Girls Weekend

While we lived in San Antonio I made the most fabulous friends you could ever ask for. Since we all met and became friends, four of us have moved away. Well last year we started a girls weekend (thanks Tracie) for the seven of us. We meet up each year for a wonderful weekend of chatting, eating, shopping and just spending time together. This year it was the last weekend of August.

These ladies are seriously the most awesome friends and we know A LOT about each other and that is what makes it so fun.

I even got to see one of my other fabulous friends Shannon while I was in San Antonio. It was so great to be back and see each of you. Thanks again for a FABULOUS weekend!!!

Lots of old friends at Taco Cabana.

The seven of us from left to right: Lauren, Me(Lexie), Suzie, Jackie, Tracie, Amy & Becca

Three of us all reading Mockingjay

Alexis and Olivia. Their older sisters were the best of friends and were only 3 weeks apart. These two are a few months apart and got to meet for the first time.

This is not from this weekend, but a picture of Brooklyn and Belle, Livi and Lexie's older sisters.

What to say about the mouth lumps... I didn't know it wasn't normal to have one. Becca did. We now have a picture because we both aren't normal. (hehe)

The six of us that stayed in the hotel right before we left. Yummy breakfast, sad to say goodbye to my friends.

Soccer!!!

Brooklyn has been begging us to play soccer for probably the past two years since she saw a Dora episode with soccer on it. She finally got what she wanted and we signed her up to play soccer at a local baptist church. It is perfect for her first experience. They are 30 minute games and just having fun. She spends a lot of time running after the ball (at the back of the pack), but she is having a blast and loves it! During her second game she actually got her foot on the ball and has continued to at least make contact each game. Here are some of my favorite pics. I think she is one dang cute soccer player!

This is after her first and only practice. She was beat after all that running in the heat.

Here is a video I took of her second game where she actually kicked the ball. Ignore my annoying voice, its pretty loud. Its also very shaky since it was taken from my phone with a wiggly baby in my arms.

Zach & Seth

Brooklyn, Alexis, and I took a trip to Las Vegas to visit family and let everyone meet Alexis in August. On our way home we brought my nephews Zach and Seth back with us for a week and a half. We were so excited to have them come visit and show them a little bit of Tampa. While they were here we swam, went to the MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) twice, had lots of movie nights, played board games, and of course went to the beach (post below). Here are some pictures from the visit. We had lots of fun and hope maybe they can come back again next Summer.

Going through the rope maze at the MOSI




Left: Brooklyn eating Seth's head


Zach in the dinosaur mouth. I couldn't get the kid in front to get out of the way.

Zach & Seth Beach

I decided I needed a whole post just on the beach trip and it only ended up being a few hours thanks to a summer storm. Brad was taking the kids pretty far out in the water, but Zach only made it a little ways before the thought of stingrays sent him back to the beach. He spent the majority of his time finding cool seashells and sand dollars, and went home with quite a few. Seth loved being so far out and riding the waves. Brooklyn of course loves playing in the water, but she spends the whole time in her daddy's arms so who wouldn't. Lexie was good and pretty much just hung out.

This was the first time Lexie has been to the beach since she was a few weeks old.

The big kids going into the water and Zach coming back out.

Looking for sand dollars and shells.

Left: Building Brooklyn a mermaid tale
Right: Zach and in the specks in the distance next to him are Brooklyn, Seth & Brad

First Day of Preschool

Brooklyn had her first day of preschool on August 16, 2010. She was SO excited!!! She attends VPK (Florida has free preschool, awesome right) at Bright Horizons. Her teachers are Ms. Mary and Ms Brittany and she is loving every minute of it.

We had company visiting for her first day so she got to have so many people she loved dropping her off. There was mommy, daddy, Lexie, and even her cousins Zach and Seth who were here from Las Vegas.

We can't believe how grown up she is and I miss her everyday. We are so proud of her and all that she is learning. Her favorite thing to do in preschool each day is Art. They are given time each day to go to different centers in the room and I don't think a day has gone by where she hasn't gone to the art center. Not only the art center, but also alphabet art. We have a growing stack of artwork, and she wants to keep it all. It has been so good for her and we couldn't be happier with her school or teachers.

Brooklyn recounting her first day:
"We made sticks with our names on them (to use at the centers). We had our first day of centers (stations they can go to each day). Our first day of art, computers and fun." She loved it and couldn't wait to go back the next day.

A Visit from the Grandparents

We were lucky enough to have Brad's parents out to Tampa for a visit in July. Brad's mom (Diane) was diagnosed with a brain cancer while they were on their mission in the Philippines in February. We were so blessed to have been able to spend some time with her and them this Summer.

While they were here we discovered a new favorite, Your Weigh Frozen Yogurt. It is pricey, but so delicious and you don't feel guilty eating it at all.

We went for a few drives, ate a lot of good food (including lots of frozen yogurt), colored, watched some of Brooklyn's "shows", watched a lot of Fox news, and went on a short shopping trip.

We LOVED having them!! Thank you so much for coming.