The Longest Post-NOT in order! Grr...

Lauren received this cool sleeping bag with an air mattress.  Notice the cat, Caslin...notice the lump toward the top which would be Lauren!

Sept. 10--The Cadwallader boys had their annual pool party birthday party.  Lauren has really grown up and become independent in the pool.  She adored the tube!

Paul missed Cara!

Happy birthday dear Nick and Harris!

Sept. 14--Every time Lauren went into the kitchen, she put on Paul's shoes.  Paul started back to class and Lauren missed him.  She got irritable with me for trying to take her picture.

Sept. 15--I wore heels to work and Lauren decided she wanted to be like Mommy.  She let me take her picture gladly!  I shed a tear later because she was packing up to go to PA with Paul Thursday through Monday.  (WOOHOO weekend for Mommy!!!)  I shed a tear as Lauren put on her backpack and take her suitcase from her room to the kitchen.  Could only imagine in 14 years...

I had to do laundry and Stinker climbed into the dryer!  She's so funny!

Paul came in to see why I was laughing.  Look at Lauren's face when Paul caught her!

 

 

Here is where the blog was geared to begin!

Aug. 25--Paul pulled out the Slip-n-Slide for Lauren..she LOVED it!!

Aug. 28--The Neigh-Neighs joined us for dinner to enjoy company.  Leah thought it would be great to celebrate Lauren's birthday late!  Yum!

Chris's birthday was on the 28th.  We celebrated on Aug. 30 at Chik-fil-A, Chris's favorite.  It's now my favorite, too, because they have a big enclosed play area for kids...and it is separated by glass!!  Here is the cake Carrie and I made for Chris.  Note the happy dinosaur in the middle!

The guys (Devin, Paul, Chris) were SOOO not impressed that we sang and wanted to take pictures!!

September 1--The Neigh-Neighs babysat Lauren so Paul and I could have a date night to Charlotte to see the preseason Panthers/Steelers game!  Note #86-Hines Ward, my boy!!

Look!  Here's Hines again--he's so happy!!

The Neigh-Neighs invited us to Oak Island, NC to their beach house to celebrate Labor Day weekend.  Paul had to work so it was the neighbors and Lauren and me!!  I buried Lauren.

She liked making sand angels!

Lauren stole my camera and took self-portraits of her toes.

Lauren took a bike ride with the Neigh-Neighs.  Look at her try to mow me down!!

So pretty!!  (Lauren, the ocean, the weather!)

Lauren loves David and snuggled up to have a snack.

Tracy and Lauren are under the towel.  Turkeys!

My lovely sand castle!

Our last night--we went to The Point which is across from Holden Beach.  We LOVED it for the shells and saw a conch with an animal still inside, found 2 sand dollars, and saw people protecting a turtle egg nest.  Here are Lauren, me, Tracy, David, and Leah.  Granny Sue (Tracy's sister) took our pic.

Leah and Tracy

David found the conch with the animal.

Lauren showing off the sand dollar!

Isn't this just too awesome?!  The way the ocean came in allowed for dry spots so we had to hop around.

Turtle egg nest.  Because sea turtles are endangered, volunteers watch the nests to make sure people don't disturb the nest.

We stopped at a really cool souvenir shop.  Lauren was excited about the shark.  She was checking for cavities.

Doesn't Lauren look like we're really going to be eaten!

After playing at the ocean, Tracy, Leah, and Granny Sue cleaned off sand.

We took one last trip to the beach to go shelling before driving back home.  Lauren chased seagulls.

Lauren liked drawing in the sand.

While Paul and Lauren have been gone, I have single-handedly hung 2 sets of curtains and 2 valances, including hanging the curtain rods!  I was extremely proud!  I even washed the inside and outside of the windows prior to hanging.  (Josh said he was seriously impressed that the curtain rods are straight!)  I'm trying to finish decorating Lauren's room and the office.  Those two rooms have been hanging on, but they need to be done.  I'll post pictures of Lauren's completed room and (hopefully) the office, clean, next time!