Harrison's Birthday/Last Weekend of the Summer for the Ings/Family Cookout Party

Dear Abigail,

After lunch on Saturday, we headed on over to Cookeville for a family cookout, except we didn't exactly cookout, but anyway, we all got together at Aunt Amy's house. It WAS Harrison's birthday, and they DO start school on Monday, but, it really was just a good ole family gathering!! No reason needed other than it had been forever! What a fun, and hot, day, though! Let's see, Aunt Amy and Uncle Martin and the kiddos, Papa, Aunt Jill and Alexis, and then Uncle Jaybe and Aunt Steph and Ellie. You were excited all morning and kept saying "Taroline? Taroline?"and we'd repeat over and over, "Yes, we're going to see Caroline, and we're also seeing so and so, and so and so.." but you were just worried about Caroline! Of course, the first thing you wanted to do when we got there was go play outside! Did I mention it was super hot??!! But you and Caroline and Daddy sucked it up and went and played and guess what, you jumped on the trampoline!! You absolutely loved the trampoline and thought it was so cool how you could jump so easily! You loved it so much that it took a little bribing you to get you to get off so you could cool down for a few minutes and get some water in you...

I told you it was super hot outside! And just in case you are wondering, that is NOT your gateraid!!

Once we got you girls back inside, cooled down and full on a snack, Caroline decided to put on a puppet show for us, and then YOU decided you wanted to do a puppet show!! You picked up on it real quick and thought it was so funny to come out from behind the curtain!!

Not too much longer, you were back to requesting to "Go outTide, go outTide", so we ventured off again into the scorching heat!!!

We swang...

or I should say, you swang...

and then neighbors came over with their 2 puppys, a big puppy and a little puppy, to which you and Ellie didn't seem to care for either. You liked looking at other people petting them, but not you. And the little puppy was a licker, so you especially didn't care for that!!

After a small meltdown....

we were able to get all the girls back inside for the evening. I don't think you comprehend the heat just yet, so Mommy had to be a mommy to you and make you come inside and drink liquids and cool off!!!! (not to mention Mommy was a little hot, too).

But see, we had just as much fun inside as outside...

Here's the girls cooling off, with one girl being particularly goofy!!

And see, here's you building castles with Uncle Martin...

And you and Ellie playing in the dog's bed... hmmmm, wait a second...

And you girls were even able to sneak off to the front room and play!!!! Caroline even showed you how to play the piano!

See, inside is fun, too!!! Well, you didn't get to taste the famous spanish dish that Uncle Martin made and that Mommy can't think of the name of right now, and you didn't get to taste his salsa soup either, but, you did get a quick dinner with Ellie and off to bed! Remember that milestone, about not sleeping in a pak-n-play? Well, here was our first night of it...

Originally, we thought you could sleep in Caroline's room on the mattress of the toddler bed, since the toddler bed wasn't put together, but then after evaluating the situation (i.e. checking out the room) Mommy noted there were a LOT of toys to play with and a lot of random things that could get you in trouble, so we moved you up to the attic! No, not really the attic, it's just hte 3rd floor where there is a big movie room and 2 guest bedrooms, but we just call it the attic! Anyway, so you had your very own room with your very own toddler mattress, and basically nothing else in the room! Unfortunately the door didn't lock on the outside, so Mommy had to hold the handle when she put you down, BUT fortunately you are such a big girl that you didn't even try to get out!! I stood there for maybe 3 minutes and you were already quiet and laying down. YAY, now if you will just stay there... Well, mommy slept on a bed in the movie room, which is where your room opens up to (confusing I know, but it makes total sense if you see it!!), and around 2 in the morning I heard you sort of whining or even talking a little and sure enough, you wondered out of the bedroom straight to my bed! Because Ellie and Aunt Steph adn Uncle Jaybe were in the room right beside us, I decided you could just sleep in the bed with me instead of crying and waking everyone up (PS, your Daddy was SUPER hot in the attic and had to sleep downstairs, which is why you were able to sleep with Mommy!!). Well, I don't think you were quite ready to go back to sleep! You were super quiet, but you just kept twitching and turning and could not get comfortable. Finally, after about an hour of all this, you did fall asleep and the 2 of us slept until 7 the next morning! I have to say, you aren't a snuggle bug during the day, but when you are sleeping, you want to be right up on me!! I heart it, just so you know!!! The morning came a little to early for us, but we got up anyway and had ourselves a big breakfast! Not too much later we headed home where you immediately fell asleep in the car and slept the entire way home! You really had been sleep deprived lately for one reason or the other, so Mommy decided to put you down for an afternoon nap, even though you got a good hour plus in the car, and guess what - you fell SOUND asleep!! and have been for 2 hours! so sound asleep, that I just took a picture of you!!

baby girl, you are precious as can be!!!! Love you...

Milestones

Dear Abigail,

You've reached another milestone, and for some reason, this one hit a little harder than the past 2 or 3. So, you know how you are in your toddler bed, right? Just to update you, you are doing fantastic in it. We put you to bed at night, in the bed, with a book, sometimes a song, and you quietly get in bed. Of course, the second we walk out the door you let out a little whine, turn the light on, typically grab a book off your shelf and hop back in bed, where you typically are asleep in 20 minutes. So good, right! And Mommy accepted that milestone with hardly any heartache, probably because we were having such issues with the bed that I was just happy to see an improvement. Anyway, so you sleep in a big girl toddler bed. Well, when we go to Mimi's or Papa Rob's, you still sleep in your crib, no problem. So on Friday, when we were having our Friday night Mexican at Aunt Steph's house, I figured the pak-n-play was not going to be an issue... Daddy put you to bed upstairs in the guest bedroom, in the pak-n-play. He of course turned the light off, and you of course, let out a cry or 2, but by the time he was back downstairs, and I turned on the monitor, you weren't making a peep, so we thought, cool, no issues - YAY! So Mommy and Daddy carried on our business with the gang, and about 2 or so hours later, Daddy came in from playing corn hole asking if I had to go upstairs to get you or something. I, of course, said no, why and he said that he could see from outside that your bedroom light was on. Hmmmm... weren't you in the pak-n-play? So how'd that light get on???... Yeah, so Daddy went to check and sure enough you had climbed out of the pak-n-play and climbed right up into the guest bed and were fast asleep!! Daddy was SUPER excited, and proud of you for being able to climb out without tipping it over and for getting up in the bed, without coming down the stairs, but Mommy on the other hand was, well, not so super excited!! I don't know why, but for some reason not being able to use the pak-n-play really made me think about how quickly you are growing up! I mean, I know you are in the toddler bed, I know we're potty training on August 12th, I know you brush your teeth, and talk to me and sing your ABC's, but now no pak-n-play - now when we go to people's houses, we have to make you a pallet on the floor???? Where has my baby girl gone! You are getting soo grown up and Mommy loves loves loves it, but man alive, can you slow down just a little - PLEASE??!!!

I love you big girl!!!

The Waterpark and some...

Dear Abigail,

On Wednesday afternoon, you and Mommy headed towards good ole Munford, again! Mommy had (yes, had) to head in for her biannual trunk show for you!!! This trip, we stayed at Papa Rob's, and what a blast we had. We got there a little later than wanted on Wednesday, but that didn't stop you from being super excited to see Papa Rob and Gramma. After a real quick dinner (chicken with ketchup, your fave these days) and a very juicy peach, you played with Papa Rob for what seemed like forever, and then went to bed. You needed your rest because what a day we had on Thursday. After waking up super early for you (6:30), you helped Gramma get ready for work while Mommy got our things together, cause we were headed to the water park!!! That's right, right up the street from Munford is the Ripley Water Park. Mommy and you, Mimi and Em, Ashy and Clara Lee, and Miss Jamie and Jack all went, oh, and Jesse and Hunter, who I think you are taking a liking to, which is fine with Mommy, even if he is 15 because he is so good with you kiddos! Anyway, so the water park - you L-O-V-E-D it! I cannot believe we've waited this long to go. It's a big pool, that starts off even with the ground and gets deeper and deeper as you go - I'm sure it has a name, but i just call it the beach effect pool, you know, how a beach slopes and gets deeper and deeper. Anyway... it was this pool, and then it had 2 little kiddo slides, of which you loved to stand in front on one, the faster one, so when the kids came down, their feet would accidentally knock you down into the water, and Mommy would have to run, through the water, and catch you before you drowned. A bit dramatic, yes, but the honest to goodness truth. You were sooo stinkin' fearless (guess you picked that up from the swim date with Cole last week...). You took off into the pull, swimmie free, and would just run and jump and go face first in and just keep walking, deeper and deeper. Mommy didn't mind you not having your swimmies on if you stayed up towards the shallow end, but you didn't want that - you wanted the deep end, where you had to hold you neck up just to breathe!! I am pretty sure you were 'saved' at least 3 times before Mommy decided it was swimmies or no pool! And, you seemed to just mind your own self, didn't pay any attention to anyone else. You just swam in your own little world!! Oh, and there was this giant mushroom thingamabob there that sprayed water off the edge - oh boy, did you love that thing!! You would just stand underneath it, like it was a shower or something! All in all, a REALLY good time at the waterpark. Here are a few pictures:

We weren't even out of the parking lot and you were conked out!!! What a fun day! Thankfully you slept most of the ride home, and when we got home, we had to quickly get ready to go to dinner with Papa Rob and Gramma. They took us to a new restaurant, Humdingers, and it was yummy! You had fish and french fries, with ketchup, of course, but you were too intrigued by the fact that you were not in a high chair. Lesson #2847 learned - Abigail cannot handle a booster seat just yet... We're sticking with highchairs for a little while longer. Thankfully the man behind you was very nice and wanted to play with you, other wise, we would have had to scarf our food down!! Friday morning you finally slept in and Papa Rob just couldn't resist not seeing you before he left for work, so he woke you up to say his goodbyes. After a LONG day of shopping, we headed back to Nashville, or should I say Franklin :), and prepared for what I'm pretty sure will be labeled the busiest week ever... here's a preview: Friday = Mexican, Saturday = Aunt Amy's and the gang, Sunday = Carnton Concert, Monday = time with Daddy while Mommy volunteers all night, Tuesday = spend the night with Aunt Steph while Mommy volunteers all night and Daddy parties it up with football people (more on that later...), Wednesday = gather our thoughts, Thursday = Miss Lee comes to babysit while MOmmy and Daddy go to a wedding/Sarah comes up/Mammaw & Pawpaw may stop in for a visit, Friday = Fun day with your BFF and then a baseball game with Daddy & his work, and Saturday = slumber party with Ellie!!! WHAT IN THE WORLD is right!! Hang on tight baby girl!!!! XXXXOOO

Hanging out with friends

Dear Abigail,

This weekend was so much fun, and guess what, we stayed put the WHOLE time! Can you believe it? Friday morning was a little more exciting than normal for you. Mommy had a dentist appointment, so you went to work with Daddy!! Oh, do they love you at Daddy's work, especially Miss Pam. Every time I call Daddy and she answers, she tells me how precious you are and how much she wants to babysit you!! Daddy said you did real good at his work, and was even a little bit shy. Kind of unusual, at least after about 10 minutes. But he said you had fun!

After I picked you up, we ran a few errands (of course) and headed home for lunch. I was super excited to have discovered that you love chicken salad, and, thankfully, not allergic to mayonnaise, as we once thought... I discovered this when Miss Auburn and the kiddos were over and you kept eating all my chicken salad sandwich! So, since we had some left over, we decided to have a girly girls lunch! I made you a chicken salad sandwich and me a chicken salad salad, and we put it on our girlyest girl plates and we had fruit cocktail and even yummy veggies fries (okay, not real girly, but you saw them and insisted). I wanted us to sit inside on a blanket, but you insisted we head outside to eat lunch. Well, little known fact around here, it's SUPER hot, especially at lunch time. But, we ate outside, and it wasn't as spectacular as imagined. Still, we had our first girly girl lunch, and you ate it up!

After your nap, Miss Kristin and Jacob came over for an afternoon swim. It was VERY refreshing after the lunch episode. Well, the pool was... We got in the pool first, and then you decided to linger over to the kiddy pool. Well, we didn't care, so we decided to join you in the kiddy pool, but man alive, it was like stepping in a hot tub! That water was sooo warm, we couldn't handle it! So we got back in the big pool and you continued to take a bath, I mean a swim in the kiddy pool! It was a fun afternoon swimming, for sure. (no pictures, though...)

Well, just as soon as they left, the next round came! The whole gang was finally getting together again! That's right, it was Baby Grant's big debut for the weekly Friday night get together! Everyone came over to the house and we had pizza and chips and dip and, wait for it, Gigi cupcakes! Well, the adults did - unfortunately for you guys, we ate those after you went to bed!! sorry... What a good time everyone had. We all just kind of ate wherever - our house was not prepared for 12 people to dine, but we all made do:

Here was the girls table...

And here was the boys table!

After lots of pizza, the kiddos headed up to the play room. We tried to keep you 3 up there without parent supervision, but that lasted, oh, I don't know, a total of 3 minutes. Precious, tiny Ellie somehow knocked the gate down, so we decided to just join the fun!

Of course, EVERYONE wanted to see baby Grant, especially you. You went right up to Miss Erin and said "Hold Baby?". Mommy thought this was funny, but thought what was more funny was Miss Erin's face! No way you were holding that baby, not yet at least!! You were real good though, very gentle to him and sweet. But then you got easily distracted by your toys and your other friends! You kiddos had so much fun just running around, playing in the tent, pulling every possible toy out! Good times. Next thing we knew, 8 o'clock!! It was time for bed...

Look at you and Ellie matching!! And we didn't even plan that one!!!

And we thought Baby Grant and Ryan matched, but it wasn't exactly! Still, we were pretty excited about our first sleepover of the kids, even if this was the best picture we could get of the 4 of you together!

Aunt Steph decided she would wind you up instead of getting you ready for bed...

Finally you all were alseep, and sleep you did! Saturday morning you slept in, which meant Mommy and Daddy slept in, which meant we were all happy campers that day! Mommy was so well rested, she decided to cook waffles for breakfast! Well, I'm not sure how often that will happen. Daddy immediately decided he didn't want waffles, and would prefer a bacon/egg sandwich. So it was down to just me and you. Well, you decided after tasting the waffles and syrup, that you wanted peanut butter toast! How did I get stuck with the family that doesn't like waffles! Torture, I tell ya...

After 3 different breakfasts, we decided to venture out and look at more lots/houses since the other one is not working out for us as planned (long story, maybe never to be told, as we're trying to forget about it...). Anyway, we ended up driving a long time, and ended up eating lunch out at one of Mommy's fave - Tin Roof II. And, I was so excited, you ate some of my quesadilla! This excites me because it's kind of a strange combination of sun-dried tomatoes and feta and chicken all in a quesadilla, but you loved it!! That made up for the pancakes, for now at least.

After a good nap back at the house, we got things all picked up and ready because guess what, the gang was coming back over (minus Uncle Jaybee, Aunt Steph and Ellie - boo for them having other friends, right?!). Daddy has been dying to grill on that Egg of his, so everyone came right back over! We didn't even take down the pak n' play!! This time, you and Ryan were able to play outside with the Daddies while the mommies and Grant stayed cool inside!

The mommies were trying to fry up some okra, so we had to keep you out, but the 2 of you looked so cute trying to come in, knocking on the door, begging!

I'm pretty sure you got in at some point, but only to be shuffled back outside! Mommy finally smartened up and got the bubbles! You were trying to catch them with your bat at first, but then you wised up and started just chasing them.

Ryan would chase after the biggest ones ...

And then, POP!!!!

After a good dinner (Daddy made delicious hamburgers and corn, and the okra wasn't too bad if I may say so myself!), and after a pretty sweet meltdown from you, we decided to get you in that bathtub ASAP, and of course, Ryan joined us. This bathtime fun wasn't as enjoyable as the last go round, and there definitely wasn't any pictures! Once you two got in there, you decided to take some of those moves that Clara Lee pulls on you and try them on someone else. That's right, you took a cup of water and poured it on Ryan's head while we had our heads turned for a split second. And pour Ryan can't get water in his ears right now either... Well, he didn't like it, and you didn't like him being upset, so you sat there with your 2 pointer fingers plugging your ears! HA!! Oh, if only that worked. I so would have used it at that meltdown during dinner!!!

Well, after a quick bath to say the least, both of you headed to bed...

Sunday was a little less active and after another sleep in, we decided to drive around a little more. This time you took you a quick cat nap and then watched a little Elmo - still, you were tired of riding in the car. Daddy took you to the neighborhood park while Mommy got lunch together and then we all laid down for a nap - Ahhhhhh, that's what we were looking for....

After a fairly calm afternoon, and quick visit from Papa that night, we wrapped up our weekend with a bit of ease...

See, we don't have to go anywhere to have an exciting weekend!!! Love you!!!

Another vacation - seriously????

Dear Abigail,

YES, you got to have another vacation at Mimi's. It was NOT the original plan, but your Mimi has a way of persuasion about her, and, to say the least, you got to visit. See, Mommy was going to visit a friend in Washington D.C., so you and Daddy dropped me off at the airport and he drove you to meet Mimi at the 1/2 way mark!!! And yes, you were JUST there on Monday, like 3 days ago Monday. That Mimi loves her some Abby, to say the least. Anyway, so Thursday night you got into Mimi's house and on Friday, the 2 of you went to see your Great Aunt Lizzy! Mommy loves calling her your Great Aunt because she's not that old, but man does Great Aunt sound old!!! hee hee... So Lizzy had come in town and brought the 2 monsters, I mean, kiddos with her (Sarah and Emery), so you finally got to see your second or 1st, once removed, or whatever cousins! It had been a little over a year since you'd last seen them, so to say the least, everyone had grown so much! After a visit down at Mammaws, you got home to take a good nap because you were going to a birthday party, a late one at that! It was your, ummmm, second cousin's????? (I need to learn what all these cousins are...) anyway - Hayden's 2nd birthday party! He had a swim party with a jumpy house. From what Mimi said, you loved the jumpy house, as usual, but really loved the swimming pool. She said at one point, all the kids were out and just you and this one little boy were swimming away, minding your own business! The party was a late party, which had Mommy a little concerned, but Mimi said you did sooo good, and even got a balloon, too! And even though you went to bed super late (like 9:30 super late - grrrrr) Mimi said you were never whiny and were perfect. Maybe she's just telling me that, but maybe you were, and maybe Mommy can give a little when it comes to late nights - I said a little Mimi, so don't get any crazy ideas...

On Saturday, Mimi was supposed to play it cool with you, and she did, but she also had Clara Lee, too!! That's cool for you and CL, but I'm sure Mimi was exhausted by day end because she put you both to nap AND both to bed that day! Awesome = Mimi. You guys played in the water, and played kitchen and babies and everything. Mimi said she had to play "Baby, Baby, Baby" for you about 204 times, maybe 205. YOU HAVE BIEBER FEVER!!!!! another story, another day....

All in all, sounds like you had a fun weekend at Mimi's. Daddy picked me up and we both met you 1/2 way again, just in time to have a peaceful Sunday afternoon.

Loves...

Swim date

Dear Abigail,

Today we had a swim date with Cole and Chloe, and their mommy, Miss Auburn. What a fun time at the pool, to say the least!!!! Before I begin, not a SINGLE picture. Miss Auburn was upset that she forgot her camera, so Mommy dragged hers along, and low and behold, as they were leaving, we both realized not a single shot... Oh well, the picture probably wouldn't have told you half of the fun we had!!

We all headed to the pool around 10ish, thinking that was plenty of time to swim a little, grab a lunch back at the house, and be down for nap by one... so we thought.... You were so excited about swimming and talked about it all morning. I mean, why wouldn't you, it had been a whole 4 days since you'd been in a pool, Miss Waterbug! And, Chloe was super excited, too!! So off to the pool we went. Everyone got in the baby pool, which was great for Mommy and Miss Auburn to catch up, and you would even go sit in the big pool right on the steps, so Mommy was still able to catch up! We all got in the big pool and let me tell you what, that Cole doesn't have an ounce of fear in him! He was jumping off the edge and swimming to me and wanting to go under, and this is all without his swimmies! Miss Auburn has to keep her eye on him at all times! You were your typical self - watching the big kids play, taking toys that were not yours, and swimming, swimming, swimming. Before we knew it, it was after 12!!! We couldn't believe it. We were having so much fun, time was flying by! So we gathered our stuff and off we went to eat some lunch at the house. The 3 of you played musical chairs (and musical food) for pretty much all of lunch and then somehow disappeared. We all of a sudden heard you guys upstairs, and then checked on you and you were all 3 playing so good in the playroom, so, to say the least, Mommy and Miss Auburn kept on catching up! You guys played and played and played, and us mommies talked and talked and talked. Finally, we caught a glimpse of the clock, and low and behold it said 2!!! Good gracious time flies with this crew! Miss Auburn started gathering her things and you and Cole ran off somewhere. Next thing we know, he's got Daddy's toothbrush and you have Mommy's just brushing away. I guess it's good you both like to brush your teeth. Just don't tell Daddy someone else was using his toothbrush - it will gross him out :)

Soon after that it was clear all of you needed a good nap, and after several goodbyes, and a final wave while the garage was shutting, you headed to bed for a nice, long, nap - which you are still currently doing! Mommy thinks she may take a turn at it, too.

Lots of fun today with good friends. Love you waterbug!

4th of July

Dear Abs,

This year for the 4th, I think we did a little bit of everything! Friday night we started off with our traditional Mexican. Of course, it was minus Miss EP and Mr. Jay, thanks to their precious cargo that has been summoned to their house (well, at least not to Mexican) for 6 weeks, so it was kind of sad to not have them there, but the rest of the gang was there. As always, there was adventure in what you to be such a simple task as eating Mexican. Actually, this wasn't so much of a troublesome thing, just a new thing! Let me explain... Well, first, you discovered cheese dip. All of you did! And all 3 of you loved it! And all 3 of you loved dipping, or more importantly, double dipping. I think going forward maybe you get your own bowl. Just sayin... So dinner time wasn't so bad, we all ate, drank and were merry. After dinner, we walked outside and it was still light out side (of course, since we eat so early these days!!), so the 3 of you starting running circles around the shopping center. Kind of hard to explain, but let's just say that this little activity kept you 3 busy for a good 30 minutes. You just chased each other, then chased your self, then just ran back and forth and back and forth. It was fun to watch the 3 of you really play together, even without actual toys. And it gave the adults time to chit chat a little more! Like I said, this wasn't too troublesome. I hope it's a sign that Friday night Mexican is improving!

Saturday morning, Daddy and you and I went to the farmer's market to get some good, fresh veggies (particularly cucumbers, so Daddy could make his soaked cucumbers!!!). You loved it, and loved the fact that we didn't have a stroller. There were lots and lots of dogs there, too, all to which you had to pet. Thankfully all of them were nice!! After farmer's market, you and Daddy scadadeled home and Mommy ran a few errand and got ready for the big night! We were having a girls night!!! (well, plus Ryan - Miss Leigh is just dying for baby Grant to start coming around!!!). And yes, unfortunately Miss EP couldn't make it again. Soon, my dear - soon enough they will return!!

Anyway, so Saturday afternoon, Miss Leigh, Ryan, Aunt Steph and Ellie came over for a girl's night!! All the boys went to a boy's night (a.k.a bachelor party - which you will learn about in, i don't know, 30 years from now??? that sounds about right...) , so of course, us girls were getting together! We started the night off with a dip in the pool, and of course didn't take a single picture the entire time! Reason probably being because you were here, and Ryan was there, and then Ellie all the way there! It was fun watching you 3 in the baby pool though, and it was fun for the Mommies, too! After swimming, we ordered your fave - PIZZA and boy did you eat the mother load! I couldn't believe how much you were eating! Girl loves some pizza. After dinner we had a special treat for you kiddos - actually, it was probably more for the mommies, but still, you had fun. All 3 of you took a bath together!!!! And, we DID get pictures this time!!

It was VERY hard to get a photo of all 3 of you looking at the same time, to say the least, but I was able to capture one or 2! And, that's all I'll need when, say, you are 16 and won't listen to your momma! Beware!!!! Overall, you guys had a blast in the tub! Poor Ellie had the not so great seat and accidentally turned on your bubble machine, which in turn scared her, which in turn rattled the rest of the gang. You were very proud to show off your crayons, and I think they like them, and, believe it or now, we were actually able to get all 3 of you cleaned!!! After a good dinner, a good bath, and then a good book, it was time for bed - for all 3 of you!! The mommies weren't too far behind though...

Sunday morning was here before we knew it and Ellie and Ryan were super early risers. We got a quick goodbye into them, then we started packing for Memphis. That's right - back to Memphis! We were headed to Mammaws and Pawpaws to have a cookout, and cookout we did! Let's see, the 3 of us, Aunt Ashy, Uncle Jay, and Clara Lee, Lynnie, Mimi & Pic-pic, Uncle Bubba, Aunt G and Em and John Michael, and of course M & P. Oh, and your BFF showed up, too!! We did lots of swimming and lots of running around the yard, and of course, lots of eating...

I think Mimi is making you smell her feet.....hmmmmm.....

You finally got to swim with Daddy!!!

The 3 girls just a swingin'....

While John Michael ate him some corn...

Of course, you got your share of corn....

And even offered some to Aunt G, who in return offered you some Diet Coke, who in return got yelled at by your momma!!!!!

Somehow, we didn't do/see any fireworks... That's okay - I'm not sure you could have stayed up for any anyway. You were a tired little monkey, and as soon as we got to Mimi's you crashed - in the crib no doubt! You don't seem to mind Mimi's crib at all - which we were a little concerned about since you are now officially in the toddler bed. Of course, as I mentioned, you were super tired, so that might have had something to do with it...

Monday was just a day of travel. I think we all were a bit exhausted and just needed to come home and chill - so we did! We prepared for the next week, which as usual, was adventurous!!!

Happy 4th of July, Abs!