To the Pool...

After their first day together at school, Steve and I picked the littles up and went to the pool. Yes, it is a tough life. They had a great time almost swimming and collecting "food". I asked Gracie for a cupcake before I took the below picture and she said she didn't have a cupcake, just "all this food". Doesn't the pool look so inviting? The other picture is taken from where we ate dinner. It's hard to tell from the picture, but it was raining. We miss you Mark and Isabella!

London Calling

This post is for Mark (who is in London on business). I know you miss your girls and just in case you thought we weren't taking care of them, here are some pictures for you.

We had a cookout on Saturday- Ella and Grace ate at their own table. Even more fun was that Grandma Robbie and Grandpa Barry (Gracie calls them that!) were here. They played dress-up on Sunday with Caroline, and Gracie has really enjoyed all of Ella's books. Of course Uncle Wes is the most fun. Today we're going to the pool and perhaps having dinner there. More to come...

Grandparents

We're so lucky having our family nearby- there is no need for special trips packed with activities, we all just get together. This weekend was just that. Robbie and I had a great Sunday morning together just hanging out while Barry and Wes golfed. Ella loves the toy they brought. Last night she built something and it seemed to be nothing unusual until this morning when she went over and said, "Good Morning" to it. Hmmmmm... Apparently Mr. Spider spent the night in there. I looked, and there wasn't one, and when I asked her where the spider went she said, "In the picture." Ohhhhh.... the spider from Mandy's picture (Mandy Carroll is an amazing photographer who does our Christmas card every year- here is her website: http://www.mandycarroll.com/). Good to know her imagination is alive and well and that I don't need to go crazy looking for a spider this morning.

Before and After

Home Sweet Home. Here is a before and after of our living room. I'll try to get an "after" picture from the same spot later, but you get the idea. The best part of this new room is we can ALL (Lexy and Schro included) fit on the sofa and then some! Movie night here we come! These pictures are before we really lived in the room so I expect the feel will change once Ella takes over.

June

Wow- this month has flown by. This past week Ella was very sick and I think that 24-hour period lasted what felt like 24 days for me. Between Wes and I not sleeping and just the basic wincing at each heartbreaking "Mommy, Mommy, I don't feel good" I am at a loss for much to write about. Steve and Polly- thank you. It amazes me you never told me to chill out or stop crying. I think the best story was of little Polly getting car sick on her way to school and my Mom's reaction was, "That's not possible, I didn't even give you breakfast!" It's funny how I all of a sudden felt like a mother with a newborn- no idea what is going on and afraid Ella would break. Of course she didn't and like clockwork she woke up (24 hours after the first throw-up) and was ready to go to the pool. Pool? You should dream big my dear because your Dad and I would have given you anything- just seeing you smile again melted us!

We did go to the pool and Selma and Kemper hit the rock wall. Wes and I are still recuperating.

Creek's Edge

Ella and I enjoyed another vacation at Poppy and Nonna's. This was the first time Ella put her feet in the water:

Ella remembered feeding the birds with Nonna last time and it was one of the first things she wanted to do (after making sure the water was still there). Then Ella and Poppy sat with "The Man" as Ella has taken to calling one of their sculptures. Aren't the trees so lush?

When we went out to say goodnight to The Man, she said, "I love him" and ran over and gave him a kiss.

There is always too much to include in one entry of all the things we did. We visited Great Grandma, Ella cooked with Nonna, we went to a great breakfast place with a beautiful walk afterwards, and just relaxed. And all of that was the first day! I went to Baltimore on Monday for a couple days so Ella had Poppy and Nonna all to herself for a couple days. Of course we danced to Fergie...

This trip was extra special because my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Jim visited from New York. They brought Ella bubbles which were a big hit.

We had to leave on Wednesday much to Ella's disappointment. Here is a picture of Ella with her "peeps" as she called everyone when we left (after the yelling of "I neeeeeeeeed Poppy and Nonna" didn't get her out of her car seat).