School Days . . .

Molly is loving 4th grade so far. Her favorite part is the STEAM projects where you have to engineer something together or figure out a solution to a problem with friends.

Lunch room duty days are my favorite!

Kate and her friend Teresa . . .

Molly's 4th Grade Class

Back 2 School Night - this is the theme of the school year this year, 

love Molly's prayer card she made to reminder her all year.

We spied Kate's self portrait in the first grade classroom!

Kate and her friend Caroline at lunch . . .

Lately . . .

The new Taylor Swift CD came out and we surprised Molly with the limited edition version from Target that includes some of Taylors' diary entries from when she was 11 years old. Molly was GLUED and we listened to the new CD together while reading the lyrics on the jacket. So fun.

Kate had a roller skating date with her good friend, Victoria.

The girls and I walked up to Meadowbrook Park to play and they asked me to video them on this slider hammock thing "to send to Aunt Sarah." 

I was talking to Sarah at the time, so I sent both videos.

Then, Molly said, "Your turn, and I'll video you!" I thought sure - why not? It looked so easy when they did it. Get ready to laugh until you cry . . . make sure to check out the little girl's face behind me.

Molly is still climbing any tree she finds . . .this one is her favorite right now as she loves to hide high up. Do you see her?

She is wearing a lime green shirt.

We got to hold the sweetest puppy!!!!

Look at her face! 

First Day of School - 1st + 4th!

So excited/nervous for their first day!

Fourth Grade + First Grade

Here they go!

Silly girls . . . 

Music was playing at school which helped . . . and everyone 

came early so fun to see friends on our way in!

And I saw the first autumn leaf after dropping them off.

Sign of the times . . . bittersweet.

Twas' the Night Before School Starts . . .

We baked apple bread to give to their teachers in the morning. I explained that their teachers are excited and nervous too!

Love their handwriting . . .

Kate's little first grade jumper hanging and ready for the morning. 

She likes to be PREPARED.

Their backpacks washed and ready along with their brand 

new school shoes they cannot wait to wear!

Going to bake muffins for breakfast in the morning but I thought I would give them some words of inspiration as they eat breakfast - setting up the night before. After they ate, I let them each pick out their favorites to hang in their bedroom this school year . . .

Back 2 School Night!!

Back to School Night at Cure' of Ars! That means we get to meet their teachers, see their classrooms, and also enjoy ice-cream with friends on the playground!! The girls could hardly wait to see their rooms and their friends!!

Molly got Mrs. Huska this year and we are all so excited! She has been at Cure' of Ars 20 years and has grandchildren at the school and is a hug teacher who LOVES kids! Perfect for 4th grade!!

Kate got Mrs. Wilcox who we are also so thrilled about! She used to teach 4th grade at Cure' of Ars and just moved down to 1st grade and is SO excited to be teaching the younger kids!!!

Kate saw these pillows and plopped down and said, "I think I'm going to like it here!"

Molly found friends at the playground - 

Campbell, Vivian, Molly, Annabelle

Kate did too - 

Marek, Victoria, Kate

Last Week of Summer!!!

We are getting seriously sad around here for Summer coming to an end. The girls are at such fun ages to do all the fun things summer offers and they love life and being together (still)! I know school is good for them and everything, and FALL is coming but . . . this summer of NO schedule, fancy free care free days with the girls are my FAVORITE and we sure had a great one. Lazy hazy pool days, backyard playing, bike rides, road trips, lemonade stands, and popsicles . . .until 2020!

One more day at the K cheering for our boys in blue before school starts!

SLUGGER!!!

Kate has been taking piano lessons now for about 6 weeks and LOVES it!

A few more bike rides . . .

Mike and I celebrated our 2nd place finish at Trivia Night 

last Spring with our team Saturday night!

Love this crew . . . 

The girls put on a few more shows in the basement - this one Molly owned a "spa" and was giving Kate (her friend) a pedicure . . .

Cousins came over to play one more time . . .

Kate put a "spa day" together for me in her room! She even had a (ice cold!) container of water in there for me to put my feet in. Notice the tip jar at the "welcome" desk below . . .

She spoiled me for a half hour. Lotion on my arms and legs, ice cold foot bath, vick's vapo rub on my feet and warm towels on me. Have no idea how she knows how to do this stuff - she must be born with it - such a love bug.

 This is her latest post for practicing her "roping" skills . . . 

Caught in the Rain + Our Last Night

On the drive back from Devil's Bathtub, we went through a torrential rain storm - like zero visibility! Mike and I were in one car and the girls were all with Sarah and Mark - and both cars were praying Hail Mary's. We were thankfully all OK and made it back to the hotel safe and sound thanks to our excellent drivers (the dads!). I'll never forget it though and I don't think the girls ever will either . . . 

We were SO HAPPY to make it back together and safe and sound - this is us all together again at the hotel - running inside to dry off before going to a local pizza spot!

Our favorite meal of the entire trip. Not sure if it was the amazing homemade crust, or the fact that we were starving from the hike, drive back - but it was DELICIOUS and totally hit the spot!

After our meal the sun had come back out and we saw a few rainbows . . .

The clouds were amazing!

See the rainbow over the mountains?

We stopped at DQ one last time before the walk back to the Bavarian Inn . . .

Our dilly bars were melting just a bit as we walked . . .

We now call it the "Dilly Bar Walk" and the girls laughed so hard they were crying . . .

What a view from top of the hill . . . 

And the best sunset to end the night!

Back to the room to take showers, get on jammies, and write postcards to the Grandparents!

What a fun vacation! One we will never forget!