June Part 1- Summer camp, Anastasia is three!

 Oh my.  I am so behind on this blog.  I am going to try to get our summer up here this week.  Here we go!  

I forget what we were celebrating when we took them to get ice cream, but it was a happy day. 

We also went to hibachi.  I think it was the day before Julia went away for a month-long summer camp.   A send off dinner for our sweet girl!

She and Daddy drove to North Carolina early the next day.  We let Marky take a month-long trip to Rome as a Freshman and would have done the same for Julia if it weren't for the virus.  This was our consolation prize- a month in the North Carolina mountains at Camp Kahdalea for Girls.  

Took the boys and Annie on a trip to the science center-

The next day I took the little boys and their friends up to Cullman for Camp St. Bernard!

They had a wonderful time.  I didn't get a lot of pics, but I know they had the time of their life.  :)  They went horseback riding, made bird houses, poured candles, did tie-dye, went swimming and boating every day, and played tons of games.  

While the boys and Julia were at camp, our home was so quiet.  Marky worked at horse farms all summer and went to football practice and workouts every day.  So it was just Anastasia and I having fun.  I bought her her very first pair of ballet shoes and she was absolutely beside herself!

Found a chip shaped like California and had to take a picture for Tucker-

Dinner with Shana-

For Annie's birthday, we did something we haven't done in years- we went for a ride in Poppy's boat!  It was her first time and she LOVED it and even rode the tube!

Annie insisted on riding the tube so we let her ride with Daddy hanging off the back.  :)

Even Mommy and BB went swimming.  It was such a fun day.  

We had cupcakes and opened her presents on the dock-

She absolutely LOVED everything!   She was so excited!

On her birthday night we took her for ice cream and then opened presents from Zaza and Big Grandpa and Amber-

Aunt Amber mailed her the cutest Ballet bag complete with tutu and headbands.  She loved it!

Annie Rosie, at three you are just a delight!  You are so, so smart and "with it".  You don't miss anything and listen to every word we say.  You have a huge vocabulary and know so much.  You love to be read to and to watch Peppa Pig and Little Bear.  You love to play in the playroom with your kitchen set and have a tea party almost every day with Charlie.  You also have "birthday parties" for your bunnies.   You know all the words to so many baby songs.  For some reason, you LOVE the song "Follow You" by Imagine Dragons and we have to play it for you on our phone often.  Your other favorite song is "Once Upon a December" that Daddy plays for you at night.  It is from the musical Anastasia.  

You love everything and everybody and are naturally playful and joyful and smiley.  When I see you it's always, "oh hi, Mommy!  I love you, Mommy!"  If we haven't seen you for a while during the day you RUN and give a big hug.  The big kids love coming home from their activities because you greet them with a big smile and running hug.  You jump up and down and cheer about any little happy thing.  You go to a half day preschool program, and they love you and always remark on how happy and smart you are.  How did we get such a happy little sprite!  Thank you for your precious, joyful spirit.  You bring life and love into our home and everyone absolutely adores you!  This summer you moved to a big girl bed, got rid of the sleepy sack, pacifier and bottle an became a real big girl.  We sure have loved your baby and toddlerhood, but we are also enjoying watching you grow and change.  Oh, thank you, Lord, for our miracle baby.  We can never thank You enough for Your mercy to our family and this little sunshine after the rain.