Visit from Kelly

Kelly came to visit from Boston the last weekend in June. We've been working on a trip for her to come out since we moved and I am so glad it finally worked out. It was so, so, so good to see her and have her visit for a few days.

Ella and I picked her up from the airport on Friday afternoon and then we went out to dinner once Steve got home from work, then just talked and talked in the backyard all night. On Saturday morning we went to the Paint Pub, drank mimosas, and made some masterpieces!

We spent Saturday afternoon swimming and had Ella for plenty of entertainment and lots of laughs!

 

I got Ella's babysitter to come on Saturday night so we could go out for the night and we went down to Seabrook for dinner and to a bar on the water. So much fun!!

 

Ella had a great night with Jessica and was fast asleep on her floor in the 'fort' they made when we got home 

 

At breakfast on Sunday morning

 

We just relaxed and swam on Sunday afternoon and then barbecued for dinner. Steve took Kelly to the airport early Monday morning, so the weekend was over way too quickly... but ahh, such a fantastic weekend and we are so happy that Kelly came to visit us!!

Picture Post

Catching up on a bunch of pictures from May and June-- 

Beautiful blue jay in the backyard

Looking adorable with a bubble beard

So cute walking Cory

 With my baby on Mother's Day

Registering for kindergarten! 

I love all our lizards and frogs - this little guy hangs out under our pool umbrella a lot, I'm always happy to see him

And this cute fellow is on my bathroom window almost every single night. Whenever he's not around, I wonder where he is.

Steve and I went to the beach for the weekend when Ella was in NJ. The hotel was so beautiful, and this was our view from the balcony

And from dinner one night

A few nights after getting back from NJ - consulting her snow globe of NYC and demanding that it show her where Grammy was at that exact moment

Making funny faces with Caleb at our first crawfish boil

And there was a sole survivor, somehow a single crawfish hid in the net and managed to survive all day. We were hoping we'd last longer and we could get a little tank for him, but unfortunately he did not make it until the morning...but, for that night, Ella was very happy with her new pet

Father's Day

And the adorable card Ella made for Steve

And then I turned 33 on June 17 -- and of course Ella loves any reason for a celebration!

And my beautiful card!!

Great day trip to the beach 

I was in a really great book club in NC, and have been involved in starting a small one here for the last few months. I guess the nights I go to "book club" are very mysterious to Ella, just like when I go to bunco, which she calls "bonko", and she's just dying to know what's happening at any place I am out without her. Well, in June, Steve ended up having to go to a last minute dinner for work, and I didn't want to miss it because I was excited to talk about our book. So I decided I would take Ella with me. She was as excited as if I'd told her we were going to Disneyworld that night. She told me she was going to go get ready, by herself, and would come down when she was done. Here she is - ready for book club!

Little muscle woman!

Cory managed to tuck herself in our bed -- tough life being a dog!

A few new tricks

Some videos of a few of Ella's newest tricks

She was really determined to learn how to tie and she loves doing it - I got her a pair of tie shoes that she is really proud of, and she has been volunteering to tie mine whenever I am wearing sneakers.




And some flips in the pool!



Such an awesome little girl!!

Ella's Trip to NJ

The day after Ella's graduation, she left with Grammy for a very big adventure - a whole week in New Jersey with Grammy and Grampy G!

She had an incredible trip and made a ton of great memories. Here are some of the pictures that Mom sent me during the week

With Pokey

Fun in the sprinkler 

Monday was a really big day - she got to 'work' in Glenn's office for the morning. She was very excited for her big job and I would've loved to see her in action.

Ready to report to work!

The ladies in the office were so sweet and really went above and beyond for Ella's day in the office - they set up a great desk with lots of goodies for her

Taking some notes on her new Hello Kitty clipboard and pad :) 

Busy little bee

Break time

 With Grampy at the end of the morning after a job well done :)

That afternoon Mom and Ella headed into New York City for a few days for part two of their adventure. They went to all of Mom's stomping grounds - her hotel, work, restaurants - all around "Grammy's beautiful city", as Ella now calls it :).

 Riding in a taxi for the first time

 

With Grammy 

At the Toys R Us in Times Square 

Getting a chess lesson in Washington Square Park 

Glenn came in to meet them the next day and they went to the Museum of Natural History, where Ella was a big fan of the reptiles and snakes

Back in NJ, feeding the goats at Alstede's Farm

Sleeping with Sophie (who is quite possibly the world's largest cat!) 

On Friday they went to the Crayola Factory in Easton, Ella said this was the most fun stop of the trip.

Ella loves Garmmy - how adorable is that?!

Ella had a wonderful week and I'm so glad she got to have such a special and fun time with Mom and Glenn!