AIP

Our family was able to go up to Amelia and spend the day with my sister, Jenni, and her family, who were down visiting for a week this summer.  We all had a great day and were able to swing the beach, the pool and even the Women's World Cup... just wish it would've had a happier ending. :)

Out on the beach, the waves were ginormous due to a tropical storm out at sea.  It kind of felt like we were on the Pacific coast!

Harrison loving the waves...

cousins!

Woody and I each took turns going out with Harrison on the boards... it had been a really long time for me, but it was so much fun!

Curt getting in on the action.

Aunt Jenni keeping Chloe happy while Mommy and Daddy are in the ocean!

At the pool...

Hannah was Esther's swim buddy in the pool.

Chloe fish blowing bubbles and trying to leap out of my arms every chance she got.

Arden swimming with no wings!

My view out on the beach for the most part... Chloe would not let go.  Not that I minded. :)

Thank you Deals for letting us come up and join in on the fun!

FIREWORKS

On the 4th of July, our crew helped organize our church's annual cookout and we, along with the Sivyers, scouted out our usual spot on the fort lawn to prepare for the fireworks!  This really is one of my favorite events each year and this year did not disappoint!

"Daddy, why did you just pour water on my head?"

The girls LOVE baby Titus.

Trying to get a shot of our girls with their favorite playmate, Eleanor.

My 3 favorite parts of the evening happened as the fireworks began and during the show... 

1) Arden could not contain her excitement and every few minutes throughout the entire show, she yelled, "FI-REWORKS!"... "Look Daddy, FI-REWORKS!"... "Ms. Brittany, FI-REWORKS!"  Thankfully, everyone thought it was adorable and encouraged the patriotic moment! :)

2) Chloe sat in my lap the whole time the fireworks were going off, which was 20 minutes or more??  She sat very still and was not clinging to me and she never even whimpered, so I thought she was having a great time.  I would look down at her and smile and talk to her, but finally when I asked if she was having a good time, if she liked the fireworks, she very quickly shook her head no!

3) And right before the fireworks began, we got our little family all together to settle in for the show.  Esther had been playing with Eleanor and had settled in with Eleanor's family.  Woody called to her and said, "Esther, come sit with our family" to which Esther turned around and replied "Why?" with the funniest look on her face!  This cracked us up and so, here's Esther enjoying the show with Eleanor, Emily and Jeff!  

splash!

At the end of June, the girls and I were able to go up to GA and not only see my family, but also spend time with some dear friends and their kids!  We loved hanging out in the water for a couple of days and it was so fun seeing our kids play together!

And Chloe loved all the attention she got from cousin Hannah...

and Papa too!

swimming lessons!

Arden and Esther took 2 sessions of swimming lessons this year, one in June and one in July, with a total of 16 classes.  Their classes happened at the same time, so Chloe and I got some one-on-one time in the splash park and pool along with Brittany and her boys!

Arden has really taken off in the water this year.  We have seen so much progress with her, especially since her last session in July.  She is swimming all by herself, doing "front rolls" in the water, as she calls them and loving every opportunity she gets to have in a pool!  She loved her lessons and instructors as well.

Sweet Esther, on the other hand, did not so much like her lessons or her instructor.  She cried (really more like sobbing, screaming "Mommy," kicking and fighting to get out of the instructor's arms!) for the first four classes.  I felt like such a mean mom walking away from her!  She would not even get in the water the first 2 days.  Knowing that she really loves the water, and it was more to do with separation from me and her strong mind that she did not like her instructor, we stuck with it.  The first few minutes of class each day were a little rough, but once I was out of sight, she did great and would get in the water and join in on the fun.  Esther loves being in the water and despite her dislike of lessons, she seems to be getting the hang of things!  

I did manage to get several pics with her smiling, but I promise this was really rare!

This pic is a better representation of how she looked most of the time.

And this great big smile was on the very last day of lessons!

Woody was able to join us for a couple of the lessons (and I actually missed the last 3 days-thank you Nonie and Dagan for being there!)  So he and Chloe got some time together too!