Bella's 2nd Birthday

Party at the Park
We had a small birthday party for Bella at the St. Charles park the Saturday before her birthday, and we invited all her classmates at her new school.


Lolo helping Bella slide


Swinging


Birthday girl!


Big sister


We met a puppy at the park, too.


Clara and Bella
School Party
On Bella's actual birthday (Tuesday), Gabi and I took cookies and apple juice up to Bella's school to share with all of Bella's new friends.


Bella's birthday celebration at school
Family Party
That evening, we invited all our Little Rock family over to celebrate with Bella. Bella loved the birthday song and requested "Mommy sing 'Happy To You' to Bella!" many times, including as a bedtime lullaby.


Bella and cousin Caitlin


Bella, cousin Daniel, and Gabi


Ice cream "cupcakes" from Lolo & Lola


Daddy's home!


Opening presents with Lola


Naming each animal (and its sound) from Lolo


Bella "reading" her new book


Opening a present from Ninang, Ninong, and cousin Steven


Helping baby Belle (from Disney's Beauty & the Beast) slide down
Playing with Presents
Bella has been enjoying all her new birthday presents. She and Gabi will re-wrap each item, sing "Happy Birthday" to Bella, and let Bella open them again and again. Then they play with the toys together.


Backpack!


Bella loves wearing her new backpack


Both girls decked out in Hello Kitty jewelry

More Summer Fun

The last two posts highlighted our summer travel and many guests. These pictures outline some of the activities that comprised the rest of our summer.

Swimming


Fountains at the Athletic Club swimming pool


Enjoying the water park area after swim lessons


Catching the water


Floating with Isabella after swim lessons


Running through the water park area
Little Rock Zoo


Feeding the rainbow lorikeets


Riding the zoo carousel
Bella's 2nd Haircut


Haircuts at Pigtails and Crewcuts come with animal crackers!


Bella's new haircut


Stopping to smell the flowers
At Home


Playing in a living room tent


Annabelle dressed up in "click-clack" shoes and a hat


Little Mama rocking baby Asha


Gabi volunteered to clean the kitchen floor
Gabi attended a few summer camps at school: pirate week and superhero week and art camp, in addition to "Fun, Fabulous, and Fancy" week (pictures below).


After "glamour day" at summer camp


After "cheerleader day" at summer camp
Around Town


Trains and trees at the Wonder Place


Gabi's night out with Mommy and Daddy to see Dora Live


Bella found a leaf on our morning exploring downtown


Swinging at Veda's house


Veda and Gabi swinging together


Bella at Butler Park


Bella collecting sticks at Reservoir Park
Birthday Parties


Samantha and Gabi at Grey's birthday party


Bella riding the carousel at Grey's birthday party


Gymnastics at Ainsley's birthday party

Summer visitors

This summer, we had many visitors come stay with us. We obviously took more pictures than just these, and I'll post them to our Shutterfly page. Email me if you need the address. We love to have guests, so let us know if you'd ever like to come through Little Rock!
Notre Dame friends (6/10-6/15)
Gramma Jane, Grampa, and Uncle Brian (7/10-7/12)
John & family (7/12)
Stephen and Alicia (7/20-7/27)
Joy, Lauren, and Eric (7/28-7/30)

Notre Dame friends (6/10-6/15)
In June, we invited a dozen of our best college friends to come hang out at our house for a mini-reunion. They were here over our 6th wedding anniversary, and they presented us with the most awesome framed collage of pictures with everyone's signature on the mat!


Introduced to video games


Telling Kimba about the "bee-bugs" (ladybugs)


At the River Market


Climbing Pinnacle Mountain


Learning to "play" Joe's bagpipes


Yoga with Cynthia
Gramma Jane, Grampa, and Uncle Brian (7/10-7/12)
Of course Gramma Jane, Grampa, and Uncle Brian found a weekend to come visit!


Swimming at St. Charles pool


Pouring water on Daddy's head


"Cuddle Mommy!"


Girls with the grandparents and uncle
John & family (7/12)
Michael's best friend from high school (who now lives in Atlanta) came back to visit family. We saw them one afternoon to met baby Lucy, and Michael did an echo of Wesley's heart.


Jelly on the tummy
Stephen and Alicia (7/20-7/27)
Uncle Stephen came to follow Lolo and his coworkers around for a week, so Aunt Alicia got to hang with the kids and me.


Neighborhood walk


Playing pirates


Sand table at the Wonder Place


Jumping into St. Charles pool


Dress-up with Samantha


Swinging at the top of the slide


"1-2-3-Whee!"


Splashing at Riverfront Park


Waiting for the waterfall
Joy, Lauren, and Eric (7/28-7/30)
My aunt Joy and her kids came for a short visit, and then they took the girls back to Texas with them to drop them off at Gramma Jane and Grampa's house for a week until we joined them at the family reunion.


Gabi and Eric climbing at Riverfront Park


Bella and Eric running through a tunnel


Splashing in the fountains