My parents are visiting from Wisconsin for the week. They brought up their camper and their puppies, and we're all having a fun filled week!

On Tuesday night, the girls and I went over and visited them at their campground.
We had a fun little supper, and some relaxing outside.

Wednesday, was a day full of activities! We went on a bike ride out to eat, shopping, and then stopped at this beautiful garden park in town. It was a really beautiful day!

Livvie likes to wear Bapa's hat...doesn't even look like Liv in this photo...

"Follow me, sis....let's go to the rock gardens..."

Nana, Livvie, Avery, and Bapa!

LOVE weeping willows....don't you?

This is my favorite photo right now....ahhhhhh......love those girls!

Livvie has a new best friend...Bapa is his name!

After we came home from the gardens, we took a little nap break (we, meaning Liv and I). When we woke up, Avery was ready to go again! "Let's go to the wading pool, Mama!" So, that's what we did! She's gotten SO good with the water! Still not putting her head/face in, but we're at least getting there! Yeah Avery!!!

After the pool, we came home, had some supper, and then had some more outside fun. Bapa and Nana bought Avery this barbie jeep for her birthday. Our neighbor boys have a John Deer gator, so Avery wanted to have a race with them!

Avery won one race, and the boys won the other 2. I can see many more races in our future out in our backyards!

Oh, and did I forget to tell you....while hubby and I were gone on our overnight, Liv learned how to drive? Yup....she sure did...

Avery's 6th birthday party is on Friday. So far there are 7 little girls coming to the Eloise party! I can't believe my little sweet Avery is going to be 6....sigh....

I last left off the day that hubby and I went for our overnight date!

I had a wide range of emotions while gone. I was thrilled to be alone with hubby, I was happy to have a break from the girls, but boy oh boy...I missed them something crazy. I think I must be abnormal. Most moms would be jumping off the ceiling crazy excited to have a break. I was happy, but I was sad at the same time, too. I kept telling hubby that I was "trying" to have a good time. I really was! I had the strangest feelings while away. I hadn't felt that way since I had Livvie.... When I was in the hospital having her, I had to leave Avery in the care of my mother. So, not only was I over the moon that I had a new daughter to love, I was also so sad that my Avery was not with me. That is just how this trip felt. I was so happy to be alone with my husband, but I was so sad that the girls were away....

Anyhow, we did some fun shopping, eating out, talking, holding hands, resting, watching some tv, reminising....ahhhh....it was great. We were away from the girls for 25 hours total...

And, what did THEY do while we were gone? Well, not miss us, that's for sure. Nana and Bapa had them busy with activities. They went for bike rides, to parks, out to eat, playing outside, to the pool, and numerous other things I'm sure. They had a wonderful time with them, and I think Nana and Bapa had fun as well.

A couple from our church invited us, and another family out to their farm for the 4th! We had a fun time of running around, eating, and of course, fireworks!

Liv with our friend Grant

Rachel and Hope....Avery's friends!

Adorable little Michelle....

They had 2 horses that Liv and Avery LOVED looking at. We didn't get close to them because they were terrified of the loud fireworks!

Liv did her very own sparkler!

Avery had fun with smoke bombs, and she was also brave enough to do her own sparkler, too!

The girl sure does love to laugh, scream in excitement, run around, and just enjoy life! Just look at that toothless mess of a smile? Doesn't she just look like she is the happiest girl ever?



Liv LOVES bubbles! She can say "bubba" now, which is maybe her 4th or 5th word!

And Avery, feisty curly-haired Avery....the girl is growing up ever so fast. She'll be 6 on the 12th, and I just can't fathom that I am going to have a kindergartner on my hands...

Daddy took her on a date today to the movie "Wall-e" robot movie today. Got some great shots of the two of them together! :)

He sure does love his girls....all 3 of them....

UPDATE:

Here is Sweet Alaina

She passed away last night completely unexpectedly in her sleep.

perhaps the sweetest photo of Livvie yet.....


What? What's that you say Livvie????

Oh...um, yeah she is! :)

Avery has had 2 consecutive days of Brittney swim lessons this week! I have to say, she has sort of "stalled". I was hoping by the end of lesson 5, we would be getting our face in the water or our hair wet. Nope, Avery shows her stubbornness in all areas of her life....

She DID get better with doing her "chin dips" and her "nose dips". AND, yesterday, Brittney said that she even did pretend bubbles and the water touched her lips! This is HUGE for her!

She came over to the edge to show me, and boy she tried, and tried....but, nope...it was a one time thing! Oh well, I'm still proud of you Avery!

Today was her last lesson with Brittney. I tell ya, private lessons for people like us are not the cheapest thing. 5 was all we could do, and we are thankful that Avery got much more comfortable with the water. Her Red Cross Lesson 1 swim lessons will start on the 14th, so we'll see how she does in more of a group setting!

Overall, we are so proud of her for trying some things she has been afraid of in the past! Great job sweet Avery!