a week of ups and downs

1. Howie and Ella having new little kids next door to play with. They spent all Tuesday and Wednesday out side playing with them. After missing there friends all summer it is nice to have someone to play with again.

2. Jim got the sponge removed from the bottom of his foot. He is still in a walking boot for a couple more weeks but at least now he can swim.

3. Ella got a small hair cut. Maybe 3 inches but it makes it so much easier to brush out all those snarles.

4. We found out Howie will have Mrs. Freeland this year at school. We are looking forward to meeting her this next week.

5. Amy finally finished the curtains for Ella's room. We have had the material since before we moved here so it is nice to have finally completed that task.

6. The kids enjoyed a day playing with each other at the park.

7. Thursday night a vehicle hit the van at 1:15 in the morning and then drove away. If you know anything about our neighborhood I am sure you can guess where this vehicle was at and why they left the scene. We called the cops and filled a report but until that vehicle retuns there is not much we can do.

8. Camping at Jim's brother's pool. Camping is always fun but who can beat it when the pool is almost right next to the tent.

9. Howie and Ella catching Salamanders out of the pool. I don't think they have ever seen a salamander so this was pretty cool for them.

10. Jim caught a praying mantis the size of his hand. It was on our van at Mike's. it was awesome!

11. This has to be when we first arrived at the porchin party saturday night with a grand appearance of ella getting sick. We aren't sure yet if she is getting over what ever it is that has made her sick but we are thinking it is the long exhausting weekend of being in the sun and heat.

One more picture just for fun. There is a frog clenching to the top of Howie's finger. They caught this in Uncle Mike's pool too!!