Resting!

While Gracie was recovering from a stomach bug Sunday and Monday, Maggie was getting sick.  A quick trip to PM Peds at 9:30 Monday evening verified what we suspected.... strep!   

Maggie played vet and Bella was her patient while Gracie slept on Monday and I worked from home.  

Gracie had tennis camp this week and the both wrapped up their last week of CCS day camp.   What a fun filled summer.  Just a few more weeks of summer! 

We did a lot of reading this week as well. 

By Friday we were exhausted!!

Saturday morning we decided to introduce the girls to Townhouse Bakery in Cleveland.  We would get their donuts and Danishes for a breakfast date years ago before we were married. They are delicious! 

Today was a Saturday home with no agenda. We always love a weekend. Where we get to see my brother and his family. So we grabbed lunch while we were all out.  We love having them close!!

Weekend in Nashville!

Times with friends are priceless to us!   We love time away as a family and its always extra special when we get to spend it with friends.   We wanted to ensure we made the most of the summer with the girls so we planned several weekend fun things.   This weekend was Nashville.    We enjoyed dinner with the Busey's.   They are special friends to us.  They were some of our first friends as a couple that were in Chattanooga and Jimmy and Ronda went through the MBA program at UTC together.

2 girls each later! 

late night swim!  Hotel life is so fun as a kid! 

Saturday we met up with the Costantine's.  They moved to Nashville from Chattanooga several years ago.  They lived in our neighborhood and the girls went to CCS with our girls.   We miss having them in the neighborhood and impromptu dinners and playdates.   We spent the morning at the zoo and then a late lunch at Burger Republic.   The zoo is our favorite and Burger Republic was great too!

Ready for the day! 

"Did this bacon come from the pig's tail?"

Gracie, Maggie, Callie and Grace! 

We love the turtle exhibit!   

feeding them is the best!

The girls enjoyed having their iPods to take picture of the day! 

The zip line was new at the zoo this year.   We rode it twice I think.  Both girls loved it! 

Look at those smiles! 

Mommy rode with Gracie once.  

This made me giggle!  I have the best husband ever! 

Maggie and Mommy rode the carousel while Gracie rode the zip line again.  

Love these two! 

We had so much fun!   

The jungle gym! 

they were a little tired! 

A little ice cream before we say goodbye!

We did a little shopping at the American Girl store as well.  As we were headed back to the hotel Gracie got sick with a stomach bug and was sick all night throwing up.    We packed up this morning and picked up Bella on the way in.    We spent the afternoon sleeping and trying to get Gracie recovered.   I am not sure I have seen her this sick ever.

a little down time before we headed out to shop 

you can't go to a city with an American Girl store and not pick up a little something.   This was the girls surprise for the trip! 

Snuggles in bed!

Maggie slept great! 

bed head! 

Gracie had a rough time.  She was up almost all night throwing up and even played on the bathroom floor to rest!

Morning back rub by sis!  

She looks so sad!  I can't stand it when my family is sick.  

home resting! 

even Maggie got a Sunday nap in!  

As we drove back I thought back to when we were first married and I would often be upset that we did not have any friends to hang out with.   I loved spending time with Jimmy but we also both know the value in walking through life with friends.   15 years later I see the value of the investment of time more than ever before and so many friends both in Chattanooga and outside who have become family to us!   This weekend was fun, refreshing, and provided so much laugher, smiles and hugs to last until next time!  We love these families and any time we get together!

Summer Days!

Summer Days!  That is what this week was for us!   Jimmy's parents were in town so the girls were home the week sleeping in, playing, swimming and enjoying time with their Grammy and Papa.  It was a blessing to us to have them here and we were spoiled by dinner every night too!  

Starbucks!  Not sure how this is the only picture all week!   

The girls played in the rain one night before bed and enjoyed a few later nights than normal.

They loved playing in the rain!   Its so much easier to say yes to memories like this during the summer! 

The Peach Truck was in Ooltewah Friday so they all went to get a box of fresh peaches.  While we have shared some, Gracie may just turn into a peach she has had so many!   The count today for peaches was 4 by lunch time!  Yummy!  She is just like her Mommy in her love of fruit.  

This year we decided to do something different for school supply shopping.  The girls each wanted to do it with a friend.   Gracie and Lucy met up (with their Mama's of course) to pick out their supplies.   They were quite specific on what they liked and did not like.  

Kicking off the shopping with breakfast at Panera!   

G Bug 

Lucy Bug and Gracie Bug (yes they are best friends and have the name nick name since they were babies!)

The girls also enjoyed a little extra Bella time this week.

Gracie was working to give Bella her anti itch medicine 

What a life!  We say all the time we are lucky to have Bella, but she is lucky to have us as family!