Camp

Gymnastics Camp was a success. Ansley did GREAT!! I actually think it was a good experience for her given how clingy she has been lately. She cried the second and third days but overall did very well! They learned all about the host country of China, their mascots and Ally even came home saying hello and goodbye in Chinese.

Monday July 28th: They did gymnastics which included stretching, jumping, rolls, learning to bear weight on their hands, handstands and swinging on the bar. For their craft they made an Olympic torch and learned about the flame and it's importance. For PE they did some track and field like shot put with bean bags, hurdles, sprints, long jumps and some relay races. They did Kinder music and ended the activities with the parachute and bean bag games and lunch.

Tuesday July 29th: They continued with stretching, jumping, rolls, bearing weight on their hands, handstands and swinging on the bar. For the craft they colored an Olympic flag and learned about the rings, colored an American flag and learned how the flags are raised for the winners, and then made their own flags. For PE they leaned about cycling, relay races and tried passing the baton. They ended the day playing on the playground, softball with the older kids and then lunch.

Wednesday July 30th: They continued practicing their gymnastics. For the craft made a red, white and blue bracelet and learned about and colored a panda and fish mascot. For PE they played soccer and did relay races. They did more with kinder music and had a straw race, played Messy Marvin and Red light, green light then lunch.

Thursday July 31st: They continued with gymnastics. During craft time they made a Gold Metal and learned about and colored an antelope and bird mascot. For PE they played volleyball and relay races with the baton. For games they had a balloon hug race, freeze dance and hula hoop climb through. They watched a movie, had lunch and before leaving received their T-shirts and Gymnastic tags.

Picking them up each afternoon was a riot. They would both come out screaming. They couldn't wait to tell me what they did that day. Today being the last day they got take home their Olympic torch and they each got a gold metal. (Made with glitter, it's everywhere, UGGG!!) It was really cute. Thank you Grandma and Poppy, Camp was Great!

July 29, 2008

Ansley and Parker playing Ring arond the Rosey, at our last playdate. Ansley absolutely loves it!!


Ally playing Wii bowling with Tony. She is actually pretty good. Maybe Santa will have to bring a Wii for Christmas.



Ansley's First Kiss!

Gymnastics Camp

Grandma signed the girls up for a 4 day gymnastics camp at her church. Ally has loved it from the first minute but Ansley has been somewhat skeptical. She went in easily the first day and came out so excited when I picked her up. I thought we were home free but today she cried don't leave me!! I stayed with her at first but the girls running the camp are great and she let me leave when one of them picked her up. (She loves to be held) I guess we'll see how today goes. Maybe gymnastics just isn't her thing.

Ansley's 2nd Birthday Party

Today we finally celebrated Ansley turning 2!! I can't believe my baby is already two. Time is going by way too fast. We had a low country boil at my parents house and as usual we made way too much food. Ansley could care less about the food though, all she wanted was the Elmo birthday cake. I think the final tally was 2 pieces of cake and a cupcake. Every time I turned around someone had given her more. She was in hog heaven. She really enjoyed opening gifts too!! It was fun to watch her. Jerry and I went out and bought her a 13 balloons before the party. We could barely get them into the car but it was so worth it. After everyone left Ansley ran through the house pulling them behind her with Allyson chasing her. The two of them just cackled and squealed for like 20 minutes all through the house. Even though it's hard sometimes I really love their ages. I don't know who didn't want the day to end more, me or the kids.

July 26, 2008

This morning we went to see my cousin and his kids out at the pool. It was good to see everyone and the kids had a blast swimming and playing together. As it usual Jerry was the hardest one to get back out of the pool but we had to go, today is the day we celebrate Ansley turning 2!

July 24, 2008

This is Ansley waiting in anticipation for her Aunt Chrissy's Texas French Toast. She LOVES it!!!

The Dreaded PlayDoh

So Grandma has started this thing with letting the girls dry out and save their playdoh masterpieces which is great. However we are slowly being taken over by hardened playdoh figures and we never have any playdoh to play with. So being the mean one I have had to overthrow the rule and draft a new one. Effective immediately we will take a picture of the masterpieces but we won't let them dry out. Now we can remember them without being taken over and without wasting the playdoh. Thank goodness for cameras!!

Tea Party Time

It's tea party time at Grandma's house. What's great about this is that I can still remember having tea parties with mom using that same set when I was a little girl. Mom was Mrs. Snodgrass and I was Hollywood and my sister Chrissy was Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. Now all we need is names for the girls.

Adorable Ansley

My adorable Ansley. She loves shoes and will try on any she comes across and she loves to dress up and play house with Ally. You can't leave drinks around though because she is like a camel. She can put a drink away faster than I can. Her latest heart breaker is "Don't leave me!" as you are trying to escape. It kills me! She loves the camera, (probably because she hasn't been given a choice in the matter) but she wants to see each picture as you take it. "wanna see, wanna see" Cute, but extremely annoying at times.

Shhhh!

Don't tell Poppy but we're jumpin on the bed!!!!

The Commerce Ward

Today we drove up to our old ward in Commerce. It was our first ward, the building where we were baptized. It was great to be back there and see some of the people who supported us during our early transition into the church. Ally knew exactly where we were when we pulled up despite the fact that it had been more than a year since we had been there last. As soon as we walked into the building one of Jerry's old students, Larissa, who Ally adored came up to us. Ally knew exactly who she was and went right to her. For the 3 years we attended the Commerce ward Ally sat with Larisssa during sacrament service. It made me feel good to know she remembered someone who was obviously so special to her.

July 20, 2008

Two of my most favorite people in the world. They are precious and beautiful and I have more love for them than I thought was possible.

July 18, 2008

My two favorite guys working in the Georgia heat!

July 17, 2008

Today Daddy and Poppy started building Poppy's new shed. It was over 100 degrees and miserable in the sun. They are troopers.




While they built the girls and I cooked. We shuck the purple hull peas and cooked them. We fried the okra and the green tomatoes Granny and Nana gave us and made a fresh mozzarella and tomato salad with tons of fresh garlic. For the entree we made spinach stuffed salmon. We ate like kings. Yummy!! Thank you Granny and Nana!

Ansly helped by pulling most of my clothes out of my drawers and trying them on. Thank God she's cute!

July 16, 2008

Today we spent the day at Granny's. We went up for one of her famous lunches of fresh beans from the garden and fried potatoes and gravy. Oh and biscuits of coarse. After lunch she surprised the girls with homemade ice-cream. They Loved it!!

After lunch she gave Ansley her birthday present. A duck with a baby bottle. Ansley was thrilled!! She loves ducks. Ally got a present too! Then it was out to the yard. I love wandering around her yard. She has a huge garden and tons of fruit trees and bushes. From the time Ally was just walking she has gone out to the blueberry bushes and demolished them. She loves blueberries. Today was no exception. In our travels we found a huge dead beetle in the yard. Ally and I were disgusted. Ansley picked it right up and proceeded to play with it. YUCK!!

After Granny's we met up with Nana and Grumps at Burger King. Nana had a whole Birthday Party planned for Ansley there. It was such a great surprise! We ate and had cake. Ansley got a new bike. She was thrilled. We finished the day at Nana and Grumps house picking beans in the garden. I love gardens. We got a ton of home grown fruits and veggies to bring home to grandma's. We had a Great Day!!

July 15, 2008

Just a little friendly swinging competition between Ally and her dad. She can finally swing without help! HIP HIP HOORAY!!

Sleep Over Time at Grandma's

TGIB! (Thank God it's Bedtime!)



It's a miracle. All four asleep with less than 1 hour of giggling!

A week at the Lake

It's been yet another wonderful week off. After returning from a week at the beach we repacked and headed up to Lake Oconee for a week at Dan and Erin's lake house. It was awesome!! It was so nice to be with friends and relax. We got to meet and spend time with the newest member of their family too! The weather was great and the kids played outside most of the day. Dan took everyone out on the boat at least once a day, most days twice and we got to tube and swim and even jet ski. Ansley absolutely loved the life jacket. She wanted it on even when we weren't on the boat. Both girls enjoyed swimming, although it was hard to get them warmed up to it at first. Ally even went for a slow spin on the tube. I have to say tubing was probably the most fun I have had in years. I absolutely LOVED IT!! I refused to let go and paid for it dearly the next day, as I was sore in places I didn't know existed. It was so worth it though!!

Mexico Beach

The week at the beach was awesome. The weather was great and we all had a ball. It was great to spend time with family while having nothing to do but relax. We spent the days in the sand making castles and searching for shells. Ethan was our official jelly fish catcher as there were a ton this year. Ally's favorite part of the beach playing in the ocean with Ethan. They loved laying in the shallow water and waiting for waves to hit them. Ally really enjoyed having Grandma and Poppy at the beach too. Grandma was great at building castles and finding all the best shells. Ansley loved the water too. She was a little scared at first but she warmed up quick. She wore herself out trying to keep up with Ethan and Ally. Jerry and I really enjoyed the evenings on the beach. There is no sunset like a beach sunset. Plus its the one time we don't have to drench the kids in sunscreen to go out. Fourth of July on the beach was spectacular. There were fireworks in every direction. You almost didn't know where to look. Ally did though. Amongst all the commotion she looked up at the sky and said, "look at the moon and all of the beautiful stars God made for us!" She has such a sweet spirit and she reminds me everyday of the really important things in life. So while she is thanking God for the stars, I am thanking God for her. Too bad I can't keep her sweet and innocent forever.

Look Who's 2!!

Ansley is 2 years old today!! I can't believe how fast the last two years have gone by. My babies are getting so BIG!! I realized it the other day when I looked at Allyson. She has lost all of her baby features. She looks and acts like such a big girl now. Ansley loves her to death and tries to do everything she does. We had cake at the beach to celebrate and are planning to have a party when we get back to mom and dad's house. She loved the extra attention of the day and sang Happy Birthday to herself all day. It was adorable!!