The summer has flown by and we're a bit behind in our posts! Here are a few of the fun highlights...
We took a trip to Cat Haven in June with several families and had a terrific time. Cat Haven is about 45 minutes away from Hume and is the home of many different types of cool cats -- tigers, panthers, a cheetah, snow leopards, etc. -- a local treasure! The girls had a lot of fun together and enjoyed the cats, too. This is Ellie, Ellie Mae, Olivia and Hannah (the cage is just above the hedge).
Ellie had her first sprinkler experience in June at Gramma Gayle's house. She loved getting wet! You can see her bucket in the background -- one of her favorite activities is collecting rocks, and Gramma and Grandpa just put in a whole flowerbed full of different sized rocks that has led to hours of fun!
Gramma Gayle and Grandpa Rupert took a trip to Hawaii at the beginning of the summer and brought back this hula outfit for Ellie Mae. She had a great time dancing with Gramma in the living room, learning to sway and make the grass skirt twirl!
Ellie Mae and Joel had a great time leading Hume's annual Fourth of July parade. Joel drove the new fire engine and Ellie sat in his lap. The parade is about as small town as small town gets, with people jumping in on decorated quads, golf carts, Suzukis, bikes, strollers, and anything else that can move. All of the little ones dress up and feel fancy to be in an actual parade. The staging time lasts for 30-45 minutes, but the once the parade actually begins, it is finished in roughly 10 minutes!
Grandpa Dan had a family reunion at his house in July. We had a fun time catching up with relatives and family friends! Ellie likes to go for rides with Grandpa, and here she is directing him around the backyard!
Gramma Gayle likes to give Ellie a tub to use to fill her watering can. Ellie Mae decided to use it as a swimming pool instead one morning. She even asked Joel to take off her diaper before she climbed completely in the tub. She sat folded in that little tub for quite awhile, cold water, no clothes and all!
We've had a couple of wading pool playdates with the other moms and kiddos this summer. The little ones range in age from newborn to four years old. Here, Ellie Mae is in the pool with Ellie Ferriera, one of her favorite friends. Ellie's baby brother, Jaron, is in the background (sitting up) with another little boy, Shiloh.
Ellie Mae, Ellie, Jade and Hannah enjoying playing together!
Cool Aunt Beth has come up to Hume several times to visit this summer. We love her visits and only wish that she could stay longer (like forever!)! :) Ellie loves to play with Beth and they even played in the pool this summer, learning new tricks (Beth has been a lifeguard and taught swim lessons for years).
Ellie Mae loves to wear Papa's things and thought to put on his hat backward by herself! She has also taken to wearing his EMT photo badge on her shirt, proud to be wearing a picture of Papa. She even held it up to the phone one night (still attached to her shirt) while talking to Gramma Gayle and said, "This my Dada, this my Dada."
We woke up one recent morning to, "I stuck, I stuck," coming through the monitor. When I went into her room, Ellie had piled all of her animals on top of herself and in front of her. She was very proud! She then immediately called for Dada to come see her. :)
Uncle Allan and Amanda were over for dinner a week and a half ago, and had fun playing with Ellie and the camera! Amanda is in the background of the first picture, Ellie is playing with Uncle Allan in the second two pictures and
Auntie J (Jennalee) is helping Ellie with her watering can and dirt project in the last picture. We love having so much of Joel's family here! Ellie is clearly delighted with all of the fun!
Ellie likes to make herself little "beds" when she's watching movies. This was the first day that she learned to cover herself, too.
Gramma Gayle came for a visit last week and we had a lot of fun! Ellie Mae is enjoying sharing breakfast with Gramma in this photo.
