splash bash

Emma Jane celebrated turning two with her favorite pastime....splashing! Every morning I ask her, "What do you want to do today?" and she almost always shouts, "Go splash!" So we decided a party at Saluda Shoals Splash Playground would be perfect for our little waterbug. She loved it! We rented the picnic pavilion close to the splash pad and added a few fun decorations and games, including a fishing game and bucket of bubbles. All of Emma Jane's guests were adorable in their swimsuits and it was fun to watch them gleefully playing in the water. Paul had to drag Emma Jane away from the splash pad for the birthday festivities. After a quick lunch, (Paul's yummy chicken salad and homemade pimento cheese sandwiches were a hit!) the kids devoured Emma Jane's birthday cupcakes. I think everyone had a great time and I know our birthday girl truly felt special.

parties galore

Emma Jane was lucky to have several birthday parties held in her honor while visiting Panama City. At Grandma Di and Grandpa Ron's house, Emma Jane shared a birthday celebration with her Great-Granddaddy Walker who turned 92. It was pretty special to see a 2-year-old and a 92-year-old blow out birthday cake candles together! The Brown family was also there to party with us.

Grandma Jane and Grandpa Bill also had a birthday party for Emma Jane. She enjoyed Grandma Jane's homemade chocolate cake and, of course, opened presents galore! Aunt Janet and Logan were there to celebrate with us, too.

Last, but not least, Aunt Scott gave Emma Jane a little surprise party, too! Cranston and Barrett were there to help us sing happy birthday to our 2-year-old. She had another yummy homemade cake with icecream and, once again, more presents to open!

Emma Jane is so fortunate to have so many special people in her life who love her so much!

Of course, mommy and daddy also had to have a special party for our girl back in South Carolina on her actual birthday, July 14. She was very excited to get a cozy new beanbag. All of these parties led up to the "planned" party where Emma Jane celebrated with all of her little friends. Stay tuned for pictures from Emma Jane's Splash Bash!

we are family!

Emma Jane and I took another trip to Panama City the week of July 4th. It was a whirlwind of family fun! Emma Jane was able to see ALL TEN of her first cousins on this trip. We started with a quick trip through Jacksonville where we stayed overnight with Aunt Amy, Uncle Mark and cousins Hannah, Jordan, and Parker. They were nice enough to host us unexpectedly after Paul's truck broke down and we were left to travel on our own. Jacksonville is the perfect mid-point stop on this grueling 9 1/2 hour drive. We always love seeing the Dungeys!

On the second day of driving, we stopped in Tallahassee to meet up with Aunt Cindy, Uncle Ryan, and cousin Izzy. They were on their way home after spending a week in Panama City. We met them for a quick lunch since we were traveling on the same interstate. It was great to see Emma Jane and Izzy playing together. They are only 2 months apart and have lots in common!

While in Panama City, we stayed in a huge high-rise condo on the beach with good friend, "Aunt" Scott and her nephew, Cecil. It was the perfect place to relax and meet up with family and friends. Aunt Stacy, Uncle Paul, and cousins Vincent and Daniel stayed in the same condo, so we got to see them frequently, too!

Aunt Susan, Uncle Brad, and cousins Meghan, Auburn, Allison, and Shiloh were also in town. They came out to enjoy the beach with us several times. Emma Jane loved playing with her "big girl" cousins and "Baby Shiloh".

We spent most of our time at the pool or on the beach. Several visits were also made to Grandma Di and Grandpa Ron's and Grandma Jane and Grandpa Bill's. Granddad John and Uncle John Robert even made a trip from Bonifay to see us! Emma Jane was also lucky enough to see ALL of her great-grandparents while in town. We spent time with Great-Grandma and Grandaddy Walker, Great-Grandpa Jimmy and Lucille, and Great-Grandma Nora. Nora was visiting all the way from Wisconsin with Uncle Mervin and his three kids, Raif, Rachel, and Roman.

Poor Emma Jane had a difficult time keeping up with all the faces and names, but she was thrilled to be surrounded by so many people who love her. It was a very memorable trip for us both!


Cousins, cousins, and more cousins!







Condo time with "Aunt" Scott and Cecil




Watching backyard "firewooks" with Grandma Jane, Vincent, and Daniel



Dinner with friends at Schooners




4th of July at the condo









Pool time!







Beach time!

this little piggy bank

One of Emma Jane's favorite things to play with in her room is her piggy bank. She loves to shake out the money and put it back in. Her Grandma Jane sometimes sends her new quarters, gold dollars, and two-dollar bills and she can't wait to add those to her bank. One day she started saying, "Sweet, Sweet Money!" as she was putting the coins in the bank. I thought, "Where in the world did she hear a phrase like that? We don't want her to become a money-crazed child at the age of 2!" Then I remembered that she has a stuffed bumblebee that talks and sings songs. One of the things the bee repeatedly says is, "Sweet, Sweet HONEY!" Just a little word confusion, thank goodness!