Good Friends

We got to visit with the Hilleary's in Mobile, AL. We had a wonderful time! (Who wouldn't with such sweet people) Shay and Rachel were great friends shortly after building with Legos together. They were so fun to watch.

Playing in the kitchen

Looking innocent...mostly.

Beautiful weather on the Gulf

Dinner at Ed's

Seamus, Brendan, Malia and Michelle
One amazing family

More giggling together.

In the hotel at 4:30am and ready to fly.

Flight with Daddy

We spent the day with Daddy at work. Here are John and the girls on a flight to Mobile, AL.

Fire it up!

On and Ready.

Genevieve takes care of last minute paperwork.

Rachel calls for permission to push back.

Studying the approach plates for landing.

Genevieve's turn.

Mmmm. Always time for a little cuddle with Captain Daddy.

We made it!

De-planing in Mobile.

Pirple Girls

Gyamma, Rachel and Genevieve enjoying purple together

Back Yard

Active Little People

Here they are, playing together. I love it when this happens! This tunnel inspires all kinds of squealing and laughter.

Dresses from Titi Joanne

Rachel still fits in the dress she wore for her first Birthday. She still loves it. Here she is with a rabbit that her cousin Emily gave her. This is Rachel's first toy to receive a name: Akum. Her favorite baby, referred to as "Pink Baby" may also have a name: Rusty. She always remembers to call her rabbit Akum, but Rusty is interchangeable with Pink Baby, the baby that closes her eyes, or the baby not travel baby.

Genevieve does not like hats on her head. She is examining this one rather seriously. I think she chewed on and then dropped it after this picture was taken.

Fourth of July 2009

Celebrating our Nations independence:
This year on July 4th, I told Rachel that when it was dark outside we would hear and see fireworks. She waited all evening, frequently checking outside to see if it was dark yet. I put Genevieve to bed and we waited for dark to fall. As it began to get darker in the house, I turned on lights. Rachel followed me around turning off the lights, fearful that it would never get dark if I continued turning on lights. Finally, it was dark outside. I thought having the lights off would be fine so we could see the fireworks from inside. (There were 4 fireworks displays all around the house. Our neighbors turn the neighborhood into what sounds like an artillery testing site for 5 days, surrounding the 4th. hooray for the legal sale of fireworks (the really big and loud ones) in SC.)
Alas, it was too dark. Rachel went around to the same lights she had turned off 15 minutes earlier and turned them all on. We went outside to sit in the front yard and watch the show. She was so excited all day for the fireworks. When the first large rocket was launched, she buried her head in my neck and requested that I turn the fireworks off. We went inside and heard the fireworks from a safe distance. Watching from the window was just fine.

Here are the girls before it got dark outside; before the fireworks were turned on.