Ella loves to swim

Although the summer is almost over, we got Ella's pool out over the weekend. It is amazing how much fun she has it in. Notice the way that she was getting in and out. She let out quite a bit of the water, so we had to fill it up again.

Ella's Cousins - Marvin's Grandchildren

Here are Ella's cousins from Virginia & California! One more Cali kid is on the way with Aaron's sister Alysia, who is due in Oct (I think). From left to right they are Josh (4), Ashley (9), Jay (1)(Alysia's), Lindsey (2) and Brian (6). I think it's funny that Aaron's boys just happen to have the same names as both of my brothers!

Time Away

Last week I traveled to Washington DC for a product conference for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), the product I work on. While in DC, I had the opportunity to have dinner with my 3 - 1st cousins (once removed), Susan, Susan's husband Mike (who could really be a cousin too!), AC and Marvin; and my second cousin, Aaron (Marvin's son). Here are some of the pictures.

Luckily I was able to make it back safely on Friday. With 500 flights cancelled in Chicago on Thursday due to thunderstorms and rain, I wasn't sure that I would make it, but I did and even on time!

Explaining the HSA product to Aaron (I think I may have him sold on getting one).

Here we all are for dinner at Coastal Flatts. Our waitress had never met someone from Iowa. Glad that I was the first!

My yummy Key Lime Martini!

AC, Marvin, Aaron & myself then took a night time tour of DC. Here Aaron and I are shopping at a local t-shirt stand.

AC, myself, Mike, Aaron & Susan after dinner

Siblings

It's not very often that Josh, Brian & I are all together in one place, but we were this weekend at the Car Show in Pocahontas. Josh's race car is behind Brian's Camaro.

At the car show

Here's Ella & Brian at the car show in Pocahontas. Ella is sitting on Brian's 1968 Camaro! His mechanic's pride of joy!

Ella & Sarah

Here's Ella with her aunt Sarah and baby (end of Sept). We think it's a girl!

Ella & Sarah

Here's Ella with her aunt Sarah and baby (end of Sept). We think it's a girl!

Pop Bottle

Ella is just about out growing sippy cups. Now it's regular cups and water bottles. Here she is trotting around with an empty one!

Pop Bottle

Ella is just about out growing sippy cups. Now it's regular cups and water bottles. Here she is trotting around with an empty one!

My big wheel

Funny picture because this was my big wheel when I was a little kid!

Ouch!

Ella got going so fast backwards that she ran off the cement and into the grass. Ouch!

Big wheels

Here's Ella & Paige with their big wheels.

Ella and the dogs

with Duste (our dog)

with Nookie (my parents' dog)

Ella with Maa Maa

Here is Ella was Maa Maa, Grandma Ellen. She just calls me Mom and Charles, Dad.

Her new favorite words; apple, aardvark, and book.

Big job

Last week, we put 7 new windows and a new door in our house. Now we have all new windows before the new siding comes in less than a month! Our house is almost done after 3 1/2 years of working on it.

My parents were down, along with a family friend to put in the windows and door. It looks very nice, but now we have some drywall and insulating to do before everything is finished.

At the Iowa State Fair

Last year, Ella loved the fair. This year, she was a little cautious. She didn't like the animals and hated Curious George (grown up size). She loves George on IPTV. Oh well!

She really liked riding the Giant Slide with me. We had to go 3 times!

Helper

Here is Ella helping us. Charles & I had our work gloves on, so Ella went and grabbed two rubber gloves to help us pick up the yard.

Playing with the Essink Kids

Katie & Charles bonding while Ben is playing with his toys.


















Mr Popular with Ella & Katie

Ella playing with Ben.

Pebbles

Here is Ella with her first pony tail that I put in. All of her hair isn't long enough yet, so it's just the hair in the middle of her head. I haven't seen Charles laugh this hard in a long time, he thought we needed to take a picture of her, so in 15 years when her nickname is Pebbles, she'll understand why.

Laundry

Hopefully Ella keeps up her love of helping with laundry. Here is she putting on Charles' socks. We can't help but laugh!