Aunts, Uncles and Cousins

In the past two weeks all three of my sisters and their families have come to visit.  Yes, I loved it!  The Padgett's were first and stayed a couple nights.  We had fun swimming everyday, playing games and going to the Infantry Museum.

 They all dressed up as solders in the museum.  They were all so cute.

Someone's missing!  Keaton didn't dress us because he was with Glen.  He was attached to Glen the whole time they were here.  It was really sweet.

 Chapman's uniform fit him perfectly!

 My little cutie!

 The Staples stopped by on their way to John's aunt's in Alabama.  They only stayed one night but it was so good to see them.  All three girls were sad they couldn't stay longer.

 Just this week the Olsen's were driving through and were able to make an overnight stop too.  They came in after Eloise was in bed so she was very surprised when she heard a baby crying in her room.  She didn't hesitate to jump in the bed with Gary and Davis.  

She gushed over Davis but would not let him hold her favorite baby doll.  She did let him play with the purple baby.  She's slowly getting this sharing thing.

Davis pulled Woo down when she was giving him a hug!

 They were so cute in the car cart in the grocery store.   It was crazy how excited Eloise got when she saw it.  She couldn't wait to get in it!

 

 Eloise, Aunt Minnie and Minnie's phone of course.  Little thief!

Davis was probably wondering who this crazy lady is loving on him.   I love that sweet boy!

Giving Davis "sugars".

We don't get to see family near enough it seems.  I'm so glad they all were able to stop by, even just for a night.

4th of July

We celebrated the 4th at Grandma Jackson's.  The Hill's came up from Orlando, the Brock's from Tallahassee and Meghan and her girls came by too.  It's so nice to be close enough to drive down for the day and see everyone.  It was hot but we had mist fan on us and lots of cold lemon aid too keep us cool. 

Eloise had fun with her cousins.  She and Sarah colored together.

 

 (Eloise was telling Ava all about her drawing.)

She and Ethan played football, kinda.  Ethan was very sweet and patient with her.  The ball never quite made it back to him when she tried to throw it.

 Ava used a stick to scratch the dog's belly.  Eloise was very amused by it. 

 There was a calf a mother abandoned that mom and Hazel were taking care of in a pin all his own.  The kids loved looking at it from the outside.

They were all very timid once we went inside the pin.

I had to force Eloise to pet it. 

Because we weren't going to be there at night Emily and Glen shot off fireworks after lunch.  (Eloise dumped a full glass of lemon aid on herself so she had a wardrobe change.)  Everyone sat on the porch to watch them.

 Eloise didn't hid her face this time - she clapped and danced around the whole time.

 

 On our way home we stopped and got a little treat. 

We finished off our day with a trip to the pool and watching movies.

An early Independence Day celebration

Fort Benning had an Independence Day celebration this past Saturday.  We decided to brave the heat and celebrate too.  They had jumping houses, splash pools and just about every fair type food you could think of.  There were so many kids in the jump houses we didn't risk Eloise being trampled.  She was just as happy hang out with us.  She thought it was fun to run around all the groups around us too.  Not so much fun for Mom and Dad chasing after her.  There were so many people there!

 We mainly went to see the fire works so we got there around 7pm.  The fireworks didn't start till 10pm!  We had lots of time on our hands.  They had a live band playing so we enjoyed listening to them.

 Eloise kept busy sipping on juice,

 

 laying half on, half off the blanket,

 

trying to blowing bubbles,

 drinking Mom's water,

 munching on shaved ice, 

 and eating doritos.

 It was so HOT!  According to my phone it was 100 degrees at 8pm.  Woo's hair was soaked and her cheeks flushed.  She still had fun dancing to the music on her Dad's shoulders.

Last year we watched fireworks in Baltimore, they were so very sad.  Fort Beinning's were great!  They lasted about 20 minutes or so.  The MCoE Band played songs as the fireworks were being shot.  It was really nice.

 

 Eloise's reaction to the fireworks was kinda funny.  Poor thing is not the bravest girl but then again she was very tired.  Here's the progression she made during the fireworks.

 

 

Happy Independence Day!!

 

Father's Day/Glen's Birthday

Either it's poor Glen or lucky Glen.  His birthday is right there with Father's Day.  Last year Father's Day was on his Birthday.  This year his birthday was two days later. 

On Father's Day we gave him his present - The Pinkerton Diaries.   He had wanted it for a while.  I was really excited we got it for him.  Eloise seemed to know it was a special day for Daddy because she was extra sweet to him.  They had a little cuddle time and she was so very excited to give him his present.  

To separate the days we decided to have birthday cake on his birthday (even though he had to work).  Glen requested a coconut cake.  I'm not very adventurous in the kitchen but I did my best.  I made a four layer white cake and mixed coconut in the batter then covered the iced cake in coconut as well.  It turned out pretty good if I do say so myself.  

Eloise got to stay up a bit past her bed time so she could help Daddy blow out his candles.  It started out nice...

 then it all went up in flames!

When I put the candles on the cake I thought maybe I put the candles too close to the banner.  I was right.  It caught fire as Glen went to blow the candles out.  To add to the chaos the candles I got turned out to be trick candles.  It was crazy!  Glen was trying his hardest to blow out the fire, Eloise was having a mini panic attack and with every blow coconut went flying off the cake.  Thankfully we got the fire out before anything but the banner and a bit of the icing were burned.  Memories!

My parents used Glen's birthday as an excuse to come visit.  It was a quick trip but we were so happy to see them!  Eloise was so happy to see Pepa and Mema.  She wouldn't leave Dad alone.  It was so sweet.  She would cuddle up next to him and he would pat her leg and put his hand next to her on the couch.  That wasn't good enough for her she pulled his had back on her lap.  I love seeing her with her grandparents!

(I know this picture is blurry but you can see how happy they both are to be together.)

It was nice for Glen and I to have time to celebrate his birthday - just the two of us.  It was a fun and a bit crazy birthday/Father's Day  week for us.  We sure love Glen and were so happy to celebrate him!