All American Memories...

Lazy lake days found here

Little Sam and the Bit were quite the pair

hanging out waiting on the family to get there Friday evening.

I know LibLee would kill me but hey, she's my aunt and I like this picture!
Cody, being the cool 15 yr old, Rusty and Sammy enjoying the water
The man of the house and his baby! Elli was such a good puppy all day w/ all those kids.

This should so be on a Hallmark card I think. She absolutely adored little Sam. They just wondered off all over the place holding hands. So stupid cute!!!!!!!!!
The mad family gathering on floatation devices trying to get the babies to stay put on the raft together. They sat there forever content as could be to be out where it was warm. Then when my wonderful hubby swam in to get the camera they got shy, we couldn't believe it little boogers! Thanks anyway Brian, you're so good to your blogging wife.
Yeah, she stole his noodle little clepto! She was all about swimming against the waves

These two shots are fun. this one above is daddy before he shoots the firework toy off, see he explains it first.

.....this one he comforts my little scaredy cat after it goes off. :)
In her own chair taking it all in by the bonfire

Me and my gal playing on Pa-Pa's new swing he made.
My sweet buddy and Cousin Rebekah and the Bit strike a pose
"see Sammy, while they are distracted we can reach the smores stuff on the table here", poor Sam got fussed at very shortly after taking this shot. :( sorry buddy, should have warned you , she's trouble!

Holy Hot Couple Batman!

Yeah....she still marches every year. :)

Sammy wasn't quite sure what to do with Miss Dancing Diva literally trying to show him how to sing and shake his grove thing on 'stage'.

My cous and her Cody the rubix cube king, I've never seen anybody solve one of those things in 4 minutes, well really at all!
Dee and Greg sleepy but happy to ride out for the fireworks show, I'm so glad you came to play!
Da daddy and Da Bit..

starting out my poor baby was all about barely keeping her heavy eyes open, she perked up later
Sweet Dee and Rachael waiting on the show to start Kodak mommy killing time annoying everyone by taking endless pictures. Yeah, but look who's not going to forget all these great memories now huh!

Ok, I know she looks miserable, I promise she perked back up. Poor kid! Her selfish mommy didn't want to leave her at the house and let her miss out on the fun. I needed my snuggle bug.
I know this is all squigly but I love this picture. It was w/ the night setting so the shutter stayed open allowing the rocking boat to move my target. That's mom and dad's friend's in the pontoon boat there in front of us. All the other lines are the other boats awaiting the show in the distance.

I love this picture of my lake parents. They refused to straighten up to take a serious picture but I'm kind of glad, this turned out better anyway!

Well we had a wonderful 4th of July holiday this past weekend. A much missed good ole fashioned SML weekend like we used to have growing up so routinely I almost took them for granted at the time. Not anymore. I really had forgotten how special it was and how much I missed those days! We had my cousin Rebekah from Florida and her family up w/ my Aunt LibLee. We did the all American smores roast (where everyone enjoyed Bri's new twist of using Reece Cups instead of Hershey bars), sparklers, grilled burgers and dogs and lots of laughs. My crazy festive mother jet propelled the sounds of some choral tribute to the nation onto the water as she marched about the yard to John Phillip Sousa with Rachael, the only one (a 9 yr old) who would do it with her this year. :) We soaked in the sun and the Bit was crazy about splashing her way ALONE through the waves as the boats brought them by. She sure drank her fill of good ole Virginia fish water but didn't seem to mind too much through her toothy yet wet grins and giggles. She hit it off quite nicely (hello, how could you not) w/ little Sam and Rachael. Although I was a little embarrassed at what a bad influence the Bit was on their well behaved toddler. In her defense, she's been very much taught that anything goes at Mi-Mi's house. Sorry Rebekah and Rusty! My mother insists that what's learned and happens at Mi-Mi's house, stays at Mi-Mi's house! We just try not to take those habits home. And dear Cody and Brian had a blast shooting off Rusty's great....very legal... fireworks from SC. We set our chairs up along the bank Friday night and the panoramic view of all the surrounding docks put on the show of all shows. And of course we contributed as well enjoying Bri and Cody's fine display too. Amazingly Abigail slept soundly through the "stars" as she called them. I couldn't believe it, and there were plenty of those good Boones Mill whistlers screaming past our ears and exploding close enough to cast a glow on her sleeping baby face. So sweet!! Definitely her father's child on that one, my sleep through air raids man!

Saturday we got a later start d/t the rain but we made up for it and God gave us a good sunny afternoon. Deana and her fiance (yeah!) Greg joined us w/ her famous deviled eggs and potato salad in tow. I guess she does really love us both....sucker. :) And we did get a quick hug and squeeze from Chris, Natalie and little Katie who swung by on their boat for a visit. We poked some good fun at our invasion of real Red Britt's at our American celebration, we apologized for that whole Revolutionary thing... before they had to 'dart off' back to the mountains. :)

Saturday night we headed out bellies full to enjoy the fireworks show by boat at dusk. We loaded up with our skilled skipper to our floating after dinner theater. Even running into some of mom and dad's friends hosting their large family on their boat. SML is so great!! We enjoyed the show for the next hour or so and we couldn't believe this time Abigail, who acted positively drunk w/ fatigue at the start of the voyage, awoke w/ good old baby push vigor to watch the "stars" again. I only wish a 2 year old would be able to remember such a special night. Maybe she will. Maybe reading my saved blogs later will help. :) God bless the good memories on the Lake this year !!

God bless little girls!!

That's her new friend "Mowwwgan" w/ the goggles on her head

Yesterday was so fun. Abigail is turning out to be quite the socialite. She's making friends as fast as her little toddler self and limited vocabulary will allow. We went to the pool yesterday and two little girls came bounding up to her cheering "hey Abigail!". Surprising to me since I had no idea who they were. But they were pool regulars and had met her on a daddy day and befriended her. Little "Mowwwgan" as the Bit lovingly calls her and her friend asked if they could swim w/ her for a while. It was heavenly. I sat very relaxed and motherly watching from the side of the pool while they took her around to show her off and help her swim. She was all giggles and toothy smiles getting to play w/ the big girls. They drug her baby butt all over the place and sometimes pulled her under the surface but she never complained. In her little heart she was a 9 yr old for a day. And again her sleepy thoughts as I rocked her to sleep last night was "payyying,.....Mowwgan.....Kiyyds.....wa-wa" .......and back to "Lilly" again before she drifted off. I know, I know, she desparately needs a little sister/brother to play w/. Soon enough little baby soon enough. Maybe we'll work on that for a 3rd b-day present. :)

Horsheyzzz!

Last night we had a great time just checking out some local equestrian goodness here. Abigail was all into the horshey's as she ate her PB&J and her "BAPP!" (that's popcorn). I couldn't believe she sat there content that long but she was facinated. We had great seats. A man from Bri's connections through work hooked us up w/ box seats. Close enough to get some dirt kicked up from a horse every now and then. Mostly we only got to see the hunt seat class, I was hoping for the exciting barrel racing but by 9 o'clock they were only starting the fancy Saddlebreds (missed you Ame, you used to be so fun to watch). It was a great night and I was SOOOOO proud of my yankee man for sitting through a good old horse show. :)

Zoo Choo!!

"Piddy Ciddy!"

she has such a great look of "mommy, who's that man taking our picture!?"
I love this picture, she was more interested in the other kids instead of the animals for a while. I caught her here poking this poor boy for no good reason other then her baby curiosity.

Little Katie and Natalie


Well it was a specail day when I took the Bit to her very first Zoo excursion. It's a tiny little zoo here but it was plenty to entertain her senses. It was an absolutely gorgeous day almost fall like w/ no humidity so we could see all around town. Little Katie and Miss Natalie joined us for a while but little Katie wasn't feeling well so they headed home pretty early on. It was ok cause Abigail and I had a special mommy-baby date for the rest of the morning together. Her favorite part by far was the zoo-choo. After we got off she begged and begged for "choo mommy gain BEASE!!!" So sweet! After the zoo we headed up the mountain to the infamouse star for some photos and to admire God's beautiful mountains around my city. We had a blessed time together and got some great Kodak moments to remember it all forever!

pool dayz..

getting to be better and better buds for sure, such sweet girls!!!
my friend "Groshhhoooshski", who very reluctantly let me take a picture of her. :)
the baby pooch contest.... Lilly won today, she did a much better job of inhaling her PB&J sandwich! The Bit wouldn't sit still long enough, eventually we gave it to miss Lilly who finished it off. :)

Wild man Zabien! He's so shy can't you tell!

We went to the pool Tuesday w/ our buddies Madeline (from my work) and her 2 little one's Zabien and Lilly. So much fun!! It was a wee bit chilly since it was only about 78 degrees that day but you know kids, their little jaws just chattered through their little smiles anyway. Abigail has a new found buddy in little Lilly, she's been asking for her (very loudly and bossily) all week since. :)

fun in VA Beach!

keeping herself busy on the car ride. She did so good!

making herself at home with all the animals
sweet kisses for mommy's sweet friend!
the Bit and Mr. Matt had a blast together....well at least according to Abigail!

Ok here's the little new angel addition to the family, miss Madeline Ann, Isn't she beautiful!?!?
yes, she did just have a baby 6 wks ago. Nothing slows this woman down. And look how happy Dave is to have that hot chick on his bike!

yes, there they are all on the motorcycle, I promise they only went up the street w/o helmets.

my big girl, and by big kid hubby having a good time
Abigail was really taken w/ the baby
Mr. Hamilton was less then thrilled when his mommy drove away on the motorcycle, so we walked around to find them together.

so fun to catch up w/ my wild Sue
Abigail wasn't sure about Alexander's driving skills yet

Alexander was thrilled that cool uncle Brian knew how to play his game
these two trouble makers were at it pretty quick. partners in crime for sure
meeting my sweet niece for the first time, oh she was a love!!!!!!!

I think she was actually trying to kiss it
She loved all the "pishies!"

Best seat in the house

Abigail loved the nature walk!
imagine that, Bri finds a fish tank! I know dear...soon baby soon!

ok I know this looks like child abuse but he just accidently dinged her head on the way into the fish. kinda funny though, it just made her mad for a minute. :(

Well we just had such a great time in our mini-vacation last week in Va Beach. We headed down Tuesday night to my friend Amanda's house who luckily only lives 20 minutes from my Sue! We hit the aquarium early Wednesday morning. Abigail and Brian were all about the 'Pishies'! Abigail is going to know all about coral reefs and shrimp soon when they show up in her living room. She'll be able to teach those other kindergardeners a thing or 2 about the ocean by then. She's getting to be quite the expert. After that we were off to Sue's that night for a quick baby squeeze and some burgers. It was such a good time. The kids had fun playing together. Meeting little Madeline was so great, she is such a love!! Hamilton and Alexander are just growing up too darn fast but they are such sweet boys. Abigail is facinated by them all but I think this trip felt safest hanging out w/ Madeline. She was a little tired from the long day and those boys move fast!! Amanda and Matt (and kitties in toe) were great hosts and it was so good to relax at their house for some good catching up. Abigail really took to 'Mr. Matt' and followed him around everywhere. He was soooo sweet to let her do and to show her 'tuurr tuurr' over and over again (their pet turtle). I wish we could have stayed a week and played more with everyone but duty called back at home. It was well worth the trip though to get out of town and get some new thoughts for a change. Bri just liked not being a work for a few days. It was a good week and here are some pictures.