Gone Fishin'... AGAIN!

We always have a plethora of fishing pictures because Ben takes the girls fishing regularly, but they are too cute not to post! I love that the girls enjoy this activity with their Daddy so much. Makes my heart happy to see them together doing fun things and most importantly... making memories they will NEVER forget. I firmly believe that a girls relationship with her father is the most influential relationship in her young life. Thank you, Ben, for taking the time to show our girls how a boy/man is supposed to treat them.

Anna all geared up for fishin'!

So precious... following her Papa and Daddy!

Too cute how Anna is getting her tackle box ready!

Getting some bait out!

Claire & Papa fishing together!

Birthday Fun

My birthday seemed extra special this year! I think since I've had my girls, my birthdays are more exciting... so thankful for every year I have with them and to be their mama! The girls and I spent the day at our favorite hangout, The Greene. We did a little shopping, they played in the fountains and we had lunch at EO Burgers. That night, Ben took me back to The Greene for dinner and surprised me with a trip this fall to NYC. Cannot wait to spend a weekend with my favorite person. We haven't gotten away by ourselves since Claire was born. What a fun day we all had!

Eating their snow cones by the fountains!

Anna is terrified of this frog, but thankfully he left soon after we got there!

Yummy lunch with my sweet girls!

The girls made me LOTS of birthday decorations and took it upon themselves to hang them around the house! Love!

County Fair

When Claire was just a year old, Grammy & Papa started a tradition of going to the Greene Co. Fair. The girls love it and have a great time every year!

The girls listening to a Bible story at the Child Evangelism booth!

The girls got to milk a cow!

Fair food is the best!

Grandma

A couple pics from our lunch date with Grandma McDowell. It's still sad for me to go to her new home at the retirement community, but I know she's where she's supposed to be. She's had some medical issues recently, so it's comforting knowing that she is in a safe place!

The girls really love their Grandma McDowell. We missed one of our lunch dates with her this summer due to her move and both girls asked when we were going to see her again. So thankful they have such a close relationship with her!

Claire is my aspiring photographer... she snapped this shot!

Another Tooth Lost

So, it's official... my sweet Claire is a big girl! She lost ANOTHER tooth! I can hardly believe this is happening so quickly! And, she has two more loose teeth! Slow down Claire!

Taken soon before she pulled out her tooth!

Looking at her missing teeth in the mirror!

I love a toothless grin... so sweet!

Katie & Randy's Wedding

I apologize in advance for the lack of pictures and quality... I wasn't feeling well at the wedding so I didn't take pics. Anyway, Ben's first cousin, Katie, had a beautiful wedding ceremony on August 6th in Columbus. It was so fun to see most of the family together again. It had been over a decade since everyone was together!

Papa with all four of his siblings. L to R: Diane, Papa, Linda (Mother of the Bride), Bob and Pat.

Congratulations Katie & Randy!

BERRY PICKIN'

Grammy & Papa took the girls to pick berries a couple weeks back!! They love picking just about any type of fruit!!

Family Photos

Our family photo shoot on the beach!

Family shot with Grammy, Papa, Uncle Brad & Aunt Sharon

Cutting Family Vacation - Emerald Isle 2011

Vacation Adventures

Mostly we just relaxed on the beach and at our pool, but we did go on several outings while in North Carolina!

Bogue Inlet Pier is an interesting experience! We got to see some neat fish and sharks that were caught from the pier.

We went to a bird sanctuary/nesting area. It was beautiful and we got to see an amazing sunset!

Hammocks Beach is a state park that we visited. Very pretty!

The girls running in the ocean at Hammocks Beach.

Haha... Foxy Grandma!

Ferry ride at Hammocks Beach.

We found a dead crab on our adventure and Claire wanted to hold it. Not sure what's wrong with her.