Summertime!

I love these people pictured here with me...

Summertime is really my least favorite time of the year as far as weather goes, but I love the time we get to spend with my nieces and nephews, and all of the fresh veggies & fruit that comes with it. A couple weeks ago, all 7 cousins were together & Paw Paw took us fishing at the farm...Ivy Jane caught one! Although she wasn't too sure about it flopping around!

 We had 7 kids, 5 adults, & one dog on the pier! Talk about crowded! Will, Caroline & Ivy Jane...

Look at the beautiful day we had to enjoy! I've taken this place for granted growing up, but now that I'm older I realize what a beautiful spot it really is! 

While we were visiting, Georgia Claire (the best little helper on the PLANET!) helped Grandma wash & snap her green beans! She loved washing them until she could no longer see dirt in the water.

 Concentrating so hard & taking her job very seriously!

And after the green beans were washed, snapped, & canned, it was on to the pintos! Here Georgia Claire is with cousin Mary Katherine & Grandma...shelling the beans was such good work for her little hands! I sent these pictures to her OT and she was THRILLED! We're slowly but surely strengthening her grip, pincer grasp, & overall hand strength.

Mary Katherine got bored with it & Grandma got busy in the kitchen, so Georgia took the beans inside to Caroline & had another shelling party!

This week Caroline came to our house for a visit...such a FUN time with these three little girls! We ate lunch at the Sonic in Bass Pro. The cherry limeades were a hit!

 And so were the Wonder Woman headbands that came with their kids' meals!

 And so was the trolley ride...

And the carousel ride (Georgia Claire is NOT in trouble, although it kind of looks like it in this picture!)...she just decided she wanted to sit in the seat. The animals going up & down are a bit much for her!

After the carousel, we went to the photo booth! HILARIOUS! They were too busy looking at themselves in the screen above the camera to look at the camera & trying to get all 4 of us in that little space made me laugh so hard my sides hurt!

 At home having some "down time"...

One last pic from our Saturday morning donut run. The girls had to get "A baby"... I think I counted seven all buckled up together.

Overall, a fun couple of weeks of summer so far! I just wish it wasn't so hot. This time of year I always dream of living in Colorado or somewhere where it's cool...I love these little people though & they don't care that it's hot! So, it's my plan to make the most of this summertime. 

FOUR YEARS

FOUR YEARS?!?!?!? What an impact. What a blessing. What a J-O-Y this sweet little girl has been! 

A flood of emotions always seems to hit me when this day comes. So thankful. So happy. So emotional. I will never take for granted this precious life that God orchestrated us to have with our Georgia Claire. Julia (and her ENTIRE family) will never know the deepness of our gratitude for the decision she made to place Georgia for adoption. The tiring, heart-wrenching, emotionally draining 5+ years of failed fertility treatments, surgeries, shots & medications were thrown out the window on June 17, 2009, when we saw that tiny, 6 lb. 14 oz baby girl for the first time. 

Happy 4th Birthday, Georgia Claire. Your daddy & I love you so very much. We're teaching her young that a DAY is not long enough to celebrate...we've stretched it out over four days now! 

The festivities started at Build-a-Bear in Grapevine while visiting Mimi & Granby. She & Ivy Jane got to pick out their own bear & an outfit...a special birthday surprise from Mimi & Granby! Here she is stepping on the pedal to fill her bear with stuffing...

 & getting the heart for her bear...

And she even got to pick out a second outfit from Uncle Jules & Aunt Heather!

Such a sweet store & fun concept!

We ate lunch & then got on the Carousel...SHE LOVED IT! Shelby & I, on the other hand, got a little dizzy. Shelby said as it was slowing down, & I quote, "Get me off this thing!" Ha!

That night we celebrated with a small cake & HUGE Minnie Mouse ears!

Why is the cake already cut, you ask? Being the great host that he is, Granby is so used to getting desserts to everyone he forgot & cut it before we took pictures & she blew out her candles. Georgia didn't care...

We wore her, and Ivy Jane, slap out that day. They slept all night on their pallet together...

On our way home Sunday we stopped off to celebrate with ALL of her cousins & Grandma & Paw Paw. Grandma made her famous strawberry cake. Having all of us sing Happy Birthday to her was a bit overwhelming, especially her crazy boy cousins yelling! She found comfort sitting with Paw Paw!

And recovered nicely to blow out all of her candles!

We got in late Sunday night but we were up bright & early ready for a fun-filled day! Here's the new 4 year old & her best friend...ready for DONUTS! 

After eating at the donut shop (they think it is the best thing to eat in the one booth at our local donut shop...thank goodness it wasn't taken), we headed to a local toy store & spent an entire hour there. It was fun for all three of us! Shelby's grandma gave Georgia money & she couldn't wait to spend it. We took our time & looked at everything at least twice & she decided on a family of mice Calico Critters & the Cozy Cottage (or Comfy Cozy Cottage or Corn Cottage, as they both were calling it today). They knew it started with a "C", just didn't quite remember the right "C" word! After meeting Shelby for lunch we headed home & played with our new toys until naptime. Speaking of naptime, getting an overly-excited 4-year-old to settle down and take a nap is a task in itself! BUT, Momma won! We all three napped together in my bed...it's a tough job folks, but someone's gotta do it! 

After naptime Georgia helped me with a quick birthday cake that we could have at our house, & then we headed out to the boardwalk for supper & fun. We got to ride the trolley...SO MUCH (free) FUN! 

And then we ate supper at Saltgrass Steakhouse. Georgia Claire ate every single bite of her steak, and a few fries!

After dinner we hung out around the boardwalk, went to Build-a-Bear & bought one more outfit for each of the bears, rode the trolley one more time, and then headed home for cake & ice cream!

All morning she kept asking me, "Am I really FOUR?" She had the biggest grin on her face & was so very happy all day long! Jumping around, singing, dancing, playing with her sister, hugging my neck at the most random times...happy. We love you sweet Georgia!