Bath...

We asked Grant the other night if he wanted to take a bath...this was his reply. Love this little guy SO MUCH!

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Back to School!

Last week's monsoon didn't hinder our sweet girl one bit from enjoying her first day back at pre-school. The rain cleared for a few moments before we left so I grabbed some pictures of our adorable student. This is her second year at the same wonderful school, but now she is in their kindergarten enrichment class. She was so excited!







Grant on the other hand was confused about the new, earlier wake-up time. Summer sleeping-in has officially ended in our home!



We made gifts for Charlotte's teachers for the first day. We had fun with a "Taking Out Time" theme...





Watching Charlotte settle into her new classroom really made me aware just how fast time is moving and how big, confident and intelligent she has grown to be . This time next year we will be sending her off to kindergarten. I think this mama will wait to spend much time thinking about that...

Sandy Snapshots

As promised, here is the album of pictures from our time away this summer. Enjoy!

Sun, Sand and Sea 2011

Beach Daze

We got to slip away to the beach on three different occasions this summer. We are privileged to get to stay at Chris' parents' beautiful beach-side condo. Thanks so much Pop Pop and Mom Mom for allowing us to have a getaway and much needed family time. Such a blessing!

My children LOVE THE BEACH. Love it. We head out around 11am and sometimes don't come back in until after 5pm. The sand, sea and sun really call our names - all of us. And we literally retreat away together and relax, play and connect as our little family of four. No schedules, no alarm clocks, no grand plans. Just sandy toes and sun-kissed, happy kiddos.

I will share an album of all pictures from the three trips soon, but for now, this little gem...



I must have mentioned somewhere on this blog how much I love these kids, right?

Deep Creek Lake

So...I realized I haven't blogged at all in July, and since we are into the second week of August I feel I need to tag this post in July to give that month just a little bloggie love.

We went to Deep Creek Lake with the Merson family at the end of June and we enjoyed a lovely time. Charlotte really got a kick out of her first time on the lake especially when she went tubing for the first time with Chris. Grant loved being on the boat (with wind in his hair) and sitting in the shallow water alongside the dock. We certainly own two water babies, that is for sure. Our kids are fish. We actually head to the beach this coming week (and also enjoyed two other short trips there this summer as well) so I will share a post with pictures and updates from those vacations soon.

My blog-time has been limited as my two kiddos keep me very busy and also, I have a very slow, will be replaced soon computer. But until then, I will try to check in more frequently. Thanks to all the readers out there still sticking around. :)

Okay...the lake! Enjoy!







Thank you so much to Pop Pop and Mom Mom for this wonderful week! Many memories made on this lake through the years!




For full album, click below:

Deep Creek Lake - June 2011

Video!! Charlotte tubing with Chris plus Grant and Charlotte cracking up dockside.

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Grant Turning One!

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate our baby boy turning ONE! Perfect weather, wonderful family and friends and one incredibly sweet and beautiful birthday boy. I chose a pinwheel theme for his party because it just felt quintessentially summer and boy all at once! Plus he loves the feel of wind in his hair and cool breezes so it just felt right. Included in the album below are some pictures from his actual birthday - I was thankful the kiddos were cooperative for a little photo shoot together, and Chris got some of me with my little guy, too. So grateful for those precious pictures!

I really loved putting all the aspects of Grant's party together, it was fun to make all the paper pinwheels and the cute Grant banner which will soon hang in his room. Huge thanks to my pal Marilyn of Whatever Whimsy for her help with some creative stuff for the party as well as the amazing cake and cupcakes. She is incredible, if you are looking for confections for a party you have to book her!

Just some of the sweet details...








Many more pictures below! Happy 1st, Grant Oliver!!

Grant Turns ONE!

ONE Sweet Boy

So many pictures coming your way from Grant's 1st Birthday celebration, but for now I had to share this adorable picture from his party today. Enjoying his very first birthday cake amidst perfect weather (when all week they had called for rain). Absolutely precious!

Eleven Months

This month continued with more language explosion for Grant. He talks or sings all the time, and his new trick is mimicking tunes or songs (mostly from Charlotte's iPod). He isn't walking just yet, but he is trying to master standing on his own - once that happens I think he will be on his way to some first steps. Speaking of steps, he has been climbing them at every chance he gets, and his crawl speed has increased incredibly. He's a quick mover! Keeps me on my toes. He also loves throwing balls into containers, carrying something in his hands wherever he goes, looking up to Charlotte and laughing at simply anything she does and he loves eating meat and potatoes! This little man is really all boy! Tomorrow our sweet baby boy will be one. Tonight we spent the (very hot) evening at our town carnival and he got to ride a train ride with me. Just a year ago at that very moment Chris and I were checking into the hospital preparing to welcome our second-born baby, a son, who would change our world for the better immensely. I've realized just how very fast the first year came and went but in turn we are beyond excited to see what this next special year will bring!

For now, our baby boy at eleven months in the front yard in spring...