updated 5.6.23: Ella is now 10 years old. She is the kindest, most talented, athletic and best big sister I know. Ella Caroline-as she is lovingly named- also is very creative. In her free time she enjoys drawing, doing random DIYs, making bracelets, painting her nails and playing around on social media (when it is allowed). She is full of energy, has as much as a bolt of lightning. When she strikes, she keeps it up, her energy radiating to those around her. Her energy translates well into sports. She is about to start the 4th season of tackle football. She just wrapped up her second season of Lacrosse. She runs…fast. Doing track for her school. She has played in the past: cheer, basketball, soccer, ballet, and swimming. Ella is compassionate and emotional. She calls it like she sees it but at the same time remaining soft, calculated, and is a great friend. Ella is performing so well in school, we are so proud of her progress. She is also the choir director’s assistant. She had a solo in the recent school play and the end of year concert. She is my mini, and I am so in love with my doodle every day.

2021: Ella, lovely nicknamed “doodle”, is my pride and joy, our first born daughter. She cheers me up instantaneously with her infectious laugh. I have witnessed, and still have video footage, of one major meltdown in her young life. The infamous blueberry pancake tantrum. Other than that one occurrence, she has the sweetest disposition and has a loving soul. Just like her great-grandmother Ellen and great-grandmother Carol. Her namesake, is the combination of her two great-grandmother’s names, Ellen and Carol….tweaked slightly to be, Ella Caroline. She absorbs everything around her, and she can do it all: cartwheels, pushups, sings, dances, rhymes, plays a bit of keyboard, and I swear never gives me a hard time. Occassionally I will get the flop on the ground, writhing in some sort of instant injury. But not very often these days. ‘

Ella does her chores, keeps her room relatively neat, does her reading and even reads to her sister. She is the strongest nine year old I know. She plays football, her second season. She plays both Defensive End, Center, and linebacker. She gets all As in school and has since they began counting such in 1st Grade. She cares about everyone, loves all creatures, and even has a creative artsy edge unlike her mother! We are so proud of the young and beautiful girl she is becoming.

We love you Ella Caroline, with all our hearts