The Park and The Pool

                                                                        
This morning the girls and I met up with some of our friends at the park. The kids had fun running around and being crazy. For the longest time we were the only people there- it was lovely! Then a bus from a nearby daycare showed up and about fifty little four year olds took the place over! So time to go home.

Rebecca on the jungle gym

My friend Amanda's little girl- so adorable!

it has a big lake and we fed the fish and ducks

Rachel and Gigi-full of energy!

Then we headed home so Rebecca could get a nap. When she woke up we went to my friend's house and spent the afternoon at the neighborhood pool.

Rebecca wasn't too thrilled about the water.

this is what Rebecca wanted to do the entire time- walk up and down this path.

Rachel and Gigi on the waterslide.

It was a good day and full of fun with our friends!

                                                                     

Pool Party

                                                                           
Yesterday Rachel and I went to a birthday party for one of her friends. The party was at his grandparents house and they have a pool! And a playground, a garden, a beautiful yard, and were wonderful people too.
There were lots of kids there and all were having a lot of fun! It was the perfect day for a party.
     

This is the cute little monkey that was hanging out on the mailbox. The party was red, blue & white with lots of monkeys thrown in.

These monkeys were hanging around. Each kid got one to take home as part of their goody bag!

Rachel loves hers.

Drew- the birthday boy opening up his gifts.

Rachel and her friend Ava.

Rachel and I had a wonderful time! Thanks to Drew and Tosha for inviting us to the party!

                                                                     
                                  
             

Spa Day

For Mother's Day this year, Raphael and the girls gave me a gift certificate to a nearby hotel  called the Chateau Elan- that also happens to have a winery, golf course, and an incredible spa!  I invited my good friend Ashley to join me for the day and we had the best time.

It is so pretty and everything is plush and smells good too. i wanted to take lots of pictures, but thought I probably shouldn't. The bathroom area is crazy beautiful- chandeliers and waterfalls. It was just too much.  Anyways, Ashley and I both changed into our lovely robes and slippers and sipped on chilled cucumber water until our appointments. I went for a "salt glow" which is like a massage, but with salt instead of lotion. Ashley had a massage  and then we met up for lunch.

Here we are having lunch in our robes! It was so fun, and all the other ladies were in robes too. Ashely and I agreed  that we could do this every weekend and it would never get old. The food was fabulous of course.

After lunch, we had awhile before our next appointment, so we went to the "quiet room" it is a big room with comfy chairs, candles, pretty music playing and you are supposed to be quiet and enjoy the peacefullness. Well, for quite awhile we were the only ones in there, so of course we talked and talked. And then the door would open, and we would stop. And then back to talking some more. Finally, it was time for our pedicures.

In the bathroom/lockeroom there were these twisty sprial staircases and I kept wondering what was up there. Turned out that is where you go to get your nails done. It was the nicest nail room I have ever been in. Rose petals sprinkled in the water for your feet to soak and even on the chairs where we were sitting. Ashley and I sat next to each other and talked nonstop. I think our nail people thought we were crazy- we talked about alot of different topics in a hour. My toes look really good and I found a new nail color too.

                                                                         
After our nails were done, we went for "tea time" and enjoyed some tea, fruit and desserts. Then sadly, it was time to go. Big thanks to my husband for giving me such a wonderful gift- I loved every minute of it and can't wait to go again!
         

Pug Playdate

We have the nicest mail lady. Her name is Miss Sharon and she has been delivering our mail for the past four years. She is so sweet- she would give Rachel candy and dog treats for Lola. When Rebecca was born, she put a "Best Big Sister"ribbon in the mailbox for Rachel. She always has a smile and a kind word to say.

                                                                 
Right after we moved here, she saw me out in the yard with Lola. Sharon told me that she has two pugs of her own- Frank and Precious.  We have been talking about getting the pugs together ever since, and finally this past Sunday, we did it!

Rachel and Frank

It was so cute to see three pugs running around and playing. Frank and Precious are BIG pugs- Close to thirty pounds. Makes Lola look skinny!

Trying to get all three together for a group photo-ha!

Rebecca loved Frank- she kept trying to hug him and chased him all around.

Raphael was trying to bribe them to sit and look at the camera with some cheese.

The three amigos!

It was fun and I think Lola had a good time. Happy weekend!

                                                                   

Backyard Fun

 

                                                                           
 Today was a hot one! The temperatures were in the high nineties/low one hundreds. The girls and I made a quick trip to Sam's Club. It was the first time I had shopped there since we have moved to Georgia. We are Cost-co kind of people, but I discovered that Sams sells Pampers diapers, so we made a stop in today.  

                                                                   
Then home for Rebecca's nap and Rachel and I headed to the backyard. I set up a sprinkler/water play mat kind of deal for Rachel and she played for a long time. She has quite the imagination and played with her "water" Barbie that Nana and Papa sent her last week. I sat nearby with my feet soaking in the water and listened to her talking and pretending with her Barbie friend. Later we had a water bottle fight and sprayed water at any poor bug that happened to come a little to close to Rachel's sprinkler! Rachel had lots of fun and the cold water felt really good today. Then back inside to bake up some brownies and get ready for swimming lessons.

                                                                                  

Our Fourth of July Weekend

We had a busy weekend- lots of Fourth of July fun.

Rachel started the weekend off on Friday night with a "movie party" at our friends' house. They live near us and have a beautiful home- complete with a movie room! My friend, Naomi, is THE hostess of all time. She always has a wonderful spread of food and drinks, lots of fun activities for the kids and is so relaxed about it all. I love going to her house! All the kids, I think about fifteen in all, watched a movie and ate tons of popcorn and candy. It was a lot of fun.

this is outside of my friend's house

Then Saturday, I went to a good-bye luncheon for a friend of mine from MOMS Club. It was at Mimi's Cafe- the best food and it was nice to sit and chat with all my friends. When I got home, Rachel and I went to our neighborhood pool for awhile. All of her swimming lessons are finally starting to pay off!

We came home and had a litte get together with some friends of Raphael's from work.

Here is Rebecca in her "american sweetie" outfit. So cute, but she didn't want to look at the camera.

the girls in their red,white and blue.

Sunday, we went to church and then later in the day went to our friends' house-Gregg and Ashley for dinner and fireworks. Gregg grilled up some steaks and Ashley had tons of good sides too.The girls all played really well together. I took Rebecca's little pop-up travel bed and she was asleep before the fireworks show began.

Catie and Rachel waiting for the fireworks to start

Raphael and Gregg lighting up the noisemakers. I am always worried that someone is going to catch on fire or lose a finger, but no injuries occurred!

Rachel with a sparkler- she wasn't quite sure what to do with it. The neighborhood had tons of fireworks going on, so we sat outside and watched for a long time. Thankfully, Rebecca slept through it all.

Then today, we all went to the waterpark for some swimming fun! It was a busy, but good weekend.

                                                                                  

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!