Vacation Day #2

Ella (and therefore we) woke up at 6:45. It was chilly but gorgeous. We had a restful morning of coffee and breakfast and then started out for the beach. I was a little scattered trying to assemble our beach bag for the week but we made it by 10am. 

We found an empty beach and 7-foot waves. We could barely get our chairs to stay up in the sand before the wind knocked them over. 

Ella played in the sand (at the end of all our stuff so the wind would carry her sand away from us). Sometimes she would proudly dig up a shovel full of sand only to have the wind clean it out before she could dump it in the bucket.

We only lasted until 10:45. 

We went out to Off the Hook for lunch. I had a chicken blue crab sandwhich: amazing. Josh tried his first-ever fish tacos. Also wonderful, but caused an allergic reaction. 

So back to the house, out to get Benedryl, and then naps for all 3. 

After nap we felt much better and walked over to the beach. We stayed for about two hours. Ella chased birds and played in the sand. Still a little afraid of the water. 

The waves were much smaller. 

We headed home and hung out while Collin grilled the ribs. We had a late dinner of ribs and corn. Ella had us all laughing with her fake laugh. She would sit back in her chair and belt out this fake goofy laugh, I love her. 

After Ella went to bed we played Bezzerwizzer, a trivia game, and made s'mores! 

Vacation Day #1

After the drive and check-in we arrived at our home for the week! 

Here is the link for our rental: http://www.wilgusassociates.com/rentals/delaware/middlesex-beach/616

We drove around to scope out the area, poked our heads into Maryland. Had dinner at Grottos, a pizza place. We all enjoyed it, Ella loved dipping her crust in blue cheese dressing and licking it off!

We got her excess energy out by watching the waterfall at a nearby mini golf place. 

We stopped by to check out our private beach, Middlesx Beach. 

Deserted and windy: 

Family shot: 

On our way back to the house, I pulled out the big guns from my Ella-activity bag - a book with real pages! A first for Ella. I don't think she even looked at the pictures, just felt the pages! :) 

If you give a Pig a a Pancake. 

Vacation Drive!

And we're off!

We are headed to Bethany Beach, DE for a week. A week a sand, snacks, ice cream, and most importantly, my hubby!!!! 

Car packed: 

Don't worry, we didn't forget Ella. 

We (I) did however forget Lion! 🐯 :( as you can see in the pic above, I grabbed the other 3 animals (Baa, monkey, and Ellie) but somehow left Lion. She has already asked for him two times :(

Ella has kept herself busy with our car bag. Sorting pom poms: 

Canibalism: 

Stickers: (all placed by her)

Practicing for blowing bubbles: 

Using her measuring spoons to eat snack: 

Taking care of baby: 

And playing with/chewing on her balloon and pipe cleaners: 

And my favorite - pill boxes: 

Colors

This week we worked on colors at our house. 

We made progress. She definitely knows yellow, blue, and purple. She gets red, orange, and pink confused so those take a little more prodding. 

And the fun continues today on our drive to Delaware. 

Awesome Day

We started the morning with breakfast out at First Watch - one of our favorites! I got the Monte Cristo (one of my eating out rules is to order something I would never make at home - this definitely qualified) Josh got the cheddar bacon pancake - good but not great. Ella was a peach! 

Next - onto Ella's swim lessons. We were actually going to be early - so we quickly stopped at the park on the way. 

As usual - our dare devil was eyeing the longest slide! 

Down her first covered slide with daddy: 

Riding the sheep: 

And swings - first ever "underdog":

I am so richly blessed! 

Since I'm terrible at taking pregnancy photos - here is my 26 week picture. :)

Now for Ella's swim lesson. 

For my birthday, Josh have me a "Mom's Day Out" - all his idea! I'll be honest - I wasn't confident I'd be able to figure out how to keep myself occupied away from the house all day. I even wrote myself a list of places to go/things to do.

I left the house at 11am, windows down (which Ella hates) and kid-CD ejected with the radio playing! Yahoo!!!

First stop - fabric store. I finalized my fabric choices for Evelyn's quilt. 

Coral and teal: 

A close-up of the main fabric:

Then off to Target, Kohls, and TJ Maxx - with no cart, no snacks, and no time constraints! It was glorious! 

I had never thought of the girls being able to match clothes - but I was able to find some summer outfits for next year that they can match in!!!! Be still my heart - I'm so excited! 

Then off to Panera. I sat outside and read my new book - A Thousand Splendid Suns - (very heavy content about the treatment of women in Afghanistan, but a very good book!)

I even had some peanut butter contraband! YUM! 

I got home around 4:30, greeted by Ella kisses! Then daddy took us out for DQ and back to the park for Ella. 

Ella loved this musical button. If you jump on the yellow dot, the maroon pillar makes music.

Ella was so brave climbing up the "trees" and jumping into daddy's arms! 

Keep in mind, Josh is 6'4" - this little girl is up high!