Big Girl Best & Best Friends

A picture of Chloe's new bed--we are still amazed at how high it sits off the ground, but thankful for the new storage room under the bed, since it takes up half of Chloe's room now! We had Chloe and Drew's best friends over last weekend, and everyone had a great time--in fact, the only crying of the night was Chloe when their parents came to pick them up! There is something truly special about best friends at this age!

Chloe: Soccer Superstar

Yes, yes, believe it or not....another soccer mom actually looked at me during one practice this season and said, "Wow, she is our superstar!" Now, to be fair, Chloe tends to go all-out during practice when there is no threat of physical contact, but she still shys away from the ball during the game. And she would still rather sit on the sidelines making friends, but that's OK too! (Note the large "egg" on Drew's head--courtesy of his failed attempt to jump UP the curb in the driveway!)

Trip to the Zoo

On a rare cool morning this month, we took a trip to the zoo with the kids and Mama and Papa. Chloe of course loved showing off on the rhino, but Drew was a little bit unsure....I guess he thought that the rhino was going to start moving!

Chloe's First Day of Preschool

Chloe's big first day at preschool was definitely a success--she is already reciting songs and things that she learned--so cute! She even told us this morning that we could just drop her off at the door and she would go up the stairs to her room all by herself--does this mean that she doesn't need us anymore?? sniff sniff!

A few more vacation pics (cont'd)

A few more vacation pics....

Norris Lake 2010

A few pictures from our trip to Norris Lake-we did our best to capture some of the fun moments, but with all the action going on all the time it was a tall order!

Lake Cumberland July 2010

Yes, that is Chloe on real, big-kid water skis! And yes, that is Chloe crying and screaming at the top of her lungs in protest! She could do it, just not willingly. Our weekend at Lake Cumberland with the Kuenning family was full of all sorts of first--from Chloe skiing to Drew swimming by himself (with the life jacket on, of course) to 12:45am kid bedtimes (oh yes, you read that right) to no naps all weekend long....oh yes, it was a fun/sun/water-filled trip that was so much fun, and so exhausting! I love it that Chloe and Drew have such good friends in Josie, Jack & baby Sam--and I'm so glad that we can make fun memories like this for them to share. Maybe next year we'll be able to get them to bed just a weeee bit earlier, though! :)

Chloe's Best "LeBron James"

The picture pretty much speaks for itself, but this is Chloe's best athletic feat performed to date--a leaping jump off the couch to reach the ribbon on the balloon hanging from the ceiling. Good camera work, Daddy!

Drew's 2nd Birthday

If only there was a way to bottle up the innocent joy and happiness that comes from a 2-year old when the figure out that the party and presents are all for HIM! It took us a few days to get Drew to realize that it was HIS birthday (and not sissy's or Daddy's), and once he got it, he was just the sweetest, happiest kid in the world--not the happiness that comes from getting what he WANTS, but the happiness that comes from just getting something. So adorable, so sweet. How can I make this last?!

July 4th Party

Our neighborhood July 4th party was a lot of fun for us and the kids--we were so surprised that they managed somehow (thank you, Sugar!) to stay up until the fireworks started, and I was shocked that they weren't scared--apparently our neighborhood really knows how to do fireworks right, and they were quite big and quite loud! Their staying-up-late record was soon to become tested, however, because our trip to Cumberland was right around the corner......

Our Trip to Iowa!

So, catching up on some long over-due posts to the blog! Here are some pictures from our trip to Iowa--the kids and Nana and I had a great time visiting Adam and Julie! No one does a craft project like Aunt Julia, and there was some awesome rough-housing as well! It is definitely a toss-up as to who was the most tired--us or the kids!