Party!

Aunt Sue watched Ellie, while Jeff and I went to church.  It was nice to celebrate mass together.  This is the first time in 10 1/2 months that we have been able to offer each other Peace!  It was like we were newlyweds; holding hands, smiling at each other, sitting together, not running down the aisle, football-hold on a wiggling baby, "Hi, hi, HI!" the entire way!  Afterward, friends came up to us asking where Ellie was.  We told them at 10.5 months, we felt she was old enough to be home alone... we have been expecting Child Services to come to our door all day.

Ellie did great with Aunt Sue, falling asleep in her arms while Uncle Steve and Urbie spoke in low, soothing tones... takes a village...

After everyone was safely on the road to their prospective homes and a nap was held by all in our home, we drove up to Stephens City for the 15th Birthday Celebration of the Children's Discovery Museum.  Too much to tell about... we; played with floam (super cool stuff!), made a hat, had Ellie's face painted, ate pizza and ice cream, decorated and devoured a cupcake, went through a maze, watched a play, crawled in the grass and went "fishing" earning Ellie a little, gooey, yellow, rubber salamander.  You were supposed to dress up as a Dr. Suess character; Ellie was Cindy Loo Who, of course!  I could be missing something... by 4pm, we were home again and napping - crashing!  Ellie pretty much begged to be put to bed tonight!