15 Months

Our little Rebecca is fifteen months old today!  She continues to be a cutie and a charmer. She is really a "daddy's girl" She will cling to Raphael's leg or beg to be picked up by him. And she loves her big sister too.

Lately she enjoys "reading" books and will bring me a book, climb into my lap and we look at books together. She is saying- mama, dada, lola, and ball. She knows several words in sign language. It is amazing to see how fast she is growing and how much her mind knows.

We are seeing her personality more and more everyday. Usually it is sweet and cute, but there have been some tantrums!

Rebecca loves to blow kisses and wave good-bye. She had two more teeth coming in on the bottom and still loves to eat!

We love you Rebecca!

                                                                                                                                                         

First Popsicle

 

                                                                                                                                                 

Father's day Weekend

We are having a great Father's Day weekend so far!  Raphael came home from his trip on Friday in time to see Rachel at her swimming class. She was so excited to have her Daddy there and show him what she has been learning. 

            

                                                                        
Yesterday morning I had an appointment for a haircut, so the girls had lots of quality time with their Dad. They went for a walk to the park and home for lunch and naps!

Then last night we went out to dinner with our friends-Gregg and Ashley. We went to the best steakhouse and ate until we were going to explode. We are looking forward to our next dinner out.

Then this morning, we gave Raphael his Father's Day cards and gifts. Rachel loves giving presents and I think Raphael liked his gifts. Today after church we plan to head to the waterpark and try to stay cool.

The girls and I love their Daddy so much! He is a wonderful man. Always putting us first and the glue that holds us all together. I thank the Lord for giving my girls such a great father.

And of course, Happy Father's Day to my Dad! I wish we could be together to celebrate. My Dad is the best. So patient and kind. A great example of a man who loves the Lord. And one of the hardest working men I know. I love you!

                                                                          

Kamping

                                                                       
Rachel asked repeatedly last summer to go camping, but no luck. And then she asked several more times this spring- so last week we loaded up the car and went camping. We have done tent camping in the past, but too hard with a little one and it always rains and the tent always leaks, so this time we stayed at the K.O.A. in Chattanooga.  We stayed in a Kamping Lodge- with its own bathroom, a room with bunkbeds and a full kitchen. They can really pack a lot of stuff into one tiny little cabin. There were some stressful nights, but overall we had a good time and Rachel loved it!

                                                                  

The first afternoon there we went swimming and then back for dinner. Of course we roasted marshmellows and made smores. Rachel got pretty good at making her marshmellow golden brown.

This was the cutest little  camper across the way from us. I would love to see what it looked like inside?

Rebecca being silly in the cabin and wearing Rachel's goggles.

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On on first full day there, we went to an old fashioned amusement park- Lake Winnie. It was lots of fun. Rachel and Raphael rode every single ride that Rachel could go on. Rebecca and I mostly watched, but did take in a few rides too. It had good rides for kids and it was not crowded! Rachel rarely had to wait in line!

we took a train ride around the park and they handed out lollipops to the kids. Rebecca was so excited to have one of her own.

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The next day we went to the Tennessee Aquarium. It was wonderful to be inside for the day. It was really hot and humid while we were there. The aquarium was great- not crowded either and really nice exhibits.

touching the manta rays

lots of fish to look at.

they had a butterfly house and one of the butterflies ended up in Rachel's hair!

we also stopped at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo exhibit/hotel and looked at some old fashioned trains.

After the aquarium we went to a local park that had water fountains and let the girls play.

All around the fountains were animals craved from stone- really beautiful

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We did come home a day early. But on the way we stopped at the Racoon Caverns for a quick underground tour. Rebecca was asleep, so Rachel and her Dad went on this adventure by themselves.

Our trip was lots of fun and Chattanooga seems like a great town. I know we will back for another visit soon.

                                                                        

       

Georgia On My Mind

There is a blog that I read a few times a week, by a lady named Jennifer. I met her and her family when they came to Atlanta back in October. She has a huge following of her blog, something like a million people a month read her blog. I can't imagine having that many people checking in on my life and the pressure she must have to come up with something to say each day.   A while back she started writing what she calls "streams of consciousness" blog posts. She just sits down and writes whatever comes to her mind. No certain topic or any specific order- just whatever is in her heart and on her mind.  Her blog is http://www.mycharmingkids.net/.

So, I thought that I would "borrow" her idea.  Nothing earth shattering, no deep thoughts or thought provoking words- just things I have on my mind. And I decided to give it a catchy little name- Georgia On My Mind.  So here it goes...


We had a great long weekend get-away with the girls to Chattanooga. It is a cute town and we had so much fun. I have tons of pictures to share and hopefully I can post about the trip soon.

Still have to write thank you notes from Rachel's birthday party and even a few from Rebecca's birthday. Becca's are from late arriving gifts, but still I feel bad that I haven't gotten them done yet.

I needed to go to the post office this morning and pick up our mail and get a Father's Day gift off to my Dad. But Rachel woke up really late-10a.m.! and then it was straight to Monkey Joe's to play with friends.

My house is a mess- tons of laundry to be done and even more to be folded and put away. And lots of papers to be sorted through. And still need to finish cleaning out and organizing the basement.

Rachel has a busy week ahead- swimming lessons start tonight, summer camp starts tomorrow and tennis lessons start on Thursday. Lord help us all to survive.

I can tell it is going to be a long and hot summer! Already the temps are in the nineties and the humidity is high. We spent yesterday cooling off at Lake Lanier waterpark.

Looking forward to our "double date" with our good friends this Saturday. But I need to figure out where we are going for dinner?

I really need to go grocery shopping.

I plan on making Pioneer Woman's  recipe for Ice Granitas this week. Looks so good and refreshing for summer.

Our garden is really growing! All the plants are doing well. Can't wait for the tomatoes and cucumbers to be ready.

Baby is crying, so I better go!

Somewhere over the Rainbow

                                                                              

This past Saturday, we had Rachel's birthday party! It was a lot of fun and the girls all had a good time. Rachel had asked for an outside party with a waterslide-jumpy. So that is what she had. They jumped and slid, and ate and ran around screaming and had so much fun. Lots of her friends were out of town or were having birthday parites of their own, but I think the party was the perfect size. The girls all got along-not one single arguement!                   

                                                                                                          
                                                      
 I was so nervous about the weather-it has been hot and humid here for weeks, but lately we have had lots of pop-up thunderstorms in the afternoons. Thank the Lord we had great weather! I did not have a "plan B" in case of bad weather, and I have already decided no more outside parties--too stressful for me-ha!

                                                                        

Anyways, I decided to go with a "rainbow" theme for her party. Made having a few decorations and the food a little easier to figure out.  We had the "party" room in the basement, so I put up colored streamers on the ceiling and made some rainbow colored pom-poms(thanks to Martha Stewart) and a rainbow pinata too.                                                                     

                                                                                  
 I saw on MckMama's blog http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ a few months ago, this really awesome rainbow cake and having been looking for an excuse to make it. This party was it! I did use a recipe from the Tasty Kitchen via The Pioneer Woman http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/.  We also had rainbow cupcakes, rainbow goldfish, fruits in all the colors of the rainbow and M&Ms too.

The girls getting ready for some pinata fun!

A very happy birthday girl!

                                                                               

Six

Rachel turned six years old yesterday! She had a great day, filled with activity and she was a very happy girl.
She was up bright and early to open her gifts. She received many presents and loved them all.

we bought her a new chair for in her room

her new mini-b playhouse- thanks nana and papa!

She got some birthday money from her Abuela and Abuelo, so we went to Target and did some birthday shopping. Rachel picked out a new doll and a Barbie. Then after shopping, she wanted to have Chick-fil-A for lunch. So we went to the mall and had lunch and she also rode the carousel.

We played alot in the afternoon and once Raphael was home we had birthday cake and sang to her.

After dinner, we played her Monopoly game, which was very cute and fun.

We can't believe that our Rachel is another year older. Really does seem like just the other day she was a baby in my arms.

We love her kind heart, sharing spirit, and spunky attitude. She is a wonderful daughter and it was a great birthday!