Summer catch up

We have been staying busy, trying to make the most of what's left of summer break. Ella starts kindergarten one week from today so this is our last week together. As much as I will miss her, I think (I hope) she is ready. She talks about it often, and even told me tonight what I could pack in her lunch box. We still have one last week to make the most of  before we get into our new routine. 
We have done a lot of fun things the past couple of weeks. 
Ella discovered a new love of miniature golf. She needs to work on her swing, but I think she did pretty good for her first time. 

Isabelle Anne Ice was born! She is so precious, and we are so happy for Aaron and Sarah! Isabelle has no idea what fun she is in for when the Bertram's and Ice's get together. Sarah is doing so well and already running again. I knew it wouldn't take her long. :) 

Ella received a new do for school. It was a good little reminder that I need to get her hair cut more than once a year. She looks so cute, especially when I curl it. 

Adam and I celebrated 11 years of dating/marriage. How can that be!? I was 21 and he was 23 when we met. Now we are just old! We went to Zuki for some sushi. Adam's love of sushi is slowly rubbing off on me. 

The fam sweated to death at the fair while the girls had a blast. The things we do for these two. 

This was the first time they both went down the slide by themselves. My mom couldn't watch. 

We went to Holiday World for one last trip before school starts. 

 Ella and I have enjoyed MANY Holiday World trips the last three years. 

My mom is a trooper. I don't see how she keeps up with these two. She does though and does it well! I hope I have as much energy as she does at 62.

If that wasn't enough fun, we just got back from Gatlinburg. More on that to come!

Babysitting adventures

Last Monday and Tuesday Autumn joined Ella and I for the day. Ella was so excited to be able to play with Autumn for two whole days. I actually think it's sometimes easier to have them both around, instead of just Ella. They do get on each other's nerves every now and again, but overall they play together beautifully. I love that I can just sit and watch them play. It's pure entertainment. 
Monday, we picked blueberries and came back to our house to play. 

They played on Ella's water slide for hours. Autumn pretended she was a swim instructor with Ella's swimming baby. She has quite the imagination. 

We couldn't end our day without a picture together. I love this one!

Tuesday was a beautiful day. We went to the park early. The girls played on the playground, and then we walked a trail. They held hands the entire way. It was adorable! 

We came back to our house and played outside almost the entire afternoon. They played on Ella's swing set, rode the Barbie jeep, and painted. It was a lovely, peaceful day. 

All in all I think it was a great two days. I'm thankful that my brother and sister in law trust me enough to keep Autumn by myself for two days. I hope we can do it again soon! 

Summer Fun

We have been having a TON of summer fun. I have been  trying to plan something fun for Ella to do everyday. It seems to make for a very long day if we don't have anything going on. Ella even wakes up in the morning with her own ideas of what she wants to do. She woke up the other morning telling me she wanted to go to Holiday World. After I told her we were not going there that day she said, "I was planning on it." If it was up to her we would be there every day of the week. 
We have started meeting up with a little girl, Julia, that will be in Ella's kindergarten class. Her mom, Heather, contacted me via facebook to see if we wanted to start getting together once a week before school starts so the girls can get to know each other. It has been a blessing to say the least. They are both pretty quiet, and they are both only children. They get along really well. We have been to the Inflatable Fun Factory, the park, and Chick fil A to play and eat lunch. I'm always shocked at how much Ella talks to Julia. They are cute little friends, and I hope this makes her transition to kindergarten a little easier. 
A couple of weekends ago we went to the Good Shepard summer social. Lacey went along with us so she got to experience a Saturday night with the Bertrams. :)

Last week we went to Holiday World. My mom came along with us since she is retired and can do things like that . It was an unusually cool summer day. We didn't even go to the water park, but it was still fun.

This past Monday we went to Burdette the first time this summer. We went a ton last year, because we had a pass. I love Burdette. We went all the time when I was a kid. It wasn't the same without my brother grilling hot dogs for us! 

It has been a fun summer so far, but the days seems to be dwindling. Ella start kindergarten in 32 days. How can that be true!? We will be soaking up the rest of summer until then!