Life's a Beach!

We've had so much fun on our beach vacation. Tomorrow is our last day here and I'm looking forward to spending one more long day with my sweet family with nothing to do. It's been such a relaxing (almost) two weeks. Seeing the kids play together (and fight some too) and seeing brad not have to worry about work and having nothing to do but focus on family has been such a welcome respite from our daily routine. Our daily schedule at home is pretty hectic. Brad gets home late, 7 or later, we eat, we bathe the kids and throw them in bed. Then brad has to get up at 5am and do it all over again. He barely gets to see the kids for a little over an hour each day. This vacation has let us focus on the things that really matter. Family and quality time together. Barnes is swimming like a fish and Anna Kate is too. She loves the water. Baby Celia has slept most of the vacation in the condo with Gammie. But we've brought her to the beach and the pool a few times.

Ahhhhvacation! I'm thankful brad could take the time off to come for such a long time. We won't be able to do this in the fall many more years.

First day of school

The kids have started school. They're both liking it and enjoying making new friends. I'm proud of all they're learning each day.

Barnes started Jr Kindergarten at St. Mary's School
Anna Kate started at First Presbyterian Playschool in the 2 year old room

When I asked them what they wanted to be when they grow up, they said:

Barnes: a football player
Anna Kate: a princess

One month!

Im a few days late posting this. Our sweet girl was a month old on the 5th.

Oh how fast the last month has gone! This happy baby has given us so much joy. The kids are nuts about her and so are we! Can't remember life with out our little bitty girl!!

Pray for our nation

That day was the first time I had ever known true fear and deep sadness in a way I cannot explain. I am just as sad and even more affected by it today as I was 12 years ago. We visited the George W. Bush library in Dallas this spring and I wept uncontrollably through the entire exhibit on 9/11. It brought back fresh emotions like it happened yesterday. I encourage everyone to visit the library. Whether republican/democrat or independent. It is a testament to the men and women who died on that day. Looking at the twisted beams from the trade center while we walked through the exhibit was chilling.

I am heartbroken at the day I have to explain 9/11 to my children. Barnes has such a tender heart and won't understand why they would want to hurt us. He just will not understand. I cannot understand and I am an adult.

Pray. Pray everyday. That our children and our children's children never experience the terror of that day.