Summer

Since Chris has officially started school and I attended my first academy "icebreaker" in 18 years last night, I guess it's time to recognize the fact that summer is over and admit that I did a poor, poor job of capturing all of the special moments of Summer 2011.  I do have an excuse, though.  Just to play snapshot catch-up, here goes.

May --

The girls were able to spend some great time with their cousin McKenna during a week-long trip to Chattanooga for camp meeting.  Ever since then, the girls have not stopped saying "Big girl Kenna" about every "big girl" thing they want to do.  Sit on the potty without a potty seat?  "Mommy, I big girl Kenna."  Walk down a flight of stairs without holding Mommy's hand? "Mommy, I big girl Kenna."  Sit in a chair without a booster seat or high chair? You got it.  "I big girl Kenna."  They definitely look up to their cousin Kenna! I am amazed at the bond they have even though they don't get the chance to be together too often.

June --

In June we made our annual trip to the far east coast of Morehead City, North Carolina to visit Nana and Papa!  We absolutely adore our time there as it feels like a definite vacation and retreat each and every time we visit them....even to the literal red carpet they roll out when we roll into town!  

These girls had a ball.  It was nonstop from the minute we arrived, but all with such sweet happy memories!

At the end of our vacation, we received the sad news that our other Nana Reba back in Tennessee passed away.  She was an amazingly strong woman with an equally strong daughter, my step-mom, who stood by her side through the toughest illness of cancer anyone could face.  What sweet memories I have of her hospitality, amazing food, strong protectiveness, and the last big smiles I saw of her as she watched my girls play like crazy all over her house, getting into everything, yet bringing the brightest smile to her face.   We made a detour to my dad's house and through the saddness of our loss, we were able to make many happy memories on our unplanned trip with Papaw, Mimi, Aunt Ro Ro, and Lynsey!

July --

Then there's July.  Let's start with the fun part of July.  We spent several days at one of our favorite places in the world - Cohutta Springs.  Chris had meetings, the meetings were completely family focused so the girls and I came along, and the rest is magical relaxing history:

And then there's the rest of July.  I traveled over 1500 miles across the state of Tennessee for work with help from Nana and Papa, who made a trip all the way back to our house to help keep these girls while I was gone, and on the very last day of July, in a "by the way" sidebar, we moved to Chattanooga -- Ooltewah/Collegedale to be more exact, with help from Grammy and Papa Bob who kept the girls, making the last minute packing and literal move possible, and Aunt Ro Ro who drove down to help us with everything else, and Papaw who came down just a few days later to help me with unpacking and help with the girls while daddy left town for a few days for new duties of his new position calling!  Whew! Take a breath!  That's as hectic as the month felt.  But, what would we ever do without family?  Seriously!! 

So that brings me to my beginning note, that yes, Chris started school -- as the Academy's chaplain, and with it being my high school Alma mater, it was my first C.A. icebreaker in 18 years.  

Lots of great memories, lots of big changes, lots of great family, lots of blessings.  Life is good, life is good.