Monday, August 30, 2010

Weekend Getaway to Ocean City, MD

We are here!!!
It was a last minute weekend getaway to Ocean City, MD... Ellie's first time and my first time since my senior year in high school. Let the good times roll!
."Visions of the Beach" by EL
If you are wondering, that is a red dolphin above the water.

Ellie on the beach Friday afternoon.Ellie on the rocks.
Making sure the skirt doesn't get wet!
Doodle-bug doodling Schatzie with glasses... of course!!
Saturday morning... We were off sea shell scavenging.
Later she became one with the the beach!
I blew her mind when I figured out a way to make her a mermaid-princess-superhero(-ballerina) just like she came home asking earlier in the week!
Beach time naps!
Sleepy time!
Ellie and I on the beach Saturday.
Fun times!
Then Ellie mad me into a mermaid-superhero too!
Ellie and I
Playing in the surf.
All dresses up and ready to hit the town (actually, boardwalk) on Saturday evening...
... and here we go!
Checking out the beach and doing a little people watching.
Ellie and I waiting for the tram.
At the end of the boardwalk... What will we get into tonight??
Giant tire!
Ellie and I on the bumper cars. Her first time was a SUCCESS!!
She loved the Ellie-go-round!!
And she even got a poodle on a leash balloon!
Sunday... Sleeping in just a bit. I guess that is what you get when we stay up past 11pm playing!!
The "dripping" shower head kept me up at night and I was too tired to do anything about... UGH!!
Sunday morning beach walk... not so many shells out today but Ell and I had some good talks.
We found out that the night before 4 men went out swimming after the lifeguards were off duty and because the rip-tides were so bad (because of tropical storm Danielle) they were pulled out and needed to be rescued. 3 were rescued and (as of Monday) one is still missing. That was a difficult conversation to have with a 4 1/2 year old but when they ask, it's time to talk.
Scavenging for sea shells.
The writing is in the sand, really, it is!!
Mommy loves Ellis!
Ellie drawing her hearts.
Breakfast after our beach walk, but first... We draw rainbows!
Breakfast at the Sahara Cafe on 19th Street... They had me at a carafe of coffee on the table and Taylor Pork Roll on the menu... Ell was a huge fan of the grits! Delicious!!
Beach time on Sunday... We headed down to 2nd Street for the fancy Port-a-Pots and spray off showers.
Sand + water = Awesome!
Smiles + laughs = Great weekend!
Ellie and her new friends... Mia and Olivia
Playing in the surf.
Splish splashing around.
Ellie's fun game... I stand in the surf (and get knocked around) and she warns me of a "big one" coming. I look left then right and then get knocked around and say, "why didn't you tell me?!?!" She says, "I did!" and roars laughing.
I feel like this is a game right out of Big Daddy!
Uh, oh... She is checking out the lifeguards already!
This photo is a totally overexposed snapshot of Ellie dancing in the surf but I just love the way it turned out. Kinda like life, huh? Not the way you planned and maybe not the way you hoped but if you keep your eyes open, it could turn out amazing!

Mid August... Zoo, Port Discovery, Deer, and Family Visits

Saturday at the Maryland Zoo...
The weather was in the low 80's in Baltimore, a perfect day for the zoo!
Go Ravens!
The raven.Silly girl at the polar bear statue.
Ellie on a turtle (statue)!
Look, it's Ellie in a shell!!
Brushing a goat in a bucket... Why not!?!?
Ellie is nearly 11 hands high... Way to Grow!!

Ahh, The Great Shoe Saga...
So, Ellie insisted on wearing her Princess Aurora shoes (note: she hasn't worn them all summer but today she HAD to wear them). About yards within the zoo gates she whines, "My feet hurt." and my response is, "Kiddo, you insisted on wearing those shoes so now you have to live with it, lets go." So, we went. By the time we got to the gazelle and helmeted guinea foul exhibit she was walking with one shoe half on her foot. She stood up on the fence to get a better view and BAM!!! A fit like I have never witnessed from Ellie before... She threw herself into the air then and straight onto the ground while shrieking and I was able to make out the word, shoe. I looked over the fence and about 12ft below us laid her right shoe in the grass. Fantastic!
Thanks to Sandy, the very kind zoo volunteer and the keepers we were able to finish our day at the zoo with 2 (uneaten) shoes about 30 minutes and lots of funny looks from passer-byers later. No, there is never a dull moment!!
And here are the nice people who retrieved Ellie's shoe. Thank you so much!!
Feeding Lily, the giraffe.
Hmm...
Um yea, that was pretty cool!!
Yay snacks and yay zoo!!!
The chimps.
Ellie really got a kick out of the monkey who was picking at his butt. Seriously though, it is kinda funny!
Snack time for the chimps!
Ellie noticing that they really are a lot like us!
Ending our great day at the Maryland Zoo.
Sunday... Port Discovery fun in the giant bubble!
Monday, we headed down to Largo, MD to meet with Uncle Larry and Aunt Donna who where in town for a conference in DC. Yay, good times!!
We hung out for a long time in Border's coloring pictures of Captain Underpants and reading lots of books.
Awesome pictures!!
Ellie (bah-bah head) and Bill the Bison at dinner.
Uncle Larry, Ellie, and the moose
MB, Ellie, and Aunt Donna before ice cream and good byes... I am so glad we could get together!!
Tuesday... Look, deer!!
Yes, there were three fawns outside of Ellie's school by the playground grazing when I picked her up.
We hung out for about 30min just watching them... it was really cool!
Ellie and Erica at Colleen's baby shower.
Two VERY silly girls!!


Ellie running like a crazy girl down the ramp at the library, just like I used to love to do when I was her age!