Photos Found!!

 You can be amazed what you find when you download photos from your phone after several months. Check out these gems...

Learned how to do a "fishtail".

Making pizzas with Gibbs and Kate at Wings U!

Mom's birthday

TCBY with Gavin

Beach with their buddies

Reading with Pop

Crashed into floor-chin first

Favorite station at CHOM

She's got a bum knee like her momma.

Spoiling Summer

Here's how I decided to bring my summer to a close...5 weeks early!

Knee surgery in mid-July, 2 weeks non-weight bearing, 6 weeks on crutches, not exactly my way of getting the last bit of summer it before school starts. I cannot fathom how I will get my classroom ready and start school on crutches; the sheer dynamics of getting in the school with all of my "stuff" baffles the mind. On the bright side, I have had plenty of time sitting in bed or on the couch to shop for the house, read with the girls, play Uno and Checkers multiple times a day, watch around the clock coverage of CNN's breaking news (of which there has been plenty), and get psyched for the Olympics...all while being waited on hand and knee foot.

And Now...

she can write her name!!!

The House...

I was just reminded that I "promised" more pictures would come of our new house and have yet to post any, oops! I think the first picture was of the cleared off lot. Well, I must really be slacking  because the latest pictures I took were of the paint samples on the walls. Yes, walls! Since that initial house post, our house has gotten walls, doors, windows, brick, columns, shutters, plumbing, and even electricity!!! Here are a few of the latest pictures...

Off to the Farm

A few weeks ago, Mom and I took the girls to visit "Aunt Georgia" (actually, my mom's first cousin) at her farm in Greensboro. The girls were so excited to see God's country, complete with cows, fences, ponds, horses, and lots of trees. We spent the afternoon swimming, snacking, and swinging from an old fashioned tree swing. I'm not sure who enjoyed the visit most, but the nap on the way home was a sure sign of a good trip.

Ellie LOVED this swing!



See, that's one happy girl!



Aunt Georgia and Ellie picking tomatoes.

Mom, Aunt Georgia, and Ellie admiring the daylillies.

Sadie Kate and Aunt Georgia jumped right in as soon as we arrived.

Mom and Ellie convinced a timid Sadie Kate to try the swing.

It was a hit!



Look for the pink dot in the trees.

Mom and Sadie Kate checking out the horses...from afar.

Mom and Aunt Georgia

A Happy 4th of July

Alan treated us to tickets to the fireworks show in town for the Fourth of July and they were wonderful. The girls enjoyed the entire show...from the car! Traffic was horrible and we got stuck about a block from the Amphitheatre as the show began. We raced out of the car and started the trek down to our seats, but ol' Momma's gimpy knee and some rogue fire ants quickly put an end to that plan. We decided to just sit on the sidewalk and enjoy the show. Nothing like Plan B!

A somewhat happy group...after swimming with friends, ant bites, troublesome earplugs, and traffic not listening to Daddy's commands...Plan B turned out just fine!

Summer Fun

Our church hosted a block party in our "soon to be" neighborhood last weekend and it was a blast. The girls enjoyed "blowup jumpies", face-painting, mini golf, hot dogs, and most of all visiting with their "soon to be" neighbors. They already knew so many neighborhood children from school or daycare and were thrilled to realize they would be neighbors.

Our beautiful butterfly!

Proof that she can be still!

Ellie and her best friend, Emily-also from our neighborhood!

Ben, Ellie, Jon Douglas, and fish-faced Sadie Kate cooled off with numerous snow cones...it was a mere 96 degrees at 7:00 pm

A Visit to CHOM

The girls LOVE going to CHOM (Children's Hands On Museum) here in town and were thrilled when they received an invitation to a birthday party there. It was a fun filled 2 hours topped off by a monster nap for the whole family.

Ellie tried her best to master chopsticks.

Sadie Kate and Daddy working on an animal rubbing with aluminum foil.

This poor baby needs someone to take her fishing! Hint!Hint!

She only looks like a trustworthy sea captain!!

Teamwork!

That girl can use a phone-no matter the decade.

Waiting for a shoe shine!

She settled for a haircut.

Momma got the shoe shine!!!

Ellie decided she needed a trim, as well.