Hi everyone - It's Independence Day - Happy 4th of July and as much as we take freedom for granted, this is Ella's first truly free Independence Day (and by one newspaper account, this may be Ella's first Independence Day ever!). So we are enjoying the moment and thought we would take some time to share our little bundle of energy and joy! OK first for some pictures since my Mothers Day post.
Let's start with Ella's appearance at David Burton's wedding in Pelham, Georgia in June. David is such a special friend to Laura and I and we are so happy to see him happy and now remarried after the tragic, unexpected death of his 1st wife and our dear friend, Candy, 2 years ago. Best of Luck David and new wife Julia!
Onto a lighter note, here's Ella in the pool - it was one of her first trips to the pool in May, and may even have been her first visit. As usual with Ella, there was no adjustment period - she is having a blast!
Oh yes, Ella loves books - just look at that face and the excitement when her brother opens a book in June. Now if only we could get Evan to be that excited about reading!
Finally, here is Ella today, the 4th of July, climbing our house stairs with her great friend, Addison (Ritchie). We are headed out to Addison's parents (Jay and De De) house tonight for a neighborhood cookout / fireworks show with about half of our street attending (7 families).
So we've been having fun. In addition to the above, we hoped to be able to show pictures of a nice Memorial Day trip to Orlando where our family enjoyed a weekend at the Ginn Reuntion resort. But yours truly dropped the camera in the pool, temporarily causing it to malfunction. Oh well - we had a great time Jamie and Susie and always look forward to our trips with the Havas'
June followed with the Burton's wedding and then a few weeks to prepare for a busy summer. Ella used those weeks to LEARN TO WALK - yes our little girl is now walking and climbing stairs. And, like her brother, she is fearless and active.
Evan was off to Lutheridge (Confirmation Camp for a week) in June and leaves tomorrow for a 3 week trip to NY and California with his grandparents. They'll be visiting Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, and down the coast to Los Angeles, before Laura, Ella and I travel to New York at the end of July to pick him up.
Then, just before Evan starts school, on August 5, we are travelling to South Dakota for Laura's 20th high school reunion weekend and two weeks later onto the mountains of Tennessee for a weekend with Jill, Mike and Maya McFee, whom we cannot wait to see. I'm sure many of you remember that Maya and Ella grew up as friends in the same orphanage.
Well, this is long enough and more pictures from the summer will definitely follow - we miss everyone and hope you are having a great summer.
Let's start with Ella's appearance at David Burton's wedding in Pelham, Georgia in June. David is such a special friend to Laura and I and we are so happy to see him happy and now remarried after the tragic, unexpected death of his 1st wife and our dear friend, Candy, 2 years ago. Best of Luck David and new wife Julia!
Onto a lighter note, here's Ella in the pool - it was one of her first trips to the pool in May, and may even have been her first visit. As usual with Ella, there was no adjustment period - she is having a blast!
Oh yes, Ella loves books - just look at that face and the excitement when her brother opens a book in June. Now if only we could get Evan to be that excited about reading!
Finally, here is Ella today, the 4th of July, climbing our house stairs with her great friend, Addison (Ritchie). We are headed out to Addison's parents (Jay and De De) house tonight for a neighborhood cookout / fireworks show with about half of our street attending (7 families).
So we've been having fun. In addition to the above, we hoped to be able to show pictures of a nice Memorial Day trip to Orlando where our family enjoyed a weekend at the Ginn Reuntion resort. But yours truly dropped the camera in the pool, temporarily causing it to malfunction. Oh well - we had a great time Jamie and Susie and always look forward to our trips with the Havas'
June followed with the Burton's wedding and then a few weeks to prepare for a busy summer. Ella used those weeks to LEARN TO WALK - yes our little girl is now walking and climbing stairs. And, like her brother, she is fearless and active.
Evan was off to Lutheridge (Confirmation Camp for a week) in June and leaves tomorrow for a 3 week trip to NY and California with his grandparents. They'll be visiting Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, and down the coast to Los Angeles, before Laura, Ella and I travel to New York at the end of July to pick him up.
Then, just before Evan starts school, on August 5, we are travelling to South Dakota for Laura's 20th high school reunion weekend and two weeks later onto the mountains of Tennessee for a weekend with Jill, Mike and Maya McFee, whom we cannot wait to see. I'm sure many of you remember that Maya and Ella grew up as friends in the same orphanage.
Well, this is long enough and more pictures from the summer will definitely follow - we miss everyone and hope you are having a great summer.
