Dance time!

I danced my whole childhood. Age 4- 17 I was in spandex multiple days a week. I loved it. I loved the friends I made. I LOVED performing. When Madeline was born, one of my first thoughts was that I would have the opportunity to pass my love of dance on to my daughter. I know she is only 2 and I will be honest and say before I had a girl I passed judgement on moms who signed their 2 yr olds up for dance. But then Madeline got here and I realized that girls- or mine- are hardwired to dance. It is just in them. Like their desire to feed a baby or play dress up or steal my make up brushes. God made her this way and I am going with it- all the way to the community center. For DANCE classes!! I can't wait. We shopped for a leotard today and this is the one she picked out. I am not sure who is more excited. Stay tuned for pics. And performance dates :)

Children of the Okra

Do you see them?

A view from above

And below

Yes, that is all okra! It has taken over the garden. The tomatoes and peppers are in the back but can't be seen because of all the okra! It is a good thing Clay is the best okra fryer around! If you need any okra, come on over!

Virginia Ann takes in the garden action from the swing. It is the safest place for her!

Some of the day's produce!

Clay has planted a garden every year and it has been great to watch the kids get so excited about planting and growing veggies. They love to go outside with him to cut whatever is ripe each night. It has been a bountiful summer!

New on the Block

I have added a new product to my Jennie from the Blocks business. I loved creating this Family Rules Subway Art for our family and now I am selling them. They can be customized in any color combo. Check out the site for more info!

Eight months - a little late

So I am a little late on the eight month post but the pictures were actually taken on the 19th last month. Virginia Ann is developing at rapid speed as she started crawling the week before her 8 month mark and the next week pulled herself up in a standing position. This is the earliest any of my children have reached these milestones and it is sort of freaking me out. I am not ready for my baby to be so mobile. But she is and we are enjoying it! I am not sure Madeline and Jack are though b/c their sister can now get any of their toys they leave on the ground. VA still has no teeth and although I keep thinking they are imminent, I have given up checking daily. Her cute personality shines through every day and she wants more and more to play with the big kids!

Big girl cup

Just today, I found her standing in her crib for the first time! She was quite proud of herself but I don't think she could figure out how to get down.

Weekend in NY

My mom came to Raleigh on Thursday to visit us and take a mini vaca with me! She and I flew up to NY for the weekend to see her family and go to my cousin's wedding shower. It was such a treat!

M&M's at Jessica's shower

It is apparently tradition up North for the bridal shower (most people have just one large shower) to be a surprise. It looked like a success when Jess came in!

Jessica and her mom

Me and my girl cousins- Lisa, Jen, me, Jessica, Caroline, Bridget and Liz

Me and Mom

Opening gifts- all 70! This was a cute idea- a basket of wine with tags attached that read "wedding night", "first dinner party" "First anniversary", etc

My mom and her siblings minus one- Tricia, Mom, Kevin (father of the bride), Eileen and Maureen

Jessica and her mom and grandma

My cousin Bridget's little boy Cormac is five months old and such a yummy baby!Loved getting to meet him!

A quick trip but so fun to spend time with family! Thanks to my Mom for inviting me to go with her and for Clay for taking care of the troops back home!

Councill Family Weekend at the farm

Two weeks ago, the Councill siblings and their families converged on the farm in Virginia. We had all 12 grandkids there and I made shirts for everyone with their ages. It made for some pretty cute pictures even though it was 106 degrees!

Jack and Madeline waiting patiently

Grandkids with Grandma and GRandpa

Virginia Ann was pretty comfortable in Enoch's arms.

It was so hot my camera lens kept fogging up!

Names on the back

Sweet girl watching the bike parade!

Ann and Virginia Ann

Grandpa and Owen on parade

We decorated every small vehicle on the farm and had a parade. The kids loved it!

Doughnut on a string was a big hit

Madeline doesn't mess around

Jay

Running through the sprinkler

Ann braided the girls hair. Madeline thought she was so cool!

Jordan and Clay eating way too much watermelon

It was a fun weekend and we look forward to the next time- hopefully when it is 30 degrees cooler!

Browns in Town

Clay's sister Ann and her sweet boy Owen came to visit last weekend. The Browns recently relocated from St Louis to Ft Worth, TX while Ryan does an ENT fellowship specializing in cleft palates for the next year. He is working ALOT so Ann and Owen hopped a plane to the East Coast! We were so excited to pick them up from the airport!

Saturday we headed to Marbles, our favorite kids museum. It was Virginia Ann's first visit and she loved exploring, especially since she is now a girl on the go!

We built houses out of blocks

And played on the pirate ship...

Clay showed that his has a future as a pageant dad :)

Madeline and Owen did some cooking...

Jack found a new sport...

And so did Owen...

And then we realized we should never give Madeline a hockey stick.

We surfed the waves...

And then made waves in the bathtub at the end of the day.

We loved having Ann and Owen here and are excited to see them again soon!