It's finally COMPLETELY finished!

I made this quiet book for Anabelle last summer (with a lot of help from my mother-in-law, Annette).  It is now finally complete.  The reason it took so long...

grommets.

I was mostly just being lazy and putting it off.  As it turned out, putting them in was pretty simple, and cheap.

 Appliquéd letters

Here are all of the different pages

The safari page is probably my favorite.  We came up with the concept completely on our own, and I designed and sewed all of the little animals. (complete with zipper and magnetic sun attachment)

Velcro helps the apples stick to the tree

Different textures for little hands to feel 

Finger puppet animals

I also really love the mailbox

Button-on flowers (she's still working hard at that skill) 

 
Vinyl fish bowl stores all of the little swimmers
Foam puzzle pieces fit into the stencils

 Sorry it's sideways. She can match the crayons with their colored pocket and draw on her notebook, which also has its own pocket :)

 Pocket on the back to store any loose pieces

Magnetic flap to hold the book closed

 Rings, placed through our loops, bind this wonderful book that keeps my daughter occupied, especially at church (even if it's only for 5 or 10 minutes)

 Even a little pocket inside the front cover with my info., in case it gets lost.  I would most definitely cry if I lost this quiet book.  I cannot count the number of hours that have been put into it.  I probably like it more than AB does...hence the bragging :)

beach and eating

We finally made it to the beach on Saturday.  The weather was beautiful, in the low 80's and sunny.  AB loves her new sand toys.  She even has a sandbox in our backyard that she loves spending hours a day playing in.

 Mike persuaded me to get into the freezing cold water...but this was what he had to promise to let me do.  I've always wanted to bury someone in the sand :)

Laying in Daddy's sand cave 

 It was hard to get a good picture because we were looking straight into the sun

First time playing in the sandbox that our awesome neighbor made for her

 Handsome man

I have been trying out a lot of new recipes lately, which has been a lot of fun.  I have several cookbooks that I haven't used much.  I have resolved to be more creative and try new recipes.  We have had some delicious meals so far.  I have also shopped for and written out a menu for the entire upcoming month!  Go me!!!  That is the most organized I have ever been with my food planning.  I made salsa last week, and after talking to my mom on the phone, got a wonderful idea to put raspberries into the salsa.  I happened to have some in my freezer, so in they went.  Oh. my. goodness.  Wow, was it good.  I will definitely be doing that again.  

 With the raspberries...doesn't it look so fresh and delicious?

I also made some homemade pesto to put on my grilled cheese sandwich, which also included tomatoes and salami (all on sourdough bread).  Mmmmmm

Some of the other new meals I have tried include shrimp scampi on angel hair pasta, blue cheese burgers (Awesome!), chipotle chicken rolls with avacado dipping sauce, tortilla soup, ham and swiss creoes, and more.  Now we have another month of new tasty experiments.  We have even added some new dessert recipes to the list (almost my favorite part).  Sorry I don't have pics of the other foods I made.

OCS Graduation

Mike's graduation was a lot of fun.  It was so neat to participate in something so meaningful on such a large and personal scale.  Mike's mom, Annette, and I designed and sewed a sailor dress for Anabelle to wear to graduation.  She even had a jacket to match his.

 Isn't is adorable?!

Ready to show Daddy her support

 Can you spot Mike?

 She was a little tired that morning.  Can you tell?

Saluting the Captains of the different commands as they gave Mike his diploma.  Mike was a distinguished graduate, graduating in the top 10% of his class (top 8 of 82). Go Mike!

Finishing up the graduation ceremony with the traditional dismissal and tossing of the covers

Class 06-11 Foxtrot (there was another company in his class)  This is half of the graduating class.

 Mike's dad in his Coast Guard uniform

 Such a handsome man

 Receiving his first salute (from his Dad)

 Navy girl

 Navy wife

 Oh how I love him

Receiving his first salute from his drill instructor and class chief

We were very happy to have Kirt and Annette there to celebrate with us.  They were also very helpful with Anabelle

Just a few more pics 

Celebrating later that evening

 Cooling of AB's pizza

 Bowling

 She wasn't feeling very well.  It turned out that this night was the beginning of her several-day-long fever

 You can't see them well, but they had bowling shoes in her size.  They were definitely the cutest bowling shoes that I have ever seen.

We had such a great time in Newport for all of the graduation events.  Sorry it has taken me an entire month to post pictures.  Life is pretty crazy when you're moving and settling in.  I'm glad to be able to share a little piece of our lives through blogging.