Rain, Rain, Will You Stay?

We went on a family walk one night this week. It was hot & muggy and NO breeze. The actual act of swinging the girls at the playground made a tiny breeze - that was it. We took some pictures on the way there in the park...

Ummmm... she sat like this on her own. How old are you??


As we were out, a big cloud rolled in. Chris ran home with the stroller as not to get the camera wet. I walked & just soaked it in. It felt so nice.
But then... the rain came harder as we got up on our porch. So we all sat and enjoyed the late afternoon summer storm.

And look what came out to play.... Farrah's curls!!!! Crazy how much it curled up in the humidity!!

And Chris captured her curiosity so well. He says it's one of his favorite pictures ever. I have to agree:

Bikes and Daredevil

These were taken about a month ago. We just found them on the camera.
We walked down to the end of our street where there is an old fountain (and possibly an old entrance to the zoo?) It's sort of abandoned and cool looking. It has a little turn around, perfect for little bike riding :) We went after dinner one night to get some energy out of two little girls...


Have I said before that Farrah is our little daredevil?


I LOVE this pic! This is an often used expression of hers...





pretty one of Bella... secret... Chris was stick fighting with Bella to get her close and lots of fun shots



Seeing these pictures reminds me that we need to use this after dinner activity more! :)

Farrah is walking!

...some!
She has been taking about 2 steps at a time the last month or so. But Christmas night, she starting taking the leap to 7-8 steps! She is super encoraged by clapping!!
So stinking sweet!

I'm still here :)

I have a lot of catching up to do!
We have been enjoying this beautiful weather. I don't know about y'all, but this winter was really long for me with a baby and 2 year old--- getting out and walking everyday has been awesome!! The girls love it, I love it... and there is so much to do! Bella likes to talk about EVERYTHING and is just loving the small and simple things God created - flowers (picking them ;)), watering our little vegetable garden, all the animals at the zoo, cats, dogs and squirrels we see on our walks.

Haha- and lets be real- and walks give us a break from being in the house (aka - being asked 500 questions an hour). It gives me a reset on whatever we are doing. It keeps the house from being destroyed for a bit. And it's entertaining to them both, without having to hold one or both of them! I love the outdoors so much!!!

These pictures are from at least 3 weeks ago - maybe more - when the weather started getting nice! The whole fam went on a little walk and relaxed in the park. I have some more posts coming...





She's getting so big!!! Her hair is growing at an amazing speed all of a sudden. And she is growing taller and taller.




And as Bella says, "You've got TWO GIRLS!"


... And I love it!!!

Zoo - Second Home Lately

Well, if you've been sleeping under a rock, then you might not know that we live really close to the zoo. That's why you'll find us there on any given weekend where the temp. is over 50-degrees.

Bella is old enough now to enjoy the animals, especially...goats. Not the most exotic creatures at our lovely Atlanta Zoo, but she loves them. Hugging. Kissing. No worries. She doesn't hold back.

I'll shut-up and get to the pics. Maybe by the end of this long photo presentation, you'll feel like you went to the zoo with us. Maybe you should...holla.

Don't even think about getting on this thing with her, because she's a big girl now...

From Zoo - Feb. 7

The conductor of the train, who by the way, pronounced the word "deaf," "deef," was kind enough to snap a family photo.

From Zoo - Feb. 7

We tried to get her to say, "Chugga Chugga Chugga Chugga Choo Choo." I guess that's a little too advanced. She would just stare at me.

From Zoo - Feb. 7

Loved her some goats. This is just before I ended her make-out session with it.

From Zoo - Feb. 7

Here she is with her friend, The Hog.

From Zoo - Feb. 7

Nothing to say here.

From Zoo - Feb. 7

I'll tell you what she's thinking, based on her actions right after this pic..."Which one should I tackle and hug?"

From Zoo - Feb. 7

Fierce.

From Zoo - Feb. 7

For those at the zoo who thought she was a boy, here's your proof otherwise. She does NOT like to get her hands dirty. OOOOOOOEEEEEEEE!

From Zoo - Feb. 7

She's amazing.

From Zoo - Feb. 7

If I can just get her to brush her own hair...

From Zoo - Feb. 7

From Zoo - Feb. 7

Yes, parents, we washed our hands afterward...

From Zoo - Feb. 7

...and...enjoyed our reflections in the electric hand dryer...

From Zoo - Feb. 7

And...finished the day with the Pandas.

From Zoo - Feb. 7

And...a ride out on daddy's shoulders, which no smelly animal can replicate.

From Zoo - Feb. 7

Hope you enjoyed your trip to the zoo with us.

Want my autograph?

Just kidding. But there is something so fun about getting on the local news. Chris and I were kidding each other about this last night, I only got on the local news - he got on the Today Show! I can now check this off my list of things to do in my lifetime. haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

So I was walking late yesterday afternoon. Bella and I had just gone up to get on the swing for a few, and she wasn't too happy to leave. It started raining so I was booking it back.

Out of what seemed like no where, this news guy came and said, "We are interviewing everyday people about the police furloughs and how it will impact them."

I gave him a look and said, "What is that? I don't know what that is."

After he explained it to me, he said, "I'll just start asking questions, it isn't live so don't worry."

"Can I take my hair down?"

Then he just asked me a lot of questions and I totally made some crap up. Then he filmed me walking off. It happened so fast. It was raining on me and I felt like a wet dog, AND, Ms. Cole would be proud - I was wearing a t-shirt that said "I'M A WINNER" I thought - there is no way they are going to put me on.

Then at 11 last night, this came on.... (sorry, this is a video of the DVR from last night.)
I know this isn't that big of a deal, but nothing like something out of the ordinary to happen to make your day!

Two Firsts on Halloween!!

We moved Bella into her big girl car seat and she now faces forward with us. We love it!!!! She is so much fun.

From 10/31/08-11/1/08

From 10/31/08-11/1/08

Also, Bella took her first steps on Friday night! She isn't "walking" around by herself all the time yet, but we can say that she took her first steps that night! She was practicing between Chris and I and we were pumped!!!

Memorial Day

In addition to thinking of our soldiers past, present, and future, we
spent the day at the zoo, on a picnic, and laying in grass. It was a
good family day!

Sun!

Bella and mom chillin in the sun last week. Bella is working to figure out the sippy cup a little. And mom's reflection off her legs might blind you, watch out.
I LOVE summer. I like the hot weather. I love the beach!!! Anyone want to move there with me to sell hotdogs or snow cones?

Pooped out

... From a walk with mama, Bandit, Kristy and Thomas. I love this
weather!!!