Ellis Family Adventures on the East Coast

Thursday, May 20, 2010

My AMAZING good-bye party!

There's quantity and then there's quality.................in LeJeune I was fortunate to have BOTH! We were only there for 2 years, but somehow I managed to make some AMAZING friendships with a PHENOMENAL group of girls! I'm grateful for the military lifestyle in that way. We're all in the same boat. We all "get it" in a way that the outside world just doesn't. We learn to lean and depend on each other as our husbands are deployed for what seems like FOREVER! We cross the line from friends to sisters and our kids become siblings. They say it takes a village to raise a child and in the military, there's no doubt it does! I love my LeJeune peeps! I don't know what I'd do without them! We had some of the best times ever from numerous coffees, house parties, girl's nights out to pole dancing and gnome stealing! There were some tears, but mostly laughter................LOTS and LOTS of laughter!

Jill, Renee and Stacy threw an AMAZING going away party for me and Erin. It started out with a GIANT corsage! Gawdy, just like I like it ;) Next we did what we do best................EAT delicious food and talk! The girls went all out in the planning, cooking and decorating! It was the perfect ending to a perfect 2 years with PERFECT friends! Thank you guys for always being there, for always being fun to hang out with and for ALWAYS BEING YOU! I LOVE YOU HOOKERS!!!!!

The corsage pinning

I love my Jilly Bean!

Amber, Me and Michele (they are ALWAYS girly and ALWAYS adorable!)

Jill and Erin

Jill, me and Erin

Me and "Cleveland Brandy" I love you Slut!

My, what BIG corsages we have! ;)

I love you Erin! (you also learn to make out with each other while husbands are deployed!) KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol ;)

Jennie and I enjoy doubles tennis! lol - more like Zumba!

She hates her personal space invaded which is the WRONG thing to tell me! :)

Lova ya Jen!!!

Jilly and I make a mean spaghetti dinner! HA!

Gia and Jilly Bean - BESTIES!

LOVE my Karen and LOVE me some Karen Holiday originals!

My un-biological sister!!!! I LOVE YOU BOO KOO!!!

Whose curls are whose? Hmmmmmmmmm

The always gorgeous and talented, Stacy! Love you girl! I will forever love my Gnome too ;)

TROUBLE!

Me and little George and Stacy! Love you both!!!

Stacy makes the BEST caramel french toast ever! So good I tried to eat it with the serving fork!

The FAB 5! Jill, Renee, Erin, Stacy and Me!

A little present for the NON-Carol girls ;)

"Carol" magnets! Forget me not hookers! ;)

The "Carol" pose!!

"Carol" is code for the old school Officer wives in white gloves saying "Oh Dear and Well, I never" to most everything we say and do and WE LOVE THEM! LOL

A cute group shot!

Blowin kisses! LOVE YOU LeJeune peeps!

Until next time around...................................

Goodbye Brownie Troop 1727.......Hello JUNIOR GIRLSCOUTS!

After 3 years, Ava bridged from Brownies to Girl Scouts! She really had a blast this year and even met her cookie goal, earning an ipod! She LOVED the American Girl Fashion Show and the day trip to Sweet-n-Sassy and The Melting Pot! Thank you Mrs. Erin for a fun and memorable year! She's really going to miss all her friends, but is excited to start her new year as a Junior too! :)

Wed. April 14, 2010 was Ava's last day as a Brownie so she went ahead and Bridged to the next level. Bridging is an important transition in a Girl Scout's life. It's a defining moment when a girl becomes aware of her achievements and is ready for new adventures and responsibilities. Celebrating this change should be fun, personalized, and memorable for everyone involved. And most of all, it should be designed by the girls in true partnership with adults. The girls all read something and then they formed their brownie circle around Ava and she was "flying" up to Juniors. After the Brownie Circle, Ava walked across the bridge where Erin presented her with her new vest, pin and handbook. Of course then all the girls wanted to walk across the bridge!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Sweet and Sassy and The Melting Pot!

In April, Ava's Girl Scout Troop went to Wilmington to go to Sweet & Sassy and then to eat at The Melting Pot. This was one of the trips that they chose to do with the money they made from cookie sales. YEAH FOR GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!! Sweet & Sassy is the mecca for stylish/rock star girls! They got to pick music that they wanted to sing and dance to and then they went backstage to change into their "rock star" outfits. After they changed clothes, they had their hair done, a little make-up, their nails painted and a glitter stars applied. They all looked gorgeous!

Once they were all dolled up, they got to strut their stuff on the runway. They loved it! Especially Ava - she was a ham as usual. It was hysterical, but I am in some serious TROUBLE! They had a blast and were so much fun to watch!