Lunch Date

Today I took the girls over to my Grandma McDowell's house for our monthly lunch date! This time we had quite a few more visitors than normal. My Grandma's sister, Flo, and my nieces and nephew (Connor, Lauren & Jillian) were also there! We had a full house and a lot of fun!! I love my time with family more than anything and love exposing my children to their family as much as possible!

Claire & Anna were introduced to a "Grandma McDowell tradition" today... milkshakes! She makes the best milkshakes on the block!

Lauren was so nice to share her vanilla milkshake with Anna!

Hanging out in Grandma's kitchen enjoying the milkshakes!

Claire LOVED her strawberry milkshake!

Claire & Connor with milkshake mustaches! So funny!

The girls playing "Ring Around the Rosie". Anna's favorite!

Pure mayhem!

A cousins picture! Some cute kids!!!

Aunt Flo playing Peek-a-Boo with Anna!

Claire said she needed a nap towards the end of our visit! She found a pillow & blanket and rested on the couch! Her big cousins wore her out!

A totally spontaneous hug from both girls for Grandma! She's the best!!

We stopped by my parents house on the way home to check on my Dad! He's doing great!

Family Visit

My Dad came home from the hospital on Monday. YAY!! Such an answer to prayer! So everyone came over to my parents house on Tuesday for dinner, although my Dad wasn't feeling great and in bed. He had some end-of-the-year things to finish up for school that wore him out by the time we got there. Anyway, it was fun hanging out with my family and as always... my Mom made delicious food!

Jillian, Lauren, Claire & Caroline at the dinner table! Silly girls!!

Nuna & Anna!

Aunt Kristen, Lauren, Jillian & Catherine witnessing Anna's wild streak. Not sure if somebody slipped her something or what, but she was out of control! It was really funny!

Grandma McDowell and Aunt Flo (her younger sister).

Anna is never real sure about her bald headed Uncle Shawn!

Last night Shawn treated all of us to Spaghetti Warehouse! It was soooo good and fun spending time with them!

Surgery Scare

Thank you to all of those that prayed for my Dad Saturday. He was in the ER with appendicitis and had surgery Saturday afternoon. My Mom & I were at the hospital for the surgery and we were surprised at the length of time it was taking. Well... the surgery ended up being more involved than just an appendectomy. He had a small bowel perforation that had to be repaired as well. Thankfully, he had a great surgeon that explored more than just the appendix and found the perforation. I know that everything went so smoothly because he had many, many people praying for him! We pray to the Great Physician!!! Claire was VERY concerned about her Papa and asked me often if he was okay. It was really sweet!

My Dad ended up in Virginia Kettering's suite at KMC! It was very lavish!!! Just look at the pillar!

Relaxing in the very nice hospital room (not usual for a hospital room!).

There's Mr. VIP himself! I still can't believe how good he looked so soon after a major surgery! Such an answer to prayer!

Trying to give you a picture at just how large this suite really is! CRAZY!

Walk For Strays

Today was SICSA's annual Walk For Strays (YES... another dog walk!!). We were so happy that they had such a pretty day for the walk. It is one of their largest fundraisers and unfortunately, with the poor economy, their donations are down. If you are interested in donating to a very worthy cause, the link to SICSA's website is http://sicsa.org/

Just a few quotes I found on animal welfare...

Animals too, are created by the same loving hand of God which created us. It is our duty to protect them and to promote their well-being."—Mother Teresa

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal."—Proverbs 12:10

"...And who gives food to every creature. His love endures forever."—Psalm 136:25

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God."—Luke 12:6

"It is just like man's vanity and impertinence to call an animal dumb because it is dumb to his dull perceptions."— Mark Twain　

If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men. ~ St. Francis of Assisi Claire wearing her doggie hat!

Swinging before the walk started!

Getting ready to walk for strays!

On the homestretch!

Although it was a cool morning, Sophie still enjoyed taking a dip (and a drink!) after the walk!

Sophie visiting with an Italian Greyhound and two fellow retired racing Greyhounds!

Anna really liked this Italian Greyhound or a "little Greyhound" as Claire called her!

The police department had a really neat K9 demonstration. This German Shepherd was amazing!

We love to see all the different breeds and COLORS of dogs at the walk! Claire was in love with this pink poodle!

Of course we had to have a hot dog at the dog walk!

The cutest thing we saw all day was the three tiny doggies in the stroller! Both Claire & Anna were in doggie heaven today!

Baby Ashlyn

Today we ventured out to visit one of my long time friends, Jessica and her girls Elly & Ashlyn. Ashlyn is just 12 days old and is absolutely beautiful!! Elly is two months younger than Claire. They get along great and have so much fun playing together! We plan on making a couple more trips over to go swimming with them this summer!!

Jess, baby Ashlyn & Elly

Just hanging out!


Maddie the Lab... such a sweet doggie!

The big girls playing!

Anna, Elly & Claire

Playing with Play-Doh!

I think Anna is putting a piece of Play-Doh in her mouth... nice!

$10 Fun!

As I am writing this on my laptop, I am sitting in the shade of my backyard, watching my girls have the time of their little lives in a $10 piece of plastic... a BABY POOL! I seriously had no idea they would enjoy this so much. The past couple summers Claire hasn't really loved the baby pool, just spending short periods of time in the pool (mostly climbing in & out). This year, however, the baby pool is the best thing in the world! Maybe because Claire has the company of her little sister... who knows! I have to say that I LOVE summer and I love watching my girls play together and enjoy the great outdoors! Ahhhh... so refreshing after a loooong winter!

First time in the baby pool this summer!

Trying to get acclimated to the cold water. Brrrrr....


Anna was squealing so loudly it hurt my ears! I guess she likes it!


Having some summer fun in the sun!


Not sure how ALL their outdoor toys ended up in the pool in a matter of minutes???

Claire even brought her baby in for a quick dip! Notice Sophie eyeing the pool? She already managed to get her 65 pound Greyhound body in the pool several times, much to Claire's chagrin!

I just had to throw in these cute pics of the girls on Sunday before church!!