Beautiful Kids

My sweet Zoe

Our own Batman!

Over 100 degrees, but Anna loves wearing a coat

Miss Zoe never stops smiling

Baby kisses

Baptism invite picture

Charlie wearing his shirt in honor of Jeff and Beth being in London

See, she really never stops smiling!

Happy Birthday Mom

I want to wish a very happy birthday to the most wonderful woman I know - my mom!  

 

Water Slide!

A neighbor of ours was selling a water slide he had bought his kids because they got too big to use it.  They were selling it super cheap because they couldn't use it anymore, and Zach thought it looked like a lot of fun so he got it for the kids.

Charlie loves going down it!  The slide hooks up to a fairly loud motor, which scares Anna so she refuses to use it.  Charlie, on the other hand, loves this slide.  He has been so excited every time we hook it up.

His cousin Kenny was in town after we got it, so he was able to use it, too.  The boys were so much fun to watch the boys flying down the slide.  It was some of the most fun Charlie had all summer.

Anna's New Bed

This is easy to get out of!

Anna has been close to getting out of her crib for months but never really minded being in it.  She actually likes going down for naps and bed, so we did not have a problem until during my dad's visit.  All the sudden one nap time we heard a big thud and then lots of laughing!

Baby gate at the door to keep her in her room

We went upstairs and there she was a her door.  We put her back in the crib, and she showed us how she could hook her foot over the side and gently lower herself down.  Time for the big girl bed.

We had bought a cute white toddler bed for her a little while back, and it was waiting for her in the middle of her room.  Her first bed time in the bed was a little challenge.  She kept getting up and playing.  Thanks to the iBaby app on our phones we could watch and take pictures of her!  Finally daddy had to go lay down with her around midnight (normal bed time 7:30) to get her down.

Thanks Daddy for sleeping with me!

Thankfully after just a few days of not liking the bed, Anna has gotten used to it and doesn't mind sleeping in it.  She's such a good girl!

Success!

Grandpa's Here

My dad and I have the same birthday.  I have always loved sharing that day with him.  It used to be so much fun to celebrate together, but as we get older life gets in the way of that.  This year, though, my dad decided to come up for a visit for 9 days and planned it to arrive on our birthday.

The kids just love having company, especially if it is Grandpa!  They were thrilled to come to the airport and greet him.  Zach then surprised us with a fun cake that had our pictures on it.  We capped off the evening with an adult-only dinner.  It was a great birthday!

Zach got us this awesome cake!

Birthday dinner with Dad

Trying to Get a Picture of Anna

Every day Anna gets sillier and sillier.  She is constantly trying to make everyone laugh, and she is getting really good at her antics.  I was trying to get a nice picture of her and Charlie the other day, but Anna was determined not to stand still.  I was laughing so hard at my silly little girl.  Here is what I ended up with...

Charlie was laughing so hard he almost fell over

Finally I decided to wait to get a picture of Anna until after she was fully strapped in the car seat.  Turned out so sweet, but I still like the ones above where she's showing off her moves!

 

Cooler Lake Weekend

After lots of 100+ degree days it finally began to cool down into the 90s for a little bit.  We hit up the lake one of these "cooler" weekends.  It was great to have it a little more tolerable, so we could enjoy the outside for longer.  

Zoe in her new cute swimsuit

Charlie and Anna swimming along

It actually was nice enough to take Zoe out for a short while.  We pulled out her cute little swimsuit and plopped her under the shade at the pool for some fresh air.  After a while we even decided to take her in the water for a few minutes to cool her down.  Zoe was very confused but still content floating around.  I think she's going to be water girl!

Chilling outside in the shade

Anna never takes off her sunglasses

Zoe's first time in the pool!

Snacks

Charlie and Anna had a great time without getting too overheated, which was nice.  Anna spent some time looking her usual fabulous self on the jet ski.  Charlie spent most of the weekend doing his favorite activity - water table.  

She always has to look good!

We really enjoyed the weather not being so unbearable.  Unfortunately the next few lake weekends the heat picked way back up.  Fortunately we got to have a weekend of getting Zoe outside.

Getting a little sun

Anna traded in sunglasses for goggles

Perfect end to the lake weekend!