It's Just Another Manic Monday

We got up early and went to the mall to get Ella and Luke's Easter pictures taken with Myles. We had to be there by 9 (yikes!) and I think we finally got done with the picture taking and picture selection by 10:15 or so. I had planned on walking around at the mall and doing some shopping until it was time to meet Aron for lunch but we were at Easton (it's not your typical indoor mall. You walk outside to get from store to store) and it was raining. Me dragging 2 kids around in a stroller in the pouring rain does not sound like fun. So, I called my friend, Jeanne, to see if she was available for a quick visit. I was in luck because she was available along with her baby, Natalie.

When I was talking to Jeanne on the phone, Ella kept asking "Are we going to see the Genie? Are we going to see the Genie?" She thought that Jeanne was Genie from the movie Aladdin. She was a little disappointed when we got there and Jeanne was not a silly, blue animated Genie but she quickly got over it when they started reading some books together. We hung out there for a while (and Ella checked her e-mail on Jeanne's computer) until it was time to go and meet Aron for lunch. We drove downtown to Aron's work then had lunch together. After lunch, we took the kids into his office where Luke made friends with all the ladies there (including a rousing game of peekaboo with a woman under a table). Ella was shy but quickly warmed up when Aron offered to let her play games on his computer.

By the time we got home, it was almost 3 (double yikes!) and it was nearly time to get ready for our Dancing With the Stars Party with Grammie and Poppy. Ella wanted to get changed in to her ballet gear (see also above photo) right away even though Grammie and Poppy weren't coming over until 6:30. Aron picked up pizza on his way home and before we knew it, it was time to watch the Dancing With the Stars premiere. Luke didn't last very long and went to bed about 8:15. Ella stayed up the entire time until 10. She went upstairs at 10 and was nearly falling over tired.

Whew. That's a long day.