Festival of the Vine or Ella flies solo

The weekend of the 12th, Ella and I met my parents and aunt and uncle in Geneva for the Festival of the Vine.

Here's the happy couple...It was their wedding anniversary but they refused to get together for a photo. I took it anyway ;)

This next series of photos shows how my little bird really doesn't give a crap about who she's with or where they are -- she just rolls, um, I mean how independent she is....

No clue who this dude is but apparently him and Ella are old friends?

Where's Waldo?

She doesn't even turn to look for us!

And now she needs a drink. Well guess what sister? You don't have any money so see, you do need your mom for something...

Eating with Ella

Breaking news: Ella uses a fork and sometimes food gets in her mouth!

Summer Randoms

For whatever reason, I have not been inclined to blog much lately. But some cute summer pictures have been hanging over me so here they are...

The first set is from Dolphin's Cove Pool.

Ella enjoys her sand table in the garage - thanks to the Cavenders.

Randall Oaks Farm and Barnyard Zoo - this is on the same property where we had Ella's birthday party. Thank the lord or whoever -- Ella loves animals!!! I think I'd have to trade her in otherwise.

Ella told Adriana that her butt looked big in those shorts and Adriana tried to poke Ella's eyes out. Bitches!

These two little girls are so independent. They don't even care that their moms are across the park. I can just see them sneaking out together.

We had a few nice days at the Morkes pool. Here's Jill holding her future daughter in law ;)

It's hard to believe how big all the kids are getting. And the group just keeps producing more...

It's nice that Teresa is a SAHM too and we can hook up and take a walk or hit up a local park because she lives so close.

Luke is so good with Ella and if he and Reese don't work out, this could be one of Ella's future husbands. Or George, or Devin. Landon is a bit young...

There's Something About Mary (or Ella)

All I Do is Win

So for a long time I've been trying to get Ella to do the..."how big is Ella?, so big," and raise her arms in the air. She never complies. But now when she hears the song, All I Do is Win and they say to put your hands in the air, guess what Ella does? Here are two examples. Turn up your speakers so you can hear. Yep, she rocks.

An oldie but a goodie

The Last of the Texans

I know, I know, the Texans have been gone for over a month and I'm still blogging about them. That's the last time I fall behind on my blog!
Here's a great pic of Ziggy and Otis plotting the demise of Greta! My sister's husband flew back so he could make the 19 hour drive home with his family.

My Aunt organized a barbecue at my Grandma's house on Kerry's last day so everyone could see her off.

Ella was pretty annoying that day so we just put her in the cage and went on with our party. Don't worry, we gave her some water.

I was excited to FINALLY get a descent pic of our entire immediate family because we are all together only once a year. Last year, at Ella's christening we only took one and it was blurry (the photographer will remain unnamed ;)

Imagine my annoyance when I realized that my freaking brother wasn't in the picture - he had to work that day. Oh well, maybe next year...

The girl cousins sans one who doesn't like to come to family parties.

There are two reasons that I like my sister. The first is that she has three really great kids. The second is we have a similar sense of humor. It's tradition to take dog defecating photos at my Uncle Bobby's house every year. Yeah, I can't think of any other reasons to like her.

The boys wanted Buzz to make them a set of bags to take home to Austin. If you can believe it, the game isn't popular there - which makes no sense because they have such great weather. Well, Buzz had made his brother a set three years ago and his brother never plays so he was nice enough to give the set to the boys. They were so excited!

The Cavender clan smothering the bird.

Ella took quite a liking to Uncle Michael

This is very typical of my mom...she decided to make cookies for the kids to take home the night before they leave. But Joanne doesn't just make cookies...she makes two or three different kinds and dozens and dozens of each kind. She always doubles cookie recipes because, "why go through all that work for just a few dozen cookies?" So guess how late she was up?

So that's it. No more pics from the Texans visit. Boy was I sad to see them go. I am planning a trip for October if I don't get a job by then.

Navy Pier

Every year, my parents take my sister's children to Navy Pier for the day. Normally my sister and I get out of it and lounge around the house all day but this year I wanted to bring Ella so I dragged my sister's lazy ass with. We took the train from somewhere local. Can't recall, it's been over a month...

This was Ella's first train ride. Or is it the el? I'm pretty clueless sometimes...

This shot was taken seconds before my sister tumbled onto her small ass exposing her blue panties to all of the train station. Nice move, camera girl. Instead of asking if she was okay, I set a terrible example by laughing my butt of with her three boys. I laughed so hard I almost peed.

We took a water taxi to Navy Pier.

What can you really say about this picture?

We went to Bubba Gumps to eat. Blake told my parents that he waits all year for this meal. What a suck-up! He had the coconut shrimp and wouldn't share a bite.

Next my dad took the boys on some speed dog boat ride.

Kerry's youngest, Aidan, didn't want to ride the boat so me and him caught a game of miniature golf while my mom, Kerry and Ella went to booze it up at the beer garden. Looks like Ella had one too many cosmos and decided to catch some z's.

I talked my dad into playing hot potato in front of a hundred people so we could win ride tickets. He was so embarrassed, especially when it came down to him and a kid as the final two but Papa Joe came through and won.

Ella's first Ferris Wheel Ride.

I think this pick would make a great greeting card cover or sarcastic, motivational poster. My sister has never been that great with children.

But she can take a mean photo.

Here's Aidan and I riding those swings. Kerry convinced me to go with him telling me that it wouldn't be that bad. It was worse. It was never-ending!

After rushing to catch the water-taxi, giving the stare down to some ignorant late-comers without tickets, running to the train station, and not having a clue which train to take once we got there, we ended up sitting in McDonalds for an hour while we waited for the next train. Ella stayed up and happy the whole day. We didn't get home until after midnight.

The reason my sister and I don't always like to do stuff with my mom is because when she does something, she does it. She will rock an outing from 9 am till midnight and not bat an eyelash. My sister and I like to laze around a few times a day and these outings are not conducive to that. But, we had a nice family day and we're glad we went...right Kerry?