We lost something today!

You'll see from the photo that this was a big one ... top, left tooth fell out today at Bright Horizons while she was eating an apple after lunch.  She was excited, her teacher was excited .. and now we're excited!  I told her the other front one can't be too far behind it as they often fall out at the same time!

Oh, what a face!  With that missing tooth!

Girl Fun!

Posing for the camera - shades and her 'bling'!

At The Tea Room in Washington, IL for lunch

Eclectic decor at the Tea Room

Ellie and I set off this morning for Day One of our Girls Weekend for some shopping and lunch.  We headed to Peoria for a very successful trip to Gymboree at the North Woods Mall.  And instead of our ordinary stop at Five Guys Burgers, I took her on an adventure.

About 15 minutes from there was Madison's on the Square in Washington, IL.  It had been recommended to me by a friend, and I thought Ellie would love it.  And she did!  It was a gorgeous drive through lots of cornfields to find this little town.

After a full morning, we made it home before the rain and storms started!  Looks like we're in for the evening ... we'll made personal pizzas where she'll stretch her dough and decide what to put on hers before it goes in the oven.

Hopefully she'll understand that although I've agreed to let her stay up and see the full moon, that with that comes Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on the television.  Its so rare that I get the remote to make the choice ... and even rarer that the Bruins make the Finals!!

Another fun week for Ellie

Waiting in line for Survivor Challenge

Fill sponge with water run to next bucket and get as much water as you get in the bucket

Pouring the bucket of water over their toes!

To say that Ellie loves Bright Horizons is an understatement.  She's had fun activities every day this week.  She eats like a teenage boy and sleeps hard too!  She's active, happy and growing like a weed.

On Monday she had a visit from a Park Ranger that told them the importance of keeping parks clean and safe .. and brought fish for them to see.  They also created a team flag for their Survivor teams.

Tuesday she decided to skip State Farm Park - imagine her choosing to skip the pool - all because they decorated a bandana and went HORSEBACK RIDING!  What?  She loved it!

Wednesday was an Immunity Challenge (Survivor TV Show) they chose a team member to put on a t-shirt that is FROZEN!  And "Will you eat dirt?"  The dirt was a paper cup with crushed oreo cookies and gummy worms!  That earned them a team badge.

Today was a visit to the local Aviation Museum where they got inside a helicopter!  And back at school they competed in Water Cup Derby ... which you see some of those events that arrived early enough to watch!

I've advised her tomorrow doesn't look like any fun - she might as well stay home!  It's Bug Snack Creation, Ice Cream Truck visit and Water Play Day .... I don't think I'm going to work - I'd rather eat ice cream and have water play day!

So happy she loves it there.  She's full of stories when I pick her up.  Miss Jenna this, Mr. Jason that ... it's just wonderful!!

Tell people what they mean to you

How I will remember Don - kind and caring heart, with a big smile!
R.I.P. - You will be greatly missed!

Don brought 'light' to our lives - here he lights Ellie's baptismal candle

Don sitting close by as Ellie was baptized

I find myself more often lately in the position of saying goodbye to someone close to me.  Perhaps this has happened more often to me because of the two moves from NY to VA and to IL within the last 4 years.  But honestly, it's happened my entire life.

Sometimes you're not able to tell that someone goodbye.  Sometimes their death precedes that opportunity.  When this happened in the past I would kick myself for not having said what I wanted or needed to say.  Those days are over.

I am very intentional keeping in touch with people, sending a note or picking up the phone to ensure they know that they are important to me.  I've managed to get over the weirdness with several friends to be able to say, 'hey - you are important to me.  this is what you've helped me with, taught me and i'm glad you're part of my life.'

The moments don't get by me anymore.  I have people in my life far and wide that I value their friendship, kindness and guidance.  One of those people to me was Don Carroll.  Don was in my life in several ways - he began as my bosses' boss, grew into a teacher and mentor as well as the person we shared our church back home with.

I often say, 'he was with us when Ellie was baptized.'  He has watched Ellie grow through pictures and cards I've sent to him since we first moved from Saratoga.  I looked forward to seeing him at the office until he retired, and then at church on Sunday during visits home.

Don was one of those people who knew what he meant to me.  Because I told him so.

I'll miss him greatly.

The making of the bowls

Choosing colors carefully

Oopps, I missed a spot!

Finished product!  Now onto the firing it.

Olive oil bowls off to be fired.

The finished pieces! 

Here's some photos of our adventure painting the bowls we made for Father's Day.  Ellie chose her colors carefully and loved the process of the piece coming together.  She'd love to do it again!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to Daddy, love Ellie!

Happy girl playing catch

Throwing back

Painted snack bowl - shooting star inside

Self designed outside with circles and dots

Today we celebrate Dads.  I'm proud to be married to the most amazing Dad to our daughter!  He's fun, adventurous, caring and the most wonderful father any girl could ask for!

Several weeks ago Ellie and I had an adventure of our own when we went to Artful Designs to make some handmade treasures for Father's Day.  Ellie chose a big bowl to be used for snacks to share with her Dad.  She took special care in painting it and put her own design inside and out.  She was thrilled when we returned to pick it up after it was fired.

Today she has enjoyed special time with him playing pitch and catch, grilling steaks outside and watching the US Open.  Okay, for the record those last two are all about him, but isn't that what Father's Day is for?

Happy Father's Day to my Dad

Just a photo to remember my Dad on Father's Day.  Missing him more each year that he has been gone.  Love between a Daddy and a daughter is unlike any other!

First Full Week at Bright Horizons

Selling goodies at the Bake Sale - fundraiser for Relay for Life

To say that Ellie has adjusted to her new Summer Program would be an understatement.  She has had a full week of activities and new friends.  I shared on Monday they decorated aprons in a week-long restaurant project and on Tuesday she attended State Farm Camp for incoming Second Graders only.  On Wednesday she asked me if she could be in the 'other' school-ager room at Bright Horizons (BH) because that's where the 2nd graders were ... so to understand more I asked at drop-off about the room differences.

Miss Amy, the Assistant Director told me that they placed Ellie in the younger, smaller group to acclimate her (incoming kindergardener's and incoming first grader's).  I asked Miss Amy if Ellie could try to the other room as she'd asked me the night before.  "Of course she can," she said, "it is larger with 20 kids and two team teachers."  So we gave it a shot.

Wednesday they had a Cupcake Decorating Contest at BH in the morning and a field trip to a local restaurant, Baxter's where they had a tour of the kitchen, in their new 'chef-in-training' shirt and white chef hat provided by Baxter's where they made pizzas for lunch!  This is the restaurant we took Papa and Grammy to on their visit to Bloomington last fall.

Thursday we confirmed that Ellie would prefer to stay in this larger room at BH.  She'd shared with us that she loved the new class where she had made LOTS of new friends.  And when Bill shared her preference with Miss Amy, she said, "We didn't want to overwhelm her with a large group of kids at once, but she's not shy at all.  She fit right in!"

The field trip on Thursday was to the local Martial Arts studio where they learned a couple moves and watched the instructors break wood with their hands.  They also assisted with baking treats for a Bake Sale on Friday.

Finally Friday.  Whew!  The activity was the Iron Stomach Challenge.  I was somewhat fearful what this might entail.  Fear no more.  Ellie shared that the challenge was just trying new foods - she loved it!  They tried hummus, avocado, mushrooms, ugly fruit and sauerkraut!  What a great idea - and she loved everything but the sauerkraut!  Go figure!

The day ended with us picking her up together so we could attend the Bake Sale.  As we walked in guess who was behind the table selling the goodies?  She sat with her new friends, Reagan and Caleb.  We bought wonderful snickerdoodles, rice crispie treats and a glass jar layered with all the ingredients for brownies!  The best part was Ellie making change.  When Bill handed her $6 for a $5.50 total, she knew without being told to give him two quarters back.  Just for a moment it reminded me of my bakery days - packaging sweet treats and making change behind the counter.

It was a sweet end to a wonderful week!

Celebration!

Tried a new Orin Swift wine in CELEBRATION!

Bill learned today that he GOT THE JOB he interviewed for two weeks ago.  He has been promoted from Underwriter to Underwriting Analyst!  After 10+ years in the production environment, he will now have the luxury of being a salaried employee in the project world!

As we explained it so Ellie would understand, "now Daddy gets to work in the BIG building on Veteran's!"  When we drive by the Corporate complex, Ellie always asks, "Mommy, when do you get to move to that building?"  Now her Daddy will work there!

The new position is right up his alley and he's extremely excited to be starting on July 1st!  He will miss is old team and familiar surroundings, but like the three of us always say, "Life's an adventure!"

We're so proud of him and his accomplishments.  It's wonderful for him to be able to pursue something he wants, rather than have to move to another location and take the first thing that comes along.

Congratulations Bill!  Job well done!

Saying Goodbye leads to New Beginnings!

We said good-bye to Clubhouse Childcare on Friday as Ellie completed her last day.  The facility is being sold and will be closed on June 27th.  We were quick to find both summer care and before/after school care before any remaining available spots at other places were filled.

She began Summer Camp at Bright Horizons this morning.  She's been saying since Friday afternoon, and again last night and this morning, "I'm SO excited to start at Bright Horizons!"  They have an amazing array of activities for her to participate in .. starting today with Design Your Own Apron!  In was in conjunction with a week-long Restaurant activity where they will menu plan, name the place and then work there cooking and serving for their friends!

Tomorrow is Tuesday and that means State Farm Day Camp each Tuesday this summer.  It's expected to be in the 80's so there will be swimming involved.  She is already excited about that too.

I'll keep you posted on Wednesday back at Bright Horizons as that is a field trip to a local restaurant for the group to participate in a Cupcake Decorating contest!  We're thrilled with the new facility - it's bright, clean and friendly.  And the best part is that Ellie loves it too!

Lane 3

Ellie's first night in Lane 3 had her swimming from end to end, over and over again.  No waiting for everyone to finish, but the teacher has them constantly moving.

Her freestyle stroke is amazing, she's making terrific progress on her backstroke and now she's learning a different 'froggie' legs kick.  Don't ask, I've only seen it.  Can't describe it.

She was exhausted by the end of the lesson.  And now they are practicing diving into the 7 foot end of the pool!  She was thrilled.  They used to be able to 'jump' into the 5 foot end at the end of lessons, now they've moved to the other end of the pool .. and 'dive' into the 7 foot end.  Wow, amazing progress!

More fun at the Fair

The swings!!

She screamed, but she said she loved it!

Wouldn't be a fair if there wasn't a tattoo or face painting!

Play Day at the Farm

Yes, that's a Funnel Cake with powered sugar!

Feeding the friendly goats! She's loving it! 

Really it was at State FARM Park.  Today was the annual Play Day with rides, games and lots of fair food.  It's been a rainy week, and skies today were overcast and it was drizzly.  But there was a fair to get to!

As you can see from the photos, a little wetness doesn't get Ellie down.  She's game for anything!  She rode the rides, pet the animals and ate of the fair food treats!  Thank goodness for a change of clothes and shoes for the car ride home.  Lots of mud on shoes and food on clothes!

But lots of fun was had by all!