Our Memorial Day

We left Pembroke, NC Monday morning and headed for the beach.  We just couldn't resist since it was only an hour away.  It was a last minute decision and one I am so glad we made.

Annley, being the cautious little person she is took a while to go very far into the water.

Parker, being the spontaneous and adventurous little guy he is, ran straight into the water. The bigger the waves the better.

They both LOVED it! So did I.  It was such a fun day. We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was sunny and breezy but not hot and the water was just right.

I think I'll try to take them to the beach one or two more times this summer.

A Day Early

Sunday, we had a big family cookout. We celebrated Memorial Day a day early since so many family members had to leave early to go home.

It was one of the most relaxing trips to Pembroke I've had in awhile.

Annley had tons of cousins to play with. She loved every minute it of it and cried when it was time to go.
She even tried teaching her cousins "I Am a Child of God" and "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree".

Parker was a pretty good sport and wander around making friends and laughing at people.

After we ate my cousins set up the picthing machine in the batting cages and everyone took turns batting.  I decided not to get in the cage at 6 months pregnant regardless of how much I wanted to.
Most of the familly ended up outside in the 90 degree heat to watch and just visit with one another.

Great Grandma's 90th Birthday

The month of May has been unbelievably busy for the kids and I.  The average time spent between one trip to the next has been about three days. Needless to say the kids and I are exhausted and would really like some time off before we hit the road again.  We have one more trip this week and then we have almost 3 weeks before we're on the road again.

This Last weekend we were in Pembroke, NC for my Great Grandma's 90th birthday. It was a huge event and family flew or drove in from all over the country.

I can't remember the last time I saw so many family members at one event. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any pictures because my kids were both clingy and wound up the entire party.  Oh and Parker managed to bust his bottom lip wide open on the asphalt during my Grandma's speech honoring my Great Grandma.

To be 90 years old Myrtle, my grandma, gets around very well. 

We went to visit her at her house the day we left town.  Annley,pretty much cried the whole time because she just wanted to go to the beach or play with her cousins.  Parker, was all over the place investigating.  This picture was the only one we could get with both kids and my Great Grandma.

Caleb and Julia's Wedding

Last weekend my brother, Caleb and his now wife, Julia, were married.

It was the longest week of Annley and Parker's lives. We flew into Phoenix on Tuesday. Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning were spent driving to Salt Lake with my grandparents. Friday was the wedding day. We were going non-stop from 5:30am-10:30pm. Annley and Parker both crashed for about an hour during lunch.

                                    

 Annley and Parker had more fun at the reception dancing the night away with people they barely knew.

We were fortunate enough to get to spend and hour with Tyler's grandparents. Unfortunately, my camera was in somebody else's purse. I was so disappointed I didn't get pictures of the kids with their great-grandparents. The kids loved getting to play with them.

                               
                                                               Leaving the Utah.



We had a great time and were so lucky to be able to make it out there for Caleb's wedding.  It was well worth the all the traveling.

Bubble Gum Pink

This morning Annley found my very brightest hot pink nail polish which is reserved for the summer months.
"Ohh, Mommy! This is pretty can I wear it on my toes."
"Um, no.  That color is way too bright for little girls to wear."
"It's not too bright.  It's just way cool. Will you paint my toes after I eat my lunch?"
"No."
"My toes just need to be painted."
"That's fine. We'll paint them little girl pink after you eat your lunch. The End."

Little Feet Making Big Strides

 

I love watching my kids learn and grow but sometimes there are things they learn and milestones they hit that make me stop and think, "Man I wish they would stay little."

This week Annley has decided she wants to do everything by herself. Mostly they are the things I've been hoping and encouraging her to do like; dressing herself, taking herself to the bathroom, putting on her shoes, getting in and out of strollers etc.

Yesterday and today she has wanted help with none of those things and while I'm proud of her and excited I'm also a little sad that she is growing up.

Annley is my cautious child. She is 3 and only has only recently been willing to jump off anything to someone else. This week she jumped from one track mat to another which were both just below my waist.
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She is also learning to write. I really ought to give her more credit than I have. She can write more letters than I knew she could. Today she wrote the words Annley and house. I told her how to spell them and she wrote them. I was so proud of her and she was so excited to have written on her own. She can't wait to mail them to her daddy.

Parker is also becoming more independent in his own way and more curious though I wouldn't have thought it possible. He's decided after his nap he prefers to play alone. This is strange to me since Annley has only recently started playing alone and even then she wants you in line of sight.

Parker is a junk food junkie and can sniff out chocolate, peanut butter and crackers regardless of where they are hidden. Just this afternoon I noticed an odd silence in the house so I went to look for him. I found him sitting in the floor with a half empty bag of Reese's Pieces Easter candy.

He has learned how to not only lift the toilet lid to play in the water but he can also flush the toilet. We now keep the bathroom door closed. He likes investigating places that should be left to fairies, gnomes and other small mythical creatures.

Lately his favorite thing in the world is to irritate Annley. He loves the reaction my little Prima Donna gives him every time he comes at her.

Easter 2011

Happy Easter from the Kneisly's!!!

Ready, set, go!

I honestly have no idea what they are looking at.