Family Portrait

Who needs to go to an expensive photography studio when you have Ella around?
I especially like the detail of my freshly pedicured toes. Tell me, what photographer would think to get my toes in the picture?

Ahoy!

I love this picture because Lucy looks like she's practicing her pirate face, "Arrgggh!"

But it's just the sun. This girl hates the bright sun in her eyes.

Emphatic

Lucy's four favorite, and most used, sentences . . .

ALL. BY. MY. SELF.

Greetings from Bear Lake

Please step with me into the way-way-back machine, for a trip to a simpler time... roughly a month ago...


The beach was endlessly entertaining...


New dance steps were invented...


Beauties were bathed in the surprisingly warm water...



And spectacular views were viewed. 

This picture just doesn't do it justice, due to the fact that I don't really have any wide-angle lenses to speak of.

Caves were spelunked, and stairs were climbed. Over 800 of them.

Frosty beers were consumed; some of them were even of the full-strength Idaho variety, instead of the watered-down 3.2% I've become accustomed to.

Sadly, no bears were spotted.  Someone owes me a bear.  However, many a deer were seen, up close and personal, as was a small herd of cows.

Oh, and something decided to make a nest on our car battery.  And chew through a wiper fluid line.  Ah, nature.

And a good time was had by all.  Our thanks also to Liz and Spencer who made our trip that much more fun.

Total Disregard for the Rules

That rule being, "Only draw on paper."

Now I must make a comment about "washable" markers. It totally pays to stick with name brands and NOT go for the $1 bin. Especially if you have a two-year-old.
Just sayin'.

A Big Day!

Today was a big day for all of us.
Ella's first day of Kindergarten!




The traditional front of house photo.
(As you can see Ella has new glasses. More pictures to come. These are her magical glasses because they go dark when the sun is bright.)



With her sister.



All the kids line up before going into the building. It was purely by accident that these few kids are tallest to shortest.



One last hug goodbye.



And off she goes. Mom only cried a little bit. Things were so chaotic, she was gone before I had a chance to get too weepy.
Yes, Lucy did follow her into the school. And yes, I did have to go in and get her.



All done! Of course she had a great time and can't wait to go again tomorrow.