Elara's Turn!

While Elara napped, her brother celebrated his "First Fifth Birthday," so when she woke up it was definitely her turn. Elara was all about opening presents, and eating cupcakes, and her new love: dress up! She got the biggest kick out of  tutus and funny glasses, necklaces and fairy wings. They have not been rotated down to the basement, to the toys-my-kids-are-ignoring section, because she wears the dress up clothes more often than not!

Z's first fifth

You only turn 5 once, but that doesn't mean you can't celebrate it a couple times, especially when you're Zachary! We had a little birthday celebration for both the kids while we were visiting in Iowa, and while it was intended to be a joint birthday party, Elara slept through Zachary blowing out the candles, and opening presents, and Zachary was busy playing with his new presents while Elara did her celebrating. It worked out perfectly. Thank you to Grandma especially, for helping plan and decorate for the parties. Thank you to everyone for helping us celebrate and for giving such great presents to Z and E!

Being Baby Bonnie

The Indiana crew was able to come out and help us celebrate the fourth of July. Elara loved every minute of playing with baby Bonnie--and spent a large chunk of time pretending she WAS baby Bonnie. She crawled around, asked to me held like a baby, covered herself with a blanket and took a "nap." Never in her life has she been such a good little baby! 

Auntie Kitty Nailed It

Thanks Auntie Kitty, for making Elara able to say, "Me so pretty!" and have it be even more true! I know it's not easy to paint a 2 year old's fingernails, but you also managed to fit in a pedicure! Way to go Auntie Kitty!

Best Seat in the House

Poppa should know better than to claim such a comfortable lazyboy as "his chair." It rocks, it swivels, it let's you sink in and enjoy dancing with the stars or mickey mouse clubhouse. It also has convenient access to the end table AND the charging cables. Don't even get me started on the arm rests. But if I had any hopes and dreams of stealing Poppa's chair for myself, they have since been dashed. Elara swooped in and said, "Me chair!" and though Poppa tried to share it with her, you know she wasn't having any of that.

it's a poppa's jeep thing

Yesterday the Jeep drove away from Connecticut, with Nonna and Poppa in it. We are all bummed to see them go, but these pictures helped cheer me up again. Elara and Zachary both love Poppa's Jeep. Or, as our visit to Kitchen Little proved, anyone's jeep. She and Poppa were out looking at the marina, when a more tangerine colored jeep left the parking lot, and Elara freaked, "NO! Poppa's JEEEEEP!" Poppa's jeep was safely parked at our house, but she was very concerned. Now we need to convince Nonna and Poppa to drive out for another visit, so we can see the Jeep. And them!