Happy Birthday Sis!

Today is my sister Amanda birthday!

I can't let this day go by without letting her know how amazing her little sis thinks she is. Growing up with her meant the world to me. There isn't much about my childhood that I remember without her in it. I wanted to be just like her and I still do. She is so incredibly talented. I don't think there is anything she can't do, or figure out how to do. She is an incredible dancer, singer, seamstris, cook, organizer(wish you lived closer so you could help me with this one),writer, artist, and contractor(yes, remodeled her own kitchen). She is such a loyal and caring friend and an amazing mother.
I hope you had a Great Bday!
I Love You!

My Blue Eyed Boy

Baking

I have recently found that I love to Bake. Chloe and I love doing it together. Her favorite thing to bake is chocolate chip cookies. She even notices when I get butter out to soften. She comes right to me asking what we are going to bake. We've done choc. chip cookies so many times together that she almost knows all the ingredients.
My mother in law used to own a bakery and is a fabulous cook. Almost all my baking recipes come from her. Her homemade rolls are one of my favorite things. So Chloe and I decided to make them for the first time and she loved it. She had her own pile of dough to do whatever she wanted with. They turned out pretty good and my floor was covered with flour. Chloe said her dough needed a lot of flour.

Lemonade Stand

Imagination

To many this may just be a laundry basket but to my five year old it is a boat. One that she can pull her brother around in all day. Complete with a seat belt and all(or a robe tie to the un-imaginative) They already have such a special bond. Chloe loves to hold him and play with him, and Steele lets out the most excited scream when she comes in the room.

Lake Tahoe

Every year since before I was born my family has spent at least a week in the summer in Lake Tahoe. Most of my cousins on my mom's side came too. We would have the best time. Crawdad fishing at the pier at night, Sand Harbor, Running through the woods, family hikes, sleeping in the attic of the Walton cabin, boat rides, Hawaiian haystack, the snack shack at the pool, soccer games, miny golf, and walks to 7-11 were all some of the many things I would look forward to each year. As an adult I still look so forward to this annual summer trip. It is an amazing, beautiful place which holds so many wonderful memories and traditions for me. I love spending time with all my brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and seeing many of our extended family also.

Last night as I laid down with Chloe, she kept asking how many days until we go to Grandpa's cabin in Lake Tahoe. She talked about all the things she loves about going. Cousins were definitely at the top of her list, along with many of the same things I would look forward to each year. I thought about how special these traditions are in our lives and our children's lives. I am so thankful for family, traditions, the memories made and new ones to make. It is so fun to see that my children like me are making them too.
We finally got her a calendar so she can see how many days until we go again. She already can't wait. And for my sweet Chloe only 130+ days to go:)

Bowling

I haven't bowled in years, and the other night we went with some friends for a birthday party and we had a blast! Chloe loved it and surprisingly so did Rhett and I. We are ready for our T-shirts. What should our team name be?

No Gutter Balls!
The kid lanes had rails so the ball wouldn't land in the gutter but it very slowly traveled down the lane. Eventually Chloe stop watching her ball altogether. Score isn't everything:)

Notice Steele's new Haircut.