Family Vacation

Our family vacation was a strange one this year. We had been planning for a long time on taking a whole week to spend time together before Justin starts his MBA this Fall. The whole trip had many permutations, but eventually we decided we'd stay at home and see the sights. This meant spending less on gas, and getting to spend more on activities. It all turned out really well since we ended up moving the weekend before our vacation. I tried to contain myself and only unpack boxes on an as-needed basis, and we kept ourselves busy running around town.


This is actually a picture from before our vacation. Justin's work took us all to a baseball game. Ellie had a great time rolling down the hill. I'm not sure she actually watched the game, but I'm pretty sure she didn't miss much. Meg enjoyed playing with the grass. Unlike most children she loves the strange texture, and it calms her down a lot to let her rub her feet around. Okay, okay, back to the vacation.

A picture of Ellie on our ride to the Dinosaur Museum. This is how she usually looks... a little crowded. In fact, Elise often insists her legs are too long for our car, and has even asked us if anyone else driving would mind trading with us. We told her to go ahead and ask, we wouldn't mind.


We told Ellie to pose like the dinosaur was going to eat her. Pretty good job, huh?



This is Justin and the girls sitting on the park bench at the War Memorial Park (yes, I did say War Memorial... a place that honors dead people) where he proposed to me. Okay, beyond the mockery, he looks pretty good with those two girls on his lap.

Sitting on the steps at the State Capitol. This was an accidental addition to our day. We were driving by and decided we might as well stop and check it out. Elise liked all the steps and the running around.
On Temple Square Elise got to see the Christus. She liked all the pictures on the way there, and asked us to take her picture in front of the statue.

Justin and Ellie by the reflection lake outside the Temple. Elise's favorite part of this activity was seeing the bride who was having her pictures taken. Ellie is obsessed with brides. Consider the following conversation:

Justin: Ellie, are you obsessed with brides?
Ellie: No.
Jamie: Obsessed means that you like something a lot.
Ellie: Oh, I'm obsessed.

Eating lunch with the family.

Walking in the gardens at Thanksgiving Point. Elise was a little frightened of getting her feet wet, but then she really started to have fun. Eventually the elephant sprayed her. We also saw another bride getting her pictures taken at the secret garden. Elise wanted to stay there and watch her for a long time.

We had a great family vacation. So much fun time together, and lots of new activities. At the end of the week, Ellie said this:

Ellie: We should always spend the day together.
Justin: That would be fun, but I have to go back to work.
Ellie: Why?
Jamie: Because that's how we pay for our food and our house.

Pause

Ellie: Let's send Meggie to work then.

What a wonderful family to have.

Sisters

I was feeding Meg today when Elise came over to play. Meg may be looking at me (because I'm holding the shiny camera) but she is laughing at her sister. She loves Ellie so much.

Meg Rolling Over

Meg is a master roller already. She moves all over the front room, and has a great time doing it. Of course, when I pulled out the camera... she refused to comply. This is the final try to get her rolling. She thinks about entertaining me, but then changes her mind. Hmmm. Oh well.

4th of July

We woke up early on the 4th to go the same ol' neighborhood parade my family has been to since my mom was a little girl. She used to walk in the parade, I used to walk in the parade, and maybe Ellie will walk in the parade next year. I admit, I was too lazy to put her in it this year. She didn't know the difference... and anyway, she loved catching the candy that the other kids threw.

Here we are before the parade... all decked out and ready to go.


This is Ali and Ellie during the parade. One of the sherriffs had given her a big star sticker to wear. Claire and Sarah are in the background.


Meg needed to catch some beauty sleep. I was carrying her in a sling Christina loaned me when Meg was born. Meg didn't really like it when she was little, so I had it out to give it back when I decided to give it a try again. Meg loves it now... so I guess we'll be mailing it to Philadelphia when she grows out of it. The sling makes grocery store shopping soooo much easier. A lot less heavy than the front-loader (as my family calls it - though Justin says that's some kind of construction device) and Meg thinks she's just being held. It's part of the diaper-bag ensemble now.

Here's all the grand-daughters in town this week: Sarah, Meg, Claire, Elise, and Michelle.

I finally managed to make one of those braided crowns from the weeds in our backyard. Ellie wore it for a little while, but decided it wasn't as cool as her own pink sparkly crowns inside.

Like father, like daughter. Here's Justin and Meg looking like twins.

This is my favorite look of Meg's from the 4th. Justin is offended I cut him out of the picture. He says you have to see him to really appreciate it, because he is going to kiss Meg and that is making her smile. I said Meg was cuter than him, and he was in the last picture.

Our smiling girl again....

Two girls and their dad. Meg didn't quite get the point of the second one, but doesn't Justin look happy. We're a blessed family... that's for sure. Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

Dancing to MoTab

So, a long time ago we took this video to show Ellie's dancing. We wanted to film her "original" tiptoes, before going to ballet class corrupted it. Of course, children never dance on demand, and she did not do her own version of tiptoeing. But, it was still a cute video.

I tried to upload it then, but it was sooooooooo slow, that I gave up. Tonight I tried again, and it went in five minutes.

So, here's the dancer!!!

A Year Ago This Week.....

So, Meg's cute too... but here's the original! A year ago we took this video of Ellie. She has changed so much in that time, we can hardly believe it. So, take a look at this yester-years post:

Funny Day at the Zoo

Ellie has many interesting things to say when it comes to the zoo:

While looking at the cougars:

"Come on, Dad. Let's go find some animals that aren't sleeping."

While holding hands with Mom:

"Mom, you're too heavy. I'm going to go find someone else to walk with.

Looking at the gorillas:

"Let's go inside the glass."

When driving to get ice cream:

E - "I want a sticky." (i.e. granola bar)
Mom - "We don't get two treats. You can have ice cream or a sticky, you pick." (I thought this would be easy.)
E - "I want a sticky."
Mom - "Oh... well, we're having ice cream."

When driving home:

E - "I want to go to Grandma Maga's."
Mom and Dad - "No, we chose to go to the zoo and to get ice cream today."
E - "No, YOU chose."

What can we say? She's pretty cute.

Camping

We had our first family camping trip of the season this last weekend. Of course, we forgot the camera. Talent, I know. Below is a picture of another talented person. Meg managed to poop all over her clothes the moment we got there. Dad had to put the tent up himself and Mom got to business. With no time for bug spray, Meg was like a grand feast for the taking. But we got her dressed again as quickly as possible.

Sleeping photos. Everyone slept great, even Meg who had come down with her first ever cold/fever. In fact, everyone slept so wonderfully that Mom got to document it all when she woke up at 7:00. The kids apparently have me programmed, whether they wake up or not.