SO MUCH!!! Part 2

Late June

If you thought early June was exciting, then hold your hats Ladies and Gentlemen! We're just getting started!

Father's Day marked the kick-off party for Vacation Bible School, which Neal was responsible for planning and volunteered just about every one to work. Despite the unusually hot weather, the kids had a really good time playing and getting their faces painted. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures. *insert grimace here* During the following week Gwyneth and Mallory spent their mornings at the church and I got some much needed time to myself! I did spend some time taking pictures of the event, but none of them are of my own children so I won't post any of those. Mallory learned two things at VBS: 1) Jesus lives in her heart 2) the words to "This Little Light O' Mine. When driving to the gym one day we passed the Fire Department and Mallory announced that God built the fire house. Gwyneth was quick to dispute this, having seen things built before and said, "No He didn't!!!"
"Yes He DID!"
"Nuh-uh! PEOPLE built it! Not God, Mallory!"
"...well... He lives in my heart."
And you can't take that away from her.

Somewhere during that week, Shawna turned the corner on 8 months and took place in a study at the UT School of Psychology. They monitored where a crawling baby looks on television screen trying to determine if a baby's stage of mobility changes what images at certain distances they look at first... or something like that. For our time we were given a photo and a certificate.
Did I mention she's crawling? Still no teeth, though.

Then, Gramma and PopPop showed up! We had much fun!! Friday night we spent some time at the hotel pool with Lindsay, Dale and Gaige.
Shawna (and PopPop) sleptGaige was holding court being cute as can be and singing to usGwyneth swam and swam (and drove me crazy eating her hair!!)She also did LOTS of "CANON BALLS!!!"and Mallory did a few of her own
Then we got all dried off and changed and it was off to dinner at the Sushi Spot. Shawna learned how to eat baby puffs with chopsticks

I learned the proper technique for eating edamame... take the beans OUT of the pod first. Noted.

Saturday we went to Dollywood Splash Country! Of course the whole place is water, so there were no cell phones and no cameras (i.e. no photos). Shawna had a WONDERFUL time swimming in the toddler pool. I know she enjoyed it because she wouldn't stop TALKING! After her "swim" she ate and took a nap on a pool side lounger. What a life.
Mallory liked the toddler area, too! It had a kid sized slide that she could go down... alone. Like a big girl. Of course the first time down PopPop went down with her, and quickly realized that it was not intended for adults! Neal, Gwyneth and Mallory swam the lazy river, went into the wave pool and played, but Gwyneth was the one that went down THE LARGEST slide in the park and didn't chicken out (Neal went, too). She had a blast. She also lost a tooth - #7 - and the tooth fairy ALMOST forgot to come... I guess she shouldn't spend so much time in the sun!

Sunday was PopPop's birthday. Shawna was baptized that morning by Pastor Jim Whedbee. All three girls wore white and matching hair bows. Shawna did really well! She didn't cry one bit, but when Melissa walked her up and down the ailse she kept turning the wrong direction. Other than that it went perfectly. Then we went for birthday pancakes!

That evening we went to the Smokies game. They're a farm league team for the cubs. Neal got Ryne Sandburg to sign his rookie card and Gwyneth caught a toy baseball and got it signed by one of the players. It was a fun time!

Did I mention it was $2 coronas?

While Gramma and PopPop were here, the girls got to go to the hotel for a SLEEP OVER! We also got to do some shopping - specifically for the girl's upcoming birthdays. Gwyneth picked the Polly Pocket Air Bus. Mallory chose the My Little Pony Amusement Park. There was a lot of adventure packed in to a short trip. Everyone had a wonderful time!