Happy Birthday Aunt Kathie

We only wish we got to see your sunny smiling face more often! We hope you have a wonderful day! We love you!

Just a Spoonful of Sugar

We've been watching a lot of Mary Poppins lately. Carter loves it and I love the fact that there is not a thing wrong with it! It got me thinking about how everytime Nate is gone I feel like I'm swallowing a great big spoonful of really bad medicine. But, being able to come to Texas and see my family and friends has been just a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down (I know I'm cheesy)! It's so fun getting to hang out and watch Carter get to know her grandparents! She and Roxi are definitely each others biggest fans. They've enjoyed lot's of fun little activities. Most of them revolve around cooking which my mom is great at! Here they are doing a little pea-shelling:

They've also enjoyed a little sugar of their own (sugar cookies to be exact). Carter loves to help with the mixing and enjoy's an occasional taste or two:

I've been enjoying running but I haven't lost a pound due to the fat that I ate about a dozen of these by myself!

It's taken a little time but Carter has definitely become buddies with Pops. We got really tickled because initially she would act like she wanted nothing to do with him...until he was busy doing something (like reading a book for example) then she wouldn't leave him alone! He would feign being annoyed, but I know he was loving it! Carter was being as pesky as a fly...

But, her persistance paid off and she won him over!

The other great thing about Carter is she can get my dad to do things no one else could, like wear a chik-fil-a cow hat in public!

Of course there are two other new friends in Carter's life I just can't forget! She LOVES playing with Mitzi and Abby. They had a rocky start but are all good friends now! She can often be found running around the backyard enjoying the dogs. She loves feeding them there food (kibble by kibble). We have also gotten a good laugh at her imitation of Mitzi. Mitzi has this "dog grin" that really looks like she is smiling! Here is Carter with Mitzi doing her best imitation:

Carter and Abby:

And when all else fails Carter still has her loyal friends to play with while we're here in TX! She enjoys putting "Lambie" and baby to bed. She'll sing them a really sweet rendition of "You are my Sunshine" as they drift off to sleep:

Last but not least I caught her the other day having the most adorable conversation with her daddy on my cell phone (it was pretend) but, CUTE none the less! Just thought I would share it as well:

And, this is more than a little random...but, Carter just got these new kicks which I think are just the cutest things I've ever seen! They really do make her faster. She can outrun me, we had a race the other day-she's breaking baby world records left and right!And, while we're on the topic of being random here is something that I just had to send to Nate (I feel like I should give a little "tacky disclaimer" for anyone whose easily offended)! I just loved this card:

Dunnam Family Photos

I had so much fun this week doing a photo shoot with the Dunnam Family! They are the cutest little family and we had a great time taking some pictures in downtown Abilene. Here's a little slideshow with some of my favorites from the day (it plays to music so you may want to pause what is playing at the bottom first!) Enjoy!

Thanks to the Dunnam's for making things so fun. I had a great time with you!

Wuv...Twue Wuv

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!To my should-have-been a model sister and her cutie pie husband!They were married one year ago today in a B-E-A-UTIFUL Austin wedding ceremony! Our family is a happier little place with John in it. You both add just a little more sunshine to the world, I'm so glad you are in mine. I love you!

Happy Birthday America

We had a wonderful little West Texas Fourth of July here in Abilene. It was very "small town" (although Abilene is MUCH bigger than our little small town)! We kicked the day off by watching a neighborhood parade. It had basically fizzled out by the time we caught the end of it, but we enjoyed it, and snapping about a hundred photos of Carter, just the same! Later that afternoon we headed out to eat some BBQ (and I mean REAL BBQ, not the fake stuff)! We then grabbed some ice cream and went in search of the perfect firework viewing spot. My dad had a little something up his sleeve and surprised us by unlocking the local stadium just for us. Carter had the run of the football field while we waited for the show to start. It was the perfect way to wish America a very happy birthday:

Here she is hanging out with Roxi and Pops before the show:
She also snagged this really cool picture of my dad (can we say future photographer?)! We had a really amazing view of the fireworks...they were centered over the visitors stands and it was just a little bit' like being in a movie! Carter had fun roaming from lap to lap, here she is enjoying the show with Pops:

We had a great day. I thought about Nate a lot. How much I admire that he has chosen to take such an interest and make such an investment in this place that we all call home. I think about it more when he is gone. How people are free to do whatever there little heart desires because of the freedom that is afforded to us by all of those who choose to protect America. It's a catch 22, those who serve are doing exactly what their little heart desires as well. Which I guess is what makes the whole thing so special. I know I didn't do anything to deserve being born an American, I'm so glad God blessed me with such a great life. Happy Birthday America.

Sunny Day's Chasing those Clouds Away

Carter and I are officially pool rats! We've spent our sunny days this past week hanging out poolside and we are loving it! It's taken me back to when I was little and we would spend our summer's at the Country Club. That doesn't mean we were rollin' in the dough. Most of our friends had their parent's charge numbers memorized and frequented the snack bar. We lived off our own special recipe of "free" lemonade (made by squeezing a few lemons and adding a packet of equal to a free glass of water)! These day's I'm more into iced tea (which just happens to be free too) and I've had enough this week that I'm floating! Carter is at the perfect age for the baby pool. She doesn't need me to have a hand on her at all times and we can enjoy just hanging out together. Of course before you head to the pool you need to make sure your toes are looking good. We enjoyed spending an afternoon with my mom getting pedicures. Carter did great and patiently sat in my lap and watched me get my toes done: After waiting, and waiting it was FINALLY time for Carter to get her nails done too!We're done...all painted and ready to go!Time to hit the pool:
Here's Carter taking a little goldfish break: A little sunbathing beauty:
We just love the pool...and each other!And I know I'm her mom and all...but, is she just too darn cute or what?!!! I wish someone would wrap me up in a nice warm towel and hold me...
AAHHH...summer in Texas! I know some will disagree, but it just doesn't get any better than this!

That's My Baby!

Carter and I had a fun surprise Monday! The package Nate had sent us last week arrived earlier than expected and sent us both into a fit of giddiness! Her over some candy and bracelets, and me over a disposable camera. Nate had a the fun idea of using a disposable to take pictures and then sending it to us to have developed. It made for a fun outing and gave us something to anticipate as we waited to pick them up! It is always so good to get to "see" someone in their element when you are half a world away! I know none of you are missing his mug as much as me, but I thought I would share with you just the same.

Here he is hanging out with his plane:

Before... And after...a long day's work!
Poolside! A popular place in 110 degree plus heat!

Checking out some authentic Persian Rugs...pricey!
Hanging out outside his hotel:

I give Nate an A+! He's amazingly thoughtful and devoted and I couldn't love him more! We sent him a package of our own this week. Included was this photo of me with Carter, I think her face says it all!

...As do her words. She was "sleeping" with a photo of her daddy last night and after I left her room I could hear her talking to it. She was tearfully saying, "Daddy, I just miss you so much!" Over and over...enough to break the hardest of hearts for sure! That photo is getting plenty of hugs and kisses from her too! No one ever promised this would be easy...
WE LOVE YOU NATE!