So not only did Ellery have a big day on June 14 but so did her daddy. Ryan ran the Bellin with his cousin Nate and some of our other friends in the area. Ryan didn’t do as well as he had hoped for time wise but then he wasn’t able to train for it like he wanted to (I can’t imagine why not: school, work, two kids, ….). Over 15,000 people registered to run or walk the course and I couldn’t believe all the young kids out running (6, 7, 8 year olds); giving it all they had. Very inspiring - makes me almost want to run it with Ryi next year - until I think about the running part…
The kids trying on Aunt Carol’s hat.
Happy Birthday Ellery - my very sweet, very two year old girl!!! Pictures coming soon…
Recent CELEBRATING….
So I “told” my sister she needed to come visit for my birthday to help me through the big one especially since I remember spending hers with her just a couple years ago. She very nicely followed orders and flew in the night before and then took me for a pedicure the next morning. Let me tell you how wonderful that is…they soak and rub your feet and cut your toenails - that is a true treat since for the past three years I could barely see my toes much less get down there and do anything with them.
While she was here we celebrated Ellery’s 2 year birthday a little early so she could be in on the fun of that as well. Here is a suggestion - never let your two year old pick out what they want as their birthday theme! First they want everything then they want nothing. We finally stumbled across a butterfly headband (see below) that she wanted; so after an hour and a half in the party store we had a butterfly theme.
The food was: carrots as antennas, meatballs as the body, mashed potatoes as the top wings and biscuits as the bottom wings. And then the ugliest butterfly cake I’ve ever seen made by yours truly with some help from Alyssa and Auntie Heather. Ellery liked it though!
So for my birthday Ryan got me gorgeous flowers and a new kitchen sink. Yay - I now have one less thing to deep scrub every week. This was definitely needed since my brain has turned to mush and I can’t juggle things like I used to. Example - I took tons and tons of pictures on my work camera of my birthday flowers but then accidentally deleted them when I did a photo shoot because I forgot they were on my camera card. Oh well - this one below is cuter anyway. The other photo is the kind of sink Ryi put in for me.
And last but not least - this would be the beginning of Rory’s “man”ly education.
Congratulations to my cousin Alyssa on her graduation from high school. While she may have moved up in the world she moved down in living arrangements (from the U.P. of Michigan to our basement). She plans on going to NWTC in the fall and working too. She says she’s only staying with us until she gets her own place but considering how AWESOME she is with kids and the fact that every time I turn around my living room is picked up we are not letting her move out - EVER. Just kidding Lissis (as Ellery calls her).
Graduation Day (the kids and I and Auntie C made the trek to MI for the big event)
One Week Later (the college sweatpants are already on)
Also, congrats to my sister-in-law Alyssa, my brother-in-law Evan, and my cousin Brendon also all recent graduates. Alyssa is now an LPN - yay!!!
I know, I know…we are really behind again. The first part of the month we went and visited my dad and the rest of my adopted family in Richland Center and then went over to see James and Michelle and their little bealers!!! No pics of my dad since he said we couldn’t post any on the blog but the kids had a blast at his house with all the toys, cookies, juice, and CHEETOS….
This is the awesome hat that Alaina made for Ellery…
The small bealers….
The big bealers…
At the beach on the way home…
Rory likes the sun and sand…
My baby is 6 months old…
