Summer 2011

As school begins next week, and I think about the summer, I'm amazed by all the kids have gotten to do. I'm even more amazed by how much I've not blogged about all they've done. This has been a rough pregnancy, and I haven't been able to keep up with the events as they've happened, but I want to be sure to remember all the fun memories we've made during this long, hot summer!

Summer Highlights

Finishing up ballet and Sophie's dance

recital - Sophie was a "confused chicken" in the ballet! It was the perfect part for her, and she did a great job!

Will's first season of t-ball! - I could not have been a

more proud mom as my big #6 took the field

for the first

time this year. It took Will a good while to get the hang of batting. (We kept telling him to hit the ball like he hits Sophie!) And he got a little better at fielding once the cicadas went away! By the end of the season, Will was getting the hang of it, and we look forward to more seasons with our little "slugger!"

VBS at TPC Spring Hill - the theme was Big Apple Adventure, and the kids all had a ball. This was Lillie's first year, (not to mention Zoe's), and the first-timers couldn't have had more fun! I'm so thankful for all the hard work Derek, Cissy, Meredith, and the amazing volunteers at TPC Spring Hill put in to make VBS such an important week in the lives of our kids!

Our ultrasound to find out we have a Lucie rather than a Charlie! Almost all of us were all smiles (with one notable exception in Big Will) as we celebrated the gift of another healthy baby girl! After our very crowded ultrasound, we celebrated over pizza at one of our favorite new restaurants, Bella Napoli!

Cars 2 premiere - Will dreamed of this day for nearly a year. We waited and counted down like we were waiting on Christmas! Finally, his big day arrived, he suited up, and enjoyed every second of the sequel of his favorite movie!

Zoe's Sip and See - The theme of Zoe's shower was one of our families very favorite lullabies, You Are My Sunshine, or according to Zoe, You're My Son Johnny! We celebrated our little sunshine with lots of yellow (her favorite color), a delicious breakfast, and of course, her favorite part, a candy bar!

Princess and Warrior Camp - Sophie looks forward to Royal Purpose Ministries', Princess Prep School every year, and this year did not disappoint! It was Will's first year to attend Warrior Prince Academy, and he was so excited about being able to go that he potty-trained in order to qualify to go! I am so thankful for this ministry and the amazing seeds they have planted in the lives of my children.

Sophie's Rapunzel party and 7th birthday celebration - Aunt Tori and Uncle Derek pulled off

yet another amazing birthday party, as we opened the "Snuggly Duckling"

cafe, and in honor of Rapunzel, painted the "walls" of our fence. Rapunzel (looking a little like Aunt

Hope) stopped by, and the kids even chased after

Flynn Rider! I've never seen Sophie happier, and then we

continued the celebration on her actual birthday with a day of swimming with her best buddy Jack, a picnic, and dinner at her favorite, Logans!

4th of July - We had a low-key, but very fun time celebrating Zoe's first 4th of July! Everyone actually stayed awake for fireworks, though Zoe would have preferred if they had been silent. We grilled out at Patti-Grams and Tatos, visited with friends, and watched the kids have a ball playing!

Two weeks at the beach (Navarre and Perdido) -

We loved seeing Zoe's first time feeling the

the sand and seeing the ocean! The kids got plenty of beach time the first week, and lots of pool time the second

week. Lillie isn't sure she's a beach fan (her fair skin and the sun don't necessarily mix well), but Sophie, Will, and Zoe were three little fishes! The

kids took two trips to see the Blue Angels,

and we spent one full day exploring the Naval Aviation Museum. All that plus, Will's first crab hunting adventure made for some worn out kiddos!

Zoe's 4th birthday (at the beach) and later her Mary Poppins party! - We celebrated Zoe' fourth birthday (her first in America) at the beach with a

day of swimming, followed by a fun dinner at Lulu's, topped off with a trip to Build A Bear! After we came home from the beach, we celebrated more at Zoe's practically perfect Mary Poppins birthday party! I forgot my camera, but I took tons of pictures with

Tori's, so I will definitely get them from her to show off how amazing the party was!

Will's 1st Titans game - We may have

ruined Will forever because his very first Titans game (a big thanks to Uncle Brad and Aunt Ashley) was in a humongous suite, complete with the most amazing view of the field, a delicious full

dinner spread, a suite attendant, and two of his best buddies! I'm afraid it's all downhill for Big Will as far as sporting events go! Even so, his first Titans game is certainly a night he won't soon forget!

Needless to say, our summer has been full! I am looking forward to getting back into more of a "school days" rhythm. And as I waddle through these last days of summer, I am really looking forward to the cooler days of fall. But once again, I find myself thankful for all the memories we've made and fun we've shared.