Emily's wedding

My niece, Emily got married last weekend.  Grace & I flew to St. Louis for it.  Grace did awesome on all four flights and during the two hour layovers.

We hit the ground running when we got there.  I forgot how much work weddings are but I was happy to help out.  We were so busy that I didn't take many pictures.
I told Alaina how pretty she was in her dress and that she looked like a fairy.  She said that she was Grace's fairy godmother :)

 The wedding was outside and it was hot.  The heat was like a sleeping pill for Grace. 

some of my side of the family

I LOVE this picture of Emily and Grace!

Thank goodness the reception was inside!

the two Graces and the three Gails

(Lara Gail, Abigail & Alaina Gail)

Grace practiced feeding herself at the reception.

There's nothing like coming home to people who are so excited to see you!  Jeff was holding up this sign at the airport and the boys ran to us as soon as they could.  The sign says "we made it 4 days".  We loved being around so much family and love while we were away but it was sure nice to be back and feel the love at home.

Harrison's adoption day

Harrison's adoption was finalized July 19, 2012.  We celebrate this every year as his day.  Harrison pretty much got to decide everything all day.  He wanted banana bread for breakfast.  He was thrilled to get books from his favorite series as his gift.

After breakfast Leo wanted to celebrate the day with a dance party.  The hats were his idea.

Then it was off to the pool for swimming and lunch at the snack shack (per Harrison's request).

Both of the boys love to play with Grace in the pool.  They fight over who gets to push her around in her floatie.  This was Harrison's turn.

Finally, Harrison wanted to go to Smokey Bones for dinner.  He ordered a root beer and they brought it to him in a glass bottle.  When he got it he said "this place is fancy".

 The grand finale was an oreo milkshake, a great ending to a great day for a great kid!

Yesterday really tugged at my heart as we told Harrison over and over how happy we were that he is in our family.  He's the one who started it all and we couldn't ask for a better first child to lead the way.  We love you Harrison!

soccer camp

Leo had soccer camp all last week.  We got there early on the last day so I took some pictures of him warming up.  I was impressed with how he's improved.

 all the kids at the camp

Leo loved it and had a great time!

Tennessee

We drove all day from Texas to Tennessee to get to Aunt Shannon's house.  We spent the next day there playing.  We went to the Discovery Center and then the trampoline park and then that night we drove home.

Alaina is so sweet with her baby cousin.

Harrison got a little wet.

None of the pictures from the trampoline park turned out because there was just too much movement.  The boys had so much fun in TN that they begged to stay another day.  It sure was great to see more family!

The two Grace grandchildren, Caitlin Grace and our Grace, both named after Grandma Grace.  These girls also share June birthdays (the 3rd and the 30th) only 14 years apart.

even more Texas fun

Papa Ronnie made this swing for the boys four years ago.   I'm so glad he kept it because Grace absolutely loved it!  You can sure tell when things are made with love.

One of the boys' favorite things was definitely the four wheeler!  Getting to steer it or even drive it a little sure makes you feel grown up.  Getting to ride in it all over the property and see new things is pretty fun too.

Harrison especially loves the tractor.

One morning I asked Harrison what he wanted to do more than anything else that day.  He said chop wood.  (What kid says that?)  Leo found his perfect job helping Jeff with the log splitter.

the finished product

If you can't tell, we really had a great visit!  Besides Harrison getting poison ivy and Leo getting a tick bite, it couldn't have been any better.  The kids loved being spoiled by Nanny Glo (and I did too).  We were all sad to leave.  Until next time, Texas.