July 2013

July was a nice month spent doing things with friends.  We have made some great friends over the last 6 years.  It's just sad to have to see them go every couple of years.  We love our neighbors and hate that they had to leave.  They left in August and it was so hard to see them go.  Elly loves them so much.  They have been in her life since she was born.  I still remember stopping by their house one evening when we were still pretty new neighbors telling them we were expecting Elly.  She never knew life without them right next door. We put off telling her they were leaving for quite awhile because we didn't know how to tell her and didn't want her to worry about it too far out.  We told her about a month before they left and almost every night after that she would ask me if Audrey and Linnea were going to be there tomorrow.  It's sad to me that she doesn't speak of them much since they left.  I know she thinks about them alot, but I think in her mind they are just gone and so she doesn't talk about them.  Today, for the first time in a long time, she said out of no where "I miss Audrey and Linnea.  We need to talk to them on the computer".  We sure do miss them.

Early in the month (of July, as I'm writing this much later) we went to the Stuttgart Zoo with them.  I love that zoo and always enjoy visiting there.  This little monkey was so cute.  He saw Elly's almonds that she was eating and begged for them so sweetly.  He followed her around and was right up on the glass trying to see what she had.  Wish we could have given him some ☺ 

We brought sandwiches from the bakery with us to the zoo, so at lunchtime we found a nice shaded area to sit and eat our lunch.  Elly had so much fun being with them.  The girls spoil her rotten and carry her everywhere.  I don't know how they do it.  Elly is probably at least half of Linnea's weight and yet she carries her.  

Elly with Linnea.  She sure loves them. 

For the 4th of July we again went to the celebration at Patch.  Elly always has to go on a horse ride there.  We stood in line for about an hour for a 3 minute ride, but she was happy.

Elly with all her sweet little friends.

And 5 minutes later she was off by herself pouting about something.

Then back to having fun with friends. 

This is the emotional roller coaster of a 4 year old.  We go on through this several times a day ☺

Ready to watch some fireworks with Kim and Sydney.

Elly and her best little friend, Sydney.

A Sesame Street show came to Patch and we were waiting in line.