Fathers Day Weekends

We celebrated Father's Day to it's fullest this year!

It started with Nora & I heading to Summerville with Niki, Buck, & Millie the weekend before Father's Day for an early celebration.  We got to relax and spend some time with my Dad.  Nora quite enjoyed exploring the chickens coop, big backyard, and oh-so-kind dogs.  (Even if it meant scaring chickens by walking to close to them or sitting on the dogs while pulling their hair and/or ears.)  She also got some good swim practice in with Millie.  I must admit, Nora is getting much braver in the water these days!  We ate well (like usual) with pot roast, pizza on the grill, and french toast for "Father's Day".  Nora especially liked the food...G.Viv made sure to have her favorites like puffs, Gogurt, and fresh fruit.  I didn't take pictures, other than the girls swimming...oops.  But we did have  a good time!

Drinking the water...new trick

Splashing

Millie cheesing it, Nora trying to climb out!

Our little swimmers with G.Pa watching

The next weekend, we drove to Georgia to see Aaron's Dad and Dee Dee for Father's Day!  This was our first time seeing their new house and boy is it nice!  They have a good bit of land but the best part is that it's on a big pond.  Aaron loved grabbing a rod and heading out the door several times to fish.  Nora liked all the area to run around.  We spent lots of time relaxing, visiting, and watching movies or Food Network.  Aaron's Dad likes to cook and make us some yummy food!  From his famous breakfast (eggs, bacon, biscuits, tomato gravy) to ribs and stuffed jalapenos.  The only down side was how extremely hot it was outside!  Then, Saturday night the A/C went out and we really knew hot Sunday until the repair man made it!  Whew!  Brought back good old memories of our honeymoon cruise when an engine cut off and so they couldn't run the A/C.  =)  While Aaron didn't get his own Father's Day, I think he still enjoyed it.  It was a special treat to go see his Dad and (don't you worry) we just took his presents there.  Oh the best part for Aaron was probably not having to change any of Nora's diapers!  We definitely enjoyed our stay!

Like father, like son

Nice grass to run on

a beautiful background

Nora  & Mommy sweating outside

Nora & PawPaw on Father's Day

Nora with PawPaw & Daddy on Father's Day

 We are SO grateful for all the father's in our lives.  There are plenty of fathers around us from our fathers, step-father, grandfathers, step-grandfather....we're some lucky kids!  We both have wonderful fathers that we know are the best!  They are great grandfathers for Nora, too.  Nora is one spoiled girl though, because Aaron is a fabulous dad to her!  We (Nora & I) are so grateful to him for all he does for our family like working hard in the boiling heat!  We love all of you soo much!  Happy Father's Day one last time...well, until next June that is.

May Short Stay

I know this is really late, but this blog is not just to entertain our friends and family.  It's also so our memories can be documented.  I just am not that good at keeping a journal or scrapbook.

In May we got to have vacation with my Dad.  To try something new, he took us to the a Navy Short Stay in Moncks Corner, SC.  We had a lot of fun hanging out and spending time together.  We got to stay in some condos (no camping here) that overlooked Lake Moultrie.  We shared the area with some geese and ducks though.  There was lots of poop!  Nora did a good job of only touching it once.  =)  We went for a long weekend (Wed-Sat) and did a lot of relaxing.  There was a fabulous playground that Nora & Millie loved.  It was 3 playgrounds plus swings all together and one was geared for smaller kids.  Of course, Nora spent a lot of time on the slides.  That girl can't resist climbing up and sliding down any slide she sees!  On our way into Moncks Corner, we stopped at the store and picked up food and things we needed for the trip.  Rest assured we ate well and did not ever stop! Since this place was created for the Military to relax and vacation they made sure there was plenty available to do.  There was everything from basketball, volleyball, horseshoes, sailing, pontoon boats, fishing, to a man-made beach on the edge of the lake.  We played horseshoes and went to the beach a few times.  It was only May and it was very hot!  My Dad took the "sailing test" and passed to rent the catamaran, but unfortunately there was NO wind, so we couldn't ever go out.  Regardless, we enjoyed our Short Stay-cation!

Xan & Nora ready to walk to the playground

Loving the playground

Buck & Niki trying to cook popcorn over the coals

Aaron cooking popcorn over the fire

We used the popcorn handles to roast marshmallows to make s'mores

Nora, Millie, & Xan hanging out

G-Pa doing the "sailing test"

Aaron, Xan, Niki & Buck playing horseshoes

Millie & Nora exploring

Checking sturdiness of the picnic tables

Measuring the height of the benches

Testing the temperature of the concrete

ALWAYS climbing on tables now 

Pushing the limits to see where they can go

Best for last:

Nora loves Daddy!

May Days

May was a busy month for us!  Nora got to spend lots of time playing with her cousin Millie.  We also had lots of family get togethers with both of our families.  Here's a few highlights of our "May Days".

Nora went back to the doctor for a shot they were out of at her 12 month check up.  Of course she was all smiles.  That's our Miss Happy.

PS-Isn't that a cute outfit?  Thanks, Elizabeth!

One of the MANY days of no power (or so it seems) we went to Bass Pro.  AKA the free aquarium.  Nora enjoyed fish-watching.

There were some MASSIVE fish!

Nora & Millie had their first ride in the annoyingly-huge cart at Walmart.  They thought it was pretty fun.  Even the part about the seat belts not really fitting.

Don't worry it's treated with Microban...ha,whatever that means.

Nora has started swim lessons with Aaron's mom.  So far she isn't too much of a fan.  Millie's been coming too and is much more interested.

We went to a fabulous Early Childhood museum with Millie & Lexi (and their moms).  Discovery Place Kids is in Huntersville and they have done a great job making it developmentally appropriate and cute!  Nora had a blast.  I may have even heard her whisper to Daddy that she wants to go again...soon.

Lexi's so sweet to push Nora around, instead of the bricks in the construction area.

Just to make sure Nora's hair is indeed growing...we did pigtails.

If you're wondering, NO she doesn't like them.  But I do!

Hoppy Easter 2011!

This year was technically Nora's 2nd Easter, but the first was spent in the hospital.  She was born on Good Friday last year.  Hmm...maybe that's why she's so good.  =)


Aaron's family came over for a Easter Party on Saturday.  We had Aaron's Dad & Step-mom, & cousin Brittaney in town for the weekend.  (That in itself should be a good enough excuse to party!)


We dyed eggs.  Well some of us did, but mostly these 2 cute girls.  And boy did they love it!  They did 30 in no time!

Of course, we ate.  We had the whole spread from turkey, salad, potato salad, to these special treats.

Then, it was on to the prime activity...egg hunting!  With a little hanging out and Aaron finishing our gate to complete the day.

Sunday morning we had Easter baskets before church.  Nora really enjoyed her first basket full of toddler snacks & toys.  After church we went to my mom's for dinner.  Then, Aaron had to head out of town so Nora & I went to hang out with his family some more.

We had a great holiday weekend!  Hope yall did too!