More of July

At the Farm Fair with the Fayas, the kids enjoy snowballs on a HOT late July day.

Watching the pig races.
Ell dressing up the doggies... At least they were good sports!
Ellie and Schatzie... my two beautiful girls.
Banging on the drums at Port Discovery.
Doodle Bug doodlin' away.
Ellie and Ellie by the turtles.
Meeting our newest cousin, Lucas, at Oregon Ridge Beach.
Just plain silliness!
Enjoying the tunes of The Bridge at Ledew Gardens on a warm Sunday Evening.
Picnic time at Ledew Gardens.
Ellie, Papoo, and Andrew enjoying lunch at Bluestone celebrating Uncle Jay's 71st birthday.

Fourth of July

These are in reverse order... Sorry! Ell chillin' out on the roof of the CRV watching the fireworks.
An annual tradition... Popsicles (or ice cream) and fireworks!
BOOM!
Checking out the Oriole Bird at the Towson Parade.
Ellie, Papoo, and Joelle at the parade.
Ellie and Joelle enjoying the parade.
Fourth of July Ellie.
Ready for fireworks.

Ellie Day

Some highlights from our first official All About Ellie Day... For starters this is an idea that I had stolen from a few mothers that I know. By giving someone a day dedicated to just them (this works for adults as well) from food choice to activities gives them a sense of importance and even more makes them more prone to compromise. On Ell's Ellie Day she wanted to go to Annie's Playground and play with her friends, Joelle and Ellie F., and eat ice cream so that is exactly what we did! In the picture above you can see the day was a success!
Pool time with the girls.
Swinging at Annie's Playground.
Starting the day...
Random picture of Schatzie before she got her summer time haircut... this is how she rode to the salon!

Rebel Race

Sunday, my buddy, Rachel, and I competed in our 2nd mud race... The Rebel Race in Frederick, MD.
We decided to costume up and dressed as the Forgotten Photon and the Iron Fang. Even though the course had a total of 22 obstacles including a pond, ditches, compost mounds, fire, walls, cargo nets, tunnels, and barbed wire we did NOT let the course win.
My costume before the race.
Rachel and I, pre-race.
Pink friends always win!!

Saturday in the park...

Well, it was actually the zoo but the other made a better title for the post.
Bill, Ell, Deb, Bennett, and I spent a lovely (and rather humid) day at the zoo. We made it through the African Safari and Polar Bear exhibit before the heat started taking a toll on everyone.
Ell got to ride the camel... I have a crazy feeling this was her favorite part of the zoo.
Ell and the penguins
At Hightopps with everyone after shopping and the zoo. What could be better... outdoor shade, yummy snacks, 90s cover band, and a sandy playground.
Ell and Grandma in the aviary.
Grandma with Ell and Bennett on the iron lion.
Ell and I
Showing off her brand new red boots... Here comes trouble!

Ellie's LOL pre-K graduation... June 17, 2011

Ell and I
LOL Graduating pre-K class of 2011
Top: Ms. Robin, Ethan, Casey, Noah, Nora, Robert, Ellie, Takara, Ms. Beth
Bottom: Meredith, Max, Connor, Garrett, Jayda.
Max, Ell, and Ethan
Ms. Christy, Ms. Brooke, and Ell
Jayda, Takara, Ellie, and Nora
Meredith and Ell
Ell with Mommy and Daddy
Ell and Noah
Ell and Ethan
Ell and Ms. Robin and Ms. Beth
Ell and I... I am so proud of my little graduate! She is just getting smarter and smarter every day!
Ell and Nora
Receiving her diploma.
During her graduation performance
The graduating class

Introducing Jackson and Ellie 18 Teeth

Ellie and Jackson, the newest addition to the household, in a head to head battle over sharing her popsicle. Ell won!
See!
Jackson and Schatzie in the back yard.
They seem to be getting along rather well.
Jackson was born in March, just north of Harrisburg, PA and he joined the household a bit over a week ago. He is a black standard poodle who can disappear outside at night!
Ellie showing off her 18 teeth... Yup! She lost another on and when I say lost, I really mean lost! It happened during dinner so she wrote the Tooth Fairy a note; "I lost my tooth" and left that in her pillow. No worries though, the Tooth Fairy came through.