Where have we been?

10 days being spoiled, having fun and visiting. Lots and Lots of pics coming. But for now, you know we've been hiding out in NW Ohio!

The Kiddie Carnival

I think that we all must have said 100 times last night that it was the best summer night ever!! After reading and hearing about the Kiddie Carnival in Athens - I decided it was a must for our family. What made the night even better was that it was a cool 70 degrees out - very unusual for Alabama in July. We got to the carnival right when it opened at 6:30 and didn't leave until almost 9. Both girls rode some rides, ate dinner and had a Cotton Candy! It was so much fun. We can't wait to go back next summer!

Gracie getting her ticket ready to ride

riding a roller coaster

She loved the one with a "gunner"

Strapped in for the swing ride

What made these swings more fun?

This Guy - shooting everyone with a squirt gun!

What entertains this little one who can't ride most rides?
French Fries

Have we mentioned she loves hats?

We found one for her to ride!

She loved every second of it!

We introduced Cotton Candy...

They loved it more than you can imagine!

Fun night!

Gracie looked forward to the Ferris Wheel all night!

Time to go home - What a great night!

Summer Fun

I finally got some pics off my camera. Truthfully our days have been filled with activity but much of the same stuff we do weekly like the pool, point mallard, school and backyard play and I know you all can only look at the same things so much before it gets boring : )

This was some summer fun - we went back to the blueberry farm (back in June) and got some delicious berries. We made pie, yogurt parfaits, and ate them with all our meals for weeks. So delish.










We have also been to McWane Center this past week with Anne Rae, Jones and Crawford. A double treat that day as it was Jones' 3rd Birthday! As usual, for whatever reason, when we get together I leave my camera card at home and only had room for a few pics. We loved it as always.






Tonight we had some big fun, but I am so tired after a super fantastic day so i will update again later this week. Happy weekend and enjoy the beautiful and cool weather!! We're loving it!

Happy 4th of July!

We celebrated the 4th in a great way! We enjoyed a cookout at lunch, an afternoon at the pool and a fabulous 4th of July Shrimp Boil hosted by sweet friends!

Here's Gracie holding her sparklers. She LOVED them!


P.S. Happy 35th Anniversary to my parents today!

Princess Ballerina Camp

Sorry, I just realized it's been almost 2 weeks since my last post. Last weekend we were in Bham and had fun family time with everyone including a rare weekend where we see ALL of our cousins in the same weekend on both sides of the fam, but alas, no pictures. I've gotten really bad (Really, Really) bad about taking pics. I need to step up my game! Ha Ha.

Well this week was Princess Ballerina Camp for Gracie. This is the 1st year she was able to attend and how we have looked forward to this week for years! All the little girls come dressed in their best tutus and princess clothes for a week of dancing, a lovely teacher, Mrs. Tara who also wears her finest princess attire, crafts, delicious snacks of pink marshmellows and to top of the week a little recital.

Each day, Gracie carefully selected which attire she would wear. Always a leotard - but we usually put a princess outfit over it. Today though, she picked out her fancy ballerina costume to wear.

Here are some of Princess Gracie and her recital today.

Here are all the princesses!

This princess doing her ballet

A special curtsy as she was presented to the class

Princess Gracie and her certificate!

Our Week

H-O-T about sums it up! No, actually we were pretty busy. The girls and I were at the church for VBS this week, Swim Lessons in the afternoons, 2 days at Point Mallard Water Park, 2 trips to the pool, some cool treats and some splashing in our pools and sprinklers at home. Now if that doesn't make you tired, I don't know what will.

Gracie picked all the marigolds.
What's done is done - so I made her a flower crown.

Gracie isn't quite old enough for our VBS but she and Abby
got to enjoy the opening sessions and some crafts.




This girl just played in the nursery, but got some pizza on the last day!

We also enjoyed a church picnic and Point Mallard on Wednesday night, but wouldn't you know I left my camera at home. I decided last minute I wouldn't take my purse and forgot the camera was in it. We also went back on Thursday and waterpark with just mom does not = pictures.

Here is Gracie working on kicks at her swim lessons.
She's a little sassy with her teacher, but improving her skills.



This little one got her 1st popsicle this week.
She wasn't too fond of it and eventually passed it on to sister.

(Look how mad Gracie is in the pic
b/c Mallary won't eat the popsicle!)


And finally (if you are still reading...)
Some shots of my fish at the pool.

Gracie practicing her back float.




Mallary Playing

Back Up...

to a few weeks ago (and a few years ago). The girls and I spent a lovely morning at the zoo, but we weren't alone. My friend Anne Rae and her precious boys met us there. Anne Rae and I were "BFF" all through middle school and then my family moved to another school system so over the years we lost touch. Guess what brought us back together...Facebook! She found me last fall and we've met up previously but this is the 1st time we got the kiddos together and they all had so much fun playing. All the kids were angels. I mean absolutely the most well behaved, well mannered children. It made the day so much fun. We even braved taking them out to lunch after a long morning at the zoo - still good kids. Of course - I remembered the camera, but not the memory chip so I snapped a few on the internal memory and had to wait for mom to bring the computer adapter cord to get the pics off the camera.

Group Shot

Mallary and Crawford.

Mallary and the zebras

Gracie and Mallary on the train

Gracie and Jones watching the Gorilla