Polly's Favorite Things

Steve surprised us with chocolate eclairs for dessert tonight (from Albemarle Baking Company for you locals). Now these are Polly's absolute favorite, her number one request when she visits, the one thing (next to Bodo's) that is a carry-out MUST for each visit. So Ella called her to tell her what she was having. Sorry Polly. We did think of you at least! Feel free to have Gracie give me a call when you are next at Jersey Giants!

And yes- that is a port-a-potty in the front yard (construction workers).

Why I love this sofa...

As if I needed any other reasons, but this is Ella and Caroline watching a movie together. There are many reasons to have a space you love, but for me, to have a space Ella can hang out with her friends and enjoy was at the top of my list. Number two on the list was having a space everyone (adults and children) could enjoy. Now if I can just find a spot for Wes' guitars, I think I will have accomplished both.

Summer Days

There are always a couple hours in the day I'm never prepared for. It's either when it's too early for a nap or too early to start dinner. On this day it was before dinner. We were both a little tired from a morning at the pool and a less than lengthy nap. At this point, laying on the sofa and watching a movie was looking like a pretty good option. And here's where my logic gets fuzzy. I asked Ella what she wanted to do. Now, for some of you out there, you're thinking, "Why would you do that? Snuggle up and watch a movie!" The other half are thinking, "Sara, who's the parent here?" Well, today Ella said, "Paint outside!" I was so ready for the classic two-year-old answer of "I don't know" that I just stared at Ella. She then said (I kid you not), "Maybe now would be a good time mom." So out we went and it is that unplanned time of the day that is, of course, the most fun.

Caroline is Three!

Happy Third Birthday Caroline! Did you ever attend a Birthday party at the pool when you were little? Well, I did and loved them. When Amy told me about the plans for Caroline's Birthday, I was so excited for Ella to be able to go to a swim party- especially at the Crozet Pool (think zero entry and a big mushroom waterfall). It was all the fun I remembered (can you tell I'm at the point of re-living my childhood through Ella?). We swam, had pizza, swam some more and had cake (princess castle cake) and... HOME MADE PEACH ICE CREAM! It was such a great day. In this picture you can see the Blue Ridge Mountains- how much better could it get?

Farmer's Market

This is Ella at the Crozet Farmer's market today. She loved counting plums (10 for $1.00) and the owners were so nice they let her stay for a bit and help count. This particular farmer picked his plums that very morning and they were so deliciouse. Sort of like tasting sunshine (I think?). Ella popped them like candy. They also brought them to market with a biodiesel car. We tried to explain how small a carbon footprint that is to Ella but all she wanted then were her flip flops.

Counting Down the Days

We are definitely counting down the days until we see Uncle Matt again. I say to Ella, "Soon Uncle Matt will be home!" and lately she says, "And we can have ice cream?" I think she says this because Wes wrote Matt's name on the wall downtown and then we had ice cream. I just love the way her mind works! Uncle Matt, we miss you.

H2C2 Avon 2008

It is already mid-July and I haven't posted since June. It isn't for lack of content, I assure you- we were away on vacation! I call it H2C2 Avon 2008 (Hawkins/Holland/Cueny/Campbell- get it?). It was a great week and I was sad to see it end. Many many thanks to Poppy and Nonna for the entire week.

This year Ella put her feet in the water and would let the waves catch her if she was holding our hand. Isabella looked like a Roxy model (see below picture) and Gracie was her usual pioneering self (she went into the ocean the first day!). This year we also went jet-skiing. I think I may need one now! Here are some pictures from the trip: