Now that the backyard is all finished and there isn't any dirt or plants laying around, I set up Ella's baby pool. She not only loved being naked in the sunshine, but LOVED LOVED LOVED that she could get in and out of the pool at her own leisure. Ahhhh! the freedom of being a baby...sigh.
Tonight we had a BBQ at our house and had our neighbors and a lot of Ron's co-workers at our place. It was so much fun! Ron told me yesterday at lunch he'd invited everyone so I headed to the grocery store and then finished off my backyard gardening. What a great motivation to get everything planted. It's Memorial Day weekend and Ron and most of the people he works with have a 4-day weekend. NICE!
Our friends came with their little boy, Lucas, and Ella was happy to have a playmate. We also got to know a couple of our neighbors who, until now, we've just known in passing on the street. It was such a great night of Margaritas, beer and BBQ. Of course we had too much food, too much drink and too much fun. Ron's sound asleep to rest up for a golf game in the morning, and I'm up on a margarita high. Oh well, at least the house is clean and I can catch up on Oprah. These are pictures of Ella from yesterday. We love this sundress from Nana Diane!
Katie and Eric came over last night for margaritas and mexican food. Seems to be a trend we're in now.... yummy. Katie "leied" me for my birthday and the lei smelled wonderful. I love fresh flowers and Hawaii has such pretty ones.
I spent an hour in line at the DMV this morning to renew the car registration, that always sucks but Ella was great sitting in her stroller watching and pointing at people and flirting with all the men in uniform (it was army's lunch hour apparently). 
Here is a hibiscus plant that is doing very well in our backyard. I'm going to try to find a pink one too. My sunflowers are as tall as Ella...
I posted earlier this morning before Ella nearly knocked me out. I was tickling her and saying "I'm going to get your belly.." and as I leaned in to blow on her tummy, she thrust forward with such force that when she hit my head, I was seeing stars. Of course she was giggling and laughing the whole time so her mouth was open and her teeth broke the skin on my forehead. She was totally unaffected by the collision but when I stopped playing and sat there stunned she looked so sad for me. 
I guess she sensed something was amiss by the fact that I was a bit dazed and bleeding from the head! We're fine now, Ella's teeth are still in tact and I am nursing a cut and a goose egg.
What a great day indeed! Ella gave me some pretty pink roses and a basket of daisies. So pretty! Ron bought me some yummy body lotion for all the foot rubs I'm trying to get out of him. While Ron worked on the car, Ella and I spent the afternoon in the backyard doing my favorite hobby, gardening. She's into everything but has learned to look at the flowers not pull on them. She even carries around her rake and shovel and will try to help me. Check out my sunflowers along the fence... 
I started those from seeds a couple of weeks ago and they are getting huge. I can't wait to see them bloom. I dug another section out today as I have the rest of my seeds sprouting. I'll be sure to take photos as the backyard grows and blooms.
I have finally come to understand my mom in a way I never could before I had a child. Ella has not only given me immeasurable joy, but she's given me the gift of compassion and admiration for my mom as the 
wonderful person she was, not just the mom I tried to be independent from. Each day with Ella, I see more and more of my mom in me and am grateful for all the things she taught me and I am so proud to pass that on to Ella. I wish they had a chance to meet, it would have been love at first sight for them both! 
I have also been blessed with a wonderful mother-in-law. We wish you a Happy Mother's Day and know that we wouldn't be half the parents we are if it wasn't for your love and support. We love you. 
I took Ella to a free trial class of gymnastics for 1 to 3 year olds yesterday morning. It's a parent/tot class that has circle time, stretching and fun obstacle courses for the kids to do with the help of Mom or Dad. Though it was fun and a great set-up, Ella is too young for it right now. All of the kids were between 2-3 so Ella was quite a bit behind the average skill level. She loved watching and playing with the kids and it will be great for her in a few months. We'll stick to swim classes for now. Unlike most of the kids though, she does understand "Tuck your head" when she bends over on all fours. We say this when we play with her on our bed and somersault her. She loves it!
Both Ron and Ella were up (and woke me up) early this morning but seeing as I had to go work at the hospital, I got out of bed with them. As I was finishing getting ready for work, I found them... asleep! Cheeky monkeys, get me up early, then be sound asleep as I have to walk out the door. I would have much rather crawled back into bed with them!
Happy May Day, Workers Day, or Lei Day they call it in Hawaii. It's should just be a celebration for the beginning of a fabulous month! (It's mother's day and my birthday this month...need I say more :)! ) I took these pics when Ella was down for her nap. She sleeps like me, lots of blankets and at least one leg out of the bed!
Which reminds me, Erin, you would freak out if you were here right now. You thought it was crazy living on an army base before but they are doing some major training right now and the whole field outside our housing is set up to "play army" as Ron says. I walked to the gate with Ella and the whole time was thinking "Erin would be having a heart attack saying 'oh my god we're at war'". Funny, but I guess you just get used to it.
