Emerald Isle

We went to Emerald Isle Beach in early September and had a great time as a family. Both Rachel and Anna love the beach - Vimal tolerates it for their sake! We had so many pictures and I tried to narrow it down - it was hard. Here are some of our favorites. Eating sand - yum, yum!

Rachel riding the boogie board

Family pic

Rachel flying her kite

Playing in the sand

Our little swimmer

Anna amazed at the diver at the NC Aquarium

The girls!

We're here!

Finally, I am sitting down to write a few words! I noticed it has been a while since I have posted anything - we've had a lot going on in the past couple of months. Rachel started preschool, a family trip to the beach, packing, packing and more packing, closing on our new house, having an ultrasound, lots of decisions (paint colors, blinds, furniture, etc.), moving into our new home, unpacking, organizing everything, dealing with the stomach bug (currently!) and we are only just beginning.

We love our new house and are very thankful to be here. I promise I will post some pictures of the house soon. But for now, I'm going to catch up on other things. Thanks for checking in on us.

Sippin' smoothies!

The girls love smoothies and we have them weekly if not daily in our household. I have gotten into making green smoothies (basically a regular smoothie with some greens - I usually use baby spinach) and they are so good for you and taste yummy too! Whatever you do, don't try to take Anna's smoothie cup away - she'll fight you for it and curl her bottom lip out and pitch a fit. As you can see with the girls still in their pjs - they are enjoying this smoothie for breakfast - yum!

Anna's cradle

I think I've mentioned that Anna loves baby dolls before. Well, she also loves this little wooden cradle that the babies sleep in. She loves to climb up in it with the babies and push it around the room and use it to climb onto furniture - the possibilities are endless. Here she is in her cradle now loving on a baby doll.

Our new home - in progress.

Here is a picture of our new home! It is a spec home so it was already started when we found it and even though we didn't get to choose all of the options we are excited that it is new. Our close date is set for September 25th - just a month away! Our house is still on the market, please pray that it will sell soon - it is hard to keep it spotless and clean with two active little girls. I'll post some more pictures later.

Enjoying the Beach

The girls and I went to the beach with my parents at the end of July and I thought I would post a few pictures from the time there. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of me with the girls and the ones I have with my parents and the girls didn't turn out that great.

Milk and Cookies

I love this picture of Rachel and Ryann enjoying some yummy cookies and milk. They both wanted cups with a mouth wide enough to dunk thier cookies in. Too cute!

In a predicament - flashback

For some reason, our dining room table is enticing (and ensnaring)to little ones. Rachel still loves to get under the table even now. I thought it would be fun to show you a recent picture of Anna caught on one of our chairs and then one of Rachel 2 years ago in a very similar position!

Our big girl!

How could I forget one of the biggest events of the summer? Our Rachel spent 3 nights away from us with Papaw and Grandma! She hasn't done this since she was 6 months old and that doesn't really count because she has no memory of that time. Somehow we started talking about her going to spend some time with my mom and dad and she got really excited - not that I was that surprised...she has always adjusted well in most cirmcumstances and then it finally happend.

I met my mom in Mt. Airy (about 1/2 way between us) after she got off work and the weekend began. As you can see, she was so excited! She went to a cookout, to see fireworks and stayed up late every night! Hopefully, we'll plan another trip soon and send Anna along - although I'm sure my sweet little momma's girl, Anna won't be quite so eager! But, I'm sure Mom and Dad need a little time to recooperate - are you ready for round #2?

Anna and Jes

Here is my Dad with Anna and my nephew, Jes. Jes was born at the end of January so is just over 5 months younger than Anna. We have a picture just like this of Rachel and Faith when they were younger. (June 2008)

The Zoo

We broke down and bought a zoo pass again this summer. We had a memebership a few years ago and made several trips over to Asheboro (1 hour and 15 mintues from our door) to see all of the fun, exotic animals that we don't normally see in our backyard. I decided to take the pluge and get a pass again now that Anna is a little older (she still isn't a great traveler...I'm praying that will change soon!)and can enjoy it a little more. This trip we took with Mullin family - this is Rachel and Annabelle in the picture below. (June 2008)

Working in Papaw's garden

I love fresh veggies in the summer - especially tomatoes! When we visited my parents in June Rachel spent some time helping my dad out in the garden. If only we lived a little closer to enjoy these veggies every day! All I've managed so far are a few tomato plants and some herbs but I have hopes that one day I'll be able to plant my own "real" garden. (June 2008)

Celebrating Anna!

Today we finally got to celebrate Anna's 1st Birthday! Due to all that is going on in our lives right now, it was very simple and just our little family of four but we still wanted to celebrate her life with cake and presents! Here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.



Anna's first taste of cake!

After eating a few bites, she couldn't figure out what to do with the

extra cake her hands - so she started throwing it...logical solution for a one year old!

Presents!

She had just as much fun playing with the wrapping paper!

Excited about her fun pull-along toy from the Erbs!

She was most excited about her new baby doll from Papaw and Grandma!
If you can see in this picture she is trying to pull it out while Vimal is still getting it out of the packaging. Unfortunately, I don't have any other pictures with her baby (I'll post more later) because I was videoing - she kept saying "baby" over and over - it was so cute! We got her a little Radio Flyer ride on - she is still not quite sure to do with it but hopefully soon!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Anna!!

Then

and now!

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!!

My Sweet husband of 9 years turned 34 today!! The girls and I hope you had a wonderful birthday! We miss you!

Picture updates

Story Time (June 2008)

Rachel's 1st swim lessons (May 2008)

Just a swingin' (May 2008)

Sweet Girls! (May 2008)

MIA

We are alive - just in case you have been checking up on us and are wondering what is going on in the Patel household here is an update...finally! The last month and a half has been a whirlwind of activity and news flashes. I think bullet points might be the best way to update you guys for now and hopefully I'll get a few pics up soon. Here goes:

*Swim lessons for Rachel (our fearless swimmer!)
*A trip to the Zoo
*Family visiting
*Trip to Asheville and Bristol
*News that my mother-in-law will be moving in with us soon
*lots of playdates and pool time for the girls
*lots of travel for Vimal
*A manners class for Rachel
*Putting our house on the market
*Under contract for a new house!
*Lots of showings but no offers yet
*A trip to the beach with my parents (just me and the girls)
and drum roll please...
*the news of baby #3 on the way!

Do you think that is enough major life changes in a matter of months? Well, I'm ready for a few uneventful months. I will try to be better about posting so my faithful friends who visit us can know what is going on.

Strawberries

As you may remember, every year we go strawberry picking...sometimes even two or three times while they are in season. Well, I finally made it out to pick strawberries with Rachel...although I reconsidered a few times since I new that Anna would be coming with us. It all turned out as I expected, Rachel ate way more than made it in her basket but can I blame her...they taste the best right off the plant. Here are a few pics of the pickin'. I do realize that is has been over a month (at least) since strawberry season here...I'm way behind on my blogging.

Happy Mother's Day!!

This is the first time Rachel has officially written her name - the letters aren't all t o get her but I love it! Sweet!

God has blessed me with my precious daughters!

They sure love each other!

The infamous sand pit

Vimal loves digging sand pits at the beach for Rachel (or are they really for him?) to play in. So, every time we are at the beach he digs a big hole so that she can play in there and then so as the tide comes in he wants her to get in and get caught. She loves it!

Discovering Sand

Anna's first experience with sand was so much fun. She kept picking it up and letting it fall through her fingers - she was so mesmerized.

Pre-school friends

Here is a sweet picture of Rachel's pre-school buddies - Bethany, Sophia and Eliza. It was Sophia's last day of school before she moved to California. We miss Schultz family already!!

Our family

NC State Farm Days