Whoa!

At one point in the car ride driving home this is how Ellen chose to amuse herself. I had been engrossed in a book I was reading -- for one too many minutes apparently -- and I looked back to find this face! The magenta marker definitely startled me when I turned around to check on E & S. Yikes. Brett and I were so thankful for washable markers!

The Beach

 Corinne in the foreground along with two of her cousins--all three close in age--ready to jump the waves!

 

Brett holding Ellen

                                                                      Me holding Sophie

                                               Ellen in the foreground with Sophie digging in the sand behind her

Some Faces from the Week

Our week included a birthday party, walks to the beach, making sandcastles, jumping waves in the ocean, collecting seashells, having dinner all together each night, playing games, dance parties, ice cream at the "cow shop", making bracelets/barrettes/rings, swimming, more swimming, and lots of time spent laughing and reading and playing and eating together. What a great time!

Vacation

We are home from our Hilton Head vacation and had such a wonderful time as a family and with aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents on Brett's side (18 of us together in one gorgeous home for a week). Corinne *loved* the beach and surprised us with her independence in the waves. Ellen and Sophie loved the pool and practiced jumping off the side to us over and over again. Terrific weather and lots of fun memories. I even got to run on the beach several times and caught a beautiful sunrise our last morning there. I'll be sharing more photos (and videos) but I think it is going to take some time to get organized and then to find more time to post.

Preview

The countdown is on for our beach vacation! Really. We have an official countdown sign hanging up at home. Very soon the girls will be wearing these same outfits everyday. Can't wait!

Personality

Ellen is wearing Corinne's socks for some reason. She put them on herself and insisted she wear them! Not out of character for Ellen to 1) wear something of Corinne's and 2) insist... anything

World Choir Games

The World Choir Games are being held here in Cincinnati, which means choirs of all ages and from countries all over the world have converged on our city for two weeks! There have been free concerts many days in a row, at venues all over the city, both indoors and outdoors. So over the weekend I kept up on which ones were happening where and Brett and I decided -- at the very last minute -- to take the kids and head to Covington's Mainstrasse Village to hear one of the free concerts. It was a HOT  afternoon! But we listened to a choir or two before the kids' attention span and heat index let us know it was time to play and explore. Brett and I both agreed afterward that it was time well spent with the kids and we were glad we took advantage when the opportunity presented itself. It's so nice that the kids are getting to a point where we can be a little more spontaneous!

Impromptu Concert

Last week the girls and I met Brett for lunch downtown and as we walked through Tower Place a small choir, here for the World Choir Games, gave a little concert on the spot. Lots of people stopped to listen, as did we. Beautiful!

All is Right Again

After three long weeks Brett returned home from his trial out West. And I'm not exagerrating at all when I say that something intangible, undescribeable and completely wonderful happened within our home and in all of us the day Brett got home. All balance was restored, everything was instantly right again in our world, and we were all more relaxed, happy, and even giddy. It was an instant "pick me up"--only on a huge scale in all of us. We all slept better, played nicer, laughed harder. Breathed deeper. Things just seemed brighter and better. We anticipated his arrival all day and prepared our sign for the door to greet him first. (Yes, that is a pink posterboard with princess stickers) What a great beginning to July!

Chopped Liver

When Brett returned home I quickly became chopped liver. But let me be clear -- I am thankful the girls love their Daddy so much. It is easy to understand why. He is the most devoted father and loves them so very very much. So it is a blessing to be chopped liver! Although it was a bit tricky to have three little girls attached to him all. the. time. But he found a way to appease them all, I think.