First fruits and shoes!

No, I'm not talking about tithing. Brenna picked our first ripe tomatoes today! Can you tell we are excited? I'm really looking forward to doing a real garden with her and my dad next year.

I also had some fun dressing Natalie up in her first pair of shoes. It made her look so much bigger to me. We had some errands to run around town today so I thought I would complete her cute ensemble with some cute shoes!

Our green peppers are doing well too.

She looks so big in this one

Smiling for Brenna

Sprinkler City!

We tried yet another new sprinkler park today in Centerville. It's called Activity Center Park. I know I keep saying it, but I just can't believe how much there is to do here! You would think since it's sooo hot in San Antonio people would come up with the same great idea. It's nice having some new places to discover that we didn't know about when we lived in Huber Heights. We skipped Natalie's morning nap so we could meet up with friends with church at 10:00 and she did great! I'm really getting anxious for her to start walking now though. Next summer will so much fun with her and Brenna. Enjoy the pics!








Having some snacks.
Brenna sitting in the "boat" that rocked back and forth.

She still loves swinging.

She wasn't sure what to think...the water was a little cold but she warmed up to the idea.

She still won't put her knees down on hard surfaces! So funny but no skinned knees for Natalie!

Brenna jumped right in.

Short Timers

Well as my dad would say Ben and I are "short timers" since we only have a little over a week and half to go until he's here! I'm so thankful for J.R. and Corrie and James, Lauren and Lily for putting Ben up for 5 weeks, and for the family that have been coming up to visit and help out! I just love being only 2 1/2 hours away! Shame on me I didn't get any pictures while everyone was in town! Ben's parents are coming back up on Wednesday and they are going to take Brenna back with them for the week. She is going to stay with my parents and my mom is taking her to a theme park in Santa Claus, Indiana called Holiday World. I know she will have a blast. I don't know what I will do with myself. Having one child will seem like a breeze! Here are just some pictures of the girls and I hanging out.

Count down

Well we have about three weeks left until Ben gets home. Brenna and I received very sweet letters from him today in the mail. I of course cried reading both of them! He also included a Wal-mart gift card in Brenna's letter so she could buy herself a new toy. Boy did she love that! I am really missing him and wanting him to be here so he can start enjoying Ohio with us. I hate that he is missing so much of the girls lives right now, especially Natalie's because she is changing so quickly. He is leaving on August 7th and his dad is flying down from Indiana to drive with him! I thought that was so nice, and neither me or his mom want him driving it alone. The time is passing fast though and then we'll all be together once again. Here are just some cute pictures of the girls and me hanging out. Natalie has been in such a better mood now that three of her teeth have come through completly. Thank goodness!





Brenna took this one. She is getting to be quite a photographer!

This is the first time I actually let Brenna pick Natalie up and hold her. She thought it was awesome and I don't think Natalie was too amused!

I know she is looking older..I don't want to talk about it.

Natalie thinks it's so neat to have the cold air blow on her. She often goes over and checks to see if there is something coming out!

She got lucky this time!

She has finally started to use her walking toy. She is getting pretty fast already!

And last but not least...she has found the stairs. Don't you love that little devilish grin!

Natalie's 9 month pictures

I took the girls to Penney's mainly to have Natalie's 9 month pictures done, but of course I had to get a few of Brenna and the two of them together since Natlie has changed so much since the last one. It started off pretty bad. I had a trainee trying to take pictures of a very active 9 month old! Long story short a very nice girl offered to retake the bath photos of Natalie for me and they turned out great!

Gotta love the tongue...she's gonna be a great french kisser one day huh!?

Good pic of the new tooth!

So pretty...this one reminded me of Brenna. I have a very similar picture of her that Ben's brother took when she was about 18 months.

This is my favorite!

Summer fun (without Daddy) :-(

Well the girls and I have been trying to stay busy while Ben is still in Texas. I found out that the pool on base is free all summer so we went there the other night and had a blast. I never came to base much when we lived here before, and it's nice to be able to enjoy it now that we are closer. I set up the little pool and water table the other day too. I thought Natalie would really love it, but she still seemed a little more interested in eating grass!

We have an itty bitty "garden" that Brenna is so proud of. I can't wait to do a real one next year. My dad used to farm and he already said he would help us. We have a tomato plant, green pepper plant, basil, and two question mark plants (they were here when we moved in and I'm thinking it's squash!)

Lastly we went to the neatest park ever! It's called Orchardly and it's in Oakwood. I had never been to it before and it was just so fun I wish I would have worn my suit. They have a sprinkler area, sand area, and the neatest play equipment I've ever seen. I'm sure we'll be back many times and I'll have to get some pics of the equipment if you guys haven't seen it.

I got Brenna signed up for soccer again for the fall. She is going to be playing on base this time. I'm looking forward to watching some games in the cool weather this time too! There will be pics to follow soon!


Headed to the pool with my girls!
Natalie interested in the water table for a minute anyway!

Brenna with our "garden"

Natalie trying to figure out the sprinkler

Orchardly Park

Natalie played in the sprinkler too, but I forgot my camera in the car and didn't get it until later. I'll get some of her next time!