Another milestone

When Kiley lost her tooth recently, she ended up firing the tooth fairy again. TWO nights in a row!! So, she asked me...uhmm, I mean the tooth fairy, if she would leave a note for her to get her ears pierced as an apology. The tooth fairy obliged.

Kiley has wanted her ears pierced since she was old enough to ask, probably about two. Craig wanted to wait until she was old enough to really know that she wanted them, but agreed she could at four. Well, when four came, she was too scared to go through with it. A few months ago she decided she would go through with it and has been asking if we'd take her.

We made a family outing of it when we were in Virginia. She nervously waited, but was very brave and excited. When it was over she couldn't believe it and asked "Is that it?" She barley felt a thing.

Berry Picking in Virginia

We went berry picking in Virginia. The girls liked it, but they are not farm girls. The gnats bothered Kiley and neither liked going to the port a potty! We had a good time though and had fresh berries for lunch.

On the way home Ashlyn was very sad. Kiley noticed tears streaming down her face as she looked quietly out the window. She really loves visiting in Mamaw and Papaw.

Trip to Mamaw and Papaws

We took a long weekend and spent and Mamaw and Papaw house in Virginia. We had a great visit. We swam the first day, but the weather was unseasonably chilly. In the 60's in July! Crazy global warming! :)

The view is great! I never realized how beautiful it was until I no longer lived there.

Piano Recital

Kiley is growing too fast. REALLY, what happened! She's looking like a little lady and she's quickly approaching the teen years! Lord, help me appreciate these times before they are gone!

Her piano teacher, whom she loves, just finished her PHD and will no longer be giving lessons. This is her 2nd recital with her, after one and a half years of piano.

Anyone know a teacher that comes to your house? We are already gone so much, I'm trying to not have something else we have to leave for! Who ever coined the phrase "stay at home mom", cause we sure don't stay at home!

Swim Team

The girls joined a swim team this summer. It was time consuming but well worth it. Ashlyn could swim before starting, but preferred to stay at the wall. She now is a little fish and swimming is her favorite sport. She would stay in the water all day if possible. Notice how she stops during her race to wave to daddy! Precious!

Kiley has learned to swim much better and can even do butterfly and backstroke without getting DQ'd. Which is super cool to her! She even won two heats during one of her swim meets. She was so excited!

Both girls did great and got better as the season went on.

NEW HOUSE!

We've been busy unpacking at our new house! We moved in June 15. On top of swim team practice everyday, it's been busy. It's now settled down a bit, just in time to finish my school planning since school starts in 3 weeks! Yikes! Here's a few pictures of the house. I will post more later.

Kris Allen...American Idol

I didn't watch a single episode of American Idol this time around, but happened upon this today.

http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/0803/joart/?action=view¤t=KrisAllen-GodofThisCity.flv

Back from Texas...

Kiley and I were able to visit our friends, The Thevaos', in San Antonio this month. We had a great time! It was great to see them again. It was like it had only been a few days. Kiley and Laura were fast friends again. I have much more to post on our visit, but for now, here are some pictures of their house. They have been through a lot with this house. As they were renovating the kitchen, they had a fire that require they move out for repairs. They are back in and it's looking good! Anna has even planted a garden and seems to have a green thumb. We enjoyed her first squash from the garden. It was so good we had to fight the kids for it.

TO help figure these out:

Pictures 1 and 2 are the left and right side of their huge sunroom. The left side will be the family room, and the right side the school room (but it's the master bedroom right now)

Picture 3 -taken from standing in the sunroom entry facing the front of the house - dining room and living room

Picture 4 - taken from living room, showing dining room and sun room - the french doors are where the FIRE place was

Pictures 5 & 6 - kitchen - isn't it wonderful!

Picture 7 - living room

Picture 8 - garden from the kitchen window