Summer Fun

How do we spend our weekend int he summer? 

At Grandpa Rick's and Grandma Jill's pool. 

Racing the girls in the pool, watching them play mermaids (ok sometimes I'm a mermaid too) and playing basketball with Troy, we have fun earning our tans. 

 You wouldn't believe it in this picture but Brystol really did love the pool this summer. 

If I gave her a ball to hold, she would stay in the water and splash all afternoon. 

 We are grateful for Troy's parents who provide a fun family pool for all of us to use. 

Fourth of July

Braedyn and Brittney really got into decorating their bikes for the church 4th of July Bike Parade.  Of course, Brittney was out their decorating her bike way longer than any of us - even in 100 degree heat. 

  

 Once Troy started spinning the ride for a few kids, all of them hopped on for a spin.  

Troy got a workout that day. 

 Brystol was sporting her Red White and Blue

Our street was a great spot for fireworks. All our neighbors were out over the weekend. 

Of course Fleagle and Nemo were scared of the fireworks. 

Troy kept them safe. 

 Jamie and Brin were snuggling up for the show. 

 We had fun lighting fireworks with the Reilly's. 

Our girls love each other so much. 

 No 4th of July weekend is complete without time at the pool with the family. 

We hung out all day and then went downtown to watch the big Fireworks. 

So You Think You Can Dance!

I absolutely love the show "So You Think You Can Dance" and luckily, so do my best girls. Sheri, Jen, and I had an awesome Girls Night Out with Sheri's sister-in-law and her friends. We went downtown to M's Pub for a yummy dinner and then we were off to the show. We screamed with all the other women there over the dances we love from this past season. It was such a fun night. I am lucky to have my two girls, who I love so much.

Here we are, all Hyped up after the show!

I wish I could have gotten close-up pictures of the show. The dancers looked great! We especially loved The Necklace routine! Yow!

M's Pub is a sheik little place. We had some really good food.

Happy Halloween!

As you can see by Troy's crazy face, that we have a lot of fun around Halloween. Daddy worked hard to carve a scary jack-o-lantern after we helped pull out all the pumpkin "guts." With a Magical Witch and a Flower Fairy in the house, we had a beautiful little trick-or-treaters. The Giorgis's came over to trick-or-treat with us. Kimball had so much fun with the girls.

Our Flower Fairy

Our Magical Witch

Lucky me! I got to be the mummy for the toilet paper race at Braedyn's Kindergarten Halloween party. Our group couldn't quite get the wrapping technique down. We lost by a long shot.

Braedyn's best little buddy, Rachel. They are quite the pair at school.

Both girls got sick the week before Halloween. Braedyn missed the whole week of school. We had to find a lot of creative ways to stay entertained, all stuck in the house together. Painting pumpkins was a fun afternoon.

Vala's Pumpkin Patch

Vala's Pumpkin Patch is my favorite fall tradition. From pumpkins, to kettle corn (yum!) to train rides, there are so many fun things to the place. The place is sure random with a "bunny village" and life-size storybook houses, but it is sure fun. This year we went with Brittney's preschool group - yeah for the discounted rate. We brought my nephew, Daniel, along. My friend, Sheri, and her cute boys and my sister, Alex, and my cousin, Dominique, came too. In spite of the cold, it was a great day.

The kids were laughing it up on the train ride.

Alex made friends with Joe, the camel. He kept walking by her.

Alex and Dominque cuddling up with Brittney on the giant rocking chair.

We finally warmed up after some hot chocolate.

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere.

Sheri and I had fun shuffling our kids all over this muddy place.

They have so many random would cut-outs all over the place. I love this one most.

Brittney was so cold, she pretty much stopped moving completely. I had to carry her for a good while until we got her some hot chocolate.

Preschool

For preschool for Brittney this year, I joined a Mom's group. We rotate teaching each week at our own houses. With six kids in the class, I end up teaching every six weeks. It's fun for Brittney and works out great for me.

Brittney couldn't wait to get on her backpack and go to school just like Braedyn. She talked about it all the way there. When we got out of the car at Keresa Walker's house she said "Mom, this isn't school." I convinced her it was and in she went. However, when I picked her up she said "Mom, now can we go to school?" There was no foolin' this kid. She new what school looked liked. She has accepted these domestic dwellings as her preschool location each week and now cheerfully goes in. She loves all her little friends and is always excited for school.

My little ham.

Kindergarten

Pink backpack. Check. Matching attachable lunchbox. Check. New Silver ballet flats. Check. Pink butterfly dress. Check. Bright smile. Check. Teary-eyed mom. Ok, Check.

Braedyn was so excited for her first day of Kindergarten. She marched right in with Mommy, Daddy, and Brittney right behind her. She sat down at her new desk, started coloring her worksheet and said "Bye Mom" with an enormous grin. I held it together just fine until we walked out and Troy said, "your going to cry, aren't you?" I got a little teary-eyed when I said "No" but I did pretty well.

Braedyn and our neighbor, Brenna. They ride the bus together every day.

This is the excited smile I was telling you about.

My beautiful Kindergartener.