{Lady} and Gentlemen...Start Your Engines!

Those are the words that mark a Memorial weekend tradition! 

And this year...this young {lady} got to experience it for the first time...

Alex has been going to the Indy 500 since he was probably about 5 years old...and Emily was thrilled to go this year!  They were both excited to get to go down on the track before the race started!

{don't they looked excited?  ha!}

Hopefully the five of us will all get to go together soon...but I know Dan has loved sharing this experience with them every year so far! 

And this year was even more memorable because it marked the 100th year for the Indianapolis 500 race...

{the very first race car}

Ellie and I hung out at home...swam a few laps...and just enjoyed a little quiet time...

after all...I have to savor it while I can...

This little {lady} turned 6 months old on Sunday!

I love dressing her up and having little photo shoots...but this weekend has also been the hottest weekend yet!  Whew...I'm sweating just thinking about it...so we didn't go outside if we didn't have to...besides, I loved capturing her as she is...right now...

rolling around on the floor...

...playing with her toys...

...and grabbing whatever is in her reach...

She loves holding onto these little rings...and she's fallen asleep several times with them in her grasp, without letting go!

I just can't believe she's already half-way to a year!  How did these six months get past me?! 

{...sigh...}

Memorial Day...we celebrated with Dan's mom and dad and Grandma Martha...

We're so lucky to have her...she loves her grandkids and great-grandkids...and she doesn't miss a beat!

{and they all love her too!}

{Grandma}

{Daddy}

It was a fun, relaxing day with family, grilling out, and lots and lots of this...

{and way too many mini cupcakes and deviled eggs for me...burp...}