Summer Days...

We are having so much fun this summer. It is no secret that being from Nebraska, I am miserable in the heat, but thankfully our friends are giving us fun things to do. Emory's best buddy, Carson, is our summer help. This past week we went to Carson's favorite play space, the fountains in Allen! 

Carson showing Emory how things work...

It's difficult to see, but Emory and Carson matched in their red, white and blue swimming suits. Too cute!

Spontaneous game of ring around the rosey. Poor Carson just watched, I don't think he knows that game!

Sweet, sweet Gabe. He just fell asleep in my arms. LOVE him!!!

Such Sweet Kids!!!

Yesterday morning Emory wanted to watch a show on my ipod, and wanted to hold Gabe. He, of course, was in heaven to be that close to his sister and allowed to watch the show. They were so into it they wouldn't even give me a look for the camera.... this is all I could get. Still sweet!

Since we are replacing nearly everything we owned, I am constant shopping. Sounds fun until you have to replace things like scissors (who wants to do that?), but through all this I am also finding new things. Like Elmo Colored Bath Tablets. Drop some in the bath water and it colors the water without coloring your kid! Emory choose purple last night. She is so excited about it she wanted a purple bath with bubbles this morning and was upset when I told her we were going to play with friends instead.

Gabe has begun the exciting world of baby food. He started cereal and we have introduced green beans, which he is doing really well with. 

I like how he sticks his legs straight out... no time for relaxing when food is involved!

6 Months Old!!!

Gabe is half a year old! He is such a joy to have in our family. Gabe is a very easy going and content baby.  He is constantly on the go for his big sister's activities and now for everything involved with the house, but he just does what needs to be done.

Gabe still adores his sister. I love to see how happy she makes him (maybe because I know it will not always be like this). He is very ticklish, likes playing peek-a-boo, likes to be bounced, and loves to watch us eat. Speaking of eating he is doing well with rice cereal and we are starting veggies this weekend. He is chewing on everything right now which makes me think a tooth is coming soon, but so signs of one yet.

Gabe still can only roll from his tummy to his back but he is getting closer to rolling the other way. I am enjoying him being stationary for now!

Getting those toes!

Our happy boy!

I am just a little obsessed with the dimple on his elbow right now. So adorable!!

Of course there had to be a picture of Emory and Gabe together. What cuties!

First Day of Swim Lessons...

Emory had her first day of swim lessons today! She started off strong, she thought sitting on the edge with other kids was really fun, but then started the actual work. Once the instructor put Emory's head under water, she was over the whole thing. We are hoping she keeps trying for the next two weeks. There are 10 kids in her class to one instructor and they all sit while one kid is in the water, not the best but at least she is there!

Emory's new nervous behavior is biting her fingernails. (ever since the fire) Neither Grant nor I do that so we don't know where she got that from.

Emory's favorite part of the swim lesson, kicking!

What We've Been Up To...

Trying to beat the heat. I am not a fan of being outside in the Texas summer, so we are trying to find all sorts of activities to stay inside.

Sleepy Gabe. Tired from playing and apparently swinging.

His new best friend, smiling sun on the jumperoo.

Emory has been super busy with play-doh. She asked Grant to play play-doh with her when he got home from work tonight. She was so into her play-doh time she would not look at the camera, thats called focus.

4th of July Weekend!!!

This past weekend we took a well deserved trip away to our family reunion in Illinois. There was so much to do, so much to eat, and so many people to love on our kids. We did so many fun things at Steve and Carol's house on the river, here are some of the highlights!

All the babies in matching tutus, except for Gabe of course!

Baby pool time!

Matching swim suits...

Uncle Steve, Grandpa and daddy took Emory to a fire station. She liked it at first and then was too scared to play on the truck. Doesn't daddy look cute?!?

Uncle Steve's tractor...

Catching lightning bugs with daddy...

Gabe got to try rice cereal for the first time!

On the boat...

Emory actually got on the tube with daddy! She was such a good girl and they took a very slow ride. She even kept the pink bow in her hair!

Gabe was very impressed.

Thank you so much to Steve and Carol for the wonderful trip and to grandpa and grandma for all the help. We feel so much more refreshed and ready to tackle house stuff.

We decided to start another blog with the fire updates, so that it does not take away posts from our precious kids. We have the link on the left side under the pictures, and we are going to keep that blog anonymous.

Playing Around...

I have mentioned many times that Gabe LOVES his sister. She makes him laugh and smile way more than anyone else, which I am trying not to take personally. The other night Emory was jumping on the couch (which was a bad habit to start) and Gabe was cracking up.

Notice the drool running down his chin, uncontrollable. Anytime we are sitting on the couch he looks at her and laughs, big sisters are great entertainment!