July

So where I left off....July 4th....we got our sparklers...and went over to Wayne and Fallon's for a cook-out on the 5th...

Ella was scared of the fireworks and sparklers that we did....it was fine if she was far away...I FINALLY convinced her to hold a sparkler...it took a lot of persuasion...

Josh has gone out of town once in the past few weeks to Norfolk to be a hearing in court. He'll be gone for 2 days this week for a training in D.C.

We've been grilling every weekend....we've done steaks, burgers and boneless spare ribs....and Ella has tried them all....her favorite is the burgers. I usually split one with her as she won't eat a whole one...I'm impressed she eats them...we always do them "black and blue"....so pepper and blue cheese and she still eats it!

Ella has been begging me for a while to paint her nails...so we finally got some nail polish...she requested blue...like Elsa (from Frozen)....

So early one morning right after breakfast....I painted her nails!

I took this past Friday off (our sitter is on vacation)....and Ella and I had a fun day....we went to the playground at church...then we went and met Josh for lunch (Ella's first taste of Chinese food....she liked the sesame chicken the best)...then we went to Rita's....which I guess is Italian ice and custard...which was good! Ella like the custard the best...wasn't a huge fan of the Italian ice...it was our first time trying it out...then Ella and I went to Target...we had a very busy day!

I got an email a few weeks ago about Romp and Roll (Ella used to go there a few years ago when she was younger...) they were having a FROZEN party.....well I knew Ella would love that...so I called and signed her up! I didn't tell her about it until Friday afternoon...as I knew she would talk about it non-stop (I was right...she did ask about it non-stop right up until the party!)

It was very very cute...they did a great job with it...they had a "snowball" fight, played with musical instruments, jumped in the bouncy house, painted a picture frame, got to have a frozen treat, all kinds of great fun...Ella had a blast...and was not ready to leave! I think she would have stayed all afternoon if she could have!

That has really been our last couple of weeks! Work, work, and work....some fun on the weekends...we did go to Amazement Square last weekend....and tried a new restaurant in town...Zaxby's...it's chicken. Glad that we tried it...it was ok...probably wouldn't choose to eat there again. And Ella helped make brownies last weekend...she was very excited to help. She's in a helping phase right now...she helped me clean today.

Tomorrow is work for me...and Josh is home with Ella....Tuesday we'll trade. I could get used to having days off during the week...I miss that!

Bike Rides/Fair/Disney

We officially have started our Disney fund....hoping for 2016...Ella will be 5...Josh ordered a DVD all about planning your Disney vacation....and we watched the whole thing this morning :) It got us excited for Disney!

Last weekend we took Ella for her first bike ride...she's been on it a few times...but this was her first real bike ride....it was very short...and Josh pretty much had to hold onto the front the entire time...she doesn't have the steering part down yet!

 

She did a pretty decent job pedaling...by the end she said..."my legs are tired!"

This week a friend of ours had their first baby...so we went and saw them in the hospital the day she was born..Josh and I took turns staying with Ella in the waiting room as children are not allowed to go back...which worked out just fine....we're going over to see them at home tomorrow...so Ella will get to meet Baby Peyton!

Today is July 4th....we had a fairly low-key day...in the morning we actually went to the mall! I wanted to go TJ Maxx....and Bath and Body Works....then we came home and had lunch....then we decided we would go to the Salem fair as it was a little cooler today....but it was still about 85...no breeze, in the bright sun....it was a little toasty! We stuck it out for about 2 hours....then decided we were done. We watched the pig races, and went to the petting zoo....the two big highlights for Ella...and her and her daddy shared a funnel cake....she was all about that! After the fair we went to dinner and then headed home...Ella didn't take a nap at all the entire day...and she talked the WHOLE way home...I thought she would be out like a light once in the car....but noooo! So she was getting towards meltdown time...we weren't risking it....we came home instead of going to see fireworks....but we actually bought some small sparklers and little fireworks that we are going to do tomorrow.

And it's a 3 day weekend...I love it! Tomorrow Josh is going shooting bright and early....and then he's in a shooting competition on Sunday...we're going to go check out the local farmers market...I say it every Saturday that I want to do that and forget about it and remember it after they are already closed. That and cleaning is on my agenda tomorrow!