Swimming!

We took the girls to the pool today and what a surprise . . Ella loved it!! She's not really our water baby, although neither is Layla - who cried when we put her in -the heated pool :) Maybe next summer they'll BOTH like it!!

Ella is swimming!

What a difference a year makes! This time last summer Ella screamed when we took her to the pool! Today she got right in, wanted to swim all over the place, and even floated on her owm for a few seconds! I was soo proud of her! I would like atleast one of my children to enjoy the water :)

Golden Gardens Beach & Park

We're having a heat wave here in the PNW!! We've been reaching uppers 80's! Saturday we went to the beach/park! Neither girl wanted to play in the water so we just hung out on the blanket most of the day, but we had a good time!!

Ella & Layla

Layla climbing

Layla throughout the day

Just this week Layla is showing signs of being a full on toddler! Scary to know that now I've got two on the loose, getting into everything :) She is climbing it all, and at first I thought she was careful, but today she is exhibiting no fear!

Inspecting the camera. I love her eyes :)


Classics never die! She loves the corn popper as much as Ella did!


Standing at her activity table!


I don't know what she did, but Ella can make her laugh at anything! They are quite a pair!


I know it was mean to snap the pic but I couldn't help it!
She discovered the stairs for the first time today but she can only make it to the 2nd step and then she freaks out!


Daddy's little helper! Layla was surpervising while Danny was putting some things together! She believes you work better in the nude :) Thank goodness I didn't post Danny's pic . . . just kidding!! :)

Father's Day Dinner

We finally were able to go out for our belated Father's Day dinner. We went down to Iver's Salmon House on Lake Union - very nice! If for nothing else, we were right on the water and Ella loved watching all the boats go by and the sea planes landing!

We clean up pretty nicely :)


Ella loved watching out the window!


Layla loved her spoon!


Daddy & Ella watching the boats!


This is the kids menu! Ella loved it so of course, Layla was terrified of it!


After dinner we went over to Gas Works park that over looks the city! It is such a gorgeous evening here tonight! We stumbled upon a Summer Solstice festival taking place with live bands and all the crazy folks you cam imagine :) Ella loved just running around and "being free"!



I really liked this pic!!

Reading spot!

The weather has been nice, we've had all the windows opened, and Ella likes to read her books by the window and, I guess, take in the scenery!

Sunny days are here again!

We've had a few good weather days this week! We spent most of the day Friday at the park where they have a splash fountain to play in! Ella only ran through it a couple times. She just liked having her bathing suit on :)

Happy Father's Day to Danny!

We had a great (but very long) father's day! The girls gave Danny some hiking accesories and a new X-Box game (he wanted it!). We were up and out by 9am to catch the ferry over to the Olympic Pennisula where we were off for our first family hike of the year - finally!! We took a trip to Dungeness Spit - I know it sounds weird but it's a beautiful place! The trail is actually a narrow piece of land all along and out into the beach so it feels like you are walking on the water! You can catch glimpses of all sorts of wildlife! It sounds amazing, right?!?! Well we didn't get to see it today :) We got to the beach and began walking only to discover that Layla was deathly afraid of the noises coming from the waves!! Who knew?!?!?!? And Ella was not thrilled with the rocks in the sand and about 2 mins into the "hike" she decided she needed to be carried :) Luckily we were pretty prepared for anything so we just laughed and headed to our next spot . . Hurricane Ridge, It was a beautiful drive and the summit was even more amazing! The girls actualy enjoyed this spot because there was still snow to frolic in! We were 5,240 feet up! We were due to go out for a great seafood dinner but didn't make it home from our adventure until 7pm (when the girls are usually in bed) so Danny was sweet enough to take a rain check for later in the week! It was a great family day - just Danny and his ladies!!

Layla's first ferry ride!


Ella LOVED it! She kept screaching, "we're riding a boat!"


Daddy and his girls!



The Brindisi babes :)


A shot from the ferry ride! We really do have some great
scenery in our area! I am always taken aback!


Look at Layla's face :( She hated it!!


This was my fav shot from the day!
Layla was ok once we moved away from the beast!


On our way to Hurricane Ridge - Ella was leading the way!


Majestic! Only through God can this be created! I took about
a million photos of almost the same spot! Pics will never do it justice!



Layla didn't really venture off her blanket!



Ella and daddy in the snow!




I hope all you dad's out there had a wonderful and relaxing day!!

I am stuck on band-aid . .

Look at my girl! She took a header last night into the corner of a wooden cabinet! Ouch! Because I've never dealt with anything other than a toddler who hates to be dirty (thankfully i've never had any serious injuries to deal with) - seeing all the blood and the "wound" caused me a bit of panic :) She's doing much better today though - as you can see - she still knows the importance of having clean teeth and good breath!

Pick my battles . .

has pretty much become my mantra throughout the day and ever since Ella has begun to pick out her own clothes I've decided it's not worth the fight so I just let it go! But today was quite interesting. Upon learning we were going to the library, Ella put on this outfit . .


Since it is still 55 degrees outside I told her she needed pants and a sweater so this is who I showed up with at the library . .



Don't you just wish you had the confidence to leave your house like that?!?!? If we could all just remember being 2 for just a day!

Quote of the day!

Scene - Mommy & Ella reading bedtime stories and Ella is pointing things out that mommy didn't realized she knew . . .

Mommy: "You're a smart girl, Ella."

Ella (in all seriuosness): "I know that, mommy."

And then Ella goes about like mommy had pointed out the most obvious of things!

All toddler . . . girl that is!

Today was the first time I've ever seen Ella splash in a rain puddle! I think I enjoyed watching her as much as she enjoyed doing it! The best part is (since it's Ella and she won't get too dirty) it was the tiniest of all puddles - you can barely even see it in the pics :) It was definitely the highlight of my day!

At the table!

Grandma & Grandpa Brindisi gave the girls a little table for Christmas and while Ella has been sitting at it since she got it (she loves it!!) I've just begun sitting Layla there - and she fits just perfectly :) I was kind of shocked that she can eat there as well as she does!

I love the faces she makes!