Sleep Tight, Pappy!

Pappy sleeping with Ella's blanket, pillow, and baby bottle

Going Shopping at Giant

Ella loves to pretend she is going "shopping at Giant" with her shopping cart. She gives me a kiss good-bye and asks for her money, then she says, "See you later, Mama" and off she goes to her basket to get play food for her cart.

Yesterday, when I was on the phone in the living room, she was in the kitchen. I called over to her and she said she was "going to Giant," so I didn't go in to check on her. When I was done, she barreled around the corner with her cart full of groceries.....this time real items from my spice cabinet.

P.S. Soon after this picture was taken, Ella wanted to "show you [me] sompin."
It was a nice pile of baking soda that she had spread out all over the kitchen floor.

Fresh Tomato-Basil Pasta

With the abundance of tomatoes ripening in our yard (and our neighbors' yard), I made a favorite--tomato-basil pasta--because it's so easy and delicious.

The basic recipe idea---marinate diced, fresh tomatoes in olive oil, basil, salt, cracked pepper, and minced garlic (lots). Add this to hot pasta and sprinkle with feta cheese---yum!

Birthday Cards

I have been telling Ella that her birthday is coming up and that she is going to be turning 2. I was working on the invitations last week and she wanted to help. Her job was to take the directions out of the printer as the paper came out and to put them into the cards and then into the envelopes. The next day we took them to the post office and her favorite job was putting all of the stamps on the cards and giving them to "the man, Bob's friend" (Bob is our mailman) to "take to my [her] friends."

my birthday cards

in the car on the way to the post office

Favorite Outdoor Activity

I know it's weird, but I love cutting the lawn, especially on really hot, sunny days. I like being outside, getting dirty, and watching the nice, even lines appear on the lawn as I work. Even when I am in Harrisburg (supposed to be relaxing), I can't resist helping to cut the lawns. Over the weekend, I helped my dad cut 4 lawns (we did about 2 each). It wasn't that sunny, but it was really humid. My mom caught this picture of me at the tail end of the work, finishing their lawn:

I really was enjoying that...

Making Cookies

Last week Ella and I made chocolate chip cookies since it was a rainy day and I was in a baking mood. Usually she doesn't like the beaters since they are "too loud," but this particular day she felt brave enough to want to try to use them herself to mix the dough.

turning it on

mixing
(notice the chocolate on her mouth--she had already been sampling the chocolate chips)

Corn Memories

One memory I have of visiting my Gram's house when I was little was eating frozen corn from her freezer. I loved that it was cold, hard, and sweet tasting. I was allowed to have a little bit (not too much or it would "make my belly hurt"). I will still occasionally eat a few kernels from the bag when I am making some at home.

Today I was getting Ella's lunch ready and when I asked her what she wanted to eat, she said her usual, "sup-uh" (supper). I tried again, with, "What do you want to eat with your fish?" She told me, "corn." The next thing I knew, she had discovered the deliciousness of frozen corn, too! She enjoyed that more than the kind that I heated up for her and we enjoyed just a little bit (not too much to "make our bellies hurt").

Pappy's Visit and Hiking

A couple of weeks ago, Pappy came to visit Ella (and Rob and me, of course). I forgot that I didn't post any of the pictures until today.

We went on a hike at the Pine Road section of Pennypack Park and then to do some exploring in the creek. Ella made Pappy a special bucket for collecting rocks, sticks, and other treasures in. We put his name on it and Ella decorated it with stickers of bugs and other outdoor things. So, on our hike, they both had their own buckets to use.

waterfalls on Pennypack Creek


interesting mushroom we found along the way

J and Ella


kiss


What are you thinking about?

thinking


buddies


Ella and Pappy on the bridge with their buckets


buddies on the way back from hiking


hahaha!! This was an expression of happiness :)



examining the wormie


checking out the rocks in the creek


scooping up water and dirt


She loved walking around looking for rocks and fish


navigating the rocks


trying to find little fish in the creek


sitting in the woods


"Look at me, guys!"


"Peek-a-boo!"


Pappy tired Ella out in the woods--
she fell asleep on his shoulder on the car ride home

Later at home, we played outside and Ella and Pappy filled the birdie feeders and found butterflies on our butterfly bush.

Is the feeder full, yet?

on our butterfly bush


showing its wings

In the evening, they did some "laxing" together while they watched Elmo together.

Ella likes Pappy's back scratching

We were so glad Pappy came to visit!