When it's hot outside...

And, the AC is broken at daycare, what do you do?

You put the girlies (because there happened to only be two of them there today) in the sink and let them play!

Abigail...

The girls!

Hmm... what is she doing?!

Getting a drink, duh!

What a silly girl!

Happy Father's Day...

to an amazing father ~ we love you and miss you like crazy, Baby! Can't wait until you're home again, safe and in our arms!

(click to enlarge)

Julia's Wedding Weekend...

This weekend one of my very best friends got married. Let me start by saying she was such an amazingly beautiful bride!! She was also super relaxed and go with the flow! I could not have gotten through this weekend without the help of my mom!! Abigail was constantly on the go and mom chased after her and by the end of the night Friday, Abby didn't want me to hold her, she wanted "Grama".

Friday we met up for a bridesmaid's lunch and got mani/pedis afterwards. Later Friday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.  Abigail was Jul's flower girl and she did great Friday night, even though she didn't really walk down the aisle. She had a great attitude and a lot of fun at rehearsal dinner...

Saturday morning I met the girls at 10AM to get my hair done... while at the salon we heard that we were in a severe thunderstorm warning ~ storms with winds up to 80 miles/hr!! I am not lying, either. Julie stayed so calm. She just said "rain on your wedding day is good luck" and "if it does it now at least it'll all be over with before the ceremony starts at 5". What an awesome attitude, right?! Well, we went to Jimmy John's for lunch and while we were there we ended up taking refuge. I am not kidding ~ the storm was awful... high winds and buckets of rain! It started to let up so we all made a b-line for our cars, with umbrellas of course.

After we arrived to the Bridal Suite at the Marriott the rain quit and you could see the sun peaking from the clouds to the west... it was going to be an amazing day! Here are a few pictures from the day... Abigail didn't want to have her picture taken with me, but I forced her! :)

Our beautiful dresses... they're all different

Sariah, Lacey and I in the limo on our way to the ceremony/pictures!

Abigail running away from me...

Smelling my pretty flowers

Forcing her to take a picture with me!

Abigial had a wonderful performance during the ceremony!! She walked 1/2 way down the aisle, stopped to chat with some people, then continued down. Once she got to the front, she paused gave a great big smile, then turned around and ran back down! It was adorable, and really it turned out good that she went back down. She was able to eat ice (her favorite thing) and play in the shade with my mom.

Abigail, Ashley, Rachel, Julia, Sariah and Lacey

(I tried cropping this picture, but for some reason can't upload the cropped one)

The beautiful bride!!

We had an amazing time ~ Congratulations Julie and Cam!!

Our little Gymnist!

This Thursday Abigail started gymnastics! I (of course) forgot my camera in her other diaper bag, but she did great! Her favorite things were the balance beam and the tunnel. The first time across the balance beam ~ which was about 3 feet off the ground ~ we had to put one foot in front of the other and show her how to do it, but the second time, she figured it out on her own. Of course, I had to hold her hands (she wouldn't let the instructor help her, mom had to), but she did it!

I'm sure you're thinking "Okay, Ashley, whatever, you're her mom, of course you think she did great". BUT let me tell you about the conversation I had with her instructor (coach?):

Instructor: Does she have older siblings at home?
Me: No. (Thinking, do I look that old?!)
Instructor: Well, she's catching on really fast, I'm impressed
Me: (thinking) YEA Abigail!!

Here are some pictures from tonight, she's practicing in her room before bed (note her adorable night gown from Gymboree ~ I love it!)

Nose to your toes

Touch your toes!

In her pretty nightgown

Okay, now a random picture from the week (mostly because I really like the dress!):

Abigail in her "handkerchief" dress with my phone

I hope you're having a great weekend!!

This summer...

Because Abigail and I have 1000 things to do this summer, I decided to make a list of the fun things that I really hope to do, and here it is:

*Make weekly (or at least bi-monthly!) trips to the pool! (We got our pool passes last week, so Splash Cove: Here We Come!)
*Go to the zoo, at least once
*Attend Abigail's first Royals game (Memorial Day) ~ check!
*Read "Heart of the Matter", "Plan B" and "Journey Towards Justice"
*Get my landscaping under control
*Finish the dress I'm making myself
*Make Abigail at least one thing a month ~ dress/shirt/skirt whatever
*Make a dress for our friend, Mark's benefit golf tournament, details at http://www.teamcameron.org/
*Run my first 5K (planned for June 12) and maybe another...
*Welcome my husband home!!

Our Memorial Day...

Our weekend was spent with friends and family...

I attended the wedding of a friend from high school on Saturday night (my mom and grandma came down and babysat Abigail ~ yea!). A lot of friends were in town for the wedding and we had a fantastic time.

Jenilee ~ Ashley ~ Jennifer

Sunday was spent napping, planting flowers, and re-cooperating from all of the dancing (my knees still hurt! a sign I'm getting old, I think).

 (click to enlarge)

I re-potted my hibiscus tree and planted all of my tippy-pots as well as the calla lilly ~ many more left to do!

Monday Abigail and I celebrated Memorial Day by Skyping with Jordan and attending Abby's first Royals game! We had a lot of fun, and Abby made it to the 7th Inning! I was very proud of her!

Clapping ~ Go Royals!
she loved clapping

Checking on the "babie!" behind us

a very tiny baby

Mommy (what she started calling me this weekend) and Abigail