Sweet Innocence

Brian had last Tuesday off. He offered to go pick up Emily from school! She loves getting to ride in his truck! When she got home, this was what she announced with a big smile on her face, "Mommy, Gabrielle said my daddy is hot!" I didn't know what to say. Melanie (who is visiting this week) and I just looked at each other over Emily's shoulder and silently laughed. Later, as we sat at the dinner table, I asked her, "Emily, what did Gabby mean by 'Your daddy is hot'?" This was her response:

"Well, see, he picked me up in his truck. And since the truck is red, it probably reminded her of fire, and fire is hot!"

Yes, baby girl, that's probably what she meant.

Visits

I really need to pull my camera out and have it handy. I never remember to take pictures. Thankfully, Melanie takes a lot (a LOT ha ha) of pictures. She and the kids came to visit a couple weeks ago for their first visit of the fall. They'll be back soon. It was so fun to have playmates for the girls. As usual, one of the kids got sick (Emily this time...we have never visited each other without one of the kids getting sick), but it wasn't too bad. Here are some pictures from the fun at the beach we had.


My little blond beach bunny.


We told them they could go in the water "up to their ankles...hmmmm"


Yes, this was the 2nd day Emily was home from school sick. Shh, don't tell.

This look pretty much sums up what Noah thought of the beach. ha ha

Digging for treasure...or burying it or something. Who cares? Look at the position Callie is in!

Is It Possible?

Is it really possible that my baby...my baby has turned 4 years old? I called her Dr this week to make her "4th year old well baby appointment" and the lady corrected me: "Her well child appointment?" Ouch! I look at pictures of Emily when she was 4...the things she was doing, how we treated her. And I think, "Savannah could never do all that." It doesn't take me long to remind myself that she probably could, I just don't allow it. I'll be the first to admit that I'm hanging on to my baby as long as possible.

Savannah, you make us smile. We love you, baby girl.

We enjoyed celebrating her birthday with our friends, the Bethels (minus Matthew who is deployed ) and Meme and Papa. Very low key, and very enjoyable.

We started the day at IHOP!

Then she got to open her presents from Oma. Oh, evidently, it's the new rule that even siblings get presents for birthdays. So, Emily got some, too. Van got Nala and Tramp, and Emily got Lady and Bambi.

Emily enjoying the new deck at Meme and Papa's house.

This years theme was "The Little Einsteins"

My first "non Sarah" cake. Please don't go to this post and compare it to last years cake created by Sarah. Missed you this year.

Mmm. Pizza and "Silly Bread"

He is quite possibly the cutest boy this side of the Mississippi.

"It's Pillow...It's a Pet! It's a Pillow Pet!" Probably the most loved present this year.

This one ran a close second. A tutu! Those that know her well will be able to tell by her eyes in this picture how much she liked it. You just have to look closely.

Yay! She doesn't have to sit on the floor in the playroom anymore.

She loved her birthday button from Mason and Bradey. She wore it all day!

Papa's girl.

Matthew was there in spirit. :)

I Love This Place

When Brian and I were on our way up here from NC, we were traveling in separate cars, and he radioed (we had walkie talkies) me and said, "Turn your radio on 94.1! They're gonna say my name!" I turned it over, heard that it was ESPN Radio and they were announcing winners of Tides baseball tickets. And he won! We got 4 tickets to the Norfolk Tides baseball game. It was a beautiful night, and we had SO much fun.


There is so much to do here, and we love love LOVE it!!! Here are some pics from the baseball game.


They had several little skits put on by these over sized animals. The girls loved it.

Look at those eyes. :)

That hat once held french fries. Silly girl.

Cotton candy...the best part.

First Day of School

Monday, August 23rd, was Emily's first day of 2nd grade. SECOND GRADE?!?! I can't believe I have a second grader. I'm so young!! (no comments from the peanut gallery) We decided to place Emily in a Christian school (not private school...there's a big difference) this year instead of homeschooling her. I loved homeschooling...loved the flexibility of it, loved having her with me all day. Emily? Not so much. She is a social butterfly and was beginning to hate school, and let me tell you, the 1st grade is too young to hate school. That shouldn't come till at least 7th grade. Anyway, I digress.

We shopped for school supplies (something you don't really get to do when you're homeschooled...if you need a pencil, you grab one from where you can find it), shopped for school clothes, and asked about lunches and all that cool stuff. She was beyond excited!! And, sure enough, Monday morning, she woke me up way too early and said, "It's my first day of school!!" Every day, she's gotten in the car after and told me how wonderful it is, and how her teacher is the BEST teacher ever!!! I try not to remember I was her teacher last year. :)

She is attending Bethel Christian School in Hampton, VA, and while the 16 minute drive every morning and afternoon is a bit annoying, it's not terrible. Vannah and I have enjoyed shopping, making bread for the neighbors and still trying to get this house unpacked. All we have left is the pictures to hang. I'll get pictures of that up soon! Enjoy some pictures!


They had a meet and greet on the Friday before school started. We saw her classroom and met her teacher. I got a picture then, because on the 1st day of school, parents couldn't go to the classrooms. There is a car line and we just drop them off and pick them up. Really nice that I don't have to unload Vannah every time.


She was having a hard time holding up her bookbag. :) It had the whole year's school supplies in it and it was heavy!!


SO excited!!!

Here I Am!

It's been a while since I've updated, and this won't be long, but I wanted to give a brief synopsis of what we've been doing.
We're in Virginia! I'm sitting here in our new den...er...I mean "Man Room" and enjoying my coffee. So far, we love it here. Our landlord is great, our neighbors are wonderful (we've been given garden tomatoes by one, and brownies by another), and we really like the area. It will take a little getting used to. in Wichita Falls, Wal-Mart was 5 minutes away, and there was NO traffic. Not so much here.
The girls are adjusting well. We spent about 2 weeks with my parents on the way here, and they are loving being so close to them. It's nice that when we leave them being able to say, "See you in a couple weeks" instead of "several months". Emily starts school on the 23rd, and she's super excited. Savannah's skin is amazing here!!! I don't know if it's the salt water from the beach, or the environment or what, but I praise the Lord for His mercy.
Here are a couple of pictures from the last week or so. I'll get pictures of the house up once it's unpacked. It's getting there, but there is still too much mess to be posting pictures on the internet.


The girls' favorite babysitter got Emily all into these crazy bracelet things. Thanks, NAT! ha




Our first family photo on the beach. It's about 5 minutes from the house.

Down on the Farm

This morning, Brian, Dad and I got out to clean out the ditch in front of their house! It was HOT!!!! It looks good though!


Before!


Emily picked up one stick and declared it "Too hot out here!"

After!