Summer Recap, part 2

This summer has been adventurous. Below, are more summer memories we created.....

Hurricane Harbor with Jason, Cami, and Abbi.

We had fun HOT day. Charlotte thought the water park was pretty cool. She got to play in the lazy river, wave pool, and the kid's play area. Aunt Cami was really kind to play with Charlotte while us big kids (Jason, Abbi, Justin and I) went down slides and tube rides. It's always also fun people watching..... we were definitely the minority because none of us had tattoos. And, that's OK with me!

Gram, Pater, and Celia Hays

We drove down to The Woodlands the end of July to meet Celia Hays. She is my biological great-grandmother and Charlotte's great-great grandmother. She's 92 years old and very spunky. She really enjoyed watching Charlotte run around and play. We met at Rupert's sister's house, Ellen Troup. Rupert's other sister, Janice, met us there too. We had a fun day filled with great food, wine, conversations, and pool time! Charlotte even napped in a big bed. It was a long day because we drove down and back all in the same day, but totally worth the trip!

Our trip to the Butterfly House

Texas Discovery Gardens, Fair Park

Charlotte enjoyed picking a butterfly on her map and then trying to locate it in the garden. There was some really beautiful butterflies. One was very bright blue named, Blue Morpho Butterfly. We had learn about that particular butterfly earlier that morning watching Diego. See..... cartoons can be educational.

Dallas Museum of Art, Jazz night

Charlotte had loads of fun dancing and twirling to the live music. She was the only child there, but that only made her feel bigger. Others loved watching her energy and joy and she danced the night away.

Pizza and play with the Zonas

Kermit!

Charlotte and I took advantage of one of the MANY opportunities we have in Dallas and went to a children's movie. They were showing Muppets from Outer Space. She thought it was really cool!

Still LOVES ballet with Ms. Holly.

Soon, she will graduate from Mommy and Me and attend her own class.

Popsicle Princess

Yes, it's already started....... Catalog shopping

She found something on EVERY page that she liked. I guess I know where she gets that. Plus, who doesn't like Boden??

Aquarium

I hadn't been to the aquarium in a while, but Charlotte had. Nana & Granddad took her, Aunt Haley took her, and Kabe & Grammie took her.... so, I thought it was time that I finally took her too. It was fun having her show me around. She had her favorites and loved showing them to me. She acted so big and mature.

In the process of organizing the pantry, I had a little helper pull things out and put in the backpack. She said she was shopping and needed to pack her lunch.

Couldn't resist this adorable picture of her long pony tails. They're growing! It's Charlotte's favorite way to wear her hair right now.

Summer Recap, part 1

We've had a very exciting a fun filled summer! Each day is a wonderful adventure. We can do anything that a 2 1/2 year old mind can dream up. I LOVE that I can be home with her and enjoy even the littlest moments. Often, those are the best ones.....

Ice cream date with our friend Bennett

Summer swim lessons

"reach and pull" - "kick, kick, kick"

Ready to get in and swim. Charlotte loved jumping off the side of the pool and into our arms. She called them, "big girl jumps".

Galleria play

Story time with Daddy

Annual Block Party, with best friends Spencer and Harrison

Watching intently as the bounce house is being blown up

She loves bounce houses

Kabe's 60th birthday weekend at the Gaylord

His favorite present was from Jacque

Chill'in at the Gaylord pool

Playing princess fairy

Getting nails done at the salon is a new favorite that Nana started in March while we were in Paris. Charlotte now request to have them done after they're "broken", or in other words, the polish has come off.

Helping Mommy at VBS

Trying corn-on-the-cob for the 1st time

More pool time

We went the the Zoo with friends, Catherine and Presley, to see the new Safari exhibit

The giraffes were so cool

more ice cream.....she prefers cones now to cups, but doesn't yet understand that you can eat the cone too. I think she just likes the look of it for now.

Shopping and playing with Spencer

4th of July, Bebe the bear is dressed up too!

Ready for the parade

1st baseball game, we went with Justin's firm

Learning to go potty, while watching Elmo's Potty Time

And SUCCESS!!! We're POTTY TRAINED! She did a fantastic job. It was so much easier than I had thought. For 2 days we didn't leave the house much. I set a timer every 30-45 minutes and we would go potty when it dinged. She got the hand of it real fast and began telling me when she needed to go or not. We are so proud of her!

She got a guitar for her potty present. She worked hard for it and it was so fun going to the store together to pick it out. Of course, she chose PINK!

Our little Rock Star!

More Family

Whew.......life has been very busy lately; especially since May.

On Mother's Day, I found information about my biological mother's family.

My blogging has been at a stand-still since. Not because I didn't have anything to post, but because I had SO much to post I didn't know where to begin.

This has been such an amazing and wonderful experience, but also bittersweet because Karen, my biological mother, died of gastric cancer 2 days before Charlotte was born.

Karen and my sister, Brooke (Mother's Day 2007)

Me, Charlotte, Brooke, and my grandparents; Sue (Gram) and Rupert (Pater)

me and Brooke

Brooke, me, Gram (see any resemblance?!?)

me, Charlotte, Gram & Pater

This experience has brought me closer to God. My life is now and forever will be affected by this experience. God orchestrated it all in His timing and when He says play, you play.

We all have an amazing adventure ahead; I am blessed to call them family.

A Star is Born

Wow, a lot has happened since Easter, but let me begin with Charlotte's end-of-school Musical.

Her school performed a musical for the families. There were a lot of visitors that morning excitedly awaiting the show with multiple cameras in hand. Charlotte was so proud of the songs her class had learned and loved to practice them at home. She told me on the morning of the show that once her songs were completed, she was going to take a bow and clap. After witnessing many home performances, I did not doubt the bow. Bowing is one of her favorite things, and she has it down to an art.

However, on the morning of the show, she walked into the auditorium, saw all those people flashing pictures and video, and froze. We were sitting in front trying to get her attention, hoping that would get her out of the stage fright, but I don't think she ever saw us. Our poor baby girl! She was comforted by gnawing on her fingers throughout the songs.

Afterwards, Daddy went up to her and gave her a huge hug. She was thrilled to see him!