My Girls

 They are so different and the same.  They look alike and don't.  Both strong willed and independent and stubborn.  Abbey is so girly and loves her girly things and Ellie reminds me more of how I was.  Not a tomboy but not a princess.  Abbey loves to be with me and Ellie is Daddy's girl.

 Both know what they want and aren't afraid to tell you.  Sometimes when I look at Ellie I see a photo of myself from the 70's.  And sometimes I see Abbey and I see a photo of Carolyn or Sarah from the 80's.  Time is slipping away though it seems they've always been around.  One thing for sure: they both love Frozen.  The freaking movie that never ends.

Baby Everett Joseph Ramie

 My back was out when Melissa had her baby shower and I told her I'd come and see the baby after he was born.  Abbey was ticked we didn't go and I promised her I take her with me.  I ended up making the trip with both girls on one of Adam's last day of school.  Two and a half hours each way for an hour and a half visit but worth it!  He is so precious.  Abbey couldn't wait to hold him.

 Baby fingers!  He slept in my arms so tiny and peaceful.

 His eyebrows are blonde and he currently has blue eyes.

 Of course I dressed my girls for the occasional.

 Ellie was much more interested in watching their dogs out the back window and sneaking upstairs.

 Abbey went back and forth between the baby and the dogs.

 Mama looks great!

 Beautiful family.

 Happy and tired new parents.

 Finally on the way out they got to play with Jake and Ellie.  It was funny to yell for one Ellie and the other answer.  This picture cracks me up.

 Of course she took off when I told her to get in the car.  Who can blame her?

The Oswalds

 A couple of weeks ago, one of my Internet friends...the one from California...came here.  Her husband is from Rochester and they are doing this travel around the country thing before he goes off on his next assignment for the Navy.  Originally, it was supposed to be just her and her two kids. But things got changed around and her husband came, too.  We have an interest in some of the same kids' clothes, which is how we met.  She happened to own THREE of my favorite dress ever which I don't own because only 8 were made.  I wasn't disappointed it photographed beautifully.  One of my favorite pictures ever of Abbey above.  Getting all five kids didn't really happen.  Marin is just four and Jack just one.  She's NOT used to other kids, poor thing.

 Adam wasn't much in the mood for picture taking. Jack isn't in this, but this is my favorite besides the one of Abbey.  They were supposed to arrive first thing but didn't make it until noon.  We chatted and then we went to pick up Abbey and came back and did these pictures.

 Their plans kept changing even while here!  They were going to spend the night in Rome, they were going to meet a cousin for dinner, they were going to meet a cousin in Ithaca but they ended staying here for pizza and wings!

 Todd and Stephen went to pick up the pizza and it was the only time we got to talk.  It wasn't awkward but it was.  We talked and hung out easily, but for people like Todd and I, it was a lot for the first meeting of new people.

 Cute one of Marin and Abbey.  Abbey wants her to come back!

 Being military and moving all the time, I think it's not the least bit awkward for them to travel around and stay with people!

 They plan to eventually settle in Ithaca and I hope they do.  I like her, even if she is a bit crazy.

 Oh Love my Ellie.

 At the end, Adam gave me a picture.  He has beautiful eyes.

 And here's Jenny, as crazy as me to get the right shot.

 My kind of crazy.

Abbey's Kindergarten Orientation

 Kindergarten orientation was at the end of May.  I took Abbey in for an hour and she went to each of the specials while us parents got a talk.  This was my first time as I missed this process with Adam.  She was well prepared as in Catholic pre-k, they do much of the procedural things expected of them in kindergarten.  Of course, I had picked out the perfect dress and Ellie matched.  I did a little photo shoot to mark the occasion.

 Abbey was excited and all the teachers already have met her or know about her, so many of them made a point to talk to her.

 My girls.

 That look.  She stayed home with her babysitter Liz and her daughter and Ellie's favorite person Sophia.

 Love the girls together.  Ellie ripped off her bow and shoes.

 I took her to Friendly's after and happened to run into two other moms, one of which had been the only one I had spoken to.  We decided to sit together and Abbey was quite excited.   The other two girls  were already friends, but Abbey still got to talk to them.

 Twirls at home.  It was emotional of me and exciting for her.  Something about Abbey getting older that's hard.  I think it's because she's my little shadow; my little buddy.

Abbey's First Shower

I took Abbey with me to her cousin Jennifer's bridal shower yesterdsy. It was a tea party.  Abbey asked me in the morning if she needed to bring her bathing suit. Get it? Ha. She was excited for a tea party and we thought this the perfect dress. 

She just loved drinking her water from the tea cup and insisted I do the same. 

Her and the other girl there were gift helpers and she loved it. 

She wanted the bows so badly. Jennifer gave her one. The food was good. Finger sandwhichs and gournet little cookies of all kinds. 

Nice day for Jennifer who broke no ribbons...she doesn't want kids!

Dinner at Travis'

Todd's friend Travis invited us over to see his new house and for dinner.  His girlfriend Melissa made cupcakes Nd thought it'd be fun to make Ellie a huge one because she had dug into her birthday cake.  She was happy to repeat. 

Food was good and his daughter Brooke was so nice about my kids in her room.  That's the only time I can enjoy going to a house; if I feel like my kids aren't stressing people out.  She's 8 and sweet.