July...

July 2011
(May-December in Review)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phil. 4:8

Our arrival in Florida was greeted with LOTS of hugs and smiles. Her big cousins love to "pet" Lila and "help." This summer we enjoyed a LOT of time playing in the pool with the cousins... where Lila basically was pushed around like Queen Sheba on her float! But the boys loved it too! And our first night here, I indoctrinated both Lila and Michael to Publix... Michael was impressed... Lila... not so much. =P

 Good try... but we use our hands to drive!

More swimming for the queen.

practicing jumping in with daddy!

 Check out this video of her jumping in!

Lila in the Pool

More fun in the pool! 

So glad the Dicksons came down too... It was our first time meeting sweet Sora!

We had a lot of fun with all the cousins together!

Kisses and giggles from Great Granddad

 Uncle Mike with Tank and Tink 

(affectionally nicknamed by Tia!)

Yes... my baby was still drinking from a bottle... with all the transitions, it was difficult to give up. Okay... it was more difficult for me to give it up! It was her last "official" baby item and we tried for a few days and mama gave in... we tried again in a few weeks and she has been bottle free ever since! (she also gave it up freely the 2nd time!)  I am sure I will have a hard time switching her out of the crib too! =P

Giggles in the bed ...last nights snuggling with mama before bedtime tradition. I MISS THIS!

Click this video to see: Giggles

COUSINS

Lila enjoys "playing" with Sora.

 You can obviously see how Sora felt about it! ;)

More playtime with cousin Elsie!

 Tink and Tank 

(Elsie is one month older than Sora! Love it!)

 Swim Lessons

Dicksons were here for about 2 weeks and Aunt Melissa convinced them all to take swim lessons! 

They did awesome! We were so proud of them!

Cousins Micah and Cheyenne

(This is Bonnie and Clyde... they are great friends and are usually up to something!)

 Cousin Cooper

Cousin Levi

Happy Birthday Granddad ! 

Banana Hair

Breakfast on the porch!... she did this to herself... bananas in the hair!

My 1st pigtails!

Cutie Pop!

 Snuggling with Tia

Daddy comes home and surprises me after a week away at school!

I loved seeing her seeing him for the first time. 

Michael took a summer school class up in Louisville, KY. 

He told us he was going to see us sometime Sunday afternoon but surprised us and showed up at the church service! He got to pick Lila up from the nursery. She was shocked at first, but SOOoooo happy daddy was home. (Aunt Jessica, her Sunday School teacher's, face was more priceless than Lila's!)

Check out this video of it too!

Daddy Surprises Lila at Church 

PICTURES:

Since all, (my side) cousins were together we had to get a pic! 

Here are two of my favorites!

Micah (Melissa), Cheyenne (Jennifer), 

Levi (Melissa), Cooper (Melissa)

Sora (Jennifer), Lila (ME!), and Elsie (Jessica)

Another Cute pic!

Trying on Micah's cowboy boots!

I love this pic!

 Cooper "reading" to Lila with Loulou's glasses.

We are so blessed to be so close with family and to be able to have SO much family time. I am thankful for however much time the Lord gives us here and I will cherish the time Lila gets to grow up with her cousins!