Bayside

We just love Ella's school Bayside Montessori.
The school year ended with a Harambee celebration. Harambee means "coming together" in swahili and the children showed their parents what they have learned during the last "unit" about Kenya. We don't get many chances to enter the classroom so I jumped at the opportunity to spend the morning helping the children prep food for the celebration. It's so fun seeing the Montessori classroom in action, 22 kids age 3-6, no chaos.
Ella's teachers Sheri and Yuki are wonderful!

The creek in Bayside's school yard is a big hit with the kids. If they wear their rain boots and it's a "creek day" then they can play in the creek, make mud pies, and have loads of fun.

Ella on the last day of school (June 11th)
Looking back to the 1st day of school

boy has she grown!

Recital and Whinthrop

We weren't able to record Ella's dance recital but we took this video of her rehearsal, she is in yellow, the third girl from the center. Her recital was adorable and she was unbelievably excited about being on stage at the Mt. Baker theater where she has seen quite a few shows.
Greg had the week off so we spent Tue-Thursday in the Northern Cascades (about 3 hr drive east of Bellingham.) "Camping" in a cabin at the KOA, enjoying the swimming pool and campfire. Thursday night and Saturday we did major nesting- rearranged furniture and getting geared up for having a baby in the house! (ahhh... we're so excited!)

Father's Day 2009

Click on "Father's day 2009" to view a slideshow of Greg and Ella.


Father's Day 2009

What do you wear?

To walk to the grocery store..
or ride your bike...

or @ the zoo...
Gardening doesn't require a matching outfit
And why not wear velvet to water the garden in 85 degree weather....
And sparkle shoes make the outfit, but a tiara is required for all theater performances.
"I absolutely look like Belle" E told us on the way to the theater to see Beauty and the Beast.
With Mimi and Pubah at the Chinese Acrobats show.
And then there are the time you just want to look like dad, Nepoleon Dynamite style.


(The Gregs - i.e. Napoleon and Kip- snuck into the Ski to Sea parade and were a big hit!)

Bethany

The link below show the work that our adoption agency is doing in Ethiopia. We can not wait to travel to Ethiopia and meet B, but we are aware that our hearts will be broken for all the children still needing homes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGcO3DpABdA