S.C.

We ventured across the country once again for the Roessler family reunion.  Such a fun trip.  The girls did fantastic, traveling is becoming much easier as they get older.  This time they even successfully shared a bed.  We enjoyed a lot of beach time, family games and stories.  It was a much needed break for us all.

The trip started out with a very early flight.  The girls had fun coloring, using stickers, reading books and watching a few movies. On the way home they both slept for 3 out of the 4 hours on the last leg.

This is how we spent most mornings... playing on the beach.  ALL of the kids loved it and it was hard to keep them away.  Laurel would have spent the entire week jumping waves if it were up to her.

We had most of the beach to ourselves.

 Maya wasn't quite as excited about the waves, but she ventured out a few times.

Digging, digging, digging.  The fun never ends.

More swimming, more jumping.

We ventured to Cypress Gardens.  It was a really fun place for the kids... we started out in a Butterfly Garden with the butterflys flying all around us.

The little girls were watching out for alligators (and according to them, hippos as well).

We took a boat ride through the swamp on a lookout for alligators. 

Cousins and best buds.

Maya and Grandma on the boat.

The whole crew.

Granny Pat told a nightly story to the fourth generation.  The older kids really got into it and looked forward to it each evening.  You can see them listening and fully concentrating in the next few pictures.

 

They would talk anyone they could into reading them a story.

 

 

   Three silly naked girls.  It was fun to watch them play together now that they are getting older.  I am excited to watch their relationships grow.  We think we've already nailed their personalities... time tell us if we are right!

Games!

Snuggles!

The house had a playground, which was great when the house was filled with little ones who needed to get their pent up energy out. 

 

And we spent an afternoon playing in the fountains in downtown Charleston.

 

We couldn't ask for a better family!  Grandpa and Adam... you were missed and remain in our hearts always.

The Fourth

We had a very fun, low key Fourth of July this year.  The Grahams came over for a BBQ and a few kid-friendly fireworks.  Our neighborhood goes all out each year so we let the girls stay up a little late to watch some of the show.  For the most part they loved it... except it was all a little loud.  The earphones took care of the noise factor!

Cheese :-)

Smokebombs

Sparklers

More sparklers (notice Laurel's boots?  they are 2 sized too small but she won't stop wearing them!)

And getting ready to watch the big show

I underestimate her

She keeps all her knowledge a secret and shocks us all by coming out with it as if it is something she has always done. 

Apparently she can count to 15.  With no prompting.  Something we just discovered.  I have asked her to count with me many, many times in the past. Sometimes she would join me and say 1, 2, but most of the time she just ignored my request.  This weekend, I hear her counting away to herself, who knows how long she has actually had this skill. 

She also knows most of the alphabet, another thing she decided to keep to herself.  Until we were trying to get her to sleep one night and she was doing everything she could to keep herself awake... including singing the ABCs.  Again, I have asked her to sing it with me many times and she just ignored my request. 

Silly me, assuming her refusal to humor me meant she didn't know these things.  Apparently she just likes to master it completely before sharing with anyone else!  It is a bit strange to not hear the practicing, but I guess we all learn differently :-)

Just a cute note about this picture; she picked out the elephant cookie as a special treat but then decided not to eat it because it was "too pretty"