the 4th

Here are some pictures from the 4th of July. We had fun in Nashville at the reunion and the girls had fun playing with all the cousins. Hailey loved going to the lake and tubing on the boat. After riding one time with her daddy she decided she was big enough to do it by herself. The boat went really slow and her dad was on the tube beside her the whole time and she had a blast. She looked so grown up.

Mackenzie is now 18 months old and still a little peanut. She weighs 20 lbs 6 oz and is 30 inches long. She finally took a few steps on her own but isn't really walking yet.

Brian is back from Germany and had an amazing time. I will post some pictures he took once we get them all on the computer. He really enjoyed sharing Gods love and work with the kids and was sad to leave them. He can't wait to have the opportunity to do it again. Hailey has had swimmers ear and been in a lot of pain so we haven't been to the pool in a while. That is about all the updates I have for now. Enjoy the pictures!

We have been busy

We have been going and going so far this summer. We spend most mornings at the pool and spending time with friends on play dates. Hailey had Vacation Bible School a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it and keeps asking when she can go again. Brian volunteered at VBS so that gave me and Mackenzie some nice one on one time together.

Hailey has started swim lessons for the summer. She loves going underwater and is working really hard so she can swim all by herself. Mackenzie is getting so big and while she still isn't walking she is wanting to do everything else like a big girl. I have noticed that when she pulls up on things she gets up on her tip toes just like her big sister, so it will be interesting to see if she will walk on them as well.

It has been nice not having any set schedule this summer and just being with the girls and hanging out with friends but I am sure by the middle of August I will be ready for preschool to start.

Dentist

We took Hailey to the dentist for her first cleaning. She looked so grown up sitting in that chair. She did great and even got some nice surprises when she was done. It is hard to believe that she is growing up so fast.

Arizona

We left last Thursday to go to Arizona and visit Mark, Kat, Riley and Bailey. The flight there was pretty bad but could have been worse. Mackenzie cried (or should I say screamed) on and off during the whole flight and only slept for 45min. Hailey did great and kept herself entertained, she kept asking if she could drive the plane.

The kids had a lot of fun playing together. We had 4 under 4 so we didn't go out much but they sure kept themselves busy. Hailey and Riley went twice a day to the little Park across the street and ran and played, we did take them to a little water park one day but it ran into nap time so we didn't stay very long. Bailey is so sweet and growing by the minute, Hailey loved her and Mackenzie was a little jealous and curious.

We flew back on Monday and that flight went much better and Mackenzie only cried when she was tired and fighting sleep. She slept for about an hour but was happy when she woke up so that was great. We are finally getting back to a normal schedule and we have already been to the pool once. Hailey asks all the time when we can get back on a plane and go to Arizona.

Beach weekend and more

We left last Thursday and went to the beach. We had amazing weather and two great full days on the beach. My parents and Brian's parents were both there so we had lots of help with the girls. We were able to celebrate my birthday on Friday with a great dinner and a delicious Strawberry pound cake and some ice cream. Hailey woke up on Friday and announced that is was only beach day and not my birthday. After dinner we all had to run some errands and pick up things that we were getting low on for breakfast and Hailey informed my parents that she had to buy me a card. So she did pick out a very sweet birthday card for me all by herself.

Hailey has come a long way from just last year on the beach where it would take her a few days to even touch the sand and she was scared of the waves and had to have someone hold her to go in the water. Now she runs down the boardwalk and just dives into the sand. She was covered in sand from head to toe and couldn't care less. She now has no fear of the ocean and just walk in up to her neck. Brian taught her how to body surf and she just thought that was the best. She is already counting the days till we can go back to the beach in August.

Mackenzie loved the beach as well. She wasn't a huge fan of the dry sand and would just sit in her beach chair and jibber jabber non stop. But as soon as she got on the wet sand and the waves would come at her she was all excited. She would just sit and splash and then crawl around the whole beach. Next time we go she will be running (I hope, but who knows we never imagined that she wouldn't be walking by 16 months) all over the beach and we won't be able to catch up and probably wishing she wasn't so mobile.

We had a great surprise when we got back from our mini vacation, we have veggies! Our garden is exploding. The last picture is the banana peppers that are starting to sprout. The gap you see in the pictures are our onions that don't seem to be doing very well, any of you garden experts out there have any advice?

Mothers Day and other stuff

I took this first picture last week of our garden to show how things are growing but because of the rain we got the other day it is even bigger. So I will have to post again with more updated pictures. I just can't believe how big everything is getting, I just hope we can keep it up and reap the rewards.

Hailey has been having fun making new friends lately. She meets new friends at church every week, at her daddy's softball games and apparently in Old Navy as well. She loves the mannequins and has to play with them every time we go.

Mackenzie is starting to seem so much bigger to us lately and has started doing a lot more things. She is pulling up on everything and starting to walk along things. She loves to climb on whatever she can. The other day Hailey was playing at her snack table and Mackenzie just climbed up in the chair and started playing with her. It was so cute and it made me sad that she is starting to become a little girl and growing out of all her baby stages.

We had a great Mothers Day. I had both moms over for our second annual Mothers Day tea on Saturday. I thought Hailey would be more into it this year than she was last year but I was wrong. She ate some fruit and then she just wanted to get down and play. Mackenzie got to participate more this year and had fun so it should be interesting next year to see if they will both sit for a while.

On Tuesday Hailey's gymnastic class had parent observation day. My mom and Brian's mom got to come along as well. Everyone got to go along with them during class and see what they have been working on since January. Hailey did great and we were amazed by how brave she was and all the things she could do. At the end of class all the kids got a little trophy. It is sad to think that this busy year is coming to an end in just a few weeks but we are looking forward to a relaxed summer.