i scream you scream

We're big ice cream fans. Well, we're not big, exactly, but if we keep eating ice cream we will be. We went to Cold Stone the other night and the girls both got their own little cups of ice cream of their choice. They both chose blue ice cream with 'sparkles'. :) Gross.

Addison's cup next to mine. We started at the same time. She didn't even spill a drip.

Lorelei shivering after demolishing her ice cream

I didn't use the term 'demolish' lightly.

This girl knows how to eat ice cream.

She was so careful and stayed so clean. I was amazed

I'm still trying to figure out when she got so big. Seriously.

Can we say, 'Daddy's girl'?

This is her favorite spot in the world.

finally fall

i ♥LOVE♥ fall

i love the colors, the smells, the change in season, and now that we're here in North Carolina- the change in temperature and heat index. I love that I can sit outside in the brisk cool air to enjoy a nice hot mocha or caramel macchiato. The only shame is how fast fall is over.

just a few random pics

Lorelei, herself, chose these first two pictures. She asked me to put them on my 'vlog' so Grandma could see them. :) The last few are some shots from the other day. I love these two little girls so much!

Nina Joy

This is my friend, Nina.

I wonder if she reads my blog

♥ sisters ♥

I decided to do a post with a bunch of sister pictures. These two little girls love one another so much. When they're not together, they miss each other. When they wake up in the morning, they climb into the same bed and chat away. I love watching them play together and teach one another. They are amazing.

At Hume feeding ducks

They slept together almost every night while Chris was away

Getting ready to leave Papa and Lala's house after a nice little visit

Lorelei pushed the chairs together so they could share their snack after nap time

Playing together

Just after Addison came to us, Lorelei was so curious about her

Lorelei 2 years, Addison 4 months

getting dry after swimming

playing at the park November 2009

The day we got guardianship of Addison, also Addison's 8 month birthday

Sunbathing in the back of the truck at Pismo spring 2009

Lorelei 2 years, Addison 5 months

Tummy time!

Watching a movie together... they look scared.

undies!

This is Stephanie. She's shy. But a little less so after this day. We threw a little lingerie party for her before she got married and before the evening was over, she had to ask this guy for his underwear. It took a little coercing, but he gave in and gave 'em up. What a good sport.

I'm fairly certain Steph will hate me if she sees this. Eh. It's alright. Totally worth it.

catherine.. :)

Sometimes in life God blesses us with extraordinary friends. I've been lucky enough to have several. Catherine and I became great friends in an instant. We worked together for a day during the summer of 2005 at Hume. We were cleaning windows at Hickory Lodge and as we were talking we realized we had the same life! We grew up with the same set of circumstances, we're the exact same age, we have the same opinions and sense of humor, you name it- we're identical.

Now she lives at Hume Lake, and I don't anymore. That's sad to me. I'm glad we had a year there together to hang out and share lives. I wouldn't have survived the year without her help with the girls. Especially when Chris was gone for months. She would come over and just hang out and talk with me. She would force me to stop cleaning and just sit. I needed that.

I am so thankful for her in my life, even if we live on opposite sides of the country now. I can't wait to go back to California to visit and spend time with her and her two beautiful little boys.

I love you Catherine!

on the lake

As I go through all the older pictures on my computer I find all sorts of things that never got posted about. So here's yet another 'catch up' post.

This day was so much fun. It was just a few days before Christopher got home from Basic and AIT. Tete Cait was at Hume visiting and we couldn't resist going out on the lake. Addison loved the row boat and basically giggled the whole time. She was so eager to help row the boat and chase the ducks swimming atop the water. She waved hi to every one we passed.

Lorelei, on the other hand, was very apprehensive about the whole idea. She was certain we would just flip over and die. Once we were out there and going, she was able to relax a little and enjoy it. But for the most part she just wanted to be done with the whole boat all together. When we went back and turned the boat in, she was a little sad it was over. Silly girl.

We always have so much fun when Tete Cait comes to visit. Even though we're not at Hume and we no longer have a lake in our back yard to take advantage of, we so look forward to our next visit.