District Convention 2013 - Part 2

Saturday was an exciting day....the baptism!!  Our friend, Caitlyn, that watches the girls one morning a week over the summer while I work, was getting baptized!  We are very happy for her and are glad to have her as an example to our girls.  The program was filled with more motivating, encouraging talks, demos, interviews, etc.  We then had dinner out and then hung by the pool with many families from our congregation.  Great memories for the kids!!  

Sunday, wow, between the play and talks by visiting speakers from Brooklyn, we were brought to tears and were so glad to be there.  Just what we all needed!  We went home that evening filled to the brim.  It was GREAT!!!!

Saturday ~ Our Family

Sista's

Vang's

Buddies

Mick and the girls

Grandma & Pops

Hanging by the pool Saturday evening

Oh, I just loved this baby!!
She was ADORABLE & squishy

Pool fun

Abby, Brooklyn & Noa

Sophia's friends

Mae Mae

This is just some of the kids (and Dads) from our congregation
We have LOTS!!!

Sunday - Me & Abigail Mae

Enough pictures already Mom!!!!

Melissa & the girls

Daddy and Abby

Grandma & Pops

Sophia & Mick

Hosley's

McKinley's

Mel & Rye

District Convention 2013 - Part 1

Can't believe it has already come and gone!  

Wednesday afternoon we got together with Susan and the girls for painting nails.  Gotta be all dolled up for the convention ya know.  Abby picked rainbow and Sophia had an awesome flower done by Susan.  All were giddy with excitement!  

Thursday we packed up and headed to Winston-Salem.  Most of the families from our congregation were in the same hotel, which made it extra fun.  It has a great outdoor pool (in the courtyard of the hotel) and an awesome breakfast (included in the room rate!!) with fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon and freshly made waffles! After getting settled in the room, I took the girls down to the pool for a little swim before meeting friends for dinner.  Then we met up with Hosley's, Vang's & McKinley's for thai food.  We chuckled because the place with the best reviews in the area was the thai restaurant located in Harris Teeter!  It had a few tables, which we totally took over with our group of 17.  And it was really good!!!  Up next was swimming again for the girls, this time with friends.  

Friday we enjoyed breakfast and headed off to the convention site.  It was a packed arena, over 7,000 the first day and almost 9,000 by Sunday.  It was a wonderful program, filled with demonstrations, skits, interviews and talks - even a play on Friday too.  Jehovah really touched hearts with this convention.    

Abby's rainbow nails

Playing a bit while waiting

The nail pro, Susan

She is talented!!!

Ready for dinner - these are just some of the girls
in our congregation

Little Brock is the only boy in this group
He is soaking up all the attention from these girls

Friday morning
Me and my girls

Daddy and his girls

We found Grandma for a quick pic

Celeste and the girls

Castenada's sat by us on Friday

Rye-Guy giving his part
We were in the upper section

Swimming!

Graycen and her little bro

Look at this crew!  Seriously, not even all the kids
from our congregation.

9 feet deep water is great for jumping!!!!

Summer Reading Goal

The girls have a goal this summer......reading the entire My Book of Bible Stories.  There are 116 stories, so divided over 13 weeks they are off for summer break, it is just under 9 stories a week.  They both have really taken on the challenge and remind each other.  After they read, I'll have them tell me something they learned.  We are really proud of their setting a goal and sticking to it!!    

They set up a little house in the front yard

I snuck up on them and found them reading

A variety of books

Aren't they cute??!!

Each with their own book - Grandma Terry
ordered them when they were born and had their
name engraved in it......so special!

Reading in the sunporch too!!

First Tooth to Lose

Abby pulled out her first loose tooth tonight!  We were at my parent's for dinner and right before eating she decided to tug on it and BAM, it came right out.  We were all excited, especially Abby.  She wasn't scared and said it didn't hurt at all.  It was totally ready.

No longer our baby......

First Carowinds Trip This Year

A couple Friday's ago, we met some friends at Carowinds.  First time this year.  It was HOT so we did a few dry rides and then hit the water park and did a few more rides in the evening.

Both the girls want to try new rides this year.  Abby picked the Scrambler.  I was a bit nervous (as I don't like rides at all!), but didn't want her to feel that way.  So, we talked excitedly about it.  Isabella came with us and all three girls fit in one car.  I went so far as to tell the ride operator "this is my little girl's first time riding - please don't run it at full speed".  He told me he wouldn't (and there were 2 other little ones riding for their first time too).  Next thing I knew, the ride began and Abby was beaming!  She LOVED it!  I was so happy for her.  So glad they are loving rides like their Daddy!  Sophia didn't get to ride the one she wanted to try this time.  Hard to coordinate a large group, all wanting to go in different directions.  Next time!!!  

Isabella, Abigail & Sophia

SUCCESS!!!

Chloe & Isabella waiting for the next ride

Sophia & others (can't tell from picture now)

Me & Ab chillin after the water park fun

Bella, Sophia, Ab & Isabella

Ab, solo on the balloon ride

I felt bad that she was solo, but I just couldn't ride it
again.....the spinning and dip.....once was enough

Erin & Ab on little roller coaster (which she hates)

Isn't she cute!!!

Love the grounds at the park!