Ellie turns 3!!!

Our baby girl turned 3 today!  Happy birthday, Elliana Thérèse!  And Happy Ash Wednesday, All!

Ash Wednesday isn't exactly the most lively day to celebrate one's birthday.  But Ellie thought it was pretty neat that everyone got dirt put on their heads because God loves us and made us - on her birthday!

She had to part with her ashes during her first swimming lesson in Austria!  Some of the University students are taking Ellie and three of the other kids for a weekly swimming lesson at the local elementary school pool.  Ellie was sooooooo excited to go swimming on her birthday, and even more excited to wear her new bathing suit all morning long (the swimming lesson wasn't until 4pm).  Francis was super excited for this photo op, which allowed him just enough time to gnaw on the dustpan brush....he heard it was Ash Wednesday and wanted all the dust and ash he could get ;)



Luckily, in Austria the day before Ash Wednesday - called Carnival - is a festive celebration!  People in Austria, Germany, etc. dress up (much like we do for Halloween) and have parades and parties before the Lenten Season begins.  One of our student helpers this semester is originally from Germany and she dressed up as Snow White for Carnival - and stopped by to surprised us!  Ellie was so excited to meet this beautiful princess - who speaks English AND German, like Ellie will someday :)  Ellie was going to start pre-school this month at the local school, where they all speak German, but the section with all of the other University children in it is full right now.  So she will begin school in September instead.  I'm glad she'll have the opportunity to learn German and make more friends, but for now I'm happy she's still at home!

Continuing on with the birthday celebrations, we had some of our neighbors/friends over with their children for a little party!  Ellie helped me decorate the cake earlier in the day -- upon her request: a cake with blue frosting and a rainbow.

You can see some of the other children were still in their Carnival costumes from dressing up for school earlier in the day.  (And you can see Francis really partying hard despite the fact he didn't get any cake or ice cream!)

The kids were so sweet bringing her gifts - and opening them for her :)

In Ellie's opinion, the party was definitely a success.  It might have had something to do with the fact she finally got to have some of the "wine" we bought at Spar.

After partying hard yesterday, she got to open her new toy kitchen today.  She was pretty excited because she's been missing the one we left at the "white house" (that's what she calls the apartment we used to live in, which is only slightly confusing when we tell people we're from D.C. and Ellie adds - "from the White House".)  The toy kitchen is definitely a step up from her old one, and is totally European with it's Celsius oven dials and fridge temps.  

The real purpose for including this picture though, is her hair!  Look how long and curly it is in back!  It only took three years - but our little baldy finally has hair :)

See what I mean about her hair...here's Ellie at just over a year ago (she's always been one for wearing her bathing suit to play in -- and as evidenced above with Francis, my kids love to clean!)

Still focusing on the lack of hair - this is age 1 on Ash Wednesday.

And check out this little baldy at 3 months!  (Don't worry, now that we live in Austria we've told her she has to keep that arm down).

Ellie says danke for all the sweet birthday wishes!

Have a great Lent!