Beach Time!

We just got back from a great vacation where we went to mom's house. There was only one requirement of the visit, Lydia HAD to go to the "Big Beach". Nana didn't want to disappoint, so on the second day there, we took off for the beach.



Uncle Michael with his buddy EliI got to meet my niece Taylor

Very brave to be photographed in my bathing suit!
Eli was a Beach baby... while Lydia couldn't get enough of the water.

I can't remember if Eli did this to himself, or if Lydia helped.
Lydia had her fair share of beach time too.
Lydia's first look at the "Big Beach"

Bunny Time!

As many of you know, Lydia has taken up dance. (This may not come to a surprise to those of you that witnessed her "Yo Gabba Gabba" days) Today was Lydia very first recital. The theme of the 3 hour (Yes 3 hours) long show was "Under the big tent". Lydia and all her classmates were bunnies (pulled out of a hat... get it?!?!). I must have lost my mind because I volunteered to be the class mom for Lydia class, so I have lots of back stage pictures. I did get the DVD of her performance, so hopefully I can edit it down to get just Lydia performance on here for those of you that can't wait to see Lydia perform... err I mean stand on stage. There may have been some stage fright during her performance, but I am so proud of her, and can't wait to show the DVD to her daddy, who is away doing his military training.

Lydia, you were such a great bunny and all of us are very proud of you! LOVE you.

One happy bunny on her way to the recital.
Snack time... the whole time we were there
Lydia's classmates enjoying some twister. Lydia was too busy making Michael a fathers day card to participate.
Lydia's whole class (well those that did the recital). Starting with Lydia on the far Left, next is Leilee (CRUZE... must be a distant cousin), Dossie, and SummerlynnAt this point I think everyone had torn through all the snacks, we were about 2 hours 45 minutes into the show and everyone was going stir crazy. So Lydia is licking play doe. (I don't know...)

Lydia is at it again

Lydia just can't seem to get the concept of going to sleep. Instead she sneaks out of her bedroom ALL the time and in this case, went into my bathroom and decided she needed some face lotion. She may look adorable, but that is a WHOLE container of my face cream on her face and hands. Seriously, I had opened it that morning. Oh well, at least I got it on sale ;)

Memorial Day... yes I know I am WAY late posting

So for Memorial Day we went to the "beach" that is out in Farragut. Really its just a teeny tiny little area that they put down sand where the land meet the water... but since Grammy went to the beach, Lydia has been going crazy to see the beach and couldn't wait for our trip to Florida. Everyone had a great time! We had a great picnic after some water play, then when it was time to go I had to all but drag Lydia out of the water. Eli didn't embrace the water like I thought he would have, but by the end of our trip, he too had to be dragged from the water.

Eli enjoying the "beach"

As you can tell, people must be feeding the ducks... and they knew the weak link of our picnic.

On an up side, Eli and Lydia LOVED getting so close to the ducks.

Elijah's new trick

I have been dreading this day, but I knew it would be coming. Just watch the video.

Annual Reading Festival

Over the weekend we attended the Annual Reading Festival that Knox County Library puts on. Last year was fun but SUPER hot, so we were excited that it was nice and overcast. We went with a bunch of our friends, and everyone had a great time. Lydia's really into people telling stories, so I knew the story teller booth was going to be a hit with her. I literally had to tear her away from her chair to move on to the next area (Eli was not into the storytelling, so we could only listen to one 10 minute story). The next area we went to was the music booth, where they sang songs to tell stories, which both the kids LOVED.
Lydia is a HUGE fan of Super Wy, and this years theme, so Lydia was very excited to get to listen to a book being ready with Super Wy himself. You can't tell in this picture but Lydia is rubbing his foot, she wouldn't keep her hands off of him.
Lydia rubbing Super Wy's foot... I think I'm going to teach her how to rub mine ;)

Lydia with Princess Pea, she' doesn't look excited but she was....
Again, Lydia being serious while getting her rainbow on her face
Eli painting the town... or just the sidewalk
Lydia couldn't contain herself with the water, and despite it not being very hot, and the water being icy cold, and not having her swim suit, she still had to get in.

War time

As many of you know, Michael has joined the Army National Guard and has been going for his weekend drills in Sparta, TN. He's attending OCS (officer candidate school) and the kids always miss him like crazy when he's gone. When Michael comes back from his weekend away, he always brings his military stuff, which Eli has really taken an interest in. He's currently obsessed with Michael's helmet (head cover) which weighs a TON. Here's Eli sporting the helmet with the help from his daddy, since the weight literally knocks him down without his help.