Wrapping Up Summer

This summer was packed with tons of fun for our little family.  I was a little sad to see it come to an end. We did get to squeeze in one more beach trip that made the closing of this season a little easier.  Matt's company has an agency retreat in Destin every year in September and we went for a long weekend. I love the beach in September.  We've gone a few years now with his company and the weather is always perfect.  It was so great to get to spend time away with our little family. We truly enjoyed ourselves and each other. 

Our Beach Bunny

Dancing to the live music at Hammerheads. The next day at the pool she started dancing while walking back from getting some lunch with her daddy. Just munching her corn dog, she stopped and started groovin' to the music. She didn't know any of the people watching her, but she didn't care.  I love that she's so full of life and uninhibited.  

Trying to dance with our friends' precious son, Grayson. 

Sweethearts

Matt asked me tonight if I thought every parent's heart melts when they think of their children.  I'm sure for most parents that is the case. This little angel sure melts ours. 

And this angel too. I just can't believe how big she's getting.  

My Loves admiring God's creativity and beauty. 

Our little family.  I'm so incredibly blessed.  

One more pic of this cutie.  A sweet friend took it and I am in love with it!! 

Now, bring on the fall! We are ready for the fun this cooler season has in store. 

"One of the greatest gifts you can give a child is good memories"

Just a Saturday morning at home. I love days like this. 

The girls and I had a season pass to the water park so we went quite a few times.  Mattilee always had a blast and Ivey Kate loved splashing around in the water and even liked to ride the smaller slides with Mommy.  One day towards the end of the summer Matt was able to go with us.  He got to experience all the fun that he had only heard about all summer.  We had a great day with Daddy.  

We celebrated a sweet friend's birthday at their beautiful home on a lake and Mattliee, with the help of her Daddy, caught her first fish.  She didn't want to touch it, but was very proud nonetheless. :)

Mattilee started taking gymnastics classes in August.  She is having so much fun.  She and her classmates are too cute in their tiny leotards and so adorable to watch. 

Our friends' little girl Ava is in Matti's class too. Mattilee isn't ready for this 

picture but it was too cute of Ava. 

Ivey Kate gets to play with Ava's brother Ben while Mattilee is in gymnastics. 

At Ivey's 9 month checkup she weighed 18.5 lbs (50%) and was 29 1/4 inches (95%). 

She's a little bigger than big sister was at this age.  

The doctor gave us the green light on all foods except for the potentially allergenic 

so that night I made spaghetti and let Ivey Kate have at it.  It's safe to say she thoroughly enjoyed it. It makes mealtimes much easier being able to feed her whatever we eat.  

This little stinker loves these two fingers.  

She now has 3 teeth on the bottom and we can see two about to break through on top. 

 She "crawls" anywhere she wants to go.  But she isn't crawling up on her knees, she just kinda scoots like an inchworm.  It is quite adorable. 

 At 9 months she can clap on command, wave bye bye, show you where her head is when she is asked and sometimes she'll tap her chest with her hand when I ask her "Where is Ivey Kate?" She loves to be read books, loves any stuffed animal or doll with a face, she still loves putting everything in her mouth and loves absolutely anything to do with her big sister.   

And this one is just too cute not to post.