First Birthday Party

At the beginning of July, we had family over for brunch (YUM)

to celebrate the big day.

We like food. Food is fun.Hats? Not so sure about hats.
Nope. I don't like hats with elastic smooshing my face.

Mommy, you should know better. Didn't work with my sister either.

(Not to worry; hat has now been tossed and will never emotionally scar a child again)

"Mommy, you RUINED my birthday party."

"Oh. What's this?"
(Drama soon forgotten.)

"hmmmm..."

She kind of kept looking at us as if to say,
"Are you really going to let me do this?!"

Present time

Post-party sugar high

Good times

Some June Memories

Our Bible Study girls went to the zoo with all of our kids... 13 kids in all, I think?

And here is my attempt at a group shot...

Ava and Annika holding hands- so sweet.

With Andy traveling a lot, we get to do fun things like go hang out at my grandparents' house.

The girls are very intrigued by their dog Shane.
sweet moments with Great-Grandpa.
On Father's Day weekend we went to hear Solid RoC play at the park in Roanoke.
On the swings with Grandma...

Must have been the heat... it put her in a rare snuggly mood.

Uncle Brock took full advantage!

And Alexa was... Alexa.

Destin 2010 Part 7: Heading Home

We stopped halfway home to sleep. It was 10:30, so we had to wake up the girls to go inside. They were wired and having so much fun chasing each other around on Annika's bed and giggling.

It was almost sad to break up their fun so we could go to bed!

Destin 2010 Part 6: The Beach

The beach behind The Back Porch restaurant

(all attempts at a decent family picture continue to fail!):

at "our" beach

Once she got a little less terrified of the sand
love that beautiful view

Happy Birthday, Alexa

A year already.

It's been such a blur, and so hard to believe that it was a year ago (and not just yesterday) that we were here:

... and now we're here:

Oh my little monkey... what would we do without you?!

Happy birthday, sweet girl.