My Snaggle Tooth

Anna Claire started the 1st grade this year. She is really growing up! The 2nd week of school she lost one of her front teeth (she had already lost a few on the bottom). The top tooth is really a big deal!!! The pulling of the tooth was quite dramatic, but once it was out Anna was really proud. She got $5.00 from the tooth fairy. When asked what she was going to buy with her money, she said she was giving it to daddy to help pay for her baby brother. I now know I have the sweetest, most thoughtful 1st grader ever!!!!!! Love you Anna Claire!

Seagrove Beach

We went to Disney World for our big family trip this year and decided that we weren't going to the beach. One night I decided that I really NEEDED to go to the beach. So we threw a last minute trip together with Brad, Jessica and Mary Ella and I'm sooo glad we did. We always have the greatest time at the beach. At one point Anna Claire asked "Could we stay here forever?" It was also fun to be there for Mary Ella's first beach experience. This was our first time to visit Seagrove and we really enjoyed it. It was much more laid back and quiet that Destin or Panama City. I would describe it as being quaint. Here are a few pics.

Anna and Trey chillin'

Some beach yoga

They could do this all day!!!

Anna Claire

Beach Picture Night

Aren't they cute???

Jessica, Mary Ella and Brad

My cuties

The three amigos

Marvin Family at Sunset

Mary Ella's First Birthday

Soooo.... I'm way behind on my blogging. I have definitely thought about just forwarding you to Jessica's blog for the month of August and starting again with September, but I won't. A very important event was at the beginning of August- my sweet niece Mary Ella's first birthday!!! Since most of the family (ok all of the family except Brad, Jessica and Mary Ella) live here, they decided to load up the party and bring it up to all of us. We had a great time celebrating at Pinewood Neighborhood Pool. Here are the pics!!!!

Cupcake Birthday Cake and pics of the girl

Jessica and the Birthday Princess

Crawling through the paper

Cole, Anna Claire and Hannah

Opa and Trey

Ooh, looks yummy!!

Little help please

May have overdone it!!!

Hosing her off

The happy family!!!

Surprise Visit.

Today at work I was diligently writing notes when I looked up and Michael walked into my office with a big smile on his face and papers in his hand. I instantly knew...... we finally got our CIS approval letter! I signed, he signed, got it noterized, went straight to FEDEX and it has been overnighted to Kate in New York. She will then send it off to get it authenticated. This is the last step before it goes to Washington, DC. We will soon be on the waitlist!!!!!

Lake Dwellers

We spent the past weekend at the lake with Gigi, Papa, Ranjo, Lindsay, Reese, Eli, Aunt Jessie, Mary Ella, Oma and Opa. We stayed at "The Dive" which is a lake house near Aunt Nancy and Uncle Leonard's. We were excited when we found out that Janet, Bailey and Mark were in town visiting. The kiddos had a blast tubing, swimming, going for boat rides, fishing and throwing rocks into the lake. It's so much fun to watch children enjoy nature!! Anna Claire and Bailey had a blast and had a sleepover! They have decided to be pen pals and send one another letters (they both enjoy getting mail).

Miss Mary Ella

Bailey and Anna eating some smores

Reese and Ranjo

Cousins

Trey and Reese

They rode the paddle boat all over the lake

See ya later!!!

Anna, Bailey and Mark

Captain Trey

Waitlist here we come!!!!!!

After receiving our CIS appointment last week, we looked into rescheduling it for sooner. Well it worked!!! We went to the CIS office in Ft.Smith this morning and were fingerprinted. Next stop, waitlist.

CIS APPOINTMENT!!!!!

It finally came in the mail after weeks and weeks of waiting, finding out that our info was lost, re-sending it overnight, and making several phone calls we have our CIS appointment. It is set for August 17th, but we're going to try to move it up so we can get this ball rollin!!!! We really hope to be on the wait list soon!!