has noticed the memorial by the side of the river. She now calls it her castle. She loves to run around it and play hide and seek/peek a boo with us from behind the walls.


During this month of fasting, we have been going around Iftar time, when people break the fast. A few people bring their Iftar food to the river, but most people are at home. This makes the usually busy river not so busy, and a little more pleasant. :)


Ellie notices everything. Here she's pointing to a boat I think.... or maybe she was pointing to India, which I had told her was across the river.


On our way home when we go to the river at Iftar time, we walk through practically deserted streets. This may seem normal for another country to only have a couple people on the street, but if you have ever seen the streets here at a normal time, you'd know that this sight is amazing.


The last time we walked home from the river, we asked Ellie if she knew how to get home. She said, "Yes." So, we told her she was the leader, and do you know what? Our little not-quite-two-year-old led us home. We walked at a very slow pace, but amazingly, we arrived at the correct destination!

Dresses

My friend was about to get rid of some old-but-not-worn-very-much-ahem!-at-all clothes, but I, having a vision of what could be in my head, intercepted the discardation. (I don't think that's the word, but I'm still going to use it!)
I gave the fabric to my househelper with one of Ellie's old dresses as a model, and voila, two dresses for two of my favorite girls in the world.

Nap Time

Maybe she's praying before she goes to sleep...

Seashells

When we were on the beach down at Cox's Bazaar, we collected a few shells. The other day we washed them and set them out to dry.


Later in the day, we put them in a jar. The jar is meant to sit on Ellie's windowsill and to be looked at... at least that's what my intention was. Ellie loves picking the jar up and shaking it, and persuading her daddy to let her open it, leaving a trail of seashells throughout the house!


And more and more, my little one loves to dress up. She'll come into the room with a hat on, with a necklace on, with way-too-big shoes on, or with an orna on. This day it was her daddy's hat.

Sidewalk Chalk

When we were out of the country this year, we bought some sidewalk chalk. Then we had visitors from England, and they brought us more sidewalk chalk because ours was almost gone.
We don't have any sidewalks that we use the chalk on, but we do have the walls of our front veranda.
Ellie used to just tell me what to draw... it used to just be shapes "circle", "square", "triangle"... then it became "big circle", "small circle"... and then "small circle here".
Since our vacation there is an occasional "peacock" thrown in. :) ... and flowers, and stars, and "my name--Eliana"... as though I'd forget her name.


Ellie not only likes to use the sidewalk chalk on the wall, but I also catch her using it to decorate herself.


(You all know that I REALLY posted these photos so you could see my awesome art skills! Check out that peacock!) Hahaha.

A day I don't want to forget

Ellie went to the store around the corner with her daddy today. She brought me home a flower! I feel like I'm queen of the world!

No longer 31

I woke up this morning next to a 32 year old. How on earth is it possible that I am married to such an old man? :)

A lot has happened since Franklin turned 31.

We've had a million train trips it seems. (I love how Franklin is playing with Ellie's feet in this picture.)

We've carved out time to relax together as a family. This Raj Bari and its grounds was one of our favorite places last Fall.




Franklin's read more children books than probably ever before.


He worked on his arm muscles (and entertaining a little girl).



He continued a great past time.


He moved into our first apartment together as a family and has used the coffee mugs I got him for our anniversary (or Christmas?) almost every morning!


He had fun in Thailand with Ellie.




He received a million kisses from his little girl who ADORES her daddy.


He became a marvelous cook... here he is grinding beef by hand for spaghetti sauce that I made. But, this year he has perfected making home made pizza, and he has made us hamburgers and steak.... not to mention Solomon food. And he is a master at Maggi (Ramen) noodles!


He has taken Ellie to the zoo a ton.


And, he let Ellie push his head underwater.

It's been a busy year. :) I'm looking forward to the memories that will be created this next year with the man I love.
Jeepers, a year from now, I'll be waking up next to a 33 year old!