Frozen Bananas

What would human beings do without the invention of the chocolate covered frozen banana? Really?

A Week at the Beach

We just got back from family vacation at Newport Beach. Can I just say that it is so nice to spend a solid week on vacation at the beach. We did a whole bunch of nothing as the whole family piled into two floors of a beach house. We ate, swam, walked, ate, slept, sat on the beach, played some semi-pro wiffle ball, and ate a little more. Besides the part where we brought a stomach flu out west with us and shared it with the whole house, this was another perfect week in Newport Beach. Until next year here are some of the highlights...
We got to hang out with Uncle Brendan a lot. At least I think that was Uncle Brendan.
We had a fancy, dress up, girl cousin dance party. Don't I look Mahvelous?!
Ella had a lot of fun with her cousin Morgan. Here they are drinking juice and playing with Play-Do.
Every morning we woke up early, went to the pier and fed the birds. Today was Frito Day.

Thank you to everyone for a wonderful summer vacation! See you next year.

A Long Day at the Pool

Sometimes a long day in the baby pool or running through the sprinkler takes a toll on a toddler. Sometimes you just have to get those sunglasses off quick and take a nap.

Macaroni and Cheese

It is really hot here this week. I mean hot. I guess it's hot everywhere so nobody wants to hear it but I'll tell you anyway. It is hot!
To beat the heat we bought some ice cream and cones at the store on Sunday. Ella was with us and she helped us pick it out. Then Ella didn't really eat much dinner on Sunday and so she didn't get to have ice cream afterward. That didn't make her particularly happy but we'll call it a teachable moment--and don't forget her mom and dad are teachers.
On Monday she devoured her dinner as if she had learned that lesson to perfection. She was ready! Right? Here's a transcript of the post dinner conversation:
Parents: Ella...you ate all of your dinner tonight. Good job, big girl.
Ella: Yeah.
P: You at it all up. You know what that means right?
E: (feet kicking. getting excited) Yeah!!
P: You get to have some...
E: (eyes bugging out. getting really excited) YEAH!!!
P: You get to have some...
E: (eyes bugging out. huge smile. legs kicking. arms waving in the air. She yells with glee) MACARONI AND CHEESE!!!

Ok. I guess you could have some mac and cheese. But we'd really like some ice cream. Oh well.