About two weeks ago John got a fishing license and worms... MISSION FISH-ON began.

When I got home from work we threw the kids in the car and drove to the neighborhood pond. After getting ourselves set Wyatt and John began their mission. Well, John did anyway, Wyatt was too excited by his new surroundings to sit still. Sure enough a bite! Wyatt got to real in his first Sunny.

While we were there we got to see our friends Kelly, Adam and their kids Lilly and James. These two toddlers had a great time feeding the ducks and stressing me out that someone was going in the pond!

Love our new neighborhood!

The Kiddos Rooms are DONE!

It is amazing what I can accomplish when I'm home alone. These days that is a VERY rare event, but last Saturday John was at work and the Kiddos with the GPs at the Cottage. Silence can be bliss!

I finally got the kids rooms cleaned up enough to take a few photos. I want to show you all out-of-towners what we finally ended up doing with their rooms at the new house. We have put the "finish stamp" on these two... they are the only rooms I can say that about, but then again I've got time to get the others pulled together!

Ava's Room - The wall color is tiffany box blue with black and white furniture and accents of hot pink. It's a glam little space for her to grow up in.

Wyatt's Room - It just makes me happy to be in there. The colors are fun and playful just like he is! The orange pull out couch is getting lots of use when family comes to town and the toy bins are already filled to the brim.

A Perfect 10

Ms. America

It's now 10:30 on the 18th... It's close enough to call it official - Ava is now 10 months old! June and July have been good to our little peanut. She finally got two more teeth this week. I was beginning to wonder if we were going to need to get her dentures :) 

She is pulling up, clapping, pointing and couch walking. 

She seems to really like... stuffed animals, remote controls, jewelry, the water and anything Wyatt is playing with! 

She hates... When I try to put bows on her (even though she looks so adorable in them!) or is left on the floor alone.

Kiddos finding their independence on Independence Day

We spent the 4th of July at the Cottage with Mom & Dad. Swimming, eating fried chicken and relaxing with family... what a perfect day. John, Dad and I had to go home that night and Mom kept the Kiddos. What a difference 24 hours can make. While we were gone Ava learned how to climb steps! Happy and sad all at the same time. She's getting so big and gaining a little independence, but my baby is growing up too fast!

"Here I go"

"Bye-Bye"

Wyatt has become SUPER confident in the pool. He's been a fish this summer. He went from feeling nervous in knee deep water to jumping off the side of the pool and swimming from edge to edge all by himself. He says "Look at me! I do it!" Wyatt also started saying Ava's name right this weekend. He's always called her "ABA", but now the little man is pronouncing it with a "v" - tears and smiles on this too.

On Friday night when John and I got back to the cottage we took Wyatt to see his first "real" fireworks. Urbana put on a wonderful display, we had a perfect spot to watch them from the bridge. Wyatt kept saying "that's my favorite" every time one boomed! So happy he wasn't scared... now we just need to see what Ava thinks. Hope that next year we can take the kids over on a boat. As Wyatt says "Grady, GET A BOAT!"

this is the good life