Cousin Visit

Liam and Becky were in town for visit this week.

Gram and Liam came for some fun late afternoon play time.

This pretty girl enjoyed time in the swing while the boys drove their cars.

Mike affectionately calls Lily's outer top teeth her 'fangs' & often tells her that he loves seeing them when she smiles!  She's getting her molars- her bottom left one is now peeping thru... This girl brings us much joy! 

Silliness!

Peter and Lily had a really silly day last week.  They had a ball together!  I hope this continues and they really enjoy each other!

Mike was coming home late one night so after dinner we had an early bath then went upstairs to play and read until bedtime... it was a lot of fun!

I've mentioned that Peter likes to "hold Lily"- obviously this doesn't work anymore.  Lily is now really into hugging him too.  These first pics are blurry but you can see she is enjoying it & into it as much as he is!

Then it was reading time!

Lily got a new book from Gram and Pop after their cruise called "Hello Lily!"  She really likes it.

Peter wanted to see the pics, then they switced books.

Lily loves to lift flaps!

precious hands!

Then DADDY CAME HOME!!!

My Lunch Date

Last Thursday Peter and I headed to the free Regal movie while Gram watched the Lily Bug.

We saw Curious George then headed to Chick-Fil-A.  I was thinking of just going thru the drive thru but Peter said "Lets eat inside, Mommy!"  So we did.

I just loved looking at him while we ate (and couldn't stop taking his picture!).

He's quite beautiful... I love his long bleached blonde summer hair (isn't it beautiful?!)

and his smile!

and those big brown eyes!!

Oh, he's so cute and I just loved getting quality time with just him

and getting to talk with him, that we can have little conversations now.

It was a HIGHLIGHT of my week!

Swim Lessons

Peter has taken swim lessons for the last 2 weeks.  We enjoyed the first week so much that I signed him up for a second week.  Its been each morning from 9-9:30.  What a great excuse to get out of the house and head to the POOL!

He's practiced kicking...

and freetyle arms...

His biggest fan watches each morning!

and looks SO cute...

He jumped off the board one morning, with my "help"...

Its been a fun time.  His teacher has been so sweet and good with him.  

NC

My dad's side of the family has a reunion every summer on the Chowan River.

We decided at the last minute to go down for the day.  It turned out to be a nice trip as a family and nice for me to be out of the house after a tough week.

Grandma got to enjoy some snuggle time at Lily's naptime. :)

It stormed a bit so we spent a lot of the time under the pavilion instead of on the beach or in the water.

This little girl loves to crawl into your lap when you're sitting.

Look at those little legs!!!

Riding the Daddy train

The crowd was smaller this year (which was kinda nice) so Peter spent a lot of time hoping to be able to hang with the "big boys".  These 3 older boys are each a year apart. They are first cousins and Peter's maybe third cousin?  They all did a cool little huddle thingy...

... and BREAK!

(Peter was really cute eyeing them all day!)

And he enjoyed playing with Savannah who is just a year older (I think).

"Vacation" Week

My mom's side of the family spent the week of the 4th at the River House.

All but 3 were there so its was great to all be together.  I've always loved getting together with everyone.  The total # was 26 people!  We ran the well dry on Sunday, 4th but we were there til the following Friday... enough said.  Mike was there til Monday eve and we loved 5 straight days with him (after a very sad trip to NC).

Lily flirting with Mike thru the door

It was a treat for all the Dennis kids to be together, tho a sad occasion.  Will and Emily flew in from CO for Alvin's funeral and were able to come to the river house for the weekend.

The Cousins (minus Jeff, Turner and Megan)

The Youngest Generation

(minus Max)

(sadly, this was Lily's feeling anytime she wasn't attached to me)

The kids eating watermelon on the 4th.

We celebrated the girl's first birthday there.

She actually ate a cupcake 3 times, twice on the day of her party (5th), and then of course she had to have one on her actual birthday (6th)

Cousin Matt stepped it up after Mike left and provided some good entertainment for Peter!

Matt put on a puppet show for the kids with a monkey (named "Jorge" and "Morton")

Peter is laughing in the above pic.  Morton was such a hit!!