Summer Fun

We are rapidly running out of summer!  The older I get the more time flies... all time.  Summer, however, seems to go by even faster than the fastest of days and weeks during the rest of the year!

We have been trying our best to use each day to the fullest!  It doesn't seem like we can possibly fit it all in, but we sure do try!

We recently enjoyed getting together with our friend's Kelly and Nate and their little girl Ella!  It was so much fun hanging out in their backyard and grilling out!

Nate built Ella a playhouse and she and Ava Grace had a big time playing in it with water and sand!

Patrick brought Emerson over to play as well!  All the kids had a great time!

We have been logging as many pool hours as we can fit into the schedule as well!  Taking a toddler to the pool adds a whole new dimension to my favorite pastime!

Both of the girls are just as addicted drawn to the water as I am and we are rapidly converting Chris!

I love these sweet girls...

...and they sure do love each other!

I can say that one thing we have done this summer for sure is make family time a priority!  Chris and I have really tried to come up with things to do together to be active this summer!  It is turning out great and we are all enjoying the fun!

Lily celebrated her birthday with Chris' family late.  Mimi and Pap hosted and made it a party with cupcakes, ice cream sundays, and gifts, of course!

We all enjoyed Lily's party, but mostly just enjoyed the time spent together with family!

Lily got a lot of her American Girl wish list!  She got many things to go with her new doll, Saige.  Lily also got a family membership to the Zoo!

The zoo is one of our most favorite places to go, so we were all four very excited about this gift!  We wasted no time in heading there for some fun!

Chris' favorite parts are Alligator Cove and the reptile house.  I love the monkeys.  Ava Grace loves the flamingos.  Lily loves the red panda and... well... all of it!  Both girls, of course, really really like the petting area with goats and camels!

We are really looking forward to the opening of the  new kangaroo exhibit and also ice day coming up in a week, when they give all the animals Popsicles!

The #1 best part of the zoo, however, is...... drum-roll please...... the $8 icee with unlimited refills!!!!!  That's Lily's most favorite part of the zoo.... for. real.

We can't wait to get in a few more weeks of summer fun and many many more zoo visits!  I highly recommend a zoo membership to anyone in or around Nashville!  $100 gets you a year long family membership.  They give an educator discount and often do a $20 off discount code - so you can really get it for less than $100 and they have so many fun things to do and see!  From movies and trick-or-treating at the zoo to brews at the zoo, it really is fun for the whole family!