Mostly Organized Chaos: Ellie's Birthday Weekend

Well, I knew that it was going to be a challenge making myself be consistent with blogging... but I thought I'd last longer than this before failing to post! We stay so busy that it's impossible to catch up with all the events of the past week already... so, here's a super quick synopsis of the week: Belle and Russell have had swim lessons all week long at 9am -- while they swim, James, Ellie, William and I play at the park nearby! James has had swim lessons at 5pm each night in the "parent-tot" class, and him and Dave have been having lots of fun with that! I got to join James on Friday evening (although he made it VERY clear to me that he would rather have Daddy instead!) and I was super impressed with how much his swimming skills have improved! He even jumped off the high-dive by himself (with one of his swim coaches waiting below to catch him!). Twice this week we met friends after morning swim lessons to play at the park and eat a picnic lunch -- so the kids have been exhausted at the end of the day after all their swimming and playing in the sun! Dave also had both Monday and Friday off work this week - so that was an added bonus!

On Friday evening Mama and Papa Miller brought corn-on-the-cob and burgers over to grill out! We made fruit smoothies and had a wonderful middle of the summer dinner! On Saturday morning we brought the kids to the Epworth parade in town! Our friends, the Rubly's, live on the parade route, so we were able to hang out at their place before and during the parade. My cousin, Josh, is the editor of the local newspaper, and he was covering the parade for his publication. So he joined us at the Rublys, along with his mother (my Aunt and Godmother) Mary, and his two kids, Ella and Jack (Dave's and my Godson). Although the parade took awhile to get started, the kids had a great time playing together and socializing!

Shortly after we got back from the parade Papa Hayes showed up with Kaylee! We haven't seen Kaylee since last summer when she was back for Aunt Jenny's wedding - so it was great to see her! The big kids were all thrilled to see her, while Ellie of course has no memories of her, and this was the first time Kaylee and William met. I'm so bad about remembering to take pictures, so I don't have any... but hopefully we'll get together with both Kaylee and Caprice at least once more before they fly home to Seattle!

That afternoon the neighbors across the street took Belle and Russell with them to the "fun day" events that were taking place as part of the Fire Department's 100th anniversary celebration. They tell me they had lots of fun jumping in bounce houses and eating ice-cream... hopefully they behaved themselves! While they were still gone my parents came over to babysit the kids -- and Dave and I got out for a (rare!) dinner and movie night! Together Mom and Dad were able to hold down the fort at home -- the kids tell me that the boys spent most of the night at the farm with Papa, while Mama, Belle, Ellie, and William hung out at home! Belle got to feed William a bottle for her first time ever -- an event that she's been looking forward to for awhile! Meanwhile, Dave and I enjoyed ourselves at Olive Garden followed by the movie Harry Potter, 7.2!

On Sunday it was Ellie's 2nd birthday! We all went into her room together to sing her happy birthday when she first woke up! She wasn't exactly sure what was going on, but she didn't seem to mind the attention! We then headed out to church for early service, ran some errands right after church, and came home for a quick lunch and birthday cake to celebrate! Dave baked her cake and decorated it himself!

Group shot, just before cake!

Ellie blowing out her candle!

Dave had to head to the airport early that afternoon, so Papa Miller stopped by to pick him up. None of us were happy to see him go, but Belle was an especially sad little girl. She spent the rest of the afternoon crying, it was really sad. :( Ellie went to bed at her normal time (7:30pm) that night... but I let the big kids stay up to watch the movie Charlotte's Web (again!)