I'm A Big Kid Now!

The last few weeks have been quite monumental for Hannah!  She is just about potty trained and wearing big girl underwear - wooooo hooooo!  As long as she is in her panties she'll go potty, but she gets "lazy" in her pull-ups and doesn't let me know she's got "to go".  

We also finally got our bunk beds - which if you didn't know, I've been talking about getting them for about a year now, at least!  I had ordered them so that they would arrive while we were at Gramma Tucky's house and Matt was going to put it together and have it as a surprise when we got back, but we didn't get the package until the day we got back!  They were still excited and it has been quite an easy process getting Hannah to sleep in there.  The first few nights I laid with her until she fell asleep - which is the hardest part.  Since she slept with me for so long, she never really learned how to settle down and fall asleep.  She would usually just play in bed or watch tv with me and then just fall asleep.  She's getting better and is actually staying in bed all night too!  She does occasionally wonder back in to me and my bed, but I don't mind, I miss my little snuggle buddy!  

Pizza Eating Contest and Rodeo

A few days after we got back from Gramma Tucky's, we headed to the Faquier County Fair so Matt could take part in the Pizza Eating Contest.  The contestants had 3 minutes to eat as many slices as they could!

Choking down pizza and water

All finished - that was his 5th piece

2nd Place!

He should have won first place!  The guy that took first place shoved his entire pizza slice in his mouth at the 10 second countdown and was still chewing when time was called and continued to chew well after awarded first place.  Had Matt know that was part of the rules, he would have either tied him or beat him.  But he proudly took 2nd place and his trophy now sits on top of our entertainment center for all to see!

After the pizza eating contest, we watched a lumber jack show, the kids rode some carnival rides and we settled down for the rodeo!  We certainly had a blast that day despite the scorching heat!

Cowboys... need I say more?

Gramma Tucky's

We finally got to visit to Gramma Tucky's this summer!  For those of you that don't know, Gramma Tucky is my absolute favorite person in the whole wide world!  I used to spend entire summers visiting and I was anxious to get the girls back down there for a visit too!  We hadn't been in about 18 months, so I was really looking forward to visiting again!  We stayed pretty busy while we were there.  We arrived July 3rd and they were doing fireworks display that night, so we headed out to see the fireworks! 

Hannah thought it was pretty loud :)

Emma and Hannah hopped in the car with Gramma!

After resting on Sunday, we headed to a lake on Monday.  The girls and I swam at this beautiful lake for a few hours while Gramma and Pop John sat in the shade (what troopers!)

The picture really doesn't do it justice!

We ended our week by heading to Dollywood!  While it rained most of the day and we hardly got to do anything, we did have a great day together!

Welcome to Dollywood!

We got to tour Dolly's tour bus too!

Steam Engine Ride

The girls got to ride the bees, pigs...

...and ducks before it started pouring down (again!)

Emma, Pop and myself took cover while Hannah played in the rain!

My favorite part of visiting is watching the trains go by.  My Gramma lives right behind a train track (literally!), and watching the trains go by is a tradition. They head up to load up with coal and usually come right back to empty it.   Unfortunately, we didn't get to see too many this time, but I did capture some of this train:

Told you we could sit and watch them!

They day before we left we headed to Pine Mountain Settlement School - the school my grandfather went to as a child.  I went with him once when he was alive, and despite being blind he was able to tell us what each building was.  They now use the school for different camps.  You can read about it here.

The school was built the year he was born!

We had an awesome trip and the girls and I got some MUCH needed bonding time!  I am so very thankful for my Dad taking us with him when he goes!  My uncle is going down in just a few weeks to pick her up to spend several weeks up in Northern Virginia.  It will be so nice to have her only an hour away opposed to 10!  I plan on making weekly trips to visit - I can't wait!

Gramma Tucky with the girls! We love you!

Camping

The girls and I went on our first camping trip shortly after school let out! My dad and uncle found a really awesome camping area, Jellystone Park, in Luray, Virginia, only an hour from our house.  Although there were cabins, we roughed it out and slept in a tent for 2 nights (although we used an air mattress)!  Jellystone was very kid friendly with 2 pools, a playground, and planned activities every few hours of every day!  There is also a giant twisting, turning slide for those willing to give it a try.  The best part was that there were even bathrooms and showers to make camping a little bit easier!  

Matt setting up our tent!

The slide - Emma didn't want to go down, so I had to pass too! :(

Friday night Matt drove up with the girls and I and helped us set up our tent.  We cooked burgers and dogs on the grill and waited for everyone to arrive.  My aunt, uncle and 2 younger cousins arrived shortly after we did, and my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew arrive pretty late, after we had already eaten.  They set up camp, and we all got to sit around the fire, talk and have a good time.  Unfortunately, Matt had to leave shortly after that.  

On Saturday, we headed out to Hardee's just like real campers :)  After heading to Wal-mart to get the rest of the supplies we realized we had forgotten and steaks for dinner we headed back to Jellystone! Saturday was miserably hot and yet the pool was uncomfortably cold.  I'm assuming because the nights got pretty chilly, the pool was not able to fully warm up, even during blistering hot days!  But we did spend a lot of time swimming both before and after lunch.  They also had these really awesome jumping pillows that even the grown ups could jump on!

Hannah enjoying corn on the cob - fresh off the grill

Hannah loved these fountains way more than the pool!

Emma on the jumping pillow

Brian doing acrobatics on the bigger pillow - he did flips and all!

Christina and Emma waiting to head to the pool!

Sunday we went to McDonald's for breakfast and then had to go back and pack up.  When we came, Matt drove the girls and I and the car was PACKED.  My dad had driven himself and his entire jeep was PACKED, even the front seat.  Now, we had to figure out how to get all of his stuff and my stuff plus me and the kids into his car - let me tell you, that part was NOT FUN!  But because there is a late check out for those camping, we got to freeze in the pool before heading home!

Trying to get everything packed up!

All in all we had a GREAT time and I can't wait to go back next year.  It's pretty inexpensive and now we have everything we need, hopefully next year Matt will be able to join us!

The kids picnicking with Yogi!

Me and the girls!

Schooooooool's Out For Summa

I know this is really late, but I wanted to share some photos of Emma's last few days of school.  About a week before school ended, all of the Kindergarten classes got together for field day.  It was such a blast and the kids had so much fun.  Take a look:

Here she is trying to race and balance a ball on a plunger type stick!

Waiting with best friend, Marquita, for the next game!

Watching the 3-legged race with a bunch of 5/6 year old's was the best part!

The next week, the Kindergarten classes got together for an in-classroom awards ceremony followed by a Teddy Bear Picnic.  I have to admit, I got pretty emotional watching Emma get her "pail" of awards, certificates and summer activities.  Her teacher made them a really nice keepsake that had a poem about watching their progress and on it had a picture of the student during the first week of school and then one from a few weeks before school let out.  I don't have a picture of that, but here are some other photos from her picnic: 

Emma with her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Smith

Emma and best friend Marquita!

I'm still sad that she has finished Kindergarten and moving on up! I've already bought her first grade school supplies, which makes it more real too! But I'm super proud of my little Lou and can't wait to see where life takes her, as long as its slllloooooowwww (well during the easy years, at least!).

Birthday Par-Tay

Hannah had her 3rd birthday celebration at Fun-n-Beyond here in Culpeper.  She had many of friends come along with some special family members too!  

Here are some highlights:

Emma, Christina, Kayla, Emma D. and Abby Rae pose for a photo with Hannah before cutting the cake. 

She was expressionless during the "happy birthday" song :)

And this was her not even out of the parking lot a few minutes! She celebrated with all she had!

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate with her that day and to those that took the time to call her or text me to wish her a very happy birthday!

Baptism

May 23, 2010 was a great day in our house! Not only was me and Matt's first wedding anniversary, and the LOST season finale was finally here, but Emma and I publically professed our belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

I had been baptized in middle school (many years ago...) but really did not understand the significance of what I was doing.  Years passed, I questioned and doubted and have thankfully, made my way back to God so I felt the need to be baptized again. 

About four years ago, Emma's father and I dedicated to raising her to know Jesus, and then when she was ready and mature enough to understand the significance would be baptized herself.  I can proudly say that she knew exactly what she was doing, what she believes and after approval from Pastor GW that she was ready, she was able to join in the baptisms!

My Dad came down and joined Matt and the rest of our Church Family to support me, Emma and the rest of those getting baptized.  Here are some pictures!

Ready? Set..

GO!

OK - during my last post, I explained why I have been so absent on here! Well... I am all done uploading photos and now have everything fresh on the new laptop!  So... there may be an abundance of posts within the next few days (hopefully anyway) !!!!