Tink-UH-Bayell

Nana and Pop very generously took care of the girls and Holly while Brien and I were off having adventures with gnomes.  ;o)

I had B call Friday evening to see how bedtime went (what can I say, I worry, and Ellie is rather attached to me) and was told I hadn't packed appropriate pj's.  You see, Ellie is a huge fan of her super fuzzy fleecy blanket sleeper and I haven't been able to put any other jams on her for the past month.  As I'm sure you are aware, it's HOT here and those are not the most appropriate jim jams.  But, in an effort to keep the peace, I packed those pj's.  Nana was afraid Ellie would sweat to death (and she does indeed get quite sweaty in them) so she sent Pop to the store to pick up some more summer-friendly jammers.

Being the wise soul he is, Pop picked up matching Tinkerbell pj's.  I know it's hard to tell from this photo, but Ellie is in love with those jams.  In. LOVE.  Yes, a capital l-o-v-e love.  I saw them and knew she would be living in them.

While I won't allow her to wear them as street clothes, the child insists on putting them on for nap.  Then, we put them back on again at bedtime.  "uh-Tink-UH-bayell!"is a common bedtime cry around here. 

It was wonderful leaving the girls with Mom and Dad.  There's nothing like leaving your children in a place you know they will be cared for and showered with love and fun.  As I might have previously mentioned, Miss Bean is a water hound, and Miss Bit is finding her confidence growing with each trip to the water.  Nan and Pop very wisely took the girls to the pool both Saturday and Sunday and wore the girls out.  There is nothing more draining than playing in the water and sunshine.  Beanie slept like the dead that night. ;o)

Both girls had such a wonderful time Ellie forgot to ask about me even once.  Oh, wait, Pop says she did mention me one time.  That's it.  Hooray! That means some day, when Mom and Dad have recovered from their adventures with our darlings (and our darling pooch who is NOT a good house guest and insists upon getting up before the crack of dawn), they might be willing to do this again some day...;o)

In other news, I'm just starting to get a feel for this whole "swim team" thing, and I have to say I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.  Holy smokes!  I'll be donating concessions (not a big deal, I can make and wrap desserts) and time (this is where I'm worrying--I'm sure handing out ribbons isn't that big a deal.  However, timing is another matter altogether and I've never timed a thing.  Gah!!)  I'll do my best, though.  I'm all about being a team player and doing my share, and if Lil becomes a proficient swimmer through being a member of the swim team, excellent. I just have to get over my anxiety of the unknown.  I'm just so afraid I'll mess up. :oS  I'm also concerned about Ellie and being able to keep an eye on her when B and I are supposed to be working.  Hopefully the swim team folks are like a giant family and will look out for one another, right? :oS

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Sparklies:

1. 

Even though my walking buddies deserted me the past three days, I've still been out getting moving.  Ellie and I had a lovely time today and I got in quite a bit of running.  Yay!  Don't you just love the young oxen up there?  (As a quick word game aside, does anyone know the other two English language words that end in "en" to make them plural?)

2.  Even though I posted them over on FYB, I still wanted to have them over here.  My current daylilies:

Lil's Frankly Scarlets are surely that.  Whew!

This is Autumn Wood and I think I may need about 100 more of this one.  It is so gorgeous!

Strawberry Candy.  I'm a sucker for a ruffled edge.  Who knew?

Even better?  This ruffled edge is colorful!

The converted fountain-to-flowerbed.  Lil is loving all those red daylilies in there, and the Strawberry Candies provide a nice contrast.  

3.  I gave myself a mini at home pedi.  I used a scrub and then slathered my feet in lotion and stuffed them in plastic Tarjay bags and covered those with socks.  Just as I finished doing that Carlos appeared to do the lawn.  He must have thought I had rocks in my head or something.  But, hey, what do 14 year old boys know?!? ;o)  Oh, and my feet?  Soft like buttah. :o)

4.  Brien finally has a phone in his current office.  Whew. 

5.  Sparkly red piggies. :o)

No milestones.