Friends in NY

I feel pretty lucky to still have a great group of friends that I grew up with in NY. Although we don't see each other much, we always have a great time when we get together. I just love seeing the kids play with each other and since my mother watches most of them, they are all pretty comfortable at the house!

Do you think she has enough floatation devices?

Lily loving the water!

Kiera and her Daddy

Lauren

Gregory (AKA Batman)

Batman decided to put all the dads in jail that night

(I don't think Brooks minded as long as he could bring his beer).

Owen loves cupcakes!

Anthony and his Daddy

Congratulations to Sally and Jorge who are

expecting their first baby in November!

NY Visit

Our trip to NY went by way too fast! We had such a great time with family and friends and wish we could visit more often. Our visit started with Brooks heading to New Jersey (by taxi an train) to visit with his college buddy John and his wife Tara. While he was on the Jersey Shore, I was on Fire Island for my sister's bachelorette weekend. We both had lots of fun (probably a little too much) and the girls had fun spending time with Nana and Papa and of course their cousins.

Bachelorette Bash

Thanks to Nana (and Papa) for watching all the kids!!

Jake and Grace

Alli and Lily

Morgan and Lily

Lily and Jake

Lily

I have lots more to post from our trip, but it is probably going to take me a while to accomplish. I went to school today to try to get my room ready, but brought Lily along because she wasn't feeling great (she was teething pretty bad and running a fever). I officially go back to school tomorrow and Lily is officially sick with some kind of virus (high fever and slight rash). She was pretty pitiful all day so not much is getting accomplished around here except cuddling with my poor baby.

Summer Fun

The girls and I have been having lots of fun this summer and I'm so sad that it is almost over. I had to go to a training day for school last week, so Grace and Lily went to "school" for the day. I was sure both of them would cry when I left, but nobody did which made things a lot easier on me. When I picked them up they both seemed happy and I even had a good note from Grace's teachers that read, " It was a pleasure having Grace with us today. She did well going to the potty and playing with her friends." I was so proud of her for that small little note, so I think I'll try extra hard to write lots of positive notes this year at school.

This summer the girls have enjoyed going to the pool (which is short wagon ride across the street for us), going to the water park and sometimes just playing all day at home. The only thing that could have made our summer better is if daddy had as much time off as me!

Here are a few pictures from our summer fun:

Swimming in the Baby Pool

Lily loves to splash in the water!

Talking on the phone

(which wasn't even a phone) in her Tutu (so sassy!)

Taylor and Grace at the water park

Lily loves the water park too, and still loves to play with a spoon...

Grace LOVES boiled peanuts just like her Booker

(and most southerners, including me).

There's nothing like a juicy piece of watermelon on a hot summer day!

We are headed to NY for over a week on Friday for my sister's wedding and lots of family time. It will be a nice way to end my summer vacation because I will be forced to relax and not think about going back to work.

One last thing... Grace has done poopy on the potty three times this week, she was so proud of herself and so was mommy and daddy!

Lily ~ Nine Months

I just can't believe my baby is already nine months old! We won't be able to go for her well check-up until next month (it's really hard to get an appointment with our new pediatrician), but I wanted post some pics and let everyone know how she is doing.

Lily is a climber and can make it all the way up the stairs by herself(with me behind her of course). She loves to wave her hand at people and for people to "give her five". If you've been around Lily, you know that she can get loud...she loves to scream! She also makes some other funny sounds (one particular one that we need to get on video is her growl!).

Look at all that hair!

Standing up and ready to go!

Look at those beautiful blue eyes

(we get lots of compliments on those)!

Baby in Blue

I took the girls for pictures when my parents were here.

They got some good shots, but still not a great one of them together.

Weekend at Home

We had a fun weekend at home, starting on Friday evening at Rockin' on the Point with Kevin, Christina and Mark. The music was great and hanging outside by the water always makes me smile. Grace was having a good old time walking around in the sand with no shoes, until she started clinging on to me for dear life. We had to take turns holding her the rest of the night!

She was terrified of...

the giant taco!!!

Even though Kevin tried to convince her that the taco

was friendly (maybe a little too friendly), she wasn't buying it!

Lily was a trooper and lasted until about 8:00.

Christina's turn to console Grace...

She helped keep her mind off the taco

by putting some flowers in her hair.

On Saturday morning we went to Lauren's 1st birthday celebration at Chick-Fil-A, and yes the cow was there!!! More torture for Grace, "I don't like that cow" was repeated many times.

Little Ladybug Lauren

She did have fun running around like a ladybug when the cow went away.

Lily the Ladybug

She loved the balloons!

On Saturday afternoon we all went to the pool and then hung out with some neighbors. We really are enjoying our new neighborhood and home! On Sunday, Brooks took Grace out to lunch, to Lowe's and then for some ice-cream. She just loves getting extra attention ,especially from her daddy. I think daddy daughter dates are so sweet and special.

Trips to the Library

Going to the library with my mom is one of those things I remember from my childhood. She always had us participate in the summer reading programs and other fun things going on at the library (pet shows and cooking contests were two of my favorites).

I have been taking Grace (and Lily of course) to Time for Twos story time every Tuesday morning at the library. It is so nice to be able to do things like this when I'm not working! Our routine at the library is puzzles, check-out books, and then go to story time. Grace especially loves all the songs Ms. Amy sings during our time. We completed 5 hours of reading with all the great books we've checked out this summer and Grace got her reading medal this week. We even made a friend and have our first official play date (other than kids of my friends) on Thursday.

I forgot my real camera, so here are some phone shots...

Afternoon at the Aquarium

On Monday afternoon, I took the girls to the Aquarium with Aunt Kelly, Uncle Clark and Elizabeth (everyone else had to go back to work). I haven't taken them to the Aquarium all summer which is kind of silly because as a SC teacher I get in free. I love having guests because it makes me do stuff that sometimes I forget about...

Uncle Clark and the Big Girls

Aunt Kelly and Grace

Albino Alligator

Grace was more interested in splashing in the

puddles than looking at this pelican.

Shark Bait

Captain Grace

Although Lily spent most of the day in the baby Bjorn, I think she enjoyed her first trip to the Aquarium and had fun looking at everything.

She did kiss the frog, but no prince charming appeared.

We had a great afternoon and hope to go downtown again soon, or at least when it isn't so hot.