Happy 2nd Birthday Anna!

Papa, Nana, and Anna

 This past Saturday, we had a (small) party to celebrate Anna's 2nd birthday.  Yes-more cake and singing!  The theme was Dora the Explorer...of course!  Is there anything else in Anna's world??  I think not...
Anyway, she absolutely loved it.  A big thank you to everyone who came and made this a special day for her.

Anna, Grandma, and a little rascal stealing chips and dip!

Dora!!  Mrs. Graham came up with the idea of pausing the TV on an episode of Dora!  Good thinking! :)

Sweet friends!  :)  Hope they will all be best friends like their mommies!

This says it ALL!

Food and wine!

Anna, Reese, and Grandma.  Not sure what is going on with Anna here??

Tea for two!  Loving her new tea set!  So cute!

Opening presents

Daddy didn't like the way her shirt kept sliding off her shoulder.  We are going to have fun times around here in about 13 more years!

Doing her "I'm so excited" face!  She took this after Aunt Diane!

Dora Raincoat, courtesy of the Smathers!!  What a hit!  We had to pry this off of her!

Let them eat cake!!

She actually blew the candles out!  Can you believe it!??

More cake...yummy!

That's all for now...be back soon with her 2 year milestone post.  I just can't believe my BABY is TWO!  Time flies and sometimes I really wish I could slow it down....

Folly Beach Part 2/Anna's Birthday, parts I and II of III!!!!

 Since Mom and Diane were unable to make it to Anna's party at our house this year, we had a party at the beach!  Yes, we have been celebrating this little girl's birthday ALL MONTH LONG!  (She sure has loved it, too!)
Our beach party had a Mickey and Minnie Mouse theme.  She loved us singing happy birthday to her!!

Brother helping open gifts

Mimi sure can make good bows!

Who knew the Piggly Wiggly did such a great job with birthday cakes?!!?

Sweet one of Mimi and Anna

Look who got some high heels?!?!

Loving her princess dress up clothes!

Such a classic!

 On her actual birthday, the 15, our little family celebrated at home like usual.  Since Dalton was born, we have developed a tradition of the "birthday party" and a separate "family celebration", because I always want to celebrate on the actual day, and sometimes it's not possible to have the party on that day.  So, I usually make a cake and fix their favorite meal at home and we sing happy birthday and open presents from mom/dad and sibling.  :)

Anna and her homemade birthday cake

Blowing out the candles

SO sweet is this boy!  Couldn't resist this one :)

"Give me my cake!"

Yummy!

Opening card and presents

A Dora book from Dalton!!

Sitting in new chair from mommy and daddy and reading Dora book!

YAY!  I'm 2!!!!!

Happy happy birthday to the sweetest little girl in the whole wide world!!  We couldn't love you any more!!

Folly Beach Part 1

Sassy!

 Hello there!!
Sorry for my leave of absence...we have been very busy around here, between a fun beach vaca and Anna's 2nd birthday I haven't had much time for blogging.  On the week of July 4th, we went to Folly Beach, SC with Mom, Ed, and Diane.  What fun we all had!  Mom rented a house just a few houses down from the pier.  It was the perfect house in the perfect location.  We had the best week!  Zack got to come for a few days but wasn't able to come the whole time because of work.  We all sure missed him, but it was really nice to get to spend all that time with the kids.  I haven't had a week more fun or relaxing in a very long time!  Also, it goes without saying how nice it was to spend all that time with my family!

Auntie D and little Bit

Buddy and his root beer float on the deck

View from our large deck =  perfection!

Hi friends!

One attempt at a family pic...why are these so hard to take??!?

Daddy and his little compadres

Waiting on fireworks the night of the 4th.  We had the best seats on the island for the show.  It was so awesome!

Mimi and Anna

 On Saturday, I decided that I would make one small attempt at doing at least one slightly educational thing while we were there.  So, Ed, Dalton, Anna, and I ventured off to the Morris Island Lighthouse.  We had so much fun!

Hi!  Wearing his new surf shirt :)

Nevermind the graffiti...

Sweetness

Boys will be boys!  Couldn't resist climbing the rocks!

 And of course we had at least a few hours of beach play every single day...here's a little glimpse...

CHEESE!

 It was difficult to get any pictures at all of Dalton on the beach as he was totally obsessed with being in the water the ENTIRE time we were there.  I think he would have stayed out in the waves practicing his "torpedo" (a move learned at swim lessons) for 10 hours a day if I would have let him!

 Finally, a little look at some sweet brother and sister pictures I took.....

Love them!!