We Love Summer!

Our summer began with a busy recital weekend and went straight into Vacation Bible School the following Monday.  It was so fun but I was so excited to begin our lazy, poolside days last week.  We slept until 8 and spent every day at a pool with a different group of friends! 

So far this week hasn't been any different.  It's one of my favorite things about summer and now that the triple digit temps have set in it's pretty much our only outdoor option. 

Here are some of our summer favorites via iphone pics....

As previously stated, We love the pool :-)

I texted this picture to Jeff one day last week with the caption "Are they really ours?"  Although some days are hard and quite exhausting my heart is always so thankful for these two!



Ava, Emma, Morgan & Sarah hanging out in Morgan's pool

Keegan often prefers running around the pool rather than being in the pool!



We love Sonic Happy Hour after the pool! 

 It's the perfect time for half-priced drinks and snacks :-)

 We love family cookouts!

We love Ice Cream! 

We have gone out for frozen yougurt or ice cream two or three times a week this summer.  There are so many options surrounding us now!  We recently tried a new spot across the street called Camille's.  

They serve hand dipped ice cream bars and you choose your topping.  Ava chose milk chocolate and m&m's.  And she did not care to share much with me!

 Keegan was happy to share....

We love when kiddos take long afternoon naps!  At least Mommy does :-)

15 Months

Keegan turned 15 months old on Thursday and I'm still trying to wrap my head around how my baby has turned into a toddler so quickly!  It's so fun watching him grow and learn new things but I want to freeze him at this age. 

Our little guy is on the go from sun up till sun down.  He must burn 5,000 calories a day which I guess is  why he also eats from sun up till sun down!  He's not a picky eater and pretty much eats anything we give him but he has a love affair with bananas.  He eats one, sometimes two a day but only because I say no the other eight times he walks over and points to the fruit bowl.  Strawberry yogurt and watermelon are also favorites and I think he could take down an entire box of bunny grahams in a day if I would let him!

He is pretty much into everything.  We've had to baby proof twice as much as we did with Ava.  If something does not look like a toy he is all over it; TV and stereo remote controls, DVD baskets, our phones and laptop, my kitchen broom, the revolving trash can lid--the list goes on.  But most of all he loves to get into the dishwasher.  He hears it open and he runs!  I've walked away from it opened  for just a second to find him walking away with forks in each hand.  I've quickly learned that it's best to unload and load while he is napping.

He loves to wear Daddy's hats around the house.  The other night he found this one on the floor of our bedroom and came out to show off. 

He gets so excited when he knows he's being cute.  He babbles throughout the day but he doesn't say much yet.  He is a man of few words-- Mamamama, Dadadada, Yeah-Yeah (for yes) and bubble (when asking for Bubble Guppies).

He adores animals, especially dogs and has no fear of them.  He chases Aunt Kara's Chihuahua and Nana's dachshund around at every family gathering and it's the only animal noise he will mimic right now.  You can ask him what a cow or pig says but you'll find that they say 'ruff ruff' as well.  We kept our neighbor's dog for a few days last week and Keegan followed the dog around everywhere, patting her on the back and bringing her toys and food.  

He is still quite a Mama's boy and has terrible separation anxiety at church.  He cries most of the time we are gone :-(.  I know one day he will wave and run into his classroom and I am praying that happens sooner rather than later. 

He is such a lovable little boy.  He runs circles around us but will stop randomly to "give love" to us.  And when I say "give love" I mean either a giant open mouth kiss on the face while he holds our cheeks or he  bends into us he leaning his head forward into us.  It's so funny and so precious.  He is full of energy and full of love and we are so thankful for this sweet boy!

Amazing Wonders, Amazing Power!

Yesterday Ava and I started our week at Vacation Bible School.  This is her first year to attend and my first year to teach so we are both trying something new :-) 

We had to be there at 8:15 for an early meeting.  I dropped her off in her pre-school room and she barely had time for a smile and a wave.  She has a friend from dance and several friends from Sunday School in her class so she's having the best week ever.  She started yelling "NO!!!" when she saw me at the door to pick her up yesterday afternoon.  She was excited when I told her she had four more days :-)

I have a third grade group that's awesome!  Our theme this year is Amazing Wonders Aviation....Encountering God's awesome power over nature, circumstances, sin, death and your life.  This week is flying by.  Thursday is Gospel day so big prayers for big decisions are so appreciated!  It's hard to believe that 22 years ago I was one of these kids hearing life-changing messages at VBS.  How did I become so old so fast?  Here's a picture of one of "my" girls Emma showing off our fancy bulletin board.  She actually traced and colored the airplane.  These third grade girls are so much craftier than me it's not even funny.  Today I felt like they should be teaching me!

Ava's Dance Recital!

Yesterday was a special day for our little ballerina.  Her class performed on the 'big stage' in the 3-6 year old dance recital at the Eisemann Center last night.  It was an amazing but exhausting day that began at 8:30am with a rehearsal.  Yes, two trips to Richardson in one day!  Here's our early riser right before we left that morning.  I'm trying to limit myself to 20 photos for this post but it may not happen!

A little love from brother before rehearsal.....

I was a backstage dance mom so myself and another mom had the girls in their dressing room until the company dancers (big girl dancers) came to line them up and take them to the stage.  They had a lot of fun.  We played games and watched movies and there was a TV in our room showing the recital live. 

The theme this year was "Dancing through the Seasons" and our group danced to "Little April Showers" from Bambi.  They were all so great!  Ava's little personality came to life on that stage.  I truly didn't know what she was going to think but she loved it.  She smiled and giggled and danced her moves the entire time.  Jeff and I couldn't get over how much she enjoyed it.  I wish I had a picture of our expressions while watching.  They were all just giddy up there and as Ms. Crystal says 'brought their very best!' 

The girls were surprised with trophies before they all joined together on stage to end the show.

All the dads greeted their dancers with roses in the lobby.  Ava was so surprised and so happy to see her Daddy! 

And her Grandparents!

(And Aunt Kara who somehow was not photographed with my camera!)

I like to think that I don't brag on my kids too much or fabricate what isn't real.  I try to tell it like it really is and I can't say with words what my heart felt on yesterday.  I am amazed. I am proud.  I am thankful.  And I think this girl is absolutely stunning, talented and full of incredible personality.  But best of all--She is mine! 

I love you sweet Ava and I love watching you grow!