Road trip to North Carolina.

We went on a road trip to North Carolina visit some friends last weekend.

Ella is a rockstar on road trips. She was a happy girl watching Calliou (her obsession right now) and Ni Hao Kai Lan on the iPad.

Whatever did we do in the  1970's and 1980's without technology on road trips? (Oh yes, I remember we played crazy car games, read books, and etc... but the iPad is an amazing tool to keep a 3 year old happy!)

We left Thursday mid-afternoon to begin our trek across Ohio...honestly for small-ish state it takes FOREVER to get out of it.

We were going to stop at some point in West Virginia for the night (cue the banjo music, I can say that...I am a descendent of a "hill family." ). We ended up staying in West Virginia but further than we anticipated...David rocked out the driving with the crazy inclines of the mountains, as well as, those crazy mountain road curves. It was also an educational part of the trip as David learned what a "holler" was, as well as, how to say it correctly and not like a Northerner!

We had a delicious breakfast the following morning....NOT. I thought we were far enough south to have a delicious southern style  breakie...I wasn't expecting microwave eggs, toaster pancakes, and instant oatmeal!

We made it to Raleigh in the afternoon and met up with Uncle Todd and Aunt Elizabeth soon thereafter. We went on a tour of downtown Raleigh, ate a delicious dinner, went and got some gelato ice cream and then crashed at our hotel.

The hotel area was so neat. The hotel was at the end of a dead end area/street, but all around on either sides of the street were resturants, shops, Target, a movie theater, it reall was neat. So, if you find the need to stay in the Raleigh area, then the Renassiance Hotel in North Hills is the place to stay!!!

We went for a great breakfast with Uncle Todd and Aunt Elizabeth on Saturday, went for a dip in their neighborhood pool (Ella liked dumping water on Uncle Todd's head), we played with their doggies Brie and Clouie, had dinner and a yummy dessert.

Sunday morning we left for Waxhaw, North Carolina to visit with Miss Debbie, Mr. Rick, and their three boys.

Ella and Zach had a blast with each other.

We cannot thank Debbie and Rick enough for their southern hospitality. They totally spoiled us in every way. We ate, we laughed, we ate some more, and the laughter continued.

We left Monday morning to head back home. The trip back started out a bit bumpy as we only went 40 miles in 3 hours!!! After that though, it was all smooth sailing.

We stayed in West Virginia again on the way back, and had a much better experience, and we arrived home on Tuesday afternoon!

We had a great time, but I think one long road trip a year is enough for....um...this Nommy!
~Nommy dee, Driver Daddy David, and our roadtrip rockstar Ella

Sprinkler Park!!!

We went to a Sprinkler Park today!!!

The photos and video tell the story!!!


Trying to catch water in a bucket!

Ooooo....being brave and getting wet!!!

Just look at that smile!!!

So much fun!!!

~Mommy dee, Daddy David, and our cute little surfer girl Ella!

You Are My Sunshine...an oldy but a goody!!!

Ella loves to sing this song to us, with us, or have us sing it to her.

Ella also LOVES to watch herself record herself.

~Nommy, Nommy, Nommy dee, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy David, and our Bright Sunshine Ella

Head-Banger Ella

I think we have a future head-banger on our hands.

~Head-Banger wannabe Mommy dee, Head-Banger music is for young'ens Daddy David, and Mosh Pit filled with sunshine and rainbows in her future Ella

Babbina School!!!

Ella will begin Babbina (Ballerina) School (a.k.a. dance class) class on Tuesday, September 6th!!! Needless, to say...she is just a little excited!!!!

(Sorry, for the extreme close up at the end and lack of "Ella talk" she is such a silly girl sometimes!!!)

Unfortunately, we didn't get Ella's initial reaction when we told her that we were going to Ballerina School. The above is pretty close to how she reacted though, she was jumping up and down and all giggly (there was no massive mood swing from excitment to almost tears...honestly...drama class is in our future!!!).

She has been asking everyday since we registered her when she will get to go back to "babbina chool." So, I think she is more than ready for this exciting new venture.

On a side note, I realize that this blog has been lacking in the area of updates. We have just been having so much fun this summer that at the end of the day we are all exhausted and so much fun has been had that it is hard to begin as to where to start explaining what we did.

We have gone swimming, been on a few trips, had many play dates, Ella has run in a few races, made crafts, played at the beach (her little pool and the actual beach), and just spent time together as a family.

This is really what it is all about and David and I are so lucky that she found us!!!
~Nommy...quickly becoming "Mommy" (not sure how I feel about that...I kind of like "Nommy") dee, Daddy David, and our tiny little Babbina Ella