Extreme Makeover: Backyard Edition

This is loooong overdue, but back in May we made the decision to fill-in our inground, backyard pool. A decision that we, surprisingly, have not regretted one bit. Especially with how ACTIVE our no-fear toddler has turned out to be.

So here is the "Start-to-(nearly)-Finish"...the hundreds of pieces of sod have finally all grown together, so all we need now is one awesome swing set in place of where the pool used to be! And we gotta get that in the ground before the beautiful Fall weather arrives! And, might I say, that we could have never done this without the help of our family and neighbors - love you all!!!

Some people may think we are crazy...but a high-maintenance pool has taught us that the old saying really IS true: "the only people sad to see a pool go, are the pool owners friends."

Besides, the lake is way more fun anyway...

Climbing

That's right...we have a climber on our hands. Nothing is off limits...if she can hike her knee up over something, then it is hers to climb on. Just like her daddy, judging from the stories I have heard about Philip when he was younger. All of this is making for two very paranoid parents, and two bruised & scratched up little toddler legs!

Life has gotten very interesting lately! Never a dull moment with this lil' one...

16 Months at Mid-Summer!

Wow! So much to post...so many photos! Needless to say, June and the beginning of July have turned out to be much busier than we anticipated! Between work and activity-filled weekends surrounding Father's Day, the Atlanta visit from Kinsley's cousins, and July Fourth up at the lake, we have been busy, busy, busy! And all of it can be best-captured in photos, of course. Although trying to capture the attention of my little 16-mo-old moving target is extremely challenging these days...you'll see that in the pictures below.

And after a rocky start to July - (just after the July 4th weekend, Kins came down with a high fever that lasted for days, and turned out to be Roseola...the ped said it's a very common virus that occurs in most children b/w 6 mo. and 3 yrs, and that - like Chicken Pox in our days - once you have it, you can't get it again...well, at least we crossed that one off the list). So anyway, we are now moving right along into July...or as I like to call it, Kinsley's "Full Social Calendar" month...we have started our weekly swim lessons and music classes...both going well so far! And I have to give a shout-out to Philip...on two separate occasions, he has been the only dad in attendance at both of these sessions...he loves being a part of these things with his girl...I love that.

Some other 16 month milestones to capture...Kinsley is definitely forming more words now, and is cutting about 6-7 teeth all at once right now, including her molars...poor baby. She is also getting very opinionated about what she wants and does not want to do...oh boy.

So, onto the photo recap of this past month! So...many...photos...

********

~ Father's Day Cont'd. ~

********

~Kinsley's Cousin's Visit and Kelly's First Shower~

********

~ Stanford Family "Kids" Lake-Day-Get-Away ~

*******

~ Kinsley on July Fourth ~

********

~ Having fun at the Waterpark at Lake Lanier Islands ~

********

~ Any Given Summer Weekend ~

Testing out mommy & daddy's new wakeboard boots!

They're a little big....

Our new idea of a *perfect* datenight...no longer dinner and a movie...we prefer takeout and a sunset cruise......