Summer Catch-up

Since today was the first day of school, the former teacher in me always counts this week as the end of summer. Even though this is my third year not starting a school year, it still feels so weird! My first group of students start high school today and my last group will begin middle school. I can't believe it. Since its the end of summer, I thought I'd catch up on what we've been doing since we got home from the beach...

We had our annual DeLany family reunion in Comfort, Texas again this year. We stayed in a wonderful B&B and had a blast catching up with family and playing with our cousins.

The kids' generation and the whole group

Here a few pictures from my phone from this summer:

 Slumber party at Aunt Caroline's

 a big girl pony tail

Saturday morning cartoons with Maverick

 Jammie dance party with Austin

 I walked out into the hallway and saw this...Maverick was not happy and I rescued her right after I snapped this picture!

 Hadley's nap mat was delievered and the first thing she did was put Kitty down for a nap...

My girlfriend Lacey dropped of the Minnie we left at her house and Hadley discovered it herself and it was so funny. Now, I'll leave little toys out on that window and her favorite thing to do after her nap is to check her treasure spot. So funny. 

 She loves swinging

 The girls spent the night at my parents and they made this little pallet together the next morning

Hads is a girlie girl and loves dress-up. This was her outfit of choice...

 Her great-grandparents reading her a story at their new house in Dallas!

 Pigtails and bracelets

At a bounce house play area. She was in Heaven and said "jump jump" about 100 times that day!

Of course, this is just a small peek of what we have done this summer. Thank goodness for phone camera! We are sad to see such a fun summer go by so fast but excited for Fall to get here!

Destin 2012

I spent almost three weeks in Destin, Fl last month. Hadley and I were officially beach bums and as much as I love being at home, I'd be ready to go back in a heartbeat! Hadley and I stayed an extra week in between the two family vacations (Derek had to go home and work!) and it was a blast.

Part one:

Like last year, the boys drove and Caroline and I flew with the girls. 2 tiny people add A LOT of stuff when you are traveling and so having the boys drive is a must! Hadley had her own seat on the plane and it was a breeze. (Although, trekking through the airport and getting on the plane was not a breeze with a 20 month old. Thank goodness my parents were there!!)

We rented the same house as the last two years and cooked at home and went out to dinner sans babies. Hadley is STILL taking two naps and the monitor worked outside, so I could still lounge and read books. When Hadley was awake we took her out to the beach and she didn't love it.  The sand, the water, the sunscreen...she did enjoy sitting under the tent, drinking a juice box and reading her Elmo book (momma's girl!) Finally on the 4th she ventured out into the water and LOVED it. The water was super calm and because of a weird sand bank, we essentially had a baby pool as our beach.

Emily loved showing Hadley how to play in the beach

I made the girls a few matching outfits for the 4th and we tried to take some cute pictures....but we didn't succeed! Maybe next year, they will pose together and be sweet for the camera! 

Love her sassy face

"get this sand OFF of me."

Patriotic babes

We had a babysitter come every other night so the grown-ups could go to dinner!

It was a wonderful week. Thank you mom and dad so much!!

Part 2:

Christi, Zoey and Abbey came up a week early just to spend the week with Hadley and I. It was so so fun and I am so grateful Christi came up and let me stay in their condo for that extra week! We had a great girls week- we ate at fabulous restaurants, did lots of shopping, played at the beach and loved on Hadley! The girls are amazing and are the best babysitters. I am definitely missing having 2 live in cousins/babysitters! 

Abbey and Hadley

Part 3:

When the rest of the Johnson clan got there, we had a full house! It was such a fun week being all together and Hadley really enjoyed having a huge audience to dance and sing to.  

She loves doing the chicken dance...

One night, Mimi and Pa watched all the kiddos so the grown-ups could go to dinner and it was so fun.

We took some fabulous family pictures down by the beach.

 Mimi and Pa with their grandkids

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I just love this picture of Hads and her Mimi. 

Destin-2012

Thank you Steve and Christi for everything- it was such fun vacation!

18 Month Pictures

Late last night we got home from being in Destin for 18 days. I have a lot to catch up on around the house, but wanted to share these pictures from Hadley's 18 month pictures. They are so sweet and really capture her personality right now!

Sweet baby! I can't wait to share more about our Destin trip soon!

A Photo Update

Here is what we've been up to this last month from the pictures from my phone:

 We celebrated Emily's 2nd birthday party in our best Minnie Mouse outfit

 A fancy night without Hadley 

There's been a whole lot of dancing...

Hadley loves brushing her teeth and she loves telling you were her teeee are

 We went to Destin with some great friends 

 We've been swimming a lot in Emily's new pool (and driving her Cozy Coupe in her birthday suit!)

 Summer time lunch on the patio is the best

We started swim lessons and dropped out! Hadley isn't quite ready for swim school!

 Hanging out with Austin and watching the huge thunderstorm outside 

Emily got a new bounce house and we had to break it in. Kitty came along for the jumping...

Hadley's new "castle". She is obsessed. I can't keep her out of it! During breakfast this morning she was screaming and when I took her out of her high chair she bolted up the stairs and went straight in here.

Hadley loves to color! She sits here every morning and colors me a picture while I'm getting breakfast ready. 

We've also had a few new house updates! Curtains and pillows came in and we've painted the family room and kitchen! Here are a few pictures...

Dancing Queen

Hadley is a dancer. Anytime she hears music there is no stopping her and if there is a mirror (or anything where she can see her reflection) she will stare at herself while dancing!

 Enjoy this video of Hadley's newest dance moves...

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