Elizabeth and Ella: TrainBell 2011

Another wonderful week at TrainBell.

Year 2 was as much fun as year 1. We love this tradition and are already looking forward to next year.

It was a little colder this year but there was still enough time for swimming as well as the fun events at the resort. There were 4 families in our group this year. We all had fun and enjoyed each other's company very much. I hope we can continue to add families to this fun tradition.

Bingo night was a hoot. Ella kept telling me that she didn't want to play the game and "You Made Me Mom". Guess who won the last game and biggest pot of money? Lucky Ella. By the last game, Elizabeth was pretty much playing her card and Ella's so when Ella changed her mind and wanted to finish the game, Elizabeth gave her the card with the most open spaces left. I would have too! With Cover All it takes alot of time to win. But then Ella's numbers were all drawn and when she flipped the last one over, she looked at me and I said, go ahead and say it.... BINGO... She ran up and got her money with the biggest smile. Elizabeth had a moment of regret (and who could blame her) but rallied.

The next day we went to Nisswa and Ella used $10 of her $30 to buy her sister a stuffed panda... I love those kinds of moments. Ella offered without any pressure from Elizabeth.

We met a new friend and her family too. Elizabeth got along really well with a sweet girl named Hope. They played very well together and Elizabeth has already written Hope two letters. They live in Iowa but go back to Trainbell the same week each year. And to prove it is a small world, their family is traveling to Ethiopia to adopt a 4 year old boy. Can't wait to meet him next year.

Due to our vacation in China I didn't have enough vacation time left so we had to leave before the week was done. It was an amazing week and we have already paid our deposit for next year.