Lilly's new pet...her betta fish "nemo"
Lilly and Gray enjoying the boat rides at Seafood Fest

The Dad's and their daughters on the merry go round

Looking for fishes!

Look at these gals..such cuties!

Lilly, Fitz, Delinda, and Kinsey on the Merry go round!

North Carolina Seafood Festival

It's the first weekend in October, every year for the past 24 years, and this year was a blast! We started the weekend with an impromptu neighborhood party at our place....steak, mahi, and shrimp with some good buddies! Then Saturday morning was the race, an 8K over two bridges and through 3 towns (small towns). We rode over with our good buddies Heidi and David while my folks watched the kids! I managed to win overall female and all parties had a great time. Lilly had a blast running around and dancing to the music! It's amazing to think last year I was pregnant and this year I won! Saturday night we headed to the festival for the activities and we got to meet up with Fitz's cousin Delinda and her family! The kids had a great time together, and Lilly even rode some rides (merry go round and a train). She loved the rides nearly as much as the cotton candy (her only other demand she had for the festival). First thing Sunday morning, Lilly asked to go ride the rides...she loved them. We got to meet Beth, Wade, and Gray downtown and the girls had a blast! It is always good to have more then one two year olds together because it's monkey see, monkey do! We are so sad to see the festival go and can't wait for it to come back next year!

Up next is Halloween!

Lilly got a scooter from my folk yesterday and just loves it. Since it has rained the past two days she has been "scooting" inside and is getting the hang of it. We are hoping the weather clears so she can take it outside!

MJ is still learning and growing. He sat in a high chair at dinner tonight and seemed to enjoy the freedom. We are starting "solids," so far he is tolerating them well. Peas and squash have been his only new tastes so hopefully we can get him to like veggie more then Lilly does!

Kisses for MJ!
My babies...too cute!

Telling secrets! Oh, how they will lot against us one day!

Lilly in the flowers...

Lilly in camera mode!

My Babies are into September!

I can't believe it's September....MJ is almost ready for real food, Lilly is fully a big sister and both kids are just perfect. We are back in the swing of things for "school;" Lilly is going to her preschool two days a week, and gymnastics on Wednesdays. This means I have two mornings to get some chores done, hang out with just MJ, and relax just a bit! We are enjoying the cooler temps and the fact that most tourists are gone for the season so we have the beach all to ourselves! Over the past few weeks, we have had more fun company and Lilly has charmed more of her relatives!

Here are the kiddos updates:

LILLY:

-is nearly potty trained, she only wears pull ups at night

-is learning to be more independent; like to turn on the lights herself

-is becoming more helpful (with a bit of coaxing) with putting clothes in the hamper and cleaning up before bed.

-is more opinionated about what she wants to wear on her body, and feet

-is more opinionated as to what she wants to listen to in the car

-is now calling Eenie..."eetcie"

-is only "napping" if we call it "sleepy time"

-is the only one who can get MJ to laugh at nearly any moment

-is able to mimic MJ's noises to the point that we don't know who is making them

-is just a doll!

MJ:

-is rolling from front to back

-is rolling on to his side

-is laughing at his big sister all the time

-is talking up a storm

-is punctuating his "ideas" with raspberries

-is rolling around in bed and will wake himself when he bashes his head into the crib side (and by bashing I mean pushing hard, not literally bashing repeatedly)

-is nearly out of 6m size clothes before he's 6m old

-is a real charmer....we have to watch this one

They are quite a pair and I feel in years to come we will need to watch them closely because they will gang up on us!

Hoover family reunion...including Uncle Bobby on leave from Hawaii!
MJ learning to sit!

MJ asking "am I really related to these people?"

Front Yard Four Wheeling Fun!

This looks like trouble!

"Hi Blue Eyes"

Ah, my girl always figures out how to "lose" her clothes

Toe in the water, toes in the sand.

Baywatch run! hahaha!

Pigtails!

Summa Time Photos.....we have been very busy enjoying the summer sunshine; whether in pig tails or with nothing on at all! We have had plenty of company and loved every minute of it; with more the come in the future! We are enjoying watching MJ and Lilly grow and slowly start to interact and get along! Hope everyone has the chance to get out and enjoy what's left of the summer sunshine!

Loving the new stroller!
Not the best angle, but he loves to laugh!

Gray and Lilly dancing

Gray and Lilly still dancing (notice there are "real" dancers in the back)

Cupcake heaven!

Too cuties heading to the cupcake stand

Lilly enjoying the bounce house!

Racing through the race course

Lilly and Dada on the bounce slide

Gray and Lilly in the bounce house!

National Night Out

We had the pleasure of attending two national night out celebrations here in Carteret County. They had bounce houses, slides, race courses, face painting, balloon artists, fire trucks, dance exhibitions, and food, food, food! Lilly and her friend Gray had a ball at both the Atlantic Beach, and Morehead City celebrations and were sufficiently worn out at the end of the day. They both loved the bounce houses, and race course! MJ was not as active, but did enjoy that we changed the stroller around to the "infant" set up instead of the "newborn" set up so he was sitting up watching the world got by, then taking a nap, and ending the evening watching the world go by once again!

MJ is a much more talkative baby then I remember Lilly being. I think he feels that he needs to complete for attention. He enjoying making a variety of noises and then smiling when we laugh. He also seems to be very strong; he is already trying to sit up and will stand (putting weight on his legs) if you pull him up. He has his 4 month check up next week, and I am looking forward to getting good news from the doctor! Enjoy the video

Enjoying the water
Lilly holding a sand fiddler crab

Dada burying Lilly in the sand

Front view of our mermaid

MJ in his napping spot!

Lilly and Momma

Taking Le Noodle into the ocean for a swim!

MJ wake and enjoying the shade!

Lilly and Dada enjoying the big blue ocean!

Chocolate faced Lilly...after enjoying some "dibs"
Fitzula's and Grandpa!

MJF Sr, III, IV

Great "big" Grandpa Fitzula and MJF IV and Lilly

The merging of generations!

Too Cute!

Grandma Fitzula and her two Fitzula grand kids!

Lilly is all smiles before Library story time!

MJ's pout face!

Tummy time MJ!

We have been staying busy and trying to stay cool in all this summer heat! Library story time is one of our favorite activities on Friday, and Lilly loves to sit outside before and have her snack! MJ is not as excited about the reading time, but he will learn with time!

We made a quick trip to SC for a visit with some of the Fitzula family. Fitz's Grandfather was up visiting his daughter and Ftiz's Mom made the trip down from NY. So we drove in on a Friday night, spent Saturday with the family and heading back Saturday evening. It was great to see everyone and have a chance to take some photos of MJ (michael joseph fitzula IV) with Grandpa Fitzula (michael joseph Fitzula Sr) and all other combination in between! Lilly is still struggling with names of everyone so when I told her we were going to see Great Grandpa...she repeated back to me "great big grandpa." So at least for me that stuck!

MJ smile!
Lilly and her purple backpack on the day to "school"

Surprised MJ!

Lilly getting ready for roller derby!

July update on the kids!

We have been busy, busy, busy on the coast! Lilly has become a fixture at the Sports Center Pool and a favorite among the life guards! She is quiet the dare devil at jumping in and is slowing learning to swim, she kicks like crazy, now we just have to get her arms going. MJ is not quiet as sure of the water yet, but he loves him some bath time, so there is still hope! We have had adventures to Fort Macon, all the local parks, the water boggen, and nearly everywhere in between! We are enjoying all of the company we have had recently, it's always nice to have visitors. Looking forward to more adventures to come over the rest of the summer!