Summer of 2012....

A couple of weeks ago, Lauren, my ten year old asked me when I was going to update our blog....well nothing like having a child motivate you to do what you need to. Since moving I have been so busy that our family blog fell by the wayside. Now that things are more settled maybe I can get back into doing regular posts, so that at least a bit of my children's childhood can be documented! (which was the reason I started blogging to begin with.)

-June was Lauren's Birthday month, and it seemed like life was so busy her day kind of passed in a blur. The weekend before her school choir sang at the Cardinals game. My Brother and his family, Craig's parents, and some local friends all came to hear and share her experience with her. She was nervous but I think when it was over she was excited to have had the opportunity.

 We know when we go to Jill's there are going to be PUPPIES!!! Lauren could hardly stand to leave them, and begged us to bring one home with us! :)

This guy thought Craig's shoe laces were great!!

Jill and the kiddo's.(and the puppies too of course)

The next weekend we left for our vacation. We stopped in for a short visit with our "old" neighbor/friend from our old neighbor hood in TN. It was bitter sweet, I have to admit I had tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat as we were leaving. Then it was on to the beach...

First time on the beach!

 I think Craig's favorite part of our whole vacation was all the great seafood! It was wonderful!

Hunting sea shells! I think I could get used to this life!

Unfortunately Zane didn't feel good the whole trip! He ran fever and had  "stomach" issues!
We ended up at the ER with him at the end of out trip. :(

Richard Gasser came for a visit, the kids adore him and loved the time  he spent with them. I think Richard had fun too, :)

The kids haven't been to the beach since Zane was 2 so neither of them remembered the ocean.They fell in love the first moment we got there! Our first day there was Hurricane warnings out, but all we got was some strong winds, high tides and a few dark clouds. The whole week the weather was wonderful. St.Louis was under a heat advisory with 107* temps and South Alabama had little humidity and temps int he 80's!

Watching the Blue Angels train. (please ignore the ugly hat....I was trying to keep the sun off my face.)

We went to Pensacola to the Naval Museum, we watched the Blue Angels, and toured the museum. Craig, Richard and the kids really enjoyed it! Me....I think the beach was the highlight of my trip. :)
We decided to take some family pictures on the beach one night because the weather was beautiful an so was the sunset.

I love this one of Lauren. She LOVED the beach, she must be related to her momma. :)

Our last day we went on a dolphin cruise. The normal pontoon boat was booked so they upgraded us to the yacht for no extra charge. Hmmmm, good deal I think! :)

Unfortunately we didn't get too many good pictures of the dolphins, we got better video since it seems that as soon as you see them it is too late to take the picture since they are already back in the water.

We still have more to post of our trip but I will add those once I get them off the camera...besides, this is kinda info overload by it's self. :)

5,4,3,2,1 BLAST OFF!!!

We bought Zane a rocket (I am so uneducated I can't even tell you what kind) at the end of school last year and  his Daddy just got around to building it a couple of weeks ago. Last weekend we called some friends that have a couple of little boys and a rocket of their own to go 'launch' the rockets. A fun time was had by all....but I do believe the daddies had the most fun  of all!

Our Summer in Pictures

We brought a little country to the city while we were living in the apt. The kids actually liked living in the apt. and we had a decent yard behind us that the kids could play in, unfortunately I didn't feel comfortable letting them out there to play by their selves, so unless I sat out there or Craig played with them they were stuck inside. 

Our movers loaded up the truck in about a day and it was over 100* outside. I have never been so grateful  for help in my life!  These  guys were live savers for sure!!

Leaving TN. It was a sad day but we were so pooped out that we were just anxious to get back to St.Louis so we could get settled. I will admit that I did cry while I was leaving the neighborhood, it was hard to leave where our story began.

The first day of school. This was the saddest day of all for me. I was so worried for the kids being at a new school and riding a new bus that I was a nervous wreck all day. The kids chose to ride the bus on the first day and of course they did great and are loving their new school. 

Waiting on the curb for the bus. We are so lucky that it comes basically right to our house, the corner of our lot is the bus stop.

The greatest part of being closer to family is that we get to see them more often. My kids adore my nephew Hayden and he has been  to our house 3 times this summer! Loving that!

This has been a whirlwind of a summer. We have been on such a roller coaster ride that we haven't been real great at taking photo's of life as it is rushing by. The few that we have taken will have to do for now I guess! :)

One more day!

One more day till we can no longer call ourselves the TNCarrolls. One more day till we will be the TNMOCarrolls! :) Actually for a little over a week we will have 3 residences! We will have our house in TN, a house in MO and an apartment in MO. YIKES! I hope everything goes through with both of the houses so that by the first of August we will only be the proud owners of ONE house!
This has definitely been the summer to remember! We have spent the last 8 weeks in a one bedroom apt. (even though we have a perfectly good house in TN) so that we can be with Daddy. It has been worth it although I have to say that I am looking forward to a little 'elbow' room!
The kids have been sleeping in the living room on a leaky air mattress, we have been sleeping on a nice air mattress,(that did spring a leak), but it is no comparison to a real bed! Zane is loving getting to sleep with Lauren every night but Lauren is looking forward to having her own room again. :)
I have to admit the thing I have been missing the most is a BATHTUB! I can count on one hand the showers I have taken in the last year not including the last 8 weeks. Now all I can take is showers, ( I don't do small tubs). ;) spoiled, I know!
I think Craig is missing his 'Mr. Fixit' projects. I made him go swimming at the Apt.'s pool yesterday because it gets rather dull around here in the evenings, and he ended up cracking his head on the bottom of the pool and wound up with a goose egg on his forehead! I think it is less dangerous for him to do those house upkeep projects! (I'll remind him of that in a few weeks!)
So far we are super excited about our move, we have loved the friends we have been getting to know, having great stores and restaurants so close and family (and friends) so near by! The one downfall (as far as Craig is concerned) is the traffic. He is the most laid back guy around till you get him sitting in traffic...then he turns type A for sure!

New house....(going to paint those black trimmed moon shaped windows..)

Old house... we are going to miss our 1st HOME and neighbor hood! :(  We have some great memories here!

3rd Grade Award Day!

Lauren with her teacher Mrs.Jenny and Principle Mr.Bailey

Camryn, Lauren, Gracie, Anna, Ashley, and Charlie

There are times that a child makes up for all of the times that they embarrass their parents. I could write a book on the many times my children have made me want to dig a hole and climb in, but now I am going to recognize my daughter for all of her hard work.

Lauren was the second one to be called in her class, and when they announced her name she sort of bounce up, and then they proceeded  to list the Certificates she was being awarded. She receive 6 awards and one trophy. All for academics. By the time they said the last one she was standing there with her mouth agape and her eyes wide. I think she was surprised that she received so many awards. :) I sat there as proud as a Momma could be. I was a little sad that her Daddy couldn't be there, but we called him on the way home and she told him ALL about it! (as only a little Girl can do!)

Congratulations on a job well done Lauren! We are so proud of you!