Our Chilly California Vacation!

We have had such a great week together as a family. We left last Saturday for Pebble Beach, California, and we got home last night. The beginning of the trip was a little rough. I'm pretty sure the guy who sat by us on the flight to LA will never have children. Harper chose not to nap, and that wasn't a very good decision. Once we arrived, the awful flight was out of my mind because it was 60 degrees!!! I knew it was going to be cold, but when you live where it is 100+ every day, 60 sounds amazing. It was fabulous, but I was definitely colder than I expected to be. We stayed with our friends, Flint and Rebekah... his aunt has a house there! Harper and Cilla are 2 days apart, so they had such a fun time together. It was pretty relaxing... other than the fact that Harper doesn't do well in that silly pack-n-play! I took over 500 pictures, so this is just a small taste of our time together!

The Farmer's Market:

We got some amazing fruit on our first morning!!!

Dennis the Menace Park:

Harper had such a fun time at this park! It was HUGE!!!

Her face cracks me up in this one!

She LOVED the sand!!!

The Beach:

Although the water was FREEZING, the beach was really great!

Deer are everywhere!!!

Harper getting her first touch of the water!

This big guy hasn't missed too many meals!

The Monterey Bay Aquarium:

The aquarium was wonderful! Harper loved seeing all of the fish!

I love how loud the sea lions are! Or are they seals?

Is there a difference?

Harper tried really hard all week to catch the pigeons and seagulls

Date night in Carmel:

Corby and I took our night out in Carmel and ate at a wonderful restaurant, The Flying Fish. It had an Asian flare and was quite tasty! We ended with some ice cream and a walk around the town.

It was HUGE... and quite delicious!

Corby standing on the 17th at Pebble Beach

Short naps=Beach trips

Harper didn't nap nearly as well as Cilla, so I took her out one day to take some pictures

Ridge Winery:

Since my brother-in-law is in the wine business, he was able to get us into a winery. It is normally only open for the public on the weekends, but he has connections! Rebekah and I went for our day out while Corby and Flint stayed home with the girls. Don't worry... they also got a day out! It was at the top of a huge mountain, so the view was amazing! We had a great time!

Spanish Bay:

At this golf course, a man playing the bagpipes walks along the ocean every evening. We went one night to watch him. It was especially chilly that day, but we had a great time. Harper LOVED listening to the music! She also loved chasing the seagulls!

She walked as close as she could to listen to him

Group picture... thanks to our self-timer!

Chilly outdoors=extended nap for Harper

Several afternoons, Harper woke up really cranky, so I sat outside with her. She eventually fell asleep, and apparently Corby took this picture from inside!

Yes, we are under a blanket...outside...in the summer!

Possible Christmas Card??

Doesn't every beach trip have to end with the stressful photo shoot? Where you're looking for that perfect Christmas card picture? We have a few that are great, so I am really excited about them! Thankfully, Harper cooperated!

Fire Pit Fun:

Unfortunately, we didn't discover the glorious fire pit until our last night! Otherwise, we would've been out there every night after the girls went to bed. We had such a fun time with Flint and Rebekah! Thanks again for inviting us!!!

"UH EEEE"!!!

Harper LOVES to be up on the furniture, but she hasn't quite mastered getting up on her own. So all day long I hear "uh eee" (up please) and she will say it until she is eventually up on the furniture. She has recently discovered though that she can get up in the wicker chair. It is a little lower than our other chair and couch. Finally! She doesn't need help! She could sit in that chair all day long... it cracks me up!

A few other Harper-related updates...

No more paci! I decided that since she only had it in her bed anyway, she probably didn't need it that badly. So we went cold turkey a few weeks ago, and it went so well! I don't even think she noticed that it was gone. However, I will be packing it in the diaper bag for our upcoming flight... just for the sanity of those around us!

She has a new laugh, and it is hilarious. It's a weird, deep giggle, and I have no idea where it came from!

She just had her second haircut on Tuesday. It was starting to look like a mullet, so we quickly took care of it!

Some of her favorite words and phrases: "WOOAAHH" (she sometimes follows this word with another word, and I have no idea what she's saying), "Ree eee" (read please), "no"

Such a proud little girl!

Pure Joy!

The trip we took 3 weeks ago!

Harper and I went to Nashville for Eliana's 3rd birthday! But since we flew, I didn't take my camera, and I just now got pictures from my mom. It was a pony theme, and Chris and Lindsey did such a great job! Chris even dressed up for the party...wearing a WOOL vest!!! I started sweating just looking at him! Chris and Mike worked in the backyard all day setting up for the party. They also had a pony there, and all of the kids had so much fun riding it! Harper wasn't too sure about it the first time, but she seemed to enjoy her second ride. Along with the party, we also spent July 4th together. That might be Harper's favorite holiday since she seemed to be quite interested in the fried chicken and fireworks! She said "Woah!" after every single one went off... it was precious! We had a great time with the family!!! I sure wish we all lived in the same town!

Eliana riding her pony!

My hair looks flat and Harper looks cross-eyed...

So much for a great picture of us!

Chris did this on the fence wall! AMAZING!

Harper riding the pony!

Eliana with her pony cake

The aftermath of the cupcake... she LOVED it!

She also enjoyed eating the icecream... by herself, of course!

Cute Cousins!

We quickly found out how much she LOVES KFC!

They both loved the fireworks!

Our Week with Annalise!!!

Annalise was here visiting us all last week, along with my mom, Leah, and Mike. We had such a fun week together! As usual, it was really hard telling Annalise goodbye... I just love that little girl so much! Annalise left on Saturday, and my family left today. Harper is on hour 3 of her nap, so I'd say she is extremely worn out! She loved having everyone here! We stayed very busy doing all of the things Annalise loves here in Dallas!

Our first stop was the Children's Museum!

She has always loved milking this cow!

Harper enjoyed her first milking experience, as well!

I don't remember saying "Wave to the camera"...

But that's what it looks like I said!

Harper loved the water play area!

Kay-Kay and Annalise ended their time

at the museum being construction workers!

Chuck E. Cheese was our activity the next day!

Harper would've stayed on the carousel all day if I had let her!

She also LOVED riding this horse!

Against our better judgment, we went to the zoo another day!

It was so hot, but we enjoyed it!

Here is Leah in front of the "Golden Girls"...

It's the nickname for the 6 elephants, and it is Leah's favorite TV show!

Harper feeding the giraffe

Annalise was very serious while feeding the giraffe his leaf!

Hanging out with the lioness

I LOVE this picture! Harper loves her Uncle Mike!!!

Annalise ended her trip to the zoo with a pony ride!

We miss you, Annalise, and we can't wait to see you again soon!!!

Vote For Harper!

I thought it would be fun to enter Harper into the cutest cow competition at Chick-Fil-A. Now obviously I am a little biased, but I certainly think she is the cutest cow in America!!! Just click HERE and vote for Harper, the happiest cow on the block!