A Busy Summer

This post will take a few days to write because I have a million things to write about! We have had an amazing summer and we have been SOOOO busy! August is always so hard because summer is almost over! But we are still going to cram a few trips in last minute! But first and foremost the two main events of the summer: Ella's big 2nd birthday BBQ and our unbelievable trip back east to see the great grandparents!

The apron and chef hat from Meg

Ella's VERY special cookie jar! Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Ella stole the cookie from the cookie jar.

Ella's new bike-hopefully this will teach our little klutz some balance!

30 adults and 15 kids- so we went a little overboard, but it was worth it!

Pool Party!

My city girls and me heading out for a night on the town, after they held me down and tried to put makeup on me!

Scussett Beach, didn't expect her to want to swim.

My first birthday celebration with Pops and Great Grandma Bettye. Had to take off my cute new clothes to chow this yummy watermelon cake! Quote of the day: We ask Ella: What do you say when someone gives you something? Ella, after pausing to think about it says: Happy Birthday!

Tinker's Island, still can't believe we got to see it: Thanks Tina and Trinidad!

Tina giving a Ella a ride in Ruth's wheel chair.

Trinidad teaching Bobby a thing or two about flounder fishing.

Just pullin' in our dinner! What a life!

Nap time on the dinghy! She slept through pulling in about 10 lobster traps.

She loved this place!

Having a seafood fest, eating our island lobsters with Pops and Bettye

Ella's first time to the beach-she loved everything about it!

Salamanders are so cool!

Singin' by the campfire with GG and Pops

My first plane ride, I did great, but the kids behind me and in front of me were another story.

Lake Navajo and Twin Lakes

Uncle Andy Chillin' at Twin Lakes. It was about a two hour four wheel drive road and a two hour hike in. It was one of the few places near CB that none of us had been to yet. It was spectacular!

Really, we are all looking at the camera and smiling at the same time? Andy, you should be a photographer!

Okay, so I finally get a great picture of Ella and Marah and they look like they have chicken pox. They are mosquito bites and the mosquitoes were so bad that they could care less about bug spray. We really did try to keep them away. Regardless, our trip to Navajo Reservoir was amazing and it was great to spend time with Jessie, Marah, and Dave!



The rest of the summer..............................

Most importantly, WE ARE DONE WITH DIAPERS!!!!!!! Being that I have more free time than usual in the summer, I was able to spend LOTS of time and effort and patience working with Ella to get her out of diapers. And we are proud of her! When she first started using the potty, she would get done and say "I'm so proud of you." She is a smart little whipper snapper!

As for me, I decided that I could run for exercise, and I ran a four mile race and a 8.5 mile race (with Andy) this summer. By no means was I fast, but I finished. This was a huge accomplishment for me. We will see where it goes from here................

As for Bobby, he has been working a ton and I have been missing him during the week, but we have been getting out almost every weekend together. I can't believe how busy life with a kid is. I can't imagine what it would be like to have more than one! Bobby also ran the 8.5 mile race, just not with us, instead he pushed the stroller with Ella and went really fast.

Here are a few parting pics of our little goofball............ (and Avery)

Ella and her buddy Beckett

Avery and a monument plant

Ella getting dressed up "all by myself" (Her new favorite saying!)
First golf lesson from Gramma Cookie
Okay, a short story: I have always said that the last thing that I will ever have in my house will be a pair of pink cowgirl boots. So what does Blair do? Yep, she sends her a pair for her birthday that not only fit her now but will fit her for a while. And yes, Ella throws a fit if I tell her she can't wear them somewhere (like the park). Blair, paybacks are you know what!