Uncle Donald and Aunt Kim!

Uncle Donald and Aunt Kim are two of our very favorite people. Oh my goodness, we love them so much!
They live in Kentucky now, so we can't see them as often as we used to, but we still manage visits here and there-- and it's a good thing!
'Cause they make me HAPPY!!
In their honor, I constructed this unbelievable structure. It turned out just right-- and I had it waiting for them when they got to our house on Saturday!

They were very impressed, as you can see.

They also liked Mommy's newest creation-- Baby Jessa!

It looks like the feeling was mutual!

I think that Uncle Donald and Aunt Kim should get one of these. Babies are cute!

On Sunday, we went to Wool E Bull's birthday party at the Durham Bulls!

All the characters came out to celebrate!

And we had fun-- at least at first...

Not long into the game, I got hit with a bad feeling, and then I threw up. Gross.

I was feeling so bad, I couldn't eat the birthday cake-- but we did stay just long enough for Mina to grab some.

It turns out I have step throat. Again.

You'll be happy to know though that I've already gotten my medicine and I'm already feeling better.

This week I had my first visit from the tooth fairy!

Most kids have to wait until the first grade for their first visit with the tooth fairy, but I lost my front tooth early... at the dentist!
I hurt my tooth two years ago when I fell in the potty, and it was fine for awhile-- but lately it had started to hurt a little. So, Mom took me to the dentist and she found an infection between the bad tooth and the big girl tooth behind it, and she said we had to pull it out.
It was very scary for me, but I was as brave as I could be. I got a shot in my gum and then I couldn't feel a thing!
I took my new smile to Daddy's summer party for his work at the Mudcats stadium!
It was a stormin' so they never played the game, but they did get out the fireworks, so I was happy!

Muddy the Mudcat and Maddie the cool cat.

Michaela turns FIVE this week, so on Saturday she decided to celebrate at the horse farm!
Good idea Michaela!

The horses took us all over! We went in a carriage and in a saddle!

On a horse carriage ride..

In the woods (we had to duck!)...

And on the horsey track!

We fed some chickens,

And then some goats,

And we played with the baby ducks

And then headed for home!

Mina looks a little sad there in that picture because she knew her birthday cake was going to be to go! Too many visits to time out = no birthday cake tonight little sister!
She cheered up in time to help open Michaela's presents.

Michaela got a singin' machine!

After a full day of partying, baby Jessa was tired!

And we told her to rest up, 'cause on Sunday, we had to go celebrate with Baby Hays. He's one now!

After more birthday cake, we burned off some energy in the backyard on the slip and slide--

And we lounged in the pool.

Another busy week, but now we've got to rest up for this coming weekend when Uncle Donald and Aunt Kim come visit. We can't wait!

Beach Week 2009

Technically, we should call this beach week I, since we're planning another beach week on the Outer Banks in August. Beach week I was a great surprise that none of us had been planning on. Grandma Q had a week booked in Atlantic Beach that she couldn't take, and no one else could use-- so she asked Mom if she wanted to take it with us girls.
At first Mommy said it sounded scary! Daddy wasn't going to be able to take two beach weeks, and so if we went, we were going to have to be girls only!
But then Mommy reconsidered. Who says no the beach?
Not us!
So, we borrowed this handy dandy baby tent, which turned out to be the best thing for all of us. In the tent, the baby could sleep, and in the tent, Mommy could feed the baby without embarrassing anyone!
And best of all, although you couldn't really see into the tent, Mommy could see out just fine, so everyone was safe and happy and accounted for.
We Y the baby tent.


Sometimes, Mommy would try to sneak out of the baby tent and play with us in the sand. Baby Jessa did not like this, and so Mommy had to make her trips out to play very short and sweet!
Here's baby J saying "Get back here this instant!"

Oh, we had so much fun in the sand and in the surf!


On Wednesday, Marina and I made Mommy an early birthday cake!
It turned out perfectly!

Mommy took us to the aquarium a couple of times. The first time we went with some school friends, and then on Thursday we went through really carefully to make sure we didn't miss anything.
Here are our pictures from Thursday (which also happened to be Mommy's birthday!)...



Look out below!

I'm feelin' crabby!

And so is Mina!

Oh, baby J, your head is too small!

We also spent lots and lots of time every day swimming in the baby pools! Baby Jessa swam a little too. She sat right in her Snugli carrier and dipped along with Mommy!

Back home after a dip!

When we weren't playing in the ocean or swimming in the pool, we were doing crafts. Mommy stocked up at the craft store before we left so we would always have something to keep ourselves busy - and out of trouble. We made so MANY crafts!

And while we were in Atlantic Beach, no amenity was safe! We ate lunch on the picnic benches, we swam in all the pools, we played on the playgrounds and swung on every swing!

On Thursday afternoon, Daddy decided he'd had enough of work! He came down just in time to help us celebrate Mommy's birthday!

And with Daddy with us at the beach, I got to go into the ocean and swimming in the big girl pools!

Mina was scared of the deep water, but she finally went out into the waves on Saturday, our last day there:

On Friday we explored Fort Macon State Park and danced to the music they had playing there. Check out my moves! As you'll see, Mina isn't quite ready for the big time.

Dancing,

And Exploring...

Now that you've seen me dance, you'll be amazed to see that I'm also quite the picture taker!

I do like to run around though, so I leave most of the picture taken' to my dad!

And the occasional stranger.

Mommy brought down our snow cone maker for sweet treats after dinner!

Here's a few more pictures of us swimming, this time with our floaties!

And one of Mommy loving the baby.

Finally, we've reached our July '09 beach photo shoot. We do this every year to make our mommy happy.

Every year, on our last evening at the beach, we dress up alike and stand around smiling while Daddy and Mommy take pictures.

The things our parents put us through...

This year was way more successful then last year, and that made Mommy so happy that

when we got done, we got snow cones and birthday cake!

Snowcones!

And finally, a Quinlan-Mason gets a tan (despite SPF 70)