Partyin' NoPo style

This is my first week of work, and we were lucky to have the Schmidt grandparents here to watch Ell before she starts nursery school next week. My parents left this morning, which was very sad- we get used to them being right down the street, and sitting in their rental apartment feels almost like sitting in their real home. Mom, Lauren and I spent Thursday afternoon cooking and playing with babies, which, at the risk of sounding corny, was a really special time.

I realized yesterday afternoon that my Mom & Dad were actually leaving the following morning, not the evening as I had been thinking. So thanks to her mom's lack of planning, Ellery almost had to be left home alone today tethered to her crib with a sippy cup and the televios, but luckily Aunt Karla stepped up at the last minute to watch her. Karla sent me the photos below, so I'm thinking Ell is doing just fine.
PS - Ell is not actually this cone-headed. Thanks, iPhone.

Next week we will be found relaxing on the couch, recovering from the month of Schmidt fun and getting ready for Andrew, Judy and Colette to visit at the end of the month! I can't wait, and I hope we get some good weather for our semi-annual trip to the Japanese Garden.