Here we are!

In case anyone was worried, we are still here!  We didn't get washed away at the Jersey Shore...in fact we haven't even been there yet!  July has flown by.  It is August which means it is wedding month for Doug and MB...I am SO excited.  A little stressed about Arden and what mood she will be in that day.  Will she be a sweet flower girl that smiles and makes it down the aisle?  Or is she going to be sassy and not want to mind?  We shall see!  Either way, it isn't about her and Doug and MB will be so pretty that day (well, Doug will be handsome!).  I will definitely have a wedding post and let you know about Arden and her performance.

Speaking of Arden, she is doing great but has definitely come into her own with her personality!  She is definitely opinionated (can't imagine why she is like that, have you met us?!), sassy and loves to say NO but I think it is a combination of things:  1.  She can't really communicate too well yet so that really causes her problems 2. she is tired!  Definitely the evenings after school are the most trying.  The positive side of that is that she loves school and plays hard and has the scrapes and bruises to show it. 3. She is a toddler!  So really she is just doing what she is supposed to do.  On her good days she is as good as gold and is as sweet as she can be.  She gets more cuddly and laughs more.  Her other days just tend to be fussy days that end up with a little bit of an earlier bed time or an extra nap.  Either way she is my BFF.  I love her so much it hurts.  Since being here I have really realized how much strength she gives me.  If I am homesick I can't have pity parties because she is making me laugh or dragging me to the pantry to pick out a snack.  I am so thankful for her.  Truly blessed.

July has been our first month that we feel like we can relax on the weekends and not really run a ton of errands to get things for the house or unpack another box...you know all of those things that end up being weekend projects.  We bought Arden a blow up pool for the backyard (our backyard is fabulous if I do say so myself) and lounge chairs for us so we sit outside most Saturdays while she plays in the pool and we "lounge."  Here is our month in pictures...

{A pic before church...with her muffins in my face!}

{Kevin didn't get the muffins in his face}

{This look says I am cute and I know it!}

{A sweeter smile}

{So cute!}

{Kevin's parents came to visit in mid-July, it was so hot so we went to a Children's Museum.  Not really what Kevin and I had in mind for a Children's Museum, a little outdated, but Arden loved it!}

{Of course she really wanted to play with the computer at the museum...go figure she would play with something there that she has at home!}

{Driving the ambulance}

{Catching a fish with Dad}

{Back in the ambulance pushing buttons - she loves to push buttons, literally and figuratively ;)}

{Laying on the ambulance "gurney"...this grossed me out}

{This was Kevin and I's favorite area - a live TV news desk!  Arden didn't appreciate it, there weren't any buttons to push or toys that made noise}

{Playing the drum in the teepee}

{Drawing pictures in the Caveman cave}

{Cooking in the kitchen...the oven mitts were her favorite!  She sort of looks like she has lobster claws!}

{She liked the cash register...}

{...especially when she found the money!}

{By FAR her favorite exhibit - the life size Light Bright.  We could not get her to leave it!  We would take her somewhere else and she would run back to this!}

{Was so happy to find this step stool - it only made her hang around longer!}

{I'm definitely getting her a light bright for her birthday or Christmas...shhh, don't tell her ;)}

{Love this smile!}

{First train ride to NYC!  Some of our favorite people, the Roarks, were in NYC for 4th of July weekend so we went to see them!  So fun hanging out with everyone!}

{First NYC taxi ride}

{At a yummy Mexican restaurant before we headed to Central Park Zoo}

{Arden's new BFF and big sis Olivia.  They were fast friends that day.  Olivia was a HUGE help that day.  Thanks Loddy!}

{How cute is this?  All three of them watching the sea lions and Arden is hanging on every word Olivia says.}

{Aunt Denise helping her out}

{Ginormous polar bear!  He swam laps all day}

{Such a cute trio! }

{Arden was so funny about things swimming close to the glass but this buoy didn't bother her all!}

{Polar bear doing the back stroke.  He was truly ginormous!}

{I think Arden was passed out in the stroller by this time but Ryan and Olivia made cute rabbits!}

{First pool day}

{This day she loved the camera and learned 1, 2, 3 cheese!}

{She LOVES her sunglasses!}

{Not sure what to think of the pool just yet}

{Here she is in ALL her glory!}

And that is that folks :).  Hope everyone is doing well, having a great summer and staying cool.

Hugs!
Hillary

Oh, The Places You'll Go...

One major perk of moving to New Jersey was the idea that we would get to travel to so many different places that might not be a vacation option otherwise and, so far, we have taken advantage!  May and June have been busy months, full of travel and fun trips.  I can't wait to see where the rest of summer takes us :).

Memorial Day...

We took a trip to Providence to see our great friends David and Cristin.  They have lived there for 4 years and this was our first visit (so sorry!) but definitely made the most of our time there.  We went to Providence, Boston and Newport.  It was such a great trip (minus Arden's biggest fit EVER), we can't wait to go back!

{Boston, Mass}

{David, Cristin, Kevin and I - sorry Arden you got cut out - at Firewater}

{"Firewater" - during the summer Providence lights the river with fire and the whole town goes down and listens to music and watches the lighting of the fires.  It was really pretty and a really neat town tradition.}

{These tiles were painted by children after 9/11.  They each show what the children thought/felt after the terror attacks - all of the tiles were so sweet and creative.}

{David, Arden and Kevin at The Black Pearl in Newport, RI}

{Arden cheering for the boats as they left the docks in Newport}

{Newport R.I. - I could sit and enjoy this view ALL.DAY.EVERY.DAY}

{Once we were back from Rhode Island we went to Kevin's co-workers house for a Memorial Day cookout}

{Arden LOVED sitting on the rafts but would not look at the camera!}

Texarkana...
Doug and MB had an Engagement Party in Texarkana so we made the trip down to help celebrate.  It was our first time home and I was definitely so happy to be there.  Arden got good, quality time with both sets of grandparents and great-grandparents!

{Arden found a project!  She carefully tore up pieces of foam popcorn and placed them in the bag.  Nan was patient and held the bag for her and if Nan didn't hold it just the right way Arden let her know!}

{So proud of herself!}

{Pre-party group pic :)!}

{Isn't this the prettiest food table you have ever seen?  It was beautiful!}

{The Bride & Groom}

New York City...

Arden spent some extra time in Arkansas so while she was out-of-town Kevin and I took advantage of the kid-free weekend and went to New York!  We of course didn't get any pictures together but we did get some shots of the city...

Washington D.C...

Yes, there is more to tell!  We spent this past weekend in Washington D.C.!  For Kevin's birthday last year I gave him tickets to the US Open at Congressional Country Club so we went to D.C. for a few days to sight see and go to the tournament.  Thursday we ALL (even Arden) went to the tournament.  We really weren't sure how Arden would handle the day but she was amazing.  She lasted at the course all day!  Friday Mom, Arden and I shopped around Georgetown while Kevin and Dad went to the tournament for a second day.  Saturday we drove through D.C. (since we were staying in Arlington and the tournament was in Maryland we didn't see D.C. much) to see a few of the sights.  D.C. is an amazing place, I know we will go back and spend more time there.  We couldn't take any pictures at the tournament so I don't have anything to show for that but have these D.C. pics...

{Car ride home :)}

Whew, even this post makes me tired as I look back on everything we have gotten to do!  But of course I would do it all over again.  It has been a great few weeks and I am looking forward to the 4th of July, we  have friends coming to visit and we are going back to NYC!

I want to thank everyone who told me they are keeping up with the blog.  I really appreciate everyone who reads this and keeps up with us all the way up here in NJ, it means a lot to us!

Hugs,
Hillary