Blogging Break

Ella and I are headed to Tennessee!

We left this AM to go visit Reba until next Wednesday. Reba has been my best friend since 9th grade. We try to visit each other as frequently as possible; however, its been a year since we have seen each other! We literally keep in touch several times a day through texting and emailing so even though she is far away she continues to know every detail of my life. Reba and I have a friendship that will last a lifetime! We are not afraid to tell each other just what were thinking, good or bad. While the blog will be quiet the next few days, there will be plenty to share when we get back! So here's to my first road trip with Ella!

Things on Thursday

Ella is fascinated by spiders. We were able to witness a true act of nature last week with the spider outside our patio. Ella and I were looking outside when we noticed a large black bug get caught up in the web. The spider quickly ran down the web and pounced on the bug and began spinning and spinning and spinning the black bug up into a cocoon with its web. The spider then carried the bug further up the web and began sucking its blood. Ella was awestruck. And I was able to explain all that was going on as it was happening.

Unfortunately later that evening I decided the spider needed to go and nominated Tom to do the deed. The coloring and markings on the spider and the size worried me a bit. Especially since it is right on our patio where we frequently play. Ella gets nasty reactions from bug bites in general so we said so long to the spider

In other news I ordered custom wood blinds last week. They were not expected to arrive for three weeks; however, they came in the mail yesterday! Tom found the time to put them up last night. They look great.

Wordless Wednesday

"Little Girls Have a Magic All Their Own"

Sunday, Ella came up to me like this and said "Im a princess"

Ella was surprised and excited when Grandma Joyce came over Sunday evening and brought her her first princess play dress!

Of course Ella had to spin around yelling "Im a princess" "Im beautiful"

"A photograph is the pause button of life"

Saturday I was outside with my camera and the dog. Our lovely neighbors Guenter and Libby were out walking their dog Libby. I decided to take a few pics of them because they are just too cute. They are the sweetest people and so in love. I hope when Tom and I are their age that we are as in love as they are. Libby comes over and asks Tom to help her with things around the house from time to time. She is in love with Winston and Ella and has to come over to see them quite frequently. She even had to have Winston in the picture with them on Saturday. Guenter is 88 and Libby is 79, their dog Buffy is 16. They walk Buffy about 10 times a day rain or shine, summer or winter.

The day after I took the picture, Libby came over while I was out in the driveway crying. She said, Tara Im so glad you took that picture yesterday because Buffy died this morning. As I said, the dog was 16 and they absolutely adored it.

They had Buffy cremated this morning and I took them a copy of the pictures, some roses, and a card. Libby cried and thanked me that I was able to capture a last picture of Buffy. Just shows how a photo captures a moment in time that one can cherish over and over

Shaw Farms Sure is Swell

Today Ella and I headed to Shaw Farms. Yes I know, another farm, we are farm crazy. I have to say I was super impressed with this farm. Not as many animals but by far the best activities for kids. Madeline and Nicole met us there but with one girl going one way the other girl going the other way, we talked for a whole five minutes. There were piles of pumpkins everywhere, there were literally thousands of pumpkins at this place. They had areas set up with wooden houses with pumpkin men and women painted as characters such as Flinstones, pirates, Aladin, three little pigs, wizard of Oz and many many more. There were train rides, hayrides, pumpkin patch where you could pick you pumpkin straight out of the field and so much more.

I loved the characters everywhere. Ella was afraid of them until she found a princess with long hair. Then she thought the rest were ok too

Ella wanted to get a spider painted on her face. She sat perfectly still for the lady to do it

This is one of the only pics of the girls together we got while we sat down for some lunch

Ella and I went into the barn to listen to some Bluegrass. Ella sat there swaying, swinging her legs, and tapping her hands on her lap. Oh how this little girl loves music

Ella asked to go on the train ride. It took the kids all through the field and the pumpkin patch. She was SO excited