Busy Busy Busy

It's been so busy here, not too busy but busy enough that I couldn't keep up with the blog and the hundreds of pictures I took. Ella and Sami are back to spending time every day with us while Thomas prepares to go back to his classroom. Tom and I both had doctor appointments, our Primary Care doctor says we're doing good with our cholesterol & bp. I still need to see my gastro doctor next week and Tom to his orthopedic. The PC doctor manages his pain and upped his Fentanal patch to 75. That's a lot of pain relief. I digress.

I had some % off coupons for some of my favorite stores and it was "tax free week" in Maryland so Jen & I took Sami & Lily shopping & to Panara for lunch. We saved hundreds! After she got home she realized that John Robert had outgrown a lot of his clothes and felt bad that she didn't notice so Tom took her shopping for him the next day. He is almost 2 1/2 and wears a size 4 pant, 5 shirt and 9 shoes. To compare that, we took Ella school shopping last week and she is 6 and mostly wears a 6 in clothes (some 5's ) and a 10 in shoes. We also made another trip to the "Bouncy House".
The week end was full too with a family trip to the BBQ bash right here in town. It was great except Tom was getting stressed about the crowds. I just plopped down on the ground in front of the entertainment with the kids and had some dinner (the kids decided on pizza instead of BBQ LOL). When we decided to leave we went back to the parking garage but we couldn't remember what floor we parked on so we waited while Thomas ran up and down the floors to find it. While we waited Ella told me about the latest "cake challenge" on Food Network.
Tom had promised Ella we would sleep outside in the back yard this summer and with school starting soon we had to follow through. Off to Target we went to get a tent, sleeping bag & lantern. She said it was the best day in her life. We all three slept outside until 6:45am but Ella and Tom had to have naps the next day.
Wyatt and Michele were in town so they were coming over on Sunday. I thought it would be great to go to the beach so we packed a cooler and went to church. When we came out it was raining. Back up plan, wait we didn't have one so everyone just came over our house. I have to say now that we live in a town house, 3 levels 2,000 square feet. Well suited for a couple our age. We have a finished basement with a playroom and bar for company but as hard as I always try everyone converges on the main level where the kitchen/dining/living room & little tv are. It is loud and crazy but we always have a good time. It always seems so quiet when they leave.

In the basement to start with, Uncle Shawn showing Wyatt how to play a video game

Wyatt visiting our tent.

Even when sleeping out there has to be a bed time story.

Uncle Tommy rough housing.

Sami & Wyatt trying to decide whose cup that is. He is only 6 months older than her.

BBQ Fest

The perfect marshmallow

Aunt Chel & Lily

The Wild Ones.

Ella's "friends"

Ella Camping

Ella & Uncle Shawn. I hate that commercial where the couple complains about not being able to cover the stripes on the walls of their new house . I like my stripes and I like their stripes better than the red paint they cover them up with.

I know fires are a part of camping but boy did this camp fire make me nervous. I wonder when I won't have flash backs about fires.

DINNER at the BBQ Fest

Ella loves Lily. She is such a good big cousin. Our Mother Hen.

John Robert's stash. He kept saying "Tankt Tou".

Ya, Daddy found the car.

Sami loves to read!

"Come on Grams, get off the computer and play dinosaurs with me."

Last but not least, it's always great to get a visit with Wyatt. We took him to get another hair cut and it was such a traumatic experience that PaPa had to get him a toy, he enjoys dinosaurs now too.