Bella Baby

I started working with Bella Baby in July. I got my name badges and apron...all official!

Visit with Dude Dad and VonVon

Dad and Yvonne came out on Friday. We went to Chi's for dinner. So good! Then we planned on meeting up with Emily, Justin and the boys on Saturday at the Pizza Cafe for lunch on Saturday. They were headed to the movies after lunch, so we all decided to go to Memphis!

We went to Mud Island first. I had been as a small child, but didn't remember it much. We rode the monorail, or "flying train" (as my girls called it), to the museum. After we went through the museum, we walked from the middle to the "southern" end of Mud Island. We ended up in the ocean where we (girls) waded in the fountain.

We went back to the car and headed to a restaurant featured on Food Network, Rendezvous. We only had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated (we were lucky! People started filing in after that!). We ordered 4 racks of ribs! They were good, too! Then we headed home.

Brian took Yvonne to the airport early Sunday morning. After church, we went with Dad to Grandpa's Catfish. Then, he and I went scouting for a location for a photoshoot I had the next day while Brian and the girls went swimming. We met up with Emily and Justin at ElChico that evening. Dad came home and started packing up and making arrangements for his hotel on the way home. He left the next morning.

It was an action-packed visit, but still a good one.

Chef Bella

I love this pic of Bella in her VBS chef hat. She really wanted to make sure I got a good one of her in this hat, so I figured, I'd put it here too!

Transformation on Essex Lane

The siding guys showed up Tuesday the 14th of June. We had to take things off of the wall inside the house so they wouldn't fall when they hammer outside. That did not sound like a big deal at first, but it sure made the house look cluttered! Luckily, a week later the back of the house is done, and part of the sides!

Bella can SWIM!==add pics

One evening last week Olivia convinced Bella to take off her floaties and gave her a little swim lesson. By the weekend, Bella could fully swim--after only one lesson from her sister! I told Brian that I bet she would be swimming under water in a week. He told me to turn around...I do only to see Bella swimming to me UNDER the water! She has got to be the fastest-learning kid ever!!

Last day at "Pike Few Preschool"

There was no graduation or ceremony for Bella's preschool this year. (sigh...) But I did make sure to get a quick picture of her "BFF" Ava before school let out. Kaliyah (her second BFF) did not come the last day, so I don't have one of her too. :(

The Many Faces of Silas

Tuesday afternoon, I had Silas again for the day so I figured we would have a little photoshoot!! I've always wanted to do pics with a fish in a fishbowl, but never remembered when I had kids the right age. He wasn't terribly interested, but the shoot quickly became a game of peek-a-boo. TOO CUTE!!!

Pool time with 4 kiddos

We had Emily's boys over Sunday afternoon to swim. Emily said the next day Justin had to WAKE the baby up, and give Cooper Tylenol because he said his whole body hurt. Looks like we know how to wear some kids OUT!!!

Greek Food Festival

We went to the Greek Food Festival May 21st. As usual, we had fun, ate good food and ran into Emily and Justin! The girls got to jump in the Toy Story bouncy house with Cooper before we left. We also saw Renea and Sydney there.

New Student Orientation at LISA

We had New Student Orientation at LISA on Tuesday, May 24th. We got to meet the K teachers and see their classrooms. Bella was SO excited!