Going Off The Deep End...

...Anna Kate that is! She has completed a month of swimming lessons and we couldn't be more pleased with the results! She's swimming like a little fish and even jumping off the diving board. She has come a long way in a short period of time. Yay!! Just wanted to post a few pics and video before I leave...for the BEACH! I can't wait! This time tomorrow, I will be soaking up some rays with my toes in white sand. Orange Beach...here we come!!

Anna Kate diving off the board and then swimming "freestyle". lol~!

This was NOT the plan!

I really didn't know what to entitle this post, but this one seemed the most accurate. The last few days have been very tiring and action-packed though not in the way that we had intended. Originally, we were supposed to be spending this weekend in Longview celebrating the arrival of our beautiful new niece, Abbott Clare. I can't even put into words how excited and anxious I was to meet her and how badly I wanted to be there to welcome her. Of course, sometimes things just don't work out the way we want them to. Thankfully, Abbott was born without incident on Thursday, July 23rd at 2:22pm. She is a healthy, happy miracle that has already blessed her parents and the rest of her family. That is the BEST news!!

Abbott Clare Koelling

9lbs 12ozs 21.5"

The very proud parents! Way to go guys!

My beautiful new niece!

As for everything else, well...it wasn't so great. I went to LR on Wed for an appt with an ENT. His diagnosis didn't come as a huge surprise, but his urgency did. He scheduled me for an outpatient sinus procedure to be done the very next day (Thursday). It became pretty evident at that moment that we wouldn't be making it to TX. I was bummed but still thought it might be possible to sneak in a quick trip on Sat if I felt up to it. Little did I know, I wouldn't be the issue. Suffice it to say, that Mason and Grace have been sick ever since my surgery. Grace has had it the worst. Her fever spiked several times to 105.5 and she was unable to keep any meds or liquids down. She was miserable and absolutely pitiful. Mason and Grace are still battling the virus but have (thankfully) made it over the worst of it. They are fever free and are gradually returning to a normal diet and routine.
It has definitely been a rough couple of days and I'm very glad to have it all behind us. I'm also amazed and really thankful that Anna Kate managed to stay healthy the entire time. I pray she and I will manage to evade this virus. It's a nasty one!
Thanks to all our friends and family for the prayers! Also, thanks to everyone who checked on me after my surgery. We are very blessed to have so many caring friends!
Also, please check out: http://emmyadam.blogspot.com/2009/07/our-first-day-home.html to read all about Abbott and see her pictures. I still plan on seeing the little peach just as soon as possible! Congrats to Em and Adam! Abbott is sooo gorgeous! We love you guys.

My sad Grace...this is how we spent Friday and Saturday

You can see how weak and miserable she was...poor baby!

Supper Club

We had our first "Supper Club" on Monday night! It is so funny to me b/c I've heard my parents generation talk about having supper clubs for years but never thought I'd be in one! lol! Someone suggested we start one after we had so much fun at a "thank you for helping us move party" that Ashley and Wes hosted. We all agreed that we would love to make it a weekly...or at least monthly event! This week, Robin and Jeff were our gracious hosts. It was the first time I had gotten to see their beautiful new home. It is absolutely gorgeous! I loved everything about it...they have done an amazing job. We had really good food and even better fellowship! I am so grateful to count these friends among my many blessings!

Finally...everyone is smiling, eyes open and in forcus! h/h

These 3 are hilarious!

Can you tell we were having fun?
Ashley B is the only one who succeeded in capturing the "Charlie's Angels" look!

Laney and Anna Kate were more than willing to pose for their own funny picture!

Wes, Ashley, Mason, Brad, Robin and Jeff
Stormy, Me and Ashley B
*Stormy's hubby, Tony, had to work late and missed getting in the pic. :(

Swimming Success!

I am thrilled to write this post! I'm so proud of Anna Kate! She is making incredible strides in the pool. She has been taking swimming lessons for two weeks and has gone from floaties and a life vest and refusing to put her face in the water...to the video I've posted below. Now, she is absolutely loving every minute of being in the pool! The videos below are of her swimming to Mason and then of her with her swimming instructor. :)

Puddleducks & Boom Boom Lights

Here are a few more pictures from this past weekend with Hudson and Melissa's family. I took these on Sat evening. The kids LOVED the time they got to spend in the pool. AK is taking swimming lessons this year and has been making progress, but Maxwell may have helped her even more than her instructor! He convinced her (w/ the help of Melissa) to go completely underwater so that she could wave to him. Ever since then, I'm thrilled to report that she's gone underwater on a daily basis!

The remaining pics are of the kiddos playing with sparklers. Anna Kate has always called fireworks, "boom boom lights". That has stuck and I anticipate that being what Grace calls them as well. :)

Maxwell and AK waving to each other under the water!

Olivia

Maxwell

Grace was happier to be on the side "observing"

Papoo launching Maxwell

Nana also gave AK lots of encouragement!
She was the only one that AK would jump to!

This is the first year she wasn't too scared to hold one!

Maxwell and Olivia with their sparklers

CH-E-E-SE!!

They're Here! They're Here!

The Pope crew from Georgia are in town for the 4th and Anna Kate could not be more excited! We've had a great few days with them. I'm so thankful that my girls have cousins so close to their age that they can grow up with. The bonds between them only get tighter as the years go by. We've enjoyed lots of swimming, really yummy meals and lots of Wii time! lol We've had a great visit but we've missed the White clan and Em and Adam. We know it won't be long til we're all together at the beach! Yeah!
Today was also my neice Abigail's first birthday. We were excited to get to be at her party. She's such a cutie pie!
We hope everyone had a happy and safe 4th of July! God has truly blessed our nation. :)

Flag cake the kids and I made

Olivia and Maxwell were really good helpers!

Little Miss 4th of July! :)

A very quick, sweet smile.

Grace really likes Olivia...you can tell she has experience being a big helper with babies!

The beautiful birthday girl, Abigail Grace

Mmm...yummy cake!

Swim time!
Grace loves her new float!

Anna Kate is getting better at it...

It's hard to catch all these little tadpoles in one frame!

Always the daddy's girl...