Aladdin

I took the girls to see Aladdin at Kudzu Theater - we've been to a show every summer for the last few & this was by far the best show we've seen - it was wonderfully done - the girls loved it (despite the fact that they've still never seen the movie - smiley face).  Fun!

Chattanooga Fun!

Chris did a race in Chattanooga, TN - not his best race - he & Lexy were sick (which then eventually got us all sick) and we were all in one hotel room but despite the tough conditions, we still had a fabulous weekend with great friends - smiley face.  (I decided that Chris' best races are when he travels w/out the girls...we are too much of a distraction - and by we, I mean me too b/c I need his help with them - smiley face.  When it's just he & I traveling he can do all his pre-race rituals on his timeline & he does fantastic....but we do love supporting him as a family - so some good races, some not so good - it's all about staying in shape & having goals - smiley face).

I can't believe we've never taken the girls to Chattanooga before - it's just over an hour from Atlanta and filled with fun. The downtown area is so clean & family friendly....we were just there for a long weekend but had a blast.  Friday we went to their INCREDIBLE children's museum (Atlanta should take some notes - I tried to convince Chris we needed to buy a membership...not so much from the man who's always looking ahead to savings - smiley face).  Afterwards, we walked around the downtown area and enjoyed the river front & the water steps by the aquarium.  Saturday we headed out to Ruby Falls.  I had no idea the water fall was underground....but it was a fun adventure we all enjoyed looking at the rock formations.  We attempted to check out Lookout Mountain (we had exceeded daddy's budget for the day so we looked at the parking lot - ha ha) and saw the incline railroad (so neat - it went right under us!).  That night, most of our friends from Atlanta and Charlotte got there...we enjoyed a HUGE dinner together.

Sunday was race day....I'd be suprised if Chris even slept 2 hours that night - between Lexy's constant coughing and my fear of bedbugs (I SWEAR they were in our bed - nice hotel or not - I was bitten mulitple times - it was not in my imagination - smiley afce), as well as his own respitotory infection.  We still cheered for everyone...and had some fun on the playground by the river while we waited.  After the race, we enjoyed lunch and then went to the King's hotel to watch the world cup final....and swim at their hotel pool (so Daddy & Greg could watch some of the game in what was supposed to be peace and quiet - ha ha). 

All in all, it was a fabulous & fun weekend - summer trips are great adventures we love - smiley face!

Our first Lemonade Stand

The girls asked to have a lemonade stand this summer....so we made our signs (Hannah & Abby made one each and Lexy was so fast that she had two - smiley face - I was impressed how they even put ice in the pictures, drew straws and more...all on their own).  They did quite well and had decided before their started they were going to give their profits to the church - so sweet!  Many people stopped (and some surprised us who didn't stop....but that's another story on generosity & thougfulness - something we always hope to have in our family - smiley face) and were as giving as they could be...the girls had $10.27 when they were done - not bad for an hour's work (and lots of drinking of the profits - ha ha - they each enjoyed three glasses themselves - smiley face).  Now to get to church to share their donations.....(our summer fun schedules have us out of town nearly every weekend until the August...what kind of example are we setting?!)

Lexy finally picked a bday party idea!

With her bday nearly three weeks away...she finally settled on a party idea (it seemed to change daily - from laser tag to pool party and beyond).  For the first time in their lives, I sent an evite rather than a formal invitation (something I'm still uneasy about - but are the girls really going to look back in their baby books & read every single party invitation?).  We got her all ready for a picture and sent it out via evite with the following words....now for the shopping/prep work - smiley face.  Fun times ahead!

Manicures and Pedicures

with sparkles galore
these are the things we most adore!

We'll have facials, makeup & hair styling too
Lots of fun things girls love to do.

Let's get pampered on a special day
to celebrate Lexy's seventh birthday
Hope you can join us for Lexy's celebration..
please send your girls in a fluffy robe & flip flops for the fun.

Water Park Fun

Who knew Gwinnett County had such fun public parks....we got back from the beach late the night before & were already off on our next adventure with good friends.  I wasn't winning any mom of the year awards though....Hannah was fussy (she even got out of the pool two hours into our fun & laid down on the chair b/c she was tired) - I thought it was b/c of our packed week in St Augustine & late return home (we stayed to watch the world cup for daddy - smiley face) turns out that night she had a fever....she was such a trooper....feeling sick & all - she still was active in the fun pool (lazy river, slides, sprays and more).  Hope no one else got sick!

St Augustine

What a FUN week we had in St Augustine visiting Granny & Grandpa...with Aunt Meredith, Uncle Tom, Charlie & Julia.  As the girls get older, the beach gets easier & more fun again - smiley face.  We started our trip visiting central Florida's cool springs and an old sugar mill where you get to make your own pancakes.  Abby LOVED her syrup with pancakes.  It was fun to swim in the springs (or watch Chris, Tom and the kids...it was COLD).  Of course the girls posed for me climbing a tree too...Hannah wanted me to take endless photos of her - and I had to oblidge - smiley face!  Our first day at the beach was overcast & drizzly - but that didn't stop us from having fun (flying a kite, building a sandcastle with Uncle Tom & Charlie, playing in the waves and enjoying lots of paddle ball).  The fourth of July brought lots of sunshine and the girls enjoyed getting buried in the sand (and then burying daddy too!).  Of course no trip to St Augustine would be complete w/out lots of walks across the Bridge of Lions to the downtown area for ICE CREAM (daddy's favorite)....one afternoon Abby was COVERED in hers....too cute.  We are so glad Grandpa's doing well enough for them to be home....while we miss them in Atlanta, we're glad we have fun times ahead to visit florida.