Carefree

This is my all-time favorite picture of the girls! They were holding hands and running around the house laughing. Such joy in their faces.

Learning to Swim

Since we have a pool, we have been swimming quite a bit, which has been good for the girls because they have been learning to swim. Ava was first. She can float by herself (with the water wings). She can spin herself around, she can lay on her back, and she can kick to get where she needs to go. I think it is so cute that they are so little and can motor around like they do.

Avery was a little more timid about swimming. She can jump into the pool to us with no fear, but once in the pool she wouldn't let us let go. Then one day, she gave it a shot and is now a pro. She does have trouble keeping her mouth shut and doesn't like to be on her own for long. Hopefully swimming is like riding a bike and we won't have to re-teach them next year!

Keeping Cool

With the temperatures in the 100's for over a week at a time, July proved to be a hot one!


The girls love to go outside, so we found a way to keep them cool in the heat. The first time I turned this sprinkler flower on, they ran away screaming because it flips all over the place. We now just leave it on and let them carry it around. This works Ok, but as you can see in this picture, Avery usually gains control and poor Ava gets soaked!

Avery getting a drink. How do they know to do this?

Ava, also getting a drink.

Patriotic Beauties

I was gone for the 4th of July, but had bought these shirts for the girls to wear. But because I had them hanging in the closet, not in the drawer (where dad looked) they wore brown shirts for the 4th. So when I got home I had to take these pics.

Oldies but Goodies

While in Tennessee I changed some of my parents slides to digital. Here are some of the great finds! This is my dad in 1974. He was quite the fisherman.

This is me and Rob, must be summer.

Here's me and Rob in Orange Park, FL. Very colorful:)

This is a nice pic of my parents in Hawaii in 1973 or 1974.

This is me with Rob behind me.

Aw, baby Caroline. I am excited about this photo because there aren't many baby pics of me.

A Birthday Fit for Princesses

For the girls' 2nd birthday we went with the princess theme. Darin's parents, sister, brother and our nephew Jonathon were able to come celebrate this momentus occasion with us. The girls had a good time playing with family, but didn't really get the concept of the cake. Ava tried to blow out the candle and succeeded with help. We re-lit the candle for Avery, but she was a bit afraid and we had to do it for her. They got lots of fun gifts. They are good girls and actually play with ALL of their toys.

Tennessee Trip

A few years back my mother told me that she had given a baby girl up for adoption before she met and married my dad. She told me this because this person has now contacted her. My mom went out and met her, and kept in contact through emails. I would send holiday cards and when I got on Facebook, I was able to chat with her. We decided to meet in Tennessee for the 4th of July weekend. My parents live there and my brother goes there every year for the 4th, so we thought that would be fun. So after the girls' birthday, I got on a plane Tennessee bound. While in Tennessee I was able to meet my sister Deb, and her family...

went white water rafting...

(Me, Rob, & Deb)

( Rob & Tammy)

(Deb & Keith)

got to visit with my mom and dad, changed my parents' old slides into digital images (very time consuming),

hit a Chattanooga Lookouts baseball game with fireworks and heard from Tommy Lasorda, who was at the game because Chattanooga Lookouts are a farm team for the Dodgers...

visited with my old childhood friend Kim, (grew up next door to her since 3rd grade)...


...and last but not least I was able to sleep in everyday! Did I mention that I went by myself. Darin stayed at home with the kiddies so I could have a vacation from sleep-interrupted nights and whining 2 year olds. It was a great trip and I already want another vacation!