"Top Bump" and "Big Girl Bed"

Well, many of you have heard that we were working on a loft bed for Emma Claire. She calls it her "top bump". Anyway, here it is!!! Thank you to Mr. Thompson for all the help with it and to both Jim and Mr. Thompson for graciously spending all of one Saturday putting it together while we were at the beach to surprise Emma Claire. She absolutely loves it, and I love having my living room back because this is now the play room.

Not to be shorted, Farrow Kate got to move out the baby bed and into her "Big Girl Bed" the same day. Yes, we have to do some redecorating and get rid of Emma Claire's initials on the wall, but our resident painter is on maternity leave. She is sleeping like a queen on the bed here Daddy grew up on. She has only fallen out once so far.

Beach Trip

The girls, Mrs. Thompson, and I just got back from a beach trip. We went back to Orange Beach to Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Charlie's condo. They are such wonderful hosts. Aunt Carolyn actually stayed with us there two nights and even cooked several delicious meals for us. The girls loved playing with all of them even though Farrow Kate was not too fond on the beach. She did love the pool!!! Emma Claire loved it all.

Gone Fishin'

Jim was off Monday and decided to get some crickets. We just took them fishing across the road from our house, but it was quite an adventure. They caught two fish each. They both "petted" the fish, and Farrow Kate stuck her finger right in the fish's mouth. Thank you My Mac for the fishing rods.

Father-Daughter Ball

I could show pictures for days, but I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to see them at the ball. Jim and Emma Claire were both aglow when they came home. This was a night they will both cherish. Mrs. Thompson made Emma Claire a beautiful "ball gown", and with her "fancy nancy" shoes and corsage, she was dressed like a princess. Jim was her "prince". From what I can tell, it was like a little girl's dream night. They got autographs from various princesses, rode in a horse drawn carriage, walked down a runway, got makeup put on, decorated their own cupcakes, and of course, danced with their Daddies.

The Garden Now!

You saw the before, now here is the full bloom picture. We have corn, tomatoes, watermelon, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, purple hull peas, green beans, butter beans, peanuts, and for Jim---peppers. This is keeping us very busy right now!!

These watermelon are not from our garden, although I wish they were. Jim brought this as a treat one night. It was delicious.

This is Jim's new toy.

Camping

We left Friday after Vacation Bible School to go camping at Piney Grove Campground on Bay Springs Lake with Jim's sister, Judith, and family. The weather all week had been beautiful, and we had high hopes. We spent all week cleaning the camper and getting ready. Well, we got there and set up, went for some boat rides, and cooked supper just before the bottom dropped out. With forecasts of 70 MPH winds, we thought we should abandon ship and come home. We loaded everyone up, left the boat and camper, and spent the night at our house. We were determined to do this, so the next morning we got up and left in the rain headed back to camp. We did have a fun day Saturday with little sun but no rain. We swam at the beach, played on the playground, and made smores! However, Sunday morning we woke to more thunder. Before we could get packed up, the bottom dropped out again. We decided to head home for good. As you can tell, it was loads of fun. Ask us if we are ready to camp again----OF COURSE!!!

Emma Claire loves her top "bump".

Farrow Kate had never slept outside of her baby bed or pack-n-play. she wasn't quite sure what to think.

Swim Lessons

What more can I say than Hayley Warren is the "BONDIGITTY"!!!

Our two girls and three of our nieces took swim lessons from Hayley last week and turned into little fish. We are ever so grateful.

Yes, this is Farrow Kate being thrown off the diving board. She now asks to do it at home.

Emma Claire soaring through the air.

This is Farrow Kate actually swimming between the two of them.


And of course, the week of swim lessons, the ducks hatched. They are (were) adorable. We are down to only one baby now. Life for ducks must be tough.