It Takes A Village: Part I

This past weekend was our family reunion and it was one of my favorites yet!  The girls were at the perfect age to have so much fun.  Here are the cuties as we arrived.  Amelia wanted to go to Target to, "Pick out matching, twirly dresses for the reunion."  And so, here we go...

 

We hadn't been there any time before she wanted to swim and her Daddy jumped at the chance to take her.  Ross was on call the whole weekend and drove down just for a few hours so that he wouldn't miss out on all the fun.

She did awesome in her brand new puddle jumper from Gammy and Gampy.  She could swim all over the whole pool without any help and even put her face in a tiny bit! Everyone needs to invest in one of these miracle swimmers.  It was such perfect weather, too. Bliss :)

Favorite Amelia Saying #1- "I just LOVE having fun in the sun. Mom, that rhymes you know."

Elise loved the water coming off the slide.  It was harder to convince her to stay in the pool because she really wanted to float around WITHOUT anyone holding on to her.  And, that definitely wasn't going to happen. :)

 

Then it was back to playing at the water table and dragging DD around in the lake.

 

 

I loved the laid back no texting, no list making, no planning mentality of these two days.  It was just a lot of playing and lounging and loving.  I was reading an article on being a Hands Free Parent and this weekend gave me a look at what that is like.  I know it isn't a reasonable goal for me to never have my phone in my hand, but I could definitely be texting less and listening to my girls more.  I could be checking Facebook less and be playing Break the Ice more.  Goals, goals.  Love this girl and the view behind us as we headed to dinner.

After the big group dinner (in which I took NO pictures of any other family at the FAMILY reunion because I was feeding the girls--but I promise, there were a lot of people there) Amelia got to take her first boat ride.  I asked if she was scared and she said, "I'm pumped." Jamie was so sweet to take her and even though I was a nervous wreck, she loved it to pieces.

 

We woke up (at the absolute crack of dawn because four babies three and under don't sleep in) and had donuts and cinnamon rolls while we watched the boats on the lake.  Liv is sitting at the picnic table alone here!  She is getting so big and was just a peach the whole time.

The girls played with a little rolly polly in their nightgowns.  Simplistic fun and squealy giggles.

Kaci and Steph are so gorgeous and so sweet and precious.  Kind of like me.... Anyway, Amelia was telling me that she thought Kaci talked funny.  She said, "I love the way she says my name all slow..Ammmeellyaa."  I laughed so hard.  Kaci has a southern belle drawl and Amelia wouldn't stop talking about it.

I'm going to stop for a minute and talk about how much help I had with my babies.  Water and cabins and driveways and boats and rocks and stairs can all make for a nervous mom.  Mom and Dad helped out so much with the girls doing everything and anything- especially since Ross wasn't around.  Meme and Pop and Jen took Elise on walks and to the playground if she got restless.  DD helped catch Amelia on the water slide so she wouldn't go under.  Steph read books to the girls in the "playroom" upstairs.  Shelb and Kaci helped Amelia and Elise walk around in the lake on the big rocks.  I'm not a superhero and I never want to portray myself as one on this blog.  It takes a village to raise these girls.  And, I am ever so thankful that I was born smack dab in the middle of a loving and generous village.

They may change their tune if I have another tribe member...

Part II to come.