Daddy Fridays

On Friday, Alina stays home with Justin and they have lots of fun together. Today, they went to the park after they took the trash. Alina loves the swing! This time she even got to go on the slide (in the baby bjorn with Justin of course). I am really glad that they have this time together. Justin is such a great daddy and a wonderful husband. He's been doing a lot of the cleaning on Fridays so I have more time with Alina on the weekend. Thanks Justin for being so amazing!

Hey Daddy! What channel is Noggin?

Go GameCocks!

Wiped out from playing with Daddy! This week and last week:)

My friends went back to school...except Jo-Jo!

So here are some great pictures of Alina and the Rogers' children. I had to go back to school before the kids went back, so for several days Alina had lots of fun with all four of the Rogers' kids. Joel even posted on his blog about Alina (check his blog out by clicking on Joel's Brain Blog, he's pretty amazing for a fourth grader!). Now its just Alina and Josiah, but I know they have fun together. The other day Pauline told me that when Alina was getting fussy Jo-Jo (Josiah) just kept bringing her toys to soothe her. What a sweet guy!

Jesse, Alina and Joel

Riley, Alina and Joel

Alina with her buddy Joel - thanks Joel for being such a good friend to Alina!

Back to School

Well, this week I returned to school and teaching 7th graders. The kids came back on Wednesday. So far, we seem to have a nice bunch of kids, but it has only been three days. Its amazing how teachers have to really get back into teaching all day. By Thursday morning we were all talking about how our feet and back hurt and how we've lost our voice from going over the syllabus with each class! I think I must be getting old, my feet are usually sore, but this year my back has really been hurting too. I have a lot less kids than usual this year, only 16-22 per class which is really nice! Since I'm not coaching any more I think it will be a little easier year, even though I will miss the girls and my friends that I coached with. I'll just have to go to games and competitions:) Alina has been going to Pauline's again and she just loves it. It seems she really enjoyed the days when all the kids were there (cause I had to go back before kids did so her kids were home). I think Alina and Jo-Jo will be great friends this year!

Gone to Texas

We went to Texas this summer like we usually do, but this time instead of two dogs, we took two girls. Alina of course, and Alex. It was great to have Alex come along and help with Alina in the car. We stayed with Justin's parents the first five days and with my family the second half. It was great to see our family and friends and see them spend time with Alina. We also had a chance to go on several dates, since we had so many babysitters! We went to lunch, saw Harry Potter, took Mark and Alex to Fort Worth and spent a day at Six Flags. We also had fun hanging out and playing lots of Settlers and splashing in the pool at mom's house.

Here is Alina with her great-grandmother, Granny Bea

Alex had the opportunity of a life time when she got to get up on this longhorn in the Fort Worth Stockyards. It was fun for all of us!

Hanging out in the pool with Papa Ovi

I was also able to attend a shower, and help throw a shower for Irina. This was at Cindy's house where we had my shower almost exactly one year ago. We are very excited about Lily and can't wait to meet her!

Pawley's Island

Last weekend we went with Matt and Jessica, and Jessica's family to Pawley's Island. They were staying a whole week, but we just stayed Saturday and Sunday so we could leave for Texas on Monday. It was so nice of the Marshalls to have us!! The weather was perfect and we had a wonderful time. Alina really does love the water, and she just sits in my lap and lets the waves hit us. Its so much fun! We spent time on the beach, played games and had some good food. We wished we could have stayed longer, but Texas was waiting:)

Daddies and babies going for a walk. Patrick is growing so fast! Can't believe he's almost as big as Alina, but four months younger!

I love the beach!

Playing Bocce Ball on the beach, Jessica won!

Justin loves to ride his board on the waves