Summer Fun Part 2

This July we visited my Grandparent's beautiful home and enjoyed being with them. The girls loved riding in the row boat and fishing with Daddy. We also had the pleasure of keeping my oldest nephew, Roman for a few days while his parent's were out of town. Grace and Roman loved playing Battleship with a board and real plastic pieces (not an electronic game). I think I know what we are getting Roman for his bday! We also enjoyed a visit to the water park with my cousin Mandi's family. Finally, we celebrated my Grandma Westbury's 87th b-day with a fancy tea party. It was so much fun! 

♪♪♪ Row, row, row your boat ♪♪♪

Abigail's pole had no line or hook. Shhhh...don't tell her!

Do you see Grace's "big" catch?

Battleship starts first thing in the morning when Roman's around!

Water park fun for Abigail & Grace...Ben and I had a lot of fun, too.

My future triathlete: Grace just finished biking from swimming at the pool and wanted to play tennis!

Grace has tea with her 2nd cousins Emma Grace and Olivia

Grandma Westbury's 87th bday tea...love the hats!

Summer Fun

There is so much to do in the summertime. We have enjoyed our neighborhood pool just about everyday and have made it to the beach twice this year! The girls rode in Pappy's boat for the first time and he took us to Capers Island to spend the day. What a treat!! Grace attended "Kids Kamp" last week and had a great time learning about the Bible. She was sad to see it end. I was in charge of pre-school crafts, so I was perfectly fine with it only lasting one week. It was a great week, though. Enjoy the pictures...

We picked blueberries today, yum yum!

Last month we picked strawberries

Nana & Grace wearing their polka dot suits in the ocean

Abigail & Pappy enjoy the boat

Relaxing in our tidal pool with Yogi

Abigail didn't like to have dirty hands at the beach

Baby pool fun

All ready for Kids Kamp

Happy Father's Day to a wonderful Dad who loves his daughters very much (notice they are wearing blue...not pink!)

Our New Kitten

After lots of begging and pleading, Ben finally let Grace and I have a kitty. He was rescued from a puddle in Grandma Hough's yard and being that Grandma already has four cats, we were able to convince Ben that Grace was ready for the responsibility of taking care of a pet. She promised to feed it every day, and so far, so good! We named him "Puddles". He was only 6-7 weeks old when we got him. Puddles has been the center of the girls' attention ever since. He is so much fun and loves to play. Although, he knows to take a nap when Abigail naps. His favorite daytime cat nap spot it under Abigail's bed where all the baby blankets are stored. At night he usually sleeps in our Bed, although he has slept with Grace a few nights. He usually ends up waking her up pouncing on her feet under the blanket. Ben hopes to make Puddles a squirrel catcher and has rigged an old fishing pole with a squirrel tail and bell that he casts and the cat chases (this toy is not allowed in the house...gross).  

This is Puddles. Everything is a toy!

Abigail holds Puddles nonstop. He is a very patient cat.

I love this picture.

This is another favorite napping spot. He climbs from the bed to get into the doll house.

Grace and her babies.

Abigail turns 2!

Our sweet, funny, full-of-life Abigail turned 2! We celebrated with a ladybug birthday party. She loves to play with her baby dolls, balls, building with her mega blocks and singing. Her favorite songs to sing are Jesus Loves Me, Jingle Bells & You Are My Sunshine. She loves her big sister Grace and they play together so well. We can't imagine life without this sweet blessing. We love you Abigail!

Birthday girl!

The ladybug cake...red velvet

Abigail and cousin Catherine sport their ladybug headbands

Grace enjoys playing with Abigail's new baseball bat

Family pic...photo bombed by Nana :)

Birthday girl enjoys cake & ice cream

Happy Easter!

We had a great day celebrating Easter..beginning with a wonderful service at church with my handbell choir, Ben sang in the church choir, and I played a piano/organ duet. The service was followed by a very nice brunch and then off to the Taylor's house (my sister-in-law's family). The weather was gorgeous and everyone enjoyed being outdoors all afternoon. The girls had so much fun running around and playing with their cousins and a few new kids. 

Nana & Pappy with their 6 grands

Abigail's first egg hunt...she wasn't walking at Easter last year!

Abigail, Grace & cousin Catherine enjoy the wagon

My beautiful girls

During one rainy week we built a fort and Grace slept in it several nights. I was glad when it came down, but Grace is always excited to build another one when it rains.

Tea Room with Grandma Hough, Nana, Grandma Westbury, Grace & Abigail .

Winter Fun

We are enjoying our winter (or lack thereof)...We love playing outdoors in the 65-75 degree weather and the best part is there are no bugs!! Our azaleas are already starting to bloom a little. I attached some pics of us on our bike ride. We are on the bike/walk trail several times a week. Abigail is enjoying her new bike seat and Grace is doing great on her bicycle (w/ training wheels). Grace started a dance/gymnastics class and loves it. She looks forward to going every week. Abigail and I enjoy some 1-on-1 time together during Grace's class. Abigail and Grace started their first combined story-time at the library. It was a disaster as Abigail was not interested in sitting still and when they all sat in a circle to color Abigail decided it would be fun to throw the crayons; of course it hit a boy right in the eye and he screamed so loud. I felt awful and was too embarrassed that I haven't been back since. Maybe we'll try another time.

Ballet class

Gym class

We decided to take a long bike ride. Saki got to ride in the basket. It was the windiest day of the year which wasn't so bad going since the wind was at our back, but it was almost impossible to ride back home. I thought we would never make it back!

Merry Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas celebrating with our family. Our first family party was with the Westbury's where we ate yummy food, opened gifts, played games and sang Christmas carols. Then we attended our church's Christmas Eve service for an unrehearsed Christmas Pageant. Grace was a shepherd and Abigail was a sheep. It was chaos, but very sweet and special for the kids to be able to participate in the service. We came home and opened presents that evening and then headed to my parent's house for a yummy Christmas brunch and feast for dinner with Matthew, Grandma Westbury & Andrew's family. The day after Christmas we traveled to Hampton to visit my Grandparents and visit with relatives and enjoyed the beautiful weather outside playing croquet and swinging in the hammock and of course eating more yummy food. It was a fun and exhausting holiday!

Abigail eating Grandma Page's good cooking!

Abigail & Ben crash from partying too much!

The star goes on the Christmas tree.

Our homemade cross-stitch stockings by Grandma Hough.  They are beautiful!

Saki the reindeer. Antlers from Ben's deer that he shot over Thanksgiving this year.

Tea party with cousin Jude

Festival of Lights

Decorating sugar cookies with cousin Emma-Grace

Pappy was decorated as a Christmas tree at the Westbury Christmas party.

Singing Christmas carols at the Westbury Christmas party

Grace got a two-wheeler bike for Christmas!

Homemade princess dress from Grandma Hough...beautiful!

Abigail snuggles with Uncle Andrew

Abigail meets Santa