Trip to DC and this weekend at the Island House!

Last weekend, Russ and I traveled to Maryland and DC to see my brother getting promoted from a Captain in the Air Force to a Major. It was a great event and a fun family gathering for us. My mom, Rick and my dad also joined us. I feel a little guilty for not bringing GA, but it was nice for Russ and I to have some grown-up time to relax and enjoy each other.

On Friday, we went to the ceremony in Rosslyn, VA which is right next to DC. In fact you can see everything from the building we were in. My brother is stationed at the Pentagon, but his office is not there due to the fact that there are a lot of people who work there, and not enough space. Something new I learned on this trip. Mick had a great turn out and it was a very special ceremony. I have always been so proud of his accomplishments and it was pretty neat to see it in person.

After the big event we went to this mexican food restaurant, Santa Fe Club, that the officers in his building affectionately refer to as the "Officers Club." It's tradition for the promoted officer to buy drinks for all the people who attended! I was very cheap for Mick since all I had was water!!! So not fun to see people drinking fun margaritas! Then we went to Annapolis for a nice family dinner that was SOOOO good! At that point in the evening, all I wanted was something with creamy butter sauce, I know I am so pregnant! I can't help that I love food!

On Saturday, Russ and I hopped on the Metro headed for The Mall in DC to go touring. Little did we know there was a huge rally with at least 100,000 people also at The Mall and we had to do some manuvering. We enjoyed ourselves doing some people watching, enjoying the wonderful fall weather and going to the American History Smithsonian. After that, we headed back to send QT with my family and watch some LSU football. (My brother is a HUGE LSU fan!)

Enjoy the pics and also I put some in from our little weekend trip to the Island House on Padre Island (Russell's parents just bought this home away from home this summer!)-

Me and Russ with Camden before the ceremony.

My brother, my dad and the Lt. Col. who spoke at Mick's ceremony!

During the ceremony, Camden would go back and forth between Mick and Enjoli.
He behaved so well, unlike the way his cousin acts in church.

Enjoli and I got to put on his golden oak leaves? I think that's what they were...then we got to hit them as hard as we could....apparently an Air Force tradition.

Dad and Rick put on the golden leaves for his shirt.

At the Santa Fe Club, Camden is holding a singing card and later he showed us "famous dance moves!"

Daddy and his girl walking Oscar Dog to the partk!

Even Oscar was able to enjoy the festivities!

Cheese!

How cute are they in their Bobcat gear! Thanks Greer for the cute outfit!

Cousin Jack, a trip to Midland and rainy days!

Busy, busy, busy is what we have been these last few weeks! Family in town for Labor Day, a trip to our favorite West Texas town and school canceled for flood rains in South Texas! I feel so bad because I have not been in my classroom since last Wednesday, my students have probably forgotten that I am even their teacher!! Last week, I was oh so fortunate to be called into jury duty and then yep--picked for the jury! I have to say that it was really hard to sit and listen to someone's mistakes and then make a judgement on it. I have such a sensitive heart and I want to believe the best in everyone, so this was a very hard job for me. But thankfully, it's over and me, Russ and GA left for Midland on Thursday for a quick visit. (I had Friday off for Hummer festival.)

We went on a whirlwind visiting tour and we were able to see three new babies! Now that we are expecting, it makes me so excited to have another one ( a little nervous, too). I was able to feed little miss emery and I was so scared I was doing it wrong( thanks Jill for being so patient with my fumble fingers)...so I am going to need some more practice! Thank goodness GA has plenty of doll babies to practice with....ha! We also got to see miss henley faye and mr. jake!!! Such cute and precious babies and so tiny...I keep thinking was grace ann that tiny?

I also got to visit with my sweet treasure, Oceana!! I love this girl so much and she is such a constant reminder of joy for Russ and I! We were able to take her to lunch and then she and I hung out at Barnes and Nobles looking at books (something I have not done in FOREVER!). Yes, GA was with her Meme, thank goodness.

Well, my fingers are getting pretty tired...so enjoy the pictures! Sorry no pictures from our trip to Midland.

Our little ballerina!
"I a ballerina!"-Grace Ann

Eating waffles with Mommy on our rainy day date!

Are they not cute in those life jackets! Nellie made the picture, too!

Dancin' fools!

Always giggling and playing around like monkeys!
I love, love, love their belly laughs!!!

"Cheese!!!"

My sweet girl! She's going to be such a great big sister!!

A little surprise...

DUE: MARCH 18, 2011

We are so excited to grow our family of 3 to a family of 4!

Grace Ann turns 2!

On Aug. 14th, we celebrated GA's 2nd birthday with a morning playdate (sorry no pictures from that, I seemed to have been a little busy...) and a family party that evening. Grace Ann had shown such an interest in Nemo this summer that we decided to go all Nemo-Out for the party! She loves anything to do with the ocean, so she was in love with all the party decorations. We had a such a fun weekend with our family and friends and feel so blessed that we get to be Grace Ann's parents.

Opening presents...
Blowing out candles

Wow..what a pretty cake Grace Ann!

With Meme and Pepaw

We loved the cake! It was so cute!

Weekend in Cleveland

Last weekend, GA and I drove to Cleveland to visit my folks. Thank goodness to a portable DVD player and Nemo, we made it to Cleveland without a hitch! We also got to stop and see GA's friend, Allie, who is 5 months old and just adorable! Grace Ann kept saying to me, "hold it" as if I were going to let her, a mere 23 months, hold this baby all by herself. She was also drooling over this baby like a piece of chocolate candy! It was too funny. But here are some pictures of my mom and GA that Rick took while they were out in the backyard swimming. I was at church, enjoying some peace and quiet and not having to worry that as soon as the homily began I would have to get up to go to the cryroom. However, today at church was a funny story....GA discovered the statue of Jesus and was mesmerized! She would look at me and point-"Jesus!" And to top it off everytime the choir music would become louder and get dramatic (to emphasize special parts in the mass) she would say and I quote, " Whoa...Jesus is coming!" And people this is the televised service! Everyone around us died laughing, but GA was some kind of serious! That is just too precious not to share. Enjoy the pictures and I hope all my teacher friends are enjoying there last days of the summer as August will be here too soon!

Fourth of July weekend with Oceana!

We spent our Fourth of July weekend jammed packed with FUN! We began with swimming, taking the girls to Toy Story 3 (GA's first movie experience...she lasted one hour! Then Russ had to come pick her up!) and then to the Circus-Zing, Zang, Zoom! Russ had never been to the circus and I must say he was impressed! We were not impressed however with the $9 terrible sno-cone and the $12 cotton candy! But we had a lot of fun! Then on the 4th we attempted the beach, but like I said before, the seaweed was so gross and the smell was even worse. So we headed to the pool and then dinner at Snoopy's! We saw fireworks at the Aquarium with some of our friends and ate some yummy brownies. Sadly, Oceana left today after another visit to the Aquarium to see the dolphin show and the "fishies." We will miss her and can't wait for another visit! Enjoy our weekend through the pictures!

Russ took the dolphin pictures and he did such a great job. There were several, but I thought I posted enough!

New pictures!

Eating at Doc's

Having fun in the backyard with the sprinkler Russ made for GA.

At the Water Pad downtown CC

Practicing some potty-training

Storytime with Pepop

At the Hook's Game!

After our vacation, we have kept a pretty steady pace of events. Russ, Grace Ann and I have enjoyed having company over the last few weeks. My dad came for Father's Day, then I went to my girls' weekend in Port A and just this weekend, Oceana came for a visit! I feel bad that our beaches have been overwhelmed with gross smelling seaweed! Yuck! So we have been going to the pool most days and I have been admiring the water from afar. So here are come pictures from the last few weeks.