Elora

My oldest son, Brock, told us all that Elora would arrive on her due date 6 years ago. Sure enough at 4:20 am on October 8th, 2002, Brock called to tell me Erin's water broke. Elora arrived later that evening at 7:55 pm.

Elora Rose
7 lbs, 12 oz

When Elora was 2 years, 4 months, she got a baby sister! She was so proud. As we were all getting ready to take Cami home from the hospital, Elora stopped by the nurses' station and, with no prompting from anyone, said to them, "Thank you for the chocolate milk, and thank you for baby Camel." I'll never forget that.

Campbell, Erin, and Elora

Elora would hear phrases and then try to find places to use them, even before she knew what they really meant. When Elora was 18 months old her parents and her Uncle Tyler were playing a board game on our family room floor. Elora kept messing with the pieces of the game and throwing them around the room. Her parents told her a few times to stop doing that. Finally they were more stern, and Elora said to them, "I was just trying to help you."

Grandpa Dennis, Elora, Grandma Honey

From the time she was very tiny she she showed empathy and compassion for others. I think she partly came to earth this way, but I also think her parents taught her this. One day when she was about 4, we were in the car together when I noticed an old farm house was taken away. I nearly cried when I saw it was gone. I was shocked and kept saying, "That house!! How could they take it away? The cows, the sheep, the chickens are gone too!! Oh I am so upset!"

Several hours later, just before bedtime, I was filling up my 16 oz Tupperware cup with water and snapping on the lid that fit snuggly over it. As I turned to leave the kitchen it accidentally fell from my hands and splattered all over the surrounding wood floor. I sort of screeched and whined, "OH no, what a mess. Look what I did!" Elora could tell I was upset and said, "I am sorry Grandma Honey. It will be okay. I'm sorry they took that house away. I'm sorry about the cows and the sheep and the chickens." She is very protective over people she loves.

When Elora and her cousin Macie were preschoolers,
I use to have Grandma Honey school once a week.

We had the best time together!

One morning after Elora had spent the night with us (she was 4),

I was lying on the couch the next morning tired.

So she asked me, "Why are you tired?"
Me: "Because someone kept waking me up last night."
Elora: "Who did that?"
Me: "Well someone I was sleeping with."
Elora: "You mean, me?"
Me: "Yes, you."
Elora: "Did my bad dream wake you up?"
(I thought that was so cute, that she thought I experienced her bad dream, too!)

Campbell and Elora

To be a grandma is the greatest. I get to play with dolls and make cookies, and dance around the room. I remember the very first time Elora, before she was even 2, reached for a doll that I had sitting on a shelf in my family room. It was above her head, but one day she reached up on her tippy toes. Stretched and reached, repeatedly till she was able to get the corner of the doll's dress in her hand, and pull it down towards her. I was across the room, frozen, with tears in my eyes. I had waited decades for a moment such as this.

What a good looking family

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELORA!!!
So happy you are SIX!

When Elora was just a tiny baby, I use to set her on my kitchen counter in her little carrier, and turn on this song LOUD. (below) I would dance and sing and she would SMILE. Oh this is heaven.