Elizabeth and Ella: Don't wake up Mom or she will be crabby.

That is what I heard Elizabeth say to Ella at 7:30 this morning. Then Elizabeth tried reading Ella a story. Very sweet. But then Elizabeth came in my room to tell me she had a bug on her back. I guess there was a mosquito in the house. Then Ella came in my room and Elizabeth came back and we read princess stories. Nice way to start the day. But I guess my tiredness is getting noticed by the girls. Its hard for them to understand why Mom is tired every night and I bet I do get crabby. I am working with the doctors to get my thyroid at correct levels and have a follow up appointment this week.

Yesterday we went to Como Park. We got there at 10AM so we could get a parking spot and it worked. My plan was to do the zoo first and then Como Town but the girls vetoed that idea. We saw the new butterfly tent and a couple animals and then ran into friends from daycare. They were having a fun time too. They kept looking at animals and we went to Como Town. The girls had a blast on all the rides. While they were on the little train I heard a little voice yell ELLLLLAAAAAA. Our friends from day care saw Ella on the train and we hung out in Como Town. After Elizabeth's last ride (the swings that go high - she loved it) we had one ticket left. So Ella was going to do the cars again but then said no. So Elizabeth was going to go with Mikaela. After we were at the ride Ella changed her mind again. Mikaela's dad John went to get another ticket - nice family - but before he got back Elizabeth told Ella she could have her ticket. She was so sweet. I leaned down and gave Elizabeth a kiss and told her how proud I was of her. Ella and Mikaela then got in a car. Well the person running the ride told Elizabeth she was so impressed with how nice she was when she gave up the ticket w/o being asked that she let Elizabeth in for free. That was wonderful validation for Elizabeth. Its one thing to have Mom happy with you but to have a stranger notice it too was great! John got back in time to give the girl the ticket but Elizabeth didn't see that so all was good. I didn't want to tell John that it wasn't necessary for the ticket because he was so nice to get it.

We left Como about 1:00 and went to Beth and Franks. They were having a BBQ and invited us too. Ella was exhausted and fell asleep on me in the chair. We transferred her to a blanket on the ground and she stayed asleep until their dog Oscar started licking her face. I tried laying down with her and would have slept too but Ella was hungry then. So she stayed awake and we all had a great time. Elizabeth played with Sydney and her cousins and Ella and I just sat around the table and visited with everyone. We got home about 6. The plan was to rest and then go find a spot to watch the fireworks from Midway stadium. Welllllll we all fell asleep and didn't make it to fireworks. Maybe we will try to catch the ones tonight from Taste of MN. Ella was the last to wake at 9 pm and I was afraid she wouldn't go to sleep later. But, we watched some cartoons and then went to bed about 11. Late I know but it worked with the naps. Then they woke about 7:15 this morning. Today we are cleaning the house and going to Elizabeth's old school so they can play. Very easy day today.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July!

I took this photo of one of the butterflies: