Summer Stuff

Playing in the backyard

Pool Time!

More Pool Fun!

Ice Cream Mess!

Spending one last night with Aunt Brady before she moves to NY!

Well, summer has definitely made it to the east coast. We had a few very pleasant days but then a heat wave hit Richmond and we have has some very unseasonably HOT weather. We are making the best of it and spending a lot of time at the pool and eating lots of Ice Cream!

Chuck E. Cheese

Enjoying her Pizza!

Riding Clifford

She really liked Chuck E. Cheese (notice her arm around him)!

Tonight was our first (first of many, I am sure) trip to Chuck E. Cheese. Ella did not know what to think at first... it was a bit overwhelming. However, it didn't take her long to get into it! She especially liked collecting the tickets that daddy won playing the games. She would fold them up and carefully put them in her little pocket. At the end of the night she cashed them in for a pretty bracelet and a lollipop.

ITALY!

Beautiful Views everywhere!

Lunch at a cafe in Sienna

St. Peters

Typical Street in the villages

My parent's graduation gift to my sister was a trip to Italy. I decided to tag along and be the 5th wheel. We spent a couple of days in Rome and almost a week in the Tuscan area. We rented a villa and made day trips to the sights in the area. The views were spectacular, the sightseeing was great, the company was perfect, and the driving was an adventure! It was a wonderful vacation, however, I was eager to get home and see my daughter and husband. As you can imagine, there were hundreds of pictures taken so I am just posting a couple.....

There's A Doctor in the Family!

Ella and her Aunt Brady

Brady in her gown and doctorate hood

My sister graduated from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine on May 10th. We are very proud of her and know that she is going to be a wonderful equine vet. She and Dave will be moving to Rhinebeck, NY in June where she will be doing an internship at an equine clinic for the next year.

First S'more

Ella enjoys roasting marshmallows so much that we thought we would introduce her to s'mores. Much to our surprise.... she was not a big fan.... she prefers plain roasted marshmallows. She helped Nonna roast them and then perfected eating them off the roasting stick! She ended up a sticky mess and went straight to the bathtub!

First Boat Ride of the Year!

We were at the lake a couple weekends ago and the weather was perfect for a boat ride! Ella likes to help her Papa drive the boat!

First Haircut!

Since Ella is over 2 years old... I decided it was time for her first haircut... and since my mom cut my hair until I left for college it only seems logically that Nonna give Ella her first haircut. We set up a "beauty parlor" where Aunt Brady gave Austyn a haircut too to get Ella a little interested in the idea. She did well... and atleast her hair is even now! Another first for our little girl!