It's A Girl!!!

We are having a girl. I keep running into friends that don't know we are expecting. So for those that don't know, we are expecting in the fall! Neil and I were sure it was a boy, with the way I was sick it was so much like with Carter, but after two times checking he isn't a he, he is a she. We are having a hard time with names, but in the end we'll have to figure one out!

I have had a couple people ask if it is possible for this baby to have what Sydney has. So for those that are wondering, we aren't sure yet. Until we find out what Sydney has we don't know. The Dr. in Atlanta said probably a 25 % chance, but there isn't anything we need to do now. So yes, that is there and when I think about it it is daunting, but Sydney is pure joy in our life, and we would do it again in a heart beat!

Thank You for the Fathers Day Gift

Chip & Pam were so nice and got Neil a shot vac for Fathers Day while they were here. As you can see it has gone to great use! Not only cleaning, but hours of entertainment, and hair styling.

Happy Fathers Day

It was a treat having Chip down for Fathers Day. Sandra invited everyone to her house for dinner. As always she had a wonderfully made dinner. There are some amazing Fathers we get to have in our life. We love them all and appreciate them!

Pam & Chip had to head out right after dinner. We were so grateful that they came!!!

Chip & Pam to the Rescue

So, Neil and I could have done the floor. I know it, but it would have taken us sooo long, it wouldn't have been done as well and I think our bodies to our marriage would have felt the strain. Not only was it nice to have them visit, it was such a HUGE help! Sydney mastered the stud finder. She watched us a couple times and then started doing it!

The kids loved having our bed in the family room for the weekend. They thought that was great fun!

Sydney loves when Grandma comes, she loves brushing her long hair.

THE FLOOR IS FINALLY DONE!!

Swim Team

Carter is a great little fish. I thought swim team would be good during the summer. SO a couple mornings a week he has this. After watching the first day and how many laps that little boy had to do I couldn't figure how I thought that would be fun. He did great, he never complained, placed in all different spots in his meets. Of course he is the most proud of his first in one meet doing the butterfly.

Grandma was here to watch his first meet!

Room Prep

One morning I woke up and realized I was sick of parking on the drive way and tromping through out garage full of molding, and flooring just sitting in the shade while the kids cooked as we got in the car everyday. So I encouraged Neil that we could do the floor, we'd just bam it out and it would be fine. Chip had taught us well, we could totally do it!! I didn't think he was listening much. So... much to my surprise my pep talk was better than I'd thought. I got home from work one night and he'd pulled up the carpet. I guess we are doing the floor!Funny how Neil kept calling Neil. I thought to find out how to do things, but later learned he was trying as hard as he could to get his folks down to help. I kept telling him we could do it, and I wasn't about to make his parents work on their hands and knees like we did before!

While Neil was out of town I figured with the carpet up and the molding off that would be the only time to paint. So my amazing sister came to the rescue. She was moving everything, and hated every minute being on the top of the latter taping the ceiling. Neil was successful at getting Pam & Chip to come down. They were bringing their spray gun.

Carter was my good helper with priming the wall!

We were ready! Thanks to the help of EVERYONE involved!

Peanut Buttter & More Peaut Butter

With Sydney's diet she can have half butter & half peanut butter. That is the only thing she is wanting to eat by mouth these days. Thanks so our wonderful feeding therapist Jenn we are learning lots of things to do with our reunited love with peanut butter.

Unfortunately with Sydney's diet if she is gaining or loosing too much weight the dietitian changes things. If any one has seen Sydney lately she is now on a cut back diet due to her too much love of peanut butter. She is still getting her peanut butter at every meal, things have just been adjusted.

Princess Boot Camp

I was able to go with Claire to girls camp again this year. I have worked with Claire for the last 8 years. This has become something we look forward to after our Girls camp adventures last year. This was the welcoming manikin that was used many ways throughout the week. Arms to scare, she ended up in a leaders bed one night, and as you'll see at the end used to scare people in the porta-potty. Their theme was "Be Strong"

I love Claire! So many things she experiences at camp are new to her! Her all time favorite part is hanging out with the other girls in the tent!

It is so fun having Emily at camp with us! Not only is she a pure joy to be around, but she is such a help, especially this year as she was repeatedly told by her mom I was to not lift. She was a bit of a nazi when it came to it, but it was appreciated! Claire always does better when Emily is near!

Unlike most girls camps we get to have the FULL experience of the outdoors. We have the luxury of nice tents and porta-potties. But it was a treat to have a little stream close to camp.

I was amazed to see how excited these girls got over crawdad hunting. They were all involved with catching them! It was a first for Claire, and it was so fun to watch as the girls taught her what to do and helped her catch them.

Canoeing on the last day was such a perk! We tried to talk Claire into going back to shore, but she never wanted to. We finally got her back for lunch, but as soon as she was done she was ready for more. It was hot, and as tempting as jumping in was and as hard as Emily tried to talk me into it I couldn't figure out how to jump in with out tipping Claire, and then there was no way I'd be able to get back in the boat! So, sorry Emily, next year!

She was our morning greeting the last day. I knew she was going to be there, but the heart still skips a beat when the bathroom door is opened and she is sitting there!

We had a blast, those girls are amazing. It was the ward I grew up in so it was a special treat to have some leaders there I had when I was in girls camp. It was amazing to see how sweet the girls are to Claire.