A little more of nothing...

Parker is discovering the value of hard work this summer. First, he was hired by a cute older couple in our neighborhood to do yardwork (read: weeding). They offered to pay him $20 for every 3 hours of work. A pretty good deal for an 11-year old if you ask me (that's also 100% more money than I make!). So he's been waking up early every morning and riding his scooter to be there for his 8-10am shift. Then yesterday, since his days have been consisting of Wii tennis tounaments and Phineas and Verb (sp?) marathons, I bribed Parker and his friend to wash my oh-so-filthy car for a couple of bucks each. That gave them the brilliant idea to do a car wash. They went to work making and hanging up signs, gathering supplies, filling buckets of soapy water and even made up a drink menu for the free drink they were offering with each car wash (you can't tell me that's not cute). Then they sat. They sat and they sat and they sat. Then a car pulled up. Their excitement was bursting until they saw that it was just Steve. Still, Steve said he wanted the works so they went to work. One customer later (our neighbor Holli) and that was it. They made $10 each and were happy as can be. Better than a kick in the teeth!

I forgot to mention that I organized a girls-night-out for a bunch of moms and daughters in our neighborhood to see the new Kit Kittredge American Girl movie a couple of weeks ago. So much fun! We went to Pei Wei for dinner before and then to the movie. The girls all brought their American Girl dolls and had such a good time. We live in a great neighborhood with some awesome people. Here is a picture of all the cute little girlies.

Speaking of Kit, Aubrey told me she wanted her hair as short and Kit's so we took her in for a haircut. It looks sooo cute. I don't know why I never did this sooner. The brushing-her-messy-long-hair issue was really putting a damper on our otherwise great relationship. One less thing to fight about (now, if I could just conquer the Summer-wanting-to-wear-short-skirts-and-bikinis issue). Below is a picture of Aubrey's cute short hair (with her cousin, Wayne, and in their chef hats).

I'm in project mode. I just painted a headboard for Summer's room (pink) and I am starting on painting all of my bedroom furniture black (crazy, I know!) I also stamped this cute saying on a wall in Aubrey and Macy's room today (see pic). In case you can't read it, it says, "Sisters are the flowers in life's garden." Took me all of 10 minutes to do. Cute, huh???

Back to work. And no word from Summer (they are not allowed to call home from camp). I hope she is having fun! I will leave you with a picture of my new favorite treat. How come nobody ever told me about this glorious combination of sweetness before??? I'm addicted!

Le Chefs: Aubrey and Wayne

It's nothing... really!

Not much to blog about, but I thought I would give the "post-a-little-bit-every-day-or-two" method a shot. I realize that I've probably lost any following I may have had (all 3 of you) from waiting so long between posts. So, just stick with me here. It'll get better. You will want to keep checking, though, because some days I may post about something really important or informational (like did you know that the average person swallows something like 3 spiders in their lifetime?), or some days I may post about nothing important at all (like the addition of the new whisker on my chin...can someone tell me why getting older involves growing weird, coarse hairs in odd places?) So you can see, you won't want to miss anything.

So, it is 2:44am and I am still awake. Why, you ask? Who knows. I just get going and I don't want to stop. I do a little cleaning, a little laundry, sometimes organize a drawer or something (tonight it was my purse) - weird, I know, but I do my best work late at night. I was also up packing for my little Summey - who is going to Girl Scout camp tomorrow for 5 WHOLE DAYS AND NIGHTS! I am excited for her, but of course a little nervous. Will she get homesick? Will she make new friends? Will she leave her underwear on the ground of her cabin like she does in her room? These are all things that I, as her mother, get to think about this week. But this camp is just up her alley and frankly, she is a little too excited to get away from her little sisters for a few days. I can't say I blame her.

Okay, I must have stopped my constant state of motion because fatigue is setting in. I better get to bed before my keyboard turns into my pillow... and that wouldn't be the first time!

Yup, Still Alive!!!

I know, I know. It has been... er, a while since I've posted. You probably stopped checking in on me altogether. And to be quite honest, I haven't been checking your blogs either. There, I said it. How about we just forgive each other and move on??? Great, 'cuz I have lots to tell you!

I've been one busy momma. After getting the kids through the last weeks of school (chalk full of reports, parties, end-of-year testing, etc.) we packed our bags and headed to Cancun, MEXICO (sans Macy). We had such a great time. We swam every day in the pool and/or ocean, collected tons of sea shells, went on a private snorkeling trip in Isla Mujeres, spent a day at Tulum and Xel-ha, ate at some fabulous restaurants (El Shrimp Bucket, Margaritaville, hotel room service to name a few) and just had fun spending time together, which was the whole point of the trip. A couple of highlights: watching Parker and Summer playing and laughing together in the ocean, Aubrey jumping off the 'cliff of courage' not once, but twice at Xel-ha (probably 15-20 feet high - you go girl!), visiting a Mexican market and sampling the local fare, going to church in town and singing hymns in Spanish (Steve translated for me), making a trip to the local Costco (pretty much the same), and playing silly family games around the dinner table every night. So I don't have to bore you with every little detail, I will just post some pictures. Oh, and in case you were worried about Macy who didn't get to join the fun - she had the time of her life staying with Edie (her favorite neighbor and 2nd mommy), my sister Kandis, and Marmie and Poppy. Apparently, she never said she missed us even once. I guess thats good, right? We were all happy to see her though.

Upon our return from Mexico, our summer officially began. After 68 loads of laundry and picking up our freshly groomed dog from the kennel (he looked like a big rat), we headed up to Heber to celebrate the 4th of July with lots of cousins. My kids were in heaven. Marmie and Poppy pulled out the waterslide and the Diet Coke was a flowin'. The Texas sheetcake wasn't too shabby either (I should know since I ate about 12 pieces). We ended with a few fireworks for the kids and then some adult conversation on the back deck. All in all, it was a great day!

We came home and spent the next week trading kids with Alisa. The boys stayed in Heber and shot bee-bee guns, rode four wheelers, and probably never washed their hands once. And the girls came home with me and went swimming, had sleepovers in their basement "fort", and performed their trampoline tricks for any willing audience. Later in the week we took Nicole and Brendon while Alisa flew to San Diego for the weekend to see her long-lost husband (he's in training to become a lie detector specialist - pretty cool, huh?). I'm not sure why Alisa says they always fight and drive her crazy... they were perfect little angels for me!

So now we are in full-fledge summer mode. Staying up late, sleeping in, swim lessons, berry smoothies and Sonic milkshakes, 90+ degree weather everyday, waiting on kids 24/7, the constant messes, never getting to run errands alone - you know... summertime! You take the good with the bad.

Hope you are all well... will write again soon.

A few additional Ellis Family antics:

* Parker passing out cold on the floor of the doctor's office after getting 4 shots (boosters).

* Aubrey splitting her head open after falling off the couch. A Dr. in our neighborhood super-glued it together. Yes I am speaking literally, he pulled out a bottle of "Super Glue" and applied it to her cut, pinching it together while it dried. Who knew?

* Ask Macy to recite any nursery rhyme - chances are she has it memorized and will say it for you with a big smile on her face.
* Summer heads off to Girl Scout camp next week. Five full days of girl-power and not having to share with her little sisters. What could be better?
* Steven turned 38 last week. Happy Birthday old man!

At Tulum

Cute braids

Hotel pool

A definite highlight for Parker...

We rented a golf cart on Isla Mujeres. Way fun!

Have YOU ever swam with a shark???