Summer is going too fast!

As I type this, I am also beginning to work on school plans for the new year. I can't believe how fast this summer has gone. For the remaining time (right around two weeks) I plan on making the most of every minute.
This past week Anna and I haven't done anything too exciting. We have mainly stayed around the house except for attending her gymnastics classes. We have had a good time playing in the yard or attempting to put puzzles together. She loves the concept of dumping the pieces out but not necessarily putting them back in the spots! She'd rather chew on the pieces still. I have been really impressed by the things she has been doing lately. She is definitely in the "Monkey see" stage. She can identify her "head, belly, toes, and nose" which I think is pretty good. She has also really taken to signing and will sign for "more", "milk", "finished", and "eat". I have been trying to get her to pick up on the "sleepy" one, but she hasn't quite gotten it yet. Her spoken vocabulary has increased too. She can say quite a few things. She says "bye" consistently and in the correct context as well as "ma ma" and "da da". She calls all dogs "bubba" (I actually think she tries to say "bandit" but it just comes out easier as bubba. She will say "book" and "ball" sometimes. "Uh oh" is a constant too! I am just amazed at how fast learning at this age takes place.

An update on "parent activities" Matt is still continuing to play soccer on Sundays. He is enjoying getting back to his sport. He is hopeful that he will get a break from being in the goal this weekend and play in the field instead.
I am attending Zumba, taking Body Pump classes, and playing tennis as much as time allows through the week. As a matter of fact, we have a tennis tournament this weekend and I am looking forward to having Matt and Anna cheer me on! Anna is our group's best cheerleader (she's certainly the loudest!)

Next week I am going to try to get as much school stuff out of the way so that Anna and I can spend some quality time with Matt because he will be leaving for a training session in Boston August 8th. We will be sad to have him away for a week. :( But, I am sure he will learn a bunch!

No blog is complete without pictures of our girl! Here are a few from this week:

Gymnastics class wears her out! :)

She loves playing "dress up" in Mommy's closet

I think the Crocs add a special touch, don't you?

Daddy and Anna left me a message in the bathtub....so sweet! (Guess who has to clean all that up....yours truly)

Uncle Chris went out to LA and Las Vegas for a vacation and he brought Minnie back for Anna. She carries her everywhere. It's so cute!

This past weekend we were fortunate enough to get away for a mini vacation to visit Uncle David and Aunt Jackie in the upstate! They were nice enough to host us and take us on a tour of Greenville! We absolutely loved it! Everything was so nice and clean. The people were friendly and the views were spectacular! I had so much fun capturing the views with my camera, so I will let the pictures tell the events of the weekend!

We started out at the Greenville zoo....

Anna sitting on one of the lion statues

They had a baby orangutan!!!! So stinkin' cute!

Anna at the petting zoo....

After the zoo, we took a stroll in downtown Greenville. They were having a farmer's market sale.

Anna and I

David and Jackie (well Jackie is behind the sunflowers!)

Brothers! Matt and David

Anna entertaining herself while waiting on lunch. She spent more time trying eat the crayons than actually coloring.

This was a beautiful terrace outside one of buildings....I think it is frame-worthy!

The view from the park

This park was amazing! We are standing in Reedy River here.

Matt and Anna

At Uncle David & Aunt Jackie's house!

Loving on Skynyrd....I seriously think Anna is super sad not to have him at our house. She loved having him around.

We took a trip down to the lake. Anna was much better about wearing a life jacket this year!

Playing in the water!

Aunt Jackie and Willow

Daddy and his little girl.

Skynyrd patiently waiting on Anna or Matt to throw the ball

Love this one!

The crocs were a bit hard to walk in while in the water...so we ditched them!

Sweet Willow

Thank you David and Jackie for giving us a great weekend!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th! We spent the day with family at a huge bash near Lake Marion. We enjoyed listening to the band, eating great food, and spending time with loved ones.

Getting ready to leave

Sitting with Grandpa

Anna loves riding the golf cart

Rockin' out to the band

Time to play in the water!

Anna wanted to ride on the tractor......so Matt obliged. She was so excited!

Jason, Matt, and Anna

Us!

Dancing with Daddy

Getting sleepy.....

Time to go....

Watching fireworks at our neighborhood pond. Families brought all their fireworks and created one big display. It was beautiful.

Our sweet girl.....sleepy....