The Pool

We joined our neighborhood pool this summer and have had a lots of fun swimming most days. We have two little fish on our hands with the littlest one being the most adventurous.

Evan and Abbie's Adventures with Grandpa and Grandma

The Slip n Slide

Helping Grandpa

They waxed our cars!

Helping Grandpa exercise

A trip to Chick Fil A

St. Maarten

A few pictures from our trip to St. Maarten. We had a great week relaxing, hiking, snorkeling and reading. Thanks to the Holcks for the week and the babysitting.

My birthday dinner

View from our balcony

Dinner at La Cherolais

First full day...and yes we are wearing lots of sunscreen!

View of Marigot from Fort St. Louis

Eating at the Lo Los. We could have eaten here every day.

At the base of Mt. Scenery a dormant volcano on the island of Saba. It's quite a steep hike and took us about 2hrs round trip.

In the rain forest of Mt. Scenery

The Party!

We farmed out the kids' party this year since we were leaving on our trip the next afternoon. We could not have picked a better place. The kids had a great time and they made everything very easy. What a fun afternoon with friends and family. Both sets of grandparents were in attendance however they took most of the pictures so they aren't in any.

The blurry smile you see on Evan didn't leave his face for hours! He absolutely loved playing at Pump It Up with all his friends.

My little climber went all the way up this "ladder" on her own...

...and then slid down. She sort of liked it and climbed up to go down again - she was over it after that.

Jumping and sliding with friends Annie and Grant

Nice basketball shooting form - a natural!

The birthday kids!

The "Party Crowd"

The Cake. Evan made sure that there was a girly car on the cake for Abbie.

"Happy Birthday to you...."

Evan goes mostly for the icing and he views utensils as an unnecessary nuisance. 

This cake must have tasted better than her cupcake on her birthday because she devoured every crumb.

Happy Birthday to my Sweet, Big Bug!!

I'll write more...when I return from my 6.5 day date with my husband! (That may just be a yearly record by the way!). Thanks to the inlaws for the vacation and for staying at our house with the kids so that we feel comfortable leaving them for a few days. I miss them already and I haven't even walked out the door yet!

Okay, on to the Birthday Boy! My big boy is 4 today. FOUR! F-O-U-R! Really? Four? Yes four...and I've now typed it so many times it looks funny. He is amazing, precious, precocious at times, full of life, full throttle at all he does...smart, curious, inquisitive, loving, kind, caring, a seeker of knowledge, sensitive...amazing!

Happy Birthday sweet Bug. We love you more than words can say...but the best we can do is that we love you mucher and mucher and mucher!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Baby Girl!

 Our baby girl has turned 1 year old. Many days it's hard to believe that an entire year has gone by since Abbie was born. She is such a light in our family. She smiles and laughs easily and has a strong desire for exploration and play. She loves books and will ask for them over and over - she's already figured out how to stall bedtime with an extra book or two...like mother like daughter. She has an adventurous yet sweet spirit. She has become a true "Daddy's Girl" as of late and is so proud when her Daddy has her; and I believe he is just as proud to have her as well. 

Evan and Abbie continue to do very well together. He loves to teach her things and be the "big brother," although this can lead to an altercation at times, his heart is usually in the right place. Evan calls her "Paba" or "Pabby" and this has pretty much stuck for him. She lights up when she sees him and wants to be wherever he is.

Abbie loves to wave and smile at everyone; and if they don't wave back she will begin calling out to them to get their attention. She loves to walk everywhere (still holding hands for now) and is trying to be quite the climber; I have already found her climbing onto small chairs to get things she wants. I see many future posts on that topic. She continues to babble constantly as if we understand her completely, it's so cute. She does say quite a few words and communicates her needs/wants very well.

We are loving our Abbie girl and having so much fun watching her grow.

Big girl ready for church on her birthday

Being sung too...she loved it!

Evan was very excited that he too got an extra large cupcake.

She was so excited about it but just wasn't sure what to do with it

So, she ate one sprinkle at a time...for quite while.

Evan coaching her in the ways of cupcake eating

Taking a bite...there is some video as well as the sugar hits...that will be posted later I'm sure.

A pink Little People's Bus! It sings and she was so excited about that.

Dancing to the music. Happy Birthday Sweet Abbie! We love you!

Jeff Birthday/Frisco Rough Riders' Game

Jeff and Abbie enjoying the game...at this point the entire section was singing happy birthday to Jeff. That's what you get when you take 500 or so of your volunteers to a baseball game..."for" your birthday! What a way to celebrate the big 4-0!

Evan and some friends waiting to run the bases after the game

Team Soccer Dinner

Evan with one of his soccer coaches, his trophy and award. He got the "Alarm Clock" Award because one day he "woke up" and became aggressive. On a side note, he was later nicknamed the "Enforcer" as he became a little too aggressive and would "move" kids out of the way so either he or his friends could score. We think Rugby may be more his sport. However he absolutely loved soccer and can't wait to play when it begins in the Fall. Go Dragons!

Abbie's Dedication

Abbie with Granddaddy and Lela having a pre-dedication snack. Goldfish of course as she is an addict!

Pastor Neil praying for Abbie

Sibling Love

We bought an enormous bean bag chair at our church's garage sale - it had been used on stage just a few times - what a deal! Evan and Abbie both love it and love to cuddle there.