Small Group Lake Party

This summer we had the so much fun with our small group. The small group semester was focused on a service project for our city. Ron, our fearless leader, was great at organizing the project at Cornerstone Elementary School. It was so awesome to get to be a part of the work that went on in Woodlawn on that day. I have to say our group went over and above the call. We worked from 6:30 that morning until around 7 that night. Some of the folks went back several nights to finish up the projects too. It is so funny, you set out to bless someone else and throughout the process you end up blessed yourself.

Our group grew very close throughout the summer. One of the couples invited us to their lake house to celebrate the end of the semester. It poured on us as we drove out to Smith Lake. We ate and hung out for a while. Then we decided a little rain wouldn't ruin our trip. So we suited up and headed to the water.

The Rutlands:

Mommy & HC (she loved it by the way!)

HC & her buddy Addie in their matching life jackets.

We did some tubing too. I rode with Colby, the teenage son of one of the couples. Wayne took it easy on me though and didn't throw us off.

Thanks to the Cornelius family for showing us such a fun day on the lake.

Silly Girl

Everyday around here is so much fun. Hannah Claire has the best little personality. She is always so happy. There is not really a story with any of these pictures but I loved them. You can see her two bottom teeth. Just last week I was looking in her mouth because her top two have been on the verge of busting through. Finally one on the top came through but I also noticed that we have two molars on the top already out. What?!? Where did they come from? Anyways enjoy the super cute pictures.

This one makes me a little sad. She looks like a little girl and not my baby. Slow down please HC!!!

She spotted some preseason NFL and laid back to enjoy. Does this remind you of anyone?

Our Morning Routine

Mornings are usually lots of fun around our house.  Between pancakes and dancing to Rick & Bubba intro music we have lots of fun.  Hannah Claire has recently taken to getting ready with Mommy.  She likes to sit in my lap and put on makeup.  She is good with the cotton ball for cleaning her face.  She also puts her finger over the hole where the lotion comes out and then rubs it on her head.  Probably her favorite is the blush brush.  We may have a priss on our hands.   

"Duck"

Bath time is always so much fun.  We also try to make it a learning experience.  Well, we have made some headway.  You can listen and hear for yourself.

Maybe everything is "duck" but at least it's a start!

Lake Getaway

This is a long one but we had a very eventful weekend.  We finally made it up to my mom's for the weekend.  It seems like forever since we got to go up and hang out.  We all had fun, especially Miss Hannah Claire.  She had many firsts on this trip.  On Friday morning we got up and headed out to see Pappy's horses.  Hannah Claire loves dogs so I was excited to see how she did with the horses.  I think maybe curious is the best way to describe it.  She didn't really want to touch them but she didn't cry either.  She just looked them over.  Nana took her up close so she could see them up close.  Notice how she is pulling her arm as close to her body as she can. 

Then Pappy got ahold of HC and took her over to the other pasture to see some more.  If you will notice the arm in this picture.  Same as above!  She finally reached out for one of these but she never really petted him.  She was very unsure about mommy petting them.

We also got to see all of Pappy's hunting dogs while we were out there.  Of course she loved that!  We also made a quick trip across the road to see Granny Sue and Pawpaw John.  Not only did we get to see them but we got to meet their new puppy, Peanut.  Boy did they appropriately name this dog.  He and HC had so much fun together.  He wanted some of her snacks.

Peanut followed Hannah Claire around the entire house.  He would jump up on her and she would get wobbly, like he was just so heavy he was knocking her over.  She is such a drama queen.  I was a little worried though because HC doesn't really pet, she pats.  That really doesn't matter with our big dogs but with Peanut I was concerned.  It didn't matter, he loved the attention.

Friday afternoon we finally got out on the boat.  I cannot believe HC is 15 months old and just now getting on the boat.  She was a little skeptical at first but she LOVED it!  

She really did love it but this face was priceless.  Who knows what this was directed at?  Probably Nelson, my mom's dog.  He felt the need to be protector dog for HC the entire time she was on the boat.  He stuck right by her side.  You can see his tail in the corner of the picture.  He was so sweet.

On Saturday we had a huge family fish fry.  It was delicious!  I'm so thankful that my family is highly skilled at the deep frying of catfish, hushpuppies and french fries.  We are true southerners and I love it!  There were tons of people roaming around so keeping up with HC was very tedious.  She got extremely quite.  This of course set my mommy radar off.  I quickly found her in her ducky float.  She was so content!

We finally got to see our new cousin Laney.  She is so precious and I loved getting to hold her.  HC thought she was sweet at first then she got annoyed that her mommy was holding another kid.  After that she was done.  We tried to get a picture of HC with Laney but we waited too long.  Laney was snoozing in Pawpaw John's arms and HC had other things on her mind. 

I did get one of Laney with her granddaddy.  Can you tell he is a proud granddaddy?

As I said there were a lot of firsts.  HC reached for Pappy and even said Pappy for the first time.  Pappy was shocked, can you tell?

We also got a good picture of HC hanging with her Aunt Lorie.  

I Can Do That!

One of Hannah Claire's new skills.  And one of her favorites I might add.  Climbing stairs.

Look at that determined face!

Dog Sitting

To say that Hannah Claire loves her doggies is a massive understatement.  She gets giddy at the mention of going to see the dogs.  We even use this to stall a meltdown.  The dogs love her too.  I guess with them being outside dogs the jealousy thing was never really a problem.  When we got downstairs Hannah Claire decided to checkout Allie's bed.  She looks so sad...

Oh wait, she loves it!

She finally came out and we went outside to see the dogs and feed them.  Allie got her loving in.

HC is pretty good with the petting.  I'm glad we have big dogs though because she is more of a "patter" than a petter. 

Junior is scared of the camera so when he saw it in my hand he went inside and would not come back out.  I did sneak in and snap a quick picture of him.  He missed out on the Hannah Claire love thanks to the mean, evil camera.