riverbanks zoo (August)

We took a day trip to the zoo with the kids while we were at the lake too. I don't know who loved it more - the kids - us - or David who got to test out a bunch of settings on his camera.

Great family shot!

Caleigh was so much braver about feeding the animals than the last time we were at the zoo (July of 2009). She did a great job feeding the giraffes. And the llamas, and the goats... And she "milked" a cow! It was a hot day - not the best hair styles for any of us - Does she look like it's hot outside? Adam, wishing he could be a park ranger for the day... And my experienced little shopper - walking like she knows what she is doing (which of course she does).

park day at the lake

While at the lake in August we spent some time at the park and my brother got some great pics of the kids.

The grown-ups needed something to keep their attention so we devised an obstacle course and then timed each other in completing it. I won the first round - but Adam couldn't be outdone and completed a second turn with an unbeatable time. After we let the kids back on the playground - Hmmm... if I go across this wobbly bridge is Daddy going to come up and shake it so that I freak out?

boat time

While at the lake we spent some time on a boat and it was super fun. Of course my peanut always wanted to wear her life jacket. (A drastic change from 2 summers ago).

Andrew on the other hand... not so much... basically it was relentless screaming if he had the life jacket on. We tried to abide by the rules as much as possible but for own own sanity this is how he rode most of the time - in some body's lap with food in hand. Love this girl in her diva sunglasses. Even Bailey (and Yasmin - my parent's dog) got to enjoy the boat. And David snapped this awesome pic of Bailey with her tongue out - she looks like dog of the year. Caleigh took her first ride on the tube! I don't think the boat went more than 1 mph for more than 5 seconds before the smiling face was gone. And replaced by this face and lots of, "I all done tube. I no want to ride in the tube anymore. I just want to ride in the boat." She was a good sport though and we were SO proud of her for even being brave enough to get on the tube in the first place.

Especially after she had seen the craziness that happens when our family gets out the tube.

We only had 1 ski life jacket so this is what Adam got stuck with. And I must say he wears it well. :) Love this picture too of sweet pea and Daddy - both smiling and hair flying in the wind. The one of Andrew and I... don't love that one so much - but Andrew and Gigi look cute in it! And of course the action shots - my dad even took a turn on the tube and was awesome! David got great pictures of us. And a great one of Adam mid high speed fall.

favorites of andrew from the lake

As I post this I realize Andrew 2 months older and he seems so different. It amazes me how much babies change at this age (and at every age pretty much). He seems more and more like a little boy to me every day. My sweet monkey with his sweet smile on the day before our trip.

On the way... Almost all the pictures I have for him are of him sitting and playing in the sand, #1 because he did that a LOT and #2 because those were the only moments that he was actually sitting still - otherwise he was way too busy to be bothered with looking at a camera for a picture.

Or pictures of him eating. Sweet baby Tarheel. Such a concerned look on Bubby's face... Just trying out the water wings... Guys can wear purple too, right? Andrew - I apologize in advance that your tummy is poking out in this shirt. And a shot as we are walking out the door at the end of our trip... do we have to leave?

favorites of caleigh from the lake

The day before we left for vacation - July 31st... wow that was a long time ago - I am so behind in posting pictures but better late than never.

On the way... Checking out the water. And my little rule follower loved wearing her life jacket and would not step one foot on the dock without wearing it even if I told her it was ok just this once. Sweet clean peanut. Caleigh could often be found reading - or begging someone to read to her - she loves books. Storytime was the favorite pretending game of the trip. She loved to say, "it's storytime" and lead us though the opening song ("open, shut them, open, shut them, give a little clap clap clap, etc") and then literally read the book from memory. So cute! Love the pigtails. One of many treats on the trip. She was a fish in the water - very independent and brave (as long as walking in the very icky mud on the bottom was not required). This is my FAVORITE picture - pretty much ever of Caleigh. (I have probably said that about a bazillion pictures). I do love this picture. It shows such a glimpse of what she is like - SO loving and caring and concerned about others (even her baby Abby). Love how she even has baby Abby's silky in this picture.

major blog update - lake pics from AUGUST

I am so behind in blogging and mostly because I have been wanting to post these pictures of our lake trip from August. The weight of all these posts to share was making me procrastinate and overwhelming me. But alas, I am just going to do it and be glad it's done! We went to Lake Murray the first week in August and it was such an awesome trip with the Adams'. My brother came down from New Hampshire to join us for the trip - and he was named official photographer for the week. He took every picture that I am going to post and they are all spectacular. I want to basically hire him to follow our family around and just take pictures of us all the time. This is the fabulous house we stayed in.

Some of my favorite memories of the trip are sitting outside on the deck at this time of day eating a slow dinner as a family and just relaxing.

We enjoyed our dock.

And many sunsets.

Such a great trip - I am about to post a thousand pictures of it!