Abby is Learning to Crawl

Abby can sit up for long periods of time and roll over with ease.

She is trying to learn to crawl, which can be hard work, but if one is determined enough, it will happen...

After a few face plants, she just gives up but keeps on smiling.

Abby and Roxie

While Daniel and his mommy went to Monkey Joes for a reward for good behavior, Rich and I kept Abby. She loves her dog and the feeling is obviously mutual.  Roxie tolerates the baby amazingly well. When Roxie decides she has had enough, she raises up her head, bares her teeth, and plants a kiss on Abby's lips.  Her other avenue of self defense is to move.

Painted at Last!

While we were visiting Sharon and Mark in Georgia we had a painter come in and finish some of the areas of the house that had never been painted. He did the pergolas on the deck, the kitchen ceiling, the laundry room, and finally our bedroom. Tired of construction white, we now have relaxing blue walls and new bedding to dress up our pretty bedroom furniture.

Getting Ready for Tee Ball

Kat is teaching Daniel to play ball and he's getting pretty good at it for a 3-year old.  Daniel enlisted help for practice after he put the base pads in place (well, sort of).

Pop-pop holds the ball for Daniel to hit. Note the white ball on the left of the photo - Daniel hit it there. He also has a pretty good throwing arm! 

Preparing for Grandchild #7

On June 26 we set off driving to Marietta, Georgia, stopping in Elkins, NC, overnight to break up the trip.  We arrived at Sharon and Mark's just after noon on Wednesday and unloaded a very full car.  Rich had mended Sharon's old doll house, I re-furbished and furnished it, and we put it in a big box to take to Ella. We had clothes from Sharon's friend Becky, as well as from Kat, for Ella and Leo, and an assortment of other items to take to the kids.

Wednesday afternoon Sharon and I left Rich to play with Leo when Leo woke from a nap, and went next door to a wonderful baby shower for Sharon, given by her next door neighbor, her friend Crystal (who moved to the area from Florida), and another neighbor. She received some really cute clothes and some much needed items for baby care. 

On Thursday, Sharon put us to work helping to get a room ready for Leo to move into to make way for baby.  Rich stained a chest of drawers, hung shelves and put up curtain rods. Sharon and I put together a new crib, hung airplanes on the wall, sorted through clothes and organized closets. By Friday everything was ready for Leo to move into his new room. He seemed to know right away it was for him and he played happily in the room and in his crib. 

(Leo looks like his mommy in this photo)

On Saturday morning we visited the Marietta Farmers' market where we picked up some fresh Georgia corn for dinner along with home-made bread and some goat cheese appetizers. Rich did all the cooking while we were there (surprised?), creating some wonderful meals for us to enjoy. 

We stopped by the fountains in the park near the farmers' market and let the kids cool off in the water. Atlanta set heat records while we were there - 106 degrees!  

Ella was working on a new drawing project. She is quite the budding artist!

Sunday morning we went to Johnsons Ferry Baptist Church and heard a great message on the book of Revelations from Dr. Danny Akin, guest speaker.  Then we went to a diner for lunch, packed up the car, and headed home. We stopped again in Elkins, NC, getting in early enough for Rich to use the bike in the exercise room and me to get in some water exercise. Then we sat outside for awhile enjoying the cooler air. We woke up to a hot breakfast at the hotel and after an uneventful drive, we reached home Monday afternoon.

Seemed like our visit was way too short, but it was so good to spend time together.