Many random things to share so I'll do it in list format...

1. Today we met friends at a cool Spray Park nearby. We brought one of Ella's preschool friends along as well and kids alternated between running around in the water and playing on the playground a few feet away. After heading home all three girls immediately ran into the backyard and played for 40 minutes in our family pool. Then they came in, dried, ate every piece of fruit in our house, colored, sniffed Ella's scented markers and ended up with multicolored mustaches and then eventually sat down to watch Zaboomafoo.

But the day wasn't over. We were still planning on swimming somewhere else around four, when it was still hot (it just seemed really hot today) but there wasn't as much risk of sun burn. I wanted to double check with Ella before we started the process of getting suits on again. She responded with "no, I'm worn out, I want to stay home."

Mark that date in history. Ella deMontaigne was worn out. There are many times I thought it would happen, but that girl is the energizer bunny and keeps going and going.....

2. But it could also be because of this...both Ella and Catherine have got some sort of mid summer cold going on. We ended up going to the doctors when they woke up Monday morning with deep coughs and Ella was complaining of a sore throat. So they are both on day 3 of medicine...most likely the reason Ella's a bit worn out. It still counts doesn't it?

3. The girls are both attending a summer arts intensive (camp) two mornings a week through the month of July. I love it because it's all of their favorite activities, dance, music, art, cooking, story time and it's not too much time- twice a week for a few hours is perfect for us. It's through ACPPA Community Arts Center, a nonprofit organization that make arts available to children in the community. I ask them every morning when I pick them up what their favorite activity does and they answer, but I really struggle to get any details out of them.

Tuesday afternoon I was making lunch and asked Ella what songs she was learning at music time. She shrugged and I thought that was it but then she looked at me with a sort of puzzled expressions and said "The Beatles?" Then she started to sing "We all live in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine." So I sang along with her. The look on her face was priceless, "Mom, do YOU know the Beatles?" I explained to her that yes I did and that I thought it was so great that they were learning The Beatle's music at art camp.

Catherine decided to get involved and proceeded to sing Yellow Submarine for at least the next ten minutes while dancing around the dining room table. Good times, I tell ya, good times!

4. A little bit of what's coming...I grilled pizza for the first time last weekend and loved it! I'll be back to give you the rundown on it as well as the different combinations we tried and what we liked and didn't like!

5. But I won't be back until after the weekend. We are leaving Friday morning to head out on our once a summer trip to Chincoteague VA. This time my parents will be making their first trip to the island to join us and Matt's parents. I haven't been the beach yet this summer and I am so looking forward to a few days relaxing in the sun (and having a 2:1 ratio of grandparent to grandkid!).

6. Oh yes, I can't forget two final bits of info. Tomorrow night I am joining a bunch of friends to go see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. It's been so long ago that I read the book that I really forget so much of it (except some of the major, unforgettable stuff - don't worry, no spoilers from me) and I'm really looking forward to seeing the movie with some fellow fans.

7. Last, but if you've been around here for any amount of time, it's certainly not least....Renee is blogging tonight's episode of SYTYCD. I watched the first hour, and then came down here to write this post and let my DVR gain some time on me. Definitely looking forward to discussing tonight's show! I hope you join in!