The Clement Bunch

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Ellie's Birthday March 2011

Ellie had an "arts and crafts party" with a few friends. We had lots of crafts set up and the girls had fun making balloon flip flops, necklaces, bracelets, quilling pictures, tissue paper pictures, ect. When they needed a break from crafting they would run into the backyard and jump on the trampoline for a few minutes and then it was back to work! It was a fun afternoon.

Kat, Ellie, and Mary Margaret.

Angela helping Katherine. So sweet of them to come so far for Ellie's birthday!!!

Monnogrammed brownies!

Happy Josie. :)

Joyful Joy. :)

Birthday Girl!

Silly Sara Kate. The stick on moustache was a big party hit!

After eating the girls got a kick out of running around on top of the pool cover. It will hold an elephant so it was safe.

Daddy brought this for Ellie's birthday supper.

Big brothers on guitar and violin, playing Happy Birthday. So sweet.

Portuguese Man of War March 2011

While at the beach for a girls weekend (very fun, relaxing, refreshing, full of laughter and great conversation!) we saw hundreds of these jellyfish stranded on the beach. I scooped some up with a big cup and posed them for these pictures. I was very careful and it's a good thing because I think, after some internet research, they really are portuguese man of wars. Scary but beautiful.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Camping Out Feb. 2011

Craig decided it would be really fun to set up the tents in the backyard, invite some pals over, and camp out. And it was really fun! This is a great time of year because it's not too cool and because the snakes aren't out yet. (my #1 reason).

roasting some marshmallows, very important in camping

safari girl getting her marshmallow time in

I found these "roaster" marshmallows. They are huge! And still yummy!

Batman had to check out the campsite.

Ben and Ellie, checking out a tent.

The whole crazy, campy, crew.

Cool dudes.

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Bedford is already sacked, Ellie, not so much.

Batman couldn't resist one more try to get in the tent.

A Valentine Tea for Mommy and Me Feb. 2011

For several years Ellie "hosted" (haha) a Christmas Tea for Mommy and Me and invited some sweet friends and their Mommies over for tea, a Christmas story, an ornament exchange and craft time. Everyone wore their Christmas dress and it was very fancy and fun. Two years ago I just didn't get to the tea at Christmas time so we decided to do it at Valentine's and that was just as much fun! We wear Valentine colors, do a craft, have real tea, with sugar cubes~always a hit~ in the tiny, vintage tea cups my great-aunt gave me . This year was so sweet. All the Mommies sat with their daughters, three of my sweet teen friends were "servers" and the girls all brought Valentines to exchange.

Josie, Joy and their mamas.

Erica and her mama.

Mariah and her mama.

Gabrielle and her Grand mama. :)

Sara Kate and here mama.

Abby and Caroline (their mama had to come a little late, in her camo, since she was working her reserve weekend! We thought it was so fun that she came anyway in her soldier clothes and boots :)

Caroline and her mama AND her sweet sister!

You can see Ellie and MY mama. We took a picture of me and Ellie but it turned out horrid so you'll just have to imagine a pretty one. :)

It was a really fun day.

Busch Gardens Feb. 2011

Busch Gardens was so much fun! There was a roller coaster at every corner (to the delight of the boys in my life, especially Drew Preston) and lots of animals for Ellie. Here we got to feed the baby kangaroos. They were so sweet.

AHHHHHH. Feed me more!

Here we fed birds with a little cup of nectar. Ellie walked into the enclosure with her little cup and 3 birds immediately flew and landed on her. She loved it.

Drew Preston totally got the giggles.

This looked like a scene from The Sound of Music. I had an overwhelming desire to start singing Do a Deer. I didn't. (sigh of relief from my family)

My guys were on this. Makes me want to throw up.

That is Sully's head under that tiger. We walked into a tunnel and right up into a glass box where we got up close and personal.

Ellie and I could have watched these guys for hours. The one on the left was antagonizing his buddy, throwing water and mud at him. Every once in a while they would chase each other all over and had us all chuckling. They really put on a show.