Well....Hello Beach!

We waited all summer for our vacation & thank goodness, we're finally here! The weather was perfectly cloudy & a nice 86 degrees! We stayed out & played for hours without breaking a sweat! It was awesome. Apart from skiing in Colorado (which is almost impossible with little ones), this is where I would choose to be. The ocean, the beach, the seashells, the fish, the crabs, the sand, the waves, the endless sky, & don't forget the great seafood....I don't know how anyone could come here & not be revived & full of God's wonderful glory! Here are a few of my favorite pictures from today....cloudy & the beach (I'll have to read up on my camera settings for that! I was prepared for sun & the water/sky/sand!) The boys dove right in....Caleigh wasn't quite sure about the "Big Water", but she played happily on the beach shoveling her sand....

Caleigh In Her "kini"

We're ready for the beach! Well...almost & praying the hurricane blowing in the gulf doesn't bring us too much rain! Caleigh's ready...she tried on her "kini" for Julie & I while she was visiting today. She's so cute!

22 In 2!

"Oh, come on Mom...pick me up!"

She's off & Running!

Our little dream come true.

Precious little feet! I just love baby feet...so soft! We're on countdown to being braces free! 10 Weeks to Go! I have to bribe her now with Wipe-Out to get her to sit still at night so I can put her braces on her....so I am glad we're almost to the finish line with her treatment! Her 2nd Birthday marks the end of braces!

Caleigh Grace will be 22 months old in 2 days!! We are getting ready for our beach trip & I'm beyond ready to go! I could skip the whole 11 hour drive, but we're staying 8 days, so it should be worth it. Praying for beautiful weather & a little girl to like the sand better than she did last year!!! School starts for us on the 24th, the boys' 9th Birthday! Time sure is flying around here...wish I could make it stand still for just a little while.....

Daddy....Can I Have One???

We had a company cook-out in Corsicana to attend Saturday; one of the girls brought her Dane puppy...he was so sweet! Hot, but sweet!

There's something about a Great Dane that I find interesting...they are one of the largest dog breeds, but yet the gentleness of them is one of the highest you can find. They are wonderful family dogs & I have wanted one for as long as I can remember. I drooled over our neighbors' who used to live at the end of the block...they had 2 & would walk them every night. Now, James loves big dogs, but a Dane in the house....I have never been able to convince him of that! Hmmmm, maybe if Caleigh wants one....and asks daddy real sweetly....maybe she can get me one!!! Someday!

The Perch Requires a Kitchen!

"The Perch" ( I promise she's not sad; this was minutes after she woke up this morning!)

Caleigh LOVES to 'help' me cook! She has her "perch" as I call it in the corner on the counter...just out of touch of the sink & stove-top, but still where she can see what's going on. She sits there EVERY time I warm her milk in the microwave & when I'm prepping to cook something. She likes to see what's going on up here! So, a couple of weeks ago I found this great Melissa & Doug Kitchen on sale at Toys 'R Us 1/2 price!!! James stayed up 'til 11:30 the other night putting it together for her. (I've been threatened if I ever buy anthing with so many screws again...) She loves it! She 'cooks' constantly & prepares her meal while I hurridly prepare mine! It's a hit! And what's better is that I didn't have to add another piece of plastic to our house...I'm on plastic toy overload here!

Playing In the Boys Room

(Oh, & cutting her top 'eye' teeth...still drooling..will it ever end? )

This past week was very busy & I've found myself not picking up the camera as much as usual. The boys had reading camp & Blake had swimmers' ear...so add up the trips to & from town every day plus a trip to the doctor & errands...well, you get the picture! Next week is Tennis/Swim camp every day, so I'm sure there will be more of the above! Caleigh misses the boys when they are gone...she likes to hang out in their room & play with all of their 'stuff'...including goofing around in their beds. Too cute! She had a boo boo on her ankle (an angry mosquito bite) that required a band aid...so she decided to put a few extra on pretend boo boos as well...Hope everyone is having a great summer! So far we have had a healthy one up until the swimmers' ear....none of my kids have ever had that before...he was a trooper, but you could tell it really was sore! Yikes! Hope we don't get that again for a while...

21 Months Old!

Caleigh is 21 months old today!

4th of July Weekend...

Ring Around Daddy

Trying out the baby doll's bottle...

Let's see if I can get down off MaMaw's couch...

Getting flipped!

Sitting with Blake...

Riding...

Laying down with MaMaw's babies...

Baby it's hot outside!

How real men dress to cut trees...well, my man anyway!

OK, so I am way behind! Our actual 4th of July was pretty uneventful. James played in a golf tournament out at the club....it was HOT! The kids & I hung out around the house & we all went to swim about 6 & hung out until fireworks...it was still pretty hot, but nice in the pool. Sunday we had church in the morning & then a clean-up day at my mother-in-laws house. Well, I should say a clean up day for the men & my SIL mowed...Caleigh & I hung out inside with her grandma & auntie & the boys rode the 4-wheelers. It was fun to hang out over there for the whole day...we don't do that enough. Here are a few pictures! Hope you had a fun 4th of July weekend too.

Home 1 Year Today! Happy 4th of July!

First Day Home July 4th, 2008

Meeting My brothers...Blake was "helping" me smile at the camera :)

This is today! One year later...excited...I hear my daddy's truck is home!

"Down, Down! Dada home!"

What a difference a year makes!

Today marks the one year anniversary of arriving home from Vietnam with our precious daughter. The past year has been a wonderful one....we have enjoyed being a family of 5 & are so grateful that Caleigh is a happy & healthy little girl! The boys are wonderful big brothers & I can see how they have become more attached & protective of her over the year....it makes my heart smile! Happy 4th of July! A true Independence Day in our home!

Well...I put up a good fight....

....but after 2 years, the big boy & little boys won. They're very happy with themselves! Me...not so much, but I must admit that it is fun to ride. The danger factor is always an issue with me...now: buy helmets!

How to eat an ICEE...by, Caleigh Grace

Thankfully my brothers showed me how to eat an ICEE: 1st, the dip...then the scoop, then the taste & wah lah!