Barkers Visit

End of June, beginning of July we had Abe's parents and our niece Emma in town for a visit. I am pretty sure that every single day they were here was completely action packed. Ever since they have left Norah asks me just about everyday "Where did grandpa go?", "Where did Grandma go?", "Where did Emma go?". She asks about 3 times a day on average! I'm so glad that they were able to visit again before we leave for Germany!

Highlights:

-4th of July in downtown Boston
-Hampton Beach, NH and lobster lunch (Adeline will tell you she is "obsessed" w/ Lobster and she really will eat 1/2 mine)
-Carnival in Lexingon
-Day in Concord
-American Girl Store in Natick
-Rockport, Ma

Swimming Lessons

The past month I had Adeline in swimming lessons for the first time unaccompanied by me :) She did GREAT! They have the kids wear these little belts with three little foam floaties. I had actually gone swimming with Adeline the week before she started class and tried to get her to wear one. When I would let go in the water, she would just panic and start drowning because she didn't want me to let go. She did really well with the belt on and did everything her teachers would ask. They got her down to only one little floaty and she does really well! I have taken her this week to the pool to see how she would do with me and she was swimming without any help (with one of the foam things on) and then she would jump off the side, pop up and swim back to the side all by herself! I am hoping we can take that one floaty off at some point and she can do it all on her own :)

Visitors

We had three straight weeks full of visitors and had a blast seeing everyone. Our first visitors were Lisa, Preston and their little baby Evelynn. We were good friends with them in Ohio and Lisa was pregnant when we all moved. They moved to DC & we moved to Boston. I still hadn't met Evelynn, so it was so much fun meeting her! Preston went along with Abe for another "man's" hiking trip (that sounded completely miserable and cold) and Lisa and I just hung out. The friday night they were here (and the boys were gone) there was a Carnival on Base. It was rainy and cold, but we still made the best of it and had a good time. Pretty sure that Adeline only went on this one plane ride and that was it... well she went on it twice.

Once the boys got back, we headed into Boston and toured around a little bit. We loved seeing you guys and miss you! I was completely planning on going down to DC for Thanksgiving to spend time with them, but that will have to wait :(

Mother's Day, Father's Day, Baby #3

I know this is really belated, but I had to post these to document them because they are just too cute. Adeline gave me this for Mother's Day. She was so excited about it and I think it's pretty cute :) We also found out on Mother's day that I am pregnant with baby #3! Originally the baby's due date was January 13th, but it is now pushed back to January 20th. So Norah and this next baby will barely be 2 years apart. Hopefully we don't regret that! I am 14 weeks along and have felt good thus far until this past week and have had a lot of nausea. We are not going to find out what it is, so it will be a surprise!





I honestly can't remember exactly what we did on Father's Day, but Abe is seriously the best dad. He is always playing hard with the girls and they love him to death. He is always so willing to help with the girls and spend time with them.


Adeline made this for Abe for Father's Day. It made us laugh pretty hard. Afterwards we asked what color Abe's hair and eyes were are she said brown and green. Well at least she doesn't really think they are black and white! So cute :)

Newport, Rhode Island

Mid June we took a day trip down to Newport, RI. I LOVED it!! The little town is so charming and it is beautiful there. We walked by all the little shops and ice cream places and ate at a really good pizza joint. Abe's friend got his Graduate degree in Rhode Island and his parents live close by, so he came and met us for the day. After lunch we went on a drive along the coast line and admired all the HUGE mansions. I think that is a requirement to live there... you have to own a mansion. They are everywhere! We also did the cliff walk and saw some of the campus that Rick went to. So pretty!

Germany & Preschool Graduation

About a month ago, Abe was called up by a guy at AFPC (Air Force Headquarters) and was asked if he would be interested in an assignment to Germany. After discussing it with me, he said that he would be interested and went ahead to a handful of people on base (including his boss) and was able to get cleared from his assignment here. Abe was extremely excited about this assignment and it is really close to where he served his mission (Belgium, Luxembourg & France). I on the other hand knew that it would be a great experience, but was not thrilled about it. We have only been here for just over a year and there is so much I still want to do. I also have made such a good friend here and Adeline is best friends with her little girl. I hate having to leave them too. I honestly didn't think that Abe would get cleared to go since he is "paying" back his time (3 years) from going to AFIT. Apparently if the right person at AFPC calls you and offers you something, you are good to go. Within 3 days of us even hearing about the offer, Abe got an email stating that our Report no later than date to Geilenkirchen, Germany was Oct. 30th. I found this out about 15 minutes before Adeline's Preschool Graduation.

Adeline's preschool graduation was so cute. They sang a bunch of songs they had learned and Adeline was adorable. I BAWLED through the entire thing. I'm sure all the parents were thinking "Geez, it's just preschool!", but it was just all my emotions from just learning we would be moving out of the Country.

Adeline and her darling teacher Ms. Kelley

Norah kept wanting to run up to see Adeline and stand with her and the teacher's assistant Mrs. Brickley. I think Norah thought she belonged in preschool too :)


Adeline and her friend Callie that was in another preschool class next door to Adelines

The famous teacher assistant Mrs. Brickley. Adeline LOVES her. She always asks me if she can come over to our house, if she can go see her, etc.

Summer fun w/ friends

We have been able to enjoy some time outside in our yard, at the pool, beach, etc. It seemed like winter and a cold spring drug on FOREVER so it is nice that it is warm now. I especially love these kids who are great friends with mine. I still need to blog about this, but we are going to be moving to Germany and I am so sad that I have made such a good friend that I will have to leave. That is the WORST part of the military. I guess also the best because you make such good friends, but heart-breaking when you have to leave them. More on Germany later :)