Vacations...Storms...Kids!

We recently returned from our vacation/mini-reunion to Gulf Breeze, Florida. I enjoyed seeing my dad's brother and family, many of whom I had not seen in over a decade. Poor Leah suffered from a ear infection early on in the trip, so we got to check out the emergency care facilities located nearby. Kendall loved having her very best friends (cousins Jake, Ella, and Rachel) within arm's reach all week. Trenton survived the week of total in-laws...extended at that!

We returned that late Sunday and witnessed a horrible storm sweep through the area the following evening. Our home is fine, however some of our land did not make it out quite so well. Everything is cleaned up and back to normal now, but it looked like a tree battle field for a couple weeks!

Kendall and Leah are going up so fast...Kendall began swim lessons today after ditching her floaties last week. She was very excited about the lessons until she realized what the lessons actually meant - ie hard work in the pool with a stranger, not push-over Mommy. She survived however and is actually looking forward to her next lesson.

Leah turns two this week! In some ways, I cannot believe she is already two. It seems like just yesterday I was watching the fireworks display 9 months pregnant, completely terrified at having two children under two. Now the terror has given way to something more like impatience and exhaustion! In other ways, I can definitely tell Miss Leah is turning two...the child can pitch a fit like no other...well, except maybe her sister...but it's still somewhat shocking considering the perfect little angel she was just a few short months ago.

It's interesting watching the relationship between Kendall and Leah develop. Kendall is still the boss in many ways, but Leah now has begun to fight back in certain areas. Just this past week I was grilling dinner outside and heard screaming coming from the house. I turn to discover that Leah has a chunk of Kendall's hair, pulling with all her might with no immediate intentions to let go. They do have their moments of playing very well together and it's adorable to watch...usually it's Kendall being the teacher and Leah being told what to do...but hey, as long as they're both content with that...

One of the trees we lost in the storm

Kendall hugging on her BFF Ella

Leah at the beach