Girls Night Out

Friday night a few of us girls went out with Angela for a farewell dinner. Angela and her daughter Katie, lived in Florence and moved to Charlotte this past weekend for a new job promotion. We had a really delicious dinner at Percy & Willie's and then went out the usual hang-out (Apple Annie's) for some drinks. We had fun laughing and joking with each other. It was so nice to get out without kids (and husbands).

Angela, we are going to miss you and wish you and Katie the best of luck in Charlotte. Don't be a stranger and hopefully the next girls night out can be in the big City. Take care. We love you! (Left Side) Trena, Angela, Kayne (Right side) Missy and me at dinner
Missy, Angela, me & Trena at the good 'ole AA spot

and yet...another ballet camp

yes.....I know what you're thinking. How many summer camps is Hazel doing? Well, this was the last one (I think) before school starts back August 27th. This one was Fairytale Ballet Camp at the South Carolina Dance Theatre. She and her good friend, Anna Grace, had a very fun week.

Those of you that know Hazel well, know that she eats, sleeps and breathes ballet. Her dream is to become a ballerina. The whole week they practiced dancing like little fairies and on the last day they all dressed up and performed for us. Hazel chose to wear her Barbie Mariposa costume. I was so surprised when the teacher, Mrs. Rowe, asked me if I had Hazel signed up for fall classes, she told me that she felt like Hazel was very talented for her age and she wanted Hazel at her school so she could be one of her angels in The Nutcracker in November. Needless to say, I'm so proud of my little ballerina. I hope she goes on dancing and fulfills her dreams! Hazel in First Position
Hazel in her Mariposa Costume
Hazel & Anna Grace pose with two of the student helpers. The little girls loved having the big girls work with them.
Maybe Eliza wants to be a ballerina too.

Wink Art Camp

Last week, Hazel and some other little friends (Anna Grace & Caitlyn) went to an art camp at Wink- a pottery painting place. The camp was themed "Every girl is a Princess" All week they painted "princess things"- a unicorn, a crown plate, a goblet, a tiara piggy bank, a unicorn jewelry box, and a flower ash tray? I guess that's what it is. She did a really good job painting all these things, even though everything was the same 3 colors- purple, pink and yellow. Kayne & Katie helped me out week by taking Hazel & picking her up, so Hazel enjoyed being with AG and Caitlyn all week. These girls are tight! Well, sometimes....but you know how little girls can be...I guess much like big girls (women)....very moody. Here are some pictures from their week at camp, if they look familiar, it's because I stole them from Kayne's blog..... The girls are ready to paint

The girls having breakfast....everyday last week Hazel refused to eat breakfast at home because Mrs. Kayne has better breakfast food than us, so I'm told!

Hazel and AG wearing matching dresses...there's one problem, Hazel's is not really a dress, it's a swing top that she thinks is a dress. When I picked her up from art camp that day, I noticed her capri bottoms were off, she wanted to wear her dress like AG.
Enjoying juice boxes during snack time

All of Hazel's art work for the week.

Water Playdate

Yesterday we had some great friends join us at our house for some water fun. Thanks to Moseley, I was able to get a HUGE inflatable water slide for all the kids (and adults) to play on. We had a blast. I went down the slide about a dozen times and LOVED it. Eliza and the other babies had fun in the baby pool. Thanks to all our friends for coming and joining in on the fun in the sun. Here are some pictures from our awesome day.

Here we go.........

Cooper gives Hazel a kiss- they are sitting in the "foot washing" bucket.....this was almost as popular as the slide itself. Hazel said she liked it because the water was warm....I think I saw about 3 kids pee in it throughout the day!

Kennedy enjoys the pee-pee bucket too

Eliza chills out in her baby pool

Eliza likes to push around the big girl princess car

Yes....this is a picture of me going down

Trena is jealous...she secretly wanted to go down too

McKenna wanted more cake
Anna Grace is glad to be back in dry clothes! She did enjoy the waterslide, but she knew when she had enough. Hazel stayed on the waterslide for the whole 8 hours....Can you believe that?
Sweet baby ColeLucy having another piece of pizza. Every time I saw her yesterday, she had a new piece of pizza. She always likes to eat in a crowd of people.

July 4th....REDNECK style

Yes....I said REDNECK.....We went to Santee Friday morning and met up with my dad, my brothers and their families for the weekend. We had a great time, even Steve admitted that he had a good time, even though he isn't much for "camping" with my family. Yes, there was 25 of us so Dad and Tony took their two RV's for some more room. It was like Redneck Heaven....beer, boats, bar-b-que. The youngins got to play on the "beach" and ride the pontoon boats with "Big Bertha" behind it, ride the jet skiis, the golf cart and shoot fireworks. Hazel had such a blast with her cousins, that she cried last night when it was time to leave. Some of my best childhood memories were made at the Lake camping with my family and ridin' the boat. Steve, being a "city boy" as my dad has always called him, was not exposed to this way of life, but you know what? I think he likes it a little more everytime we go. He's getting a little better driving the jet ski, even though he's still scared to drive fast, and he will not ride with me at all, because I drive too dangerous for him.The important thing is that we were able to spend time with family over the Holiday. Steve posing beside his "home" for the weekend. He could pass for a redneck, couldn't he?

Mason driving Uncle Steve on the jet ski. Yes he had to have an 8 year old drive him, because Uncle Steve doesn't go fast enough. and yes...Mason has a mohawk.Uncle Johnny rides Amber and Hazel on the jet ski

Hazel loves ridin' on the boat
Eliza & Steve hanging out on the "beach."

Amber & Hazel swimming in the lakeAunt Karen gives Eliza a snackEliza having another snack.....Pork skins! ....Can you guess who gave her these? Big Pa!

Big Pa cooking for us....Did I mention that the Rogers' love to eat?

Eliza playing in "Big Bertha"

July 4th Eve

Thursday night we went to Oakdale County Club for dinner and swimming and fireworks with the Byerlys, the Andersons, the Rubles, the Smutzs. We had a traditional 4th meal of BBQ ribs, fried chicken, BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, baked beans, rolls, sweet tea and of course, apple pie with ice cream! After dinner, we headed to the pool for some swimming. But, not me....I was too stuffed from dinner to swim and not to mention the 200 hundred people that I did not want to see me in my bathing suit. I let Hazel and Eliza swim with their friends. When it got dark, the fireworks started and I think that was the longest fireworks show I've ever seen or it sure felt like it. Hazel likes to watch the fireworks, but hates the loud noise, so she keeps her fingers in her ears. Eliza slept through the beginning of the fireworks, but woke up in time to watch the end....she loved the pretty colors. The noise didn't seem to bother her. After the fireworks, we headed home for bed....we had to get up early and head to the Lake with the Rogers'.Eliza loves "walking" around in the baby poolEveryone resting before the fireworks begin

Eliza & Ashton

Ms. Katie & Cole, Tyler, me, Jennie & Ashton, Christy, Kayne & Olivia

Joey & Little Brady. Can you believe he's already 2 weeks old?

Eliza snoozes through some of the fireworks

Everyone watching the fireworks...well, everyone except Cooper who has his arm over his eyes...

9 months old and starting young

Well, yesterday (July 4th) Eliza, you were 9 months old! I can't believe that you are growing up so fast. You have accomplished so much in your short little life and I'm so proud of you!

You are now feeding yourself finger foods, pulling up and cruising around furniture, saying Da-da, Ma-ma, Hazel and uh-oh. You love water whether it be bath or pool. You are very hot natured and can not stand to have clothes on at night, or during the day if you had your way! You love for Mommy and Hazel to read books to you and you can even turn the pages in some of them. You have 8 teeth and eat about anything that doesn't eat you first. Big Pa loves giving you new foods to try. Yes, you even ate pork skins this past weekend at the Lake. You are learning more baby sign language words each day and I love it when you try to "tell" me something with your hands.

You love to crawl into Hazel's room and play with all of her "choking hazard" toys like Barbies and beads and anything you're not supposed to touch. The other day you even tried to be a big girl and dress up with makeup with Hazel and Lucy. I love the look on your face when I discovered you in the middle of the make-up!

Eliza, everyday is a joy and I couldn't have asked for a happier baby. You hardly ever cry and I appreciate that because I can't tolerate it- just ask Mrs. Kayne and Mrs. Katie how stressed out I get when things don't go smooth. (Thursday night at dinner at Oakdale)

I love you, "Little E" and I'm happy to be your Mommy! Just stop growing up so fast....please! Eliza is already trying to wear make-up!