Cows. Cousins. And CHEESE!

Our beach family has recovered nicely from our week in the sun...and it's back to life as usual!

Brooke has enjoyed a few very special days recently...take a peek!

Brooke and I spent Sunday morning with our church family!
After a wonderful service (spent in the nursery!), Brooke and I joined the congregation in the church pavillion for the Sunday School picnic!

I have memories of this picnic taking place at Hartman Center, where the kids had egg races, went swimming, and pushed a monsterous beach ball around the fields! My church family is so important to me, and never smile bigger than when I see them loving Brooke! So many of these people have loved me and helped raise me in my faith, and I want Brooke to feel that same love as she grows!

We spent lots of time swinging with Nana, which has prompted us to re-hang that pink Fisher Price swing from last summer!

We especially loved these 'horses!' Even though her feet don't touch the pegs, Brooke bounced back and forth like a pro!

This picture cracks me right up! All 4 of these young adults were 6th graders of mine! I'm old.

The youth group used the Sunday School Picnic as the culmination to their "Kiss a Cow" fundraiser!

And this lucky gentleman in blue got to pucker up to ol' Bessy, here!

My Dad definitely loaded Ben's jar with an extra $20 before the contest was over...sucker!

Brooke LOVES cows from a distance, and she eventually warmed up to this one, too! She touched it and made lots of 'moo' sounds for it!


And today...
Dee Dee and Anna came for a picnic playdate!


This was the first playdate with Anna that Stacie and I could really start to see the difference in our girls - Anna just turned 1 and Brooke is almost 2.

The girls played pretty well together, although we're starting to see a little yuckiness in Brooke. She's not always happy about sharing toys and always seems to want whatever Anna has, but...we're working on it. Luckily, Anna is very patient with Brooke...

No attitude in this girl. None. Whatsoever.

World Champion Bubble Blower!

Much focus and concentration...

The "CHEESE" portion of this post?

Tomorrow, Nana will be traveling with me and Brooke to have her 2 year pictures taken...please pray that it goes well and Brooke actually smiles! We've been practicing saying "CHEESE" and smiling when people want to take her picture...here goes nothin'!