Annie's Quick Visit

Ben finally got home last weekend and since then, we have been on the run. It has been so good to have him home, but I am exhausted!

While Ben was gone, Melissa and our dear friend, Siama were able to come stay with us for the weekend. It was a very brief visit, but, as always, we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. However, I took very few pictures this weekend or at all while he was gone. I was just a "little" preoccupied trying to keep up with company and two kids. Whew!

We went to the Avila Fish & Food Market while they were here. As we were leaving, Miss asked Avery to take a picture. This is what we got, she is definitely not lacking confidence! She just kept going from one pose to the next like she was at a photo shoot. Everyone walking by was laughing hysterically!

Annie & Avery on the pier

Daddy Turns 29!

Another year older and another year smarter! Ben has accomplished many things at 29. This year he finished his Masters and we had Graysen, just to name a couple! He really is amazing. God has truly blessed us this year and I am so grateful for Ben and for the faithful, very patient husband that he is. Not to mention, he is a very fun, loving daddy!

Right now Ben is somewhere in flight between Omaha and Colorado Springs. He has been TDY for a week and a half already and we can't wait for him to get home Friday night! What a way to spend a birthday, huh?

This is a super cute video I got of Ben and the kids the other night. Aren't I sneaky?

Church For Life VBS

Okay, so we LOVE our church, that's a given. So needless to say VBS was great, but I didn't realize quite how great! It totally rocked! With Ben being gone for two weeks, I was thrilled to be able to help out and have something to keep me busy. I had the three year old class, so I had Avery with me. Graysen was next door in the nursery, which at first, was a little weird to be away from him that much, but I wanted to be able to serve where they needed me and be a blessing to the kids. And honestly, these kids were so awesome, their energy and witty comments kept me going all week!

All the kids during worship.

The theme was "Superheroes", aren't they cute?!

Caleb and Avery

Gray On The Go!

I knew it was coming, just didn't realize it would come this quickly. Last Monday, Graysen got up on his knees and crawled two, little crawls. Then on Tuesday, he started crawling a few feet here and there. And then by Wednesday, he was crawling everywhere, from room to room and chasing Harley all over the house. He is everywhere, and now he has gotten FAST! We have re-entered the world of safety locks, gates, outlet plugs and trying to keep him out of all Avery's stuff!

This was a video from last Tuesday. (You should see him go now!)

Black & White Edition - KY

Our Week at Nana & Dada's

Our week at Nana & Dada's was beautiful. Not only did we have perfect weather, but it was just a great, relaxing time. It was so nice to be on the farm with lots of space. Oh, how I miss having a nice, big backyard!

We got to do so many fun things. Avery had a blast spending time in the pool, playing with her cousins and going to the barn to milk PJ. She even had her first sleepover with her cousin, Kayla! Ben was busy helping Bud around the farm and driving the tractor. As for me, I enjoyed relaxing and doing my favorite thing, baking! So with the freshest of ingredients and theabundance of fresh milk, I was inspired. From all the milk, I shook and shook and after about two hours, I (finally) had butter and buttermilk. With that, I made Raspberry-Blueberry Muffins, and then Diana and I made yogurt. Fun! That is my idea of vacation!

Ave watching the cows.

Doesn't she look happy?

Avery riding Soxy.

Aren't they cute?!

Avery, Landon & Hunter in the sandbox.

Just being silly!

Talk about relaxing!

Dada & Gray on the tractor.

Avery and Nattie playing "tea party".

Gray in the wagon.

...and on the mower.

On the horse at the Discovery Museum.

The Museum ROCKED! Even Gray loved it!

This one's for Papa! :)

Graysen is in love with water.

(Maybe even more than sister!)

Daddy and Gray in the pool.

Nashville!

After our beautiful week in Murray, we headed to Nashville for the night. Mom, Miss and Nanny were flying out early the next morning, Dad and Mike were headed back to Montana in the new motorhome and Ben, the kids and I were headed to Nana and Dada's for another week of vacation. So in between, to take a break from our vacation, we stayed the night in Nashville. We went to dinner, then ice cream, a great little carriage ride that toured us around downtown Nashville, then swimming at the hotel. It was a nice little "getaway".

Mike telling Ave all about the horse!

The tour!

Me & Gray at dinner

The Pacifier Flip

Gotta LOVE those cheeks!

Kentucky Fun, Part 1

So this is part one of like one thousand. Okay, so not really... but very close! As mentioned (many) times before, Ben loves to take LOTS of pictures. I do not love editing out the thousands of pictures of trees and cows, although I do cherish all the really great pictures he gets of the kids, so I guess it is all worth it!

We had an awesome trip to Kentucky and were so blessed to see both sides of the family. The first week, ridiculously hot and humid, was spent with my family and much extended family. Fun. Very fun times were had and lots of laughs at 1 o'clock in the morning while playing Wii Hula-Hoop! Between spending time at my cousin's lake house, the water park and lots of visiting, it was a great week!

Going for a ride in the Samuri.

ALL of us!

Nanny and the great-grandkids.

Cute kids, huh?

Me and Cord

Mom, Miss & me

Oh, these two. Anna and Avery were inseparable the whole week!

Graysen and Papa

Nana and Ave

Doing what we do best!

Kentucky-style swimming.

(a.k.a - in their undies!)

GrAySeN is EiGhT MoNtHs!

Trying to get away!

And I got him to stay still for a split second!

After almost three weeks of vacation, we are finally home and getting back into the routine of things. We had a great time in Kentucky visiting with all our family and we have so many great times and pictures to share but that's another day and another post!

Here we are again, another month gone and now Graysen is eight months old. He is now "crawling", he crawls like an inch worm, but he gets here he wants to go! In the past few weeks he has learned to wave, clap and sign the word 'more' and he now sleeps eleven hours straight through the night. I'm in heaven!