Road trips and stuff.

Over the course of the past few weeks, we have made a few road trips to visit my brother and his crew as well as Trent, Kim and the newest addition to our family - great nephew, Abbott.

It was girls only on the first trip and Ella was an amazing partner in crime.

 

I was so happy to see her hanging out with her Aunt Cathy and Uncle John while I got to take off with my niece Haley and do this all afternoon:

 

 

It was such a good time and we hated to go that next morning, especially since Ella had finally warmed up to Riley puppy by then!

 

 

 

The next road trip was overdue. We needed to meet Abbott and we finally made it happen at his 6 week birthday. He did not disappoint, nor did the chickens in their backyard, the dogs or the cats. As you may have guessed, I had my camera. Ella showed the most interest in Abbott than she has ever in an infant. And when it came time for a feeding she was enthralled...

He is probably the pudgiest 6 week old child I have ever held. And he is perfect.

Trent and Kim are a wonderful mama and daddy-o and Ella scores AGAIN with this great shot of them loving on one another.

We cannot keep them out of the bathtub. Ever.

Thomas is not happy unless he's nearly smothering his humans during naptime.

I can't keep Mavis from this tight-rope act either!

Laughter spills out of our house whenever Ella, Thomas and Mavis are awake at the same time. She has taken her mothering to an all-new level with carrying them around and pretending to feed them her plastic kitchen food. They roll with it and still like to be in her bedroom best of all.

The record store: a staple in their weekend errand routine.

Ike, Jack, Bobby, RJ, Ava, Isabella and Ella reunited!

We also recently got schedules together with my old buds and let the kids run wild. Here is the motley crew all barefoot and dirty on a beautiful Friday evening a few weeks back. And our once-a-month Dumplings FCC class has started back up again. There is a big group of kids Ella's age and it is great watching them all grow up together.

Not ladylike.

I found her quietly reading from my old Bible, a story about Jesus and shiny pennies.
The sermon just days before was about losing coins. She DOES listen!

Sticking the landing on the bouncy house at the Greek Fest!

Our friend made this sculpture. This friend also grew up in our home back in the day.
Such an awesome connection.

Not everything has to be serious :)

She's off to great places, I think.

The best camera...

...to have is the one you have with you. It is true. And since joining the masses with my smart phone, I realize how much more daily documenting I can do. I'm amazed how I can push the camera on my smart phone to produce really spectacular images.

I'm also amazed at how good my daughter is at taking photos. She has a keen eye. Just recently, she has been asking to sling my heavy 35mm around her neck to photograph people, kitties, her Panda. It delights me no end and she understands the delicacy of the equipment.

Through her eyes...

Off to the zoo!

Lemur love.

Her favorite that day. We had to visit him twice, a rescued Cardinal convalescing in the aviary house.

Shadows.

Back Seat Selfie.

A trip to our Humane Society to drop off donations and give love to animals waiting for families.

Her two favorite kitties in the whole wide world.

Ella is having a good time photographing her Daddy-O and his band. Hands down the best photo I have of Larry behind the drums...

and Ella scores with this one!!

It seems as though my cameras are filling up with images at a faster pace because of the second set of hands 'helping' me. What a good problem to have, but it makes downloading and even updating Ella-land difficult!

Happy Friday! ~H

Picture Friday.

We went to one of our most favorite places last week - our art museum. And the cuteness was ridiculous. I will let the photos speak for themselves. You don't need my words junkin' this up.

There will be a whole other blog post on Ella's interest in photography. My camera weighs more than she does, yet she seems to have a really good eye...

And lunch at the café? Uh, yes please. (Besides, it is one of my top three venues to photograph anyone..the lighting is perfection.)

The kids have been doing this since their very first visits: standing IN the fireplace of the café. I can remember when they could barely step up to stand. Now, two out of three are headless!

We celebrated Mama KT's birthday that day!!!

Aunt Kay, the kids' book expert, sent us a prize last week too. It is wonderful!

And while our schedules seem to be zigging and zagging everywhere, these two are enjoying the good life...

Happy Weekend, Ella-Land! ~H

"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!” -Dr. Seuss, Oh The Places You'll Go! 

 

Dear Ella:

 

This past week you started Pre-K classes on Monday-Wednesday-Friday at your preschool. This is our last year before you start 'big kid school', as you call it.



Breakfast with Panda and Dusty

And her new foodie and rule breaker, Thomas.

Fist bumping with your best guy. Love the laughter.

It feels really strange to even type that. So much of what I write weaves in and out of how fast you are growing and changing. But it is true, my love. 

You are settling in nicely at school - once you get there and I'm out of your sight. That doesn't mean that you don't get sad and cry at home or on the way to school about being away from me. You do. Your buddy James is not with you this year since he and his family re-located a few hours south of us. After your first day you asked, "Will Nikko be leaving next week? Will he be moving away and leaving me soon, too?" (My heart broke a little) James and Nikko have always been your favorites at school which means Nikko has a lot of weight on his shoulders!!

Yesterday marked your second day of school without Panda in your hand or on the bookshelf watching over you. He has been staying in your back pack. This is a HUGE hurdle and we are super proud of you. You confessed that he often yells out for you but you tell him you're too busy to come get him. Again...growing up and changing.

Look at the new Thomas backpack that sparkles, no less!

Trains, planes, jets, rockets and cars are still your favorite things. If I let you run loose at the store, this is where you gravitate. Always. You may go down the 'princess' aisle but only to point out what your best friend Roz might want to put on her Santa List.

We love your spunky spit-fire self. We love how you sing and dance to your new favorite performer Laurie B. until we can't stand to listen to the CD anymore. You are complex and funny and yet so delightfully transparent with your emotions (which can be really awesome and not-so-awesome all at once). So we're off and running into a new school year, Ella. You're going to rock it.

Love you to the moon and back!! ~Mama and Daddy-O