The First Day of School . . .

. . . is over! That's all I have to say about it!!!

Last Days of Summer Vacation

Sadly it is the end of summer for me. School starts on Monday. I spent all last week getting ready. My classroom is ready and things are set to go, but I am not mentally and emotionally ready yet! It's always tough to go back after being home all summer. The girls are excited to go back to Oma's daycare and play with their friends all day though. I have tried to enjoy these last days as much as I can- we have had beautiful, hot weather, so we've been playing a lot outside. Today the girls wanted to jump on the tramp with the sprinkler. I even stood in the sprinkler for a few minutes because it was so hot! Yesterday the district had a picnic at Tautphaus Park, so we went to that and the girls each had a free ride pass for Funland so we were able to use those. I let them go on another ride too- so they rode the train and the planes. I didn't have my camera though- I know, crazy, huh?!? So anyway, wish me luck at school!!! (I don't know why I still get nervous- I've done this for 7 years!)

Haircut

Last night we took the girls in to get their hair cut. It was Ashlyn's first haircut. Even though it's not very thick, it grows pretty fast.

Before:

I really hadn't done Ashlyn's hair for a couple of days- she has not been letting me- and Rylee's hair had been braided at the top, so they both had pretty crazy hair before the haircut!

After:

This is the shortest haircut of Rylee's- we'll see how we like it!

Ashlyn's such a big girl now-
I know I'm always saying it, but she just keeps getting bigger.
What's up with that?!?
It's just so hard to believe- and she's still my baby!

Last Day of Swimming

Friday was the real last day of swimming lessons, which also meant the last day of summer. I go back to school tomorrow. School doesn't start until the 29th, but I have to get ready. I actually went to school last week to get some things to work on- writing names on a million things- so I could be a little ahead.

But anyway, Rylee was very excited to jump off the diving board again. She has been quite the little swimmer this past couple of weeks. I couldn't take many pictures because she was ALWAYS going under! With and without plugging her nose. But she was determined to jump off by herself and without plugging her nose- and that's just what she did!! I'm so proud of my little swimmer! Next year both girls get to take swimming- and none of us can wait until then!

Getting ready.

There she goes!

So happy!

Grandpa, Grandma, and Ashlyn watching too!

Rylee's in the background getting ready to jump in.

What a jump- I wish the fence weren't in the way!

Yea- she graduated to the next class- ray!

And snow cones for a little treat!

Mom's Birthday

We spent a lot of the day with my mom on her birthday. We surprised her with some chalk art and balloons in the morning. The girls even dressed in her favorite colors- red and black.

Dad, Mom, and Cory

Jumping through the hoop.

Opening presents.

The ice cream cake was starting to melt and my mom was talking on the phone, so the girls posed for some pictures without the birthday girl!

Blowing out the candles while talking on the phone!

Then we played outside for a while-
Ashlyn made a little fort.

Rylee hit the ball a few times.

The girls played with the neighbor's dog.

Rylee was so excited to find a ladybug to add to her collection.

Cory is pretty good at the hula hoop.

Ashlyn just liked to roll it.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy birthday, Mom!
We hope you have a wonderful day!

Last night Rylee drew a birthday picture for Grandma with chalk.

This is Grandma, Rylee, and Ashlyn as heart birthday balloons.
She even remembered Grandma's glasses!

Money

Ashlyn was playing with some pennies and singing, "Money, money, money." I asked her if she liked money, and she said, "No . . . I LOVE money!"

Blowing Bubbles

Happy, Happy Birthday, Sister Dear!

Today is my little sister, Lindsay's, 29th birthday. This is the real 29th, but with many more to come!

I hope you have a happy birthday, Lindsay! And maybe have a baby (which isn't due until the end of the month, but it would be a nice gift!)! We love you and wish we could celebrate with you. Rylee is upset that we aren't going to your house or you're not coming here for your birthday. We can't wait to see you all in October and the girls are especially excited to see the new baby!

Lindsay's family:
Jacob, Lindsay, Adam, Macie, and Noah
(and one more to come soon!)

Ammon Days

Rylee rode her bike and I pushed Ashlyn in the stroller to Ammon Days- it was at the park by the pool which isn't too far from our house. They had jump houses that the kids loved. I called my mom and invited her for lunch- then she stayed and had free cotton candy, snow cones, and popcorn with us. Then we went home for a nap and went back for dinner with Matt, Oma, Isaiah, and Gabriel. The jump houses were gone, but they still loved playing on the playground. It was so hot, but we did find some shade to eat in. We had a really good time!

The first person we saw was Mario so we had to get a picture-
Ashlyn didn't want to get too close though!

Then we saw Snoopy.
Ashlyn wasn't loving him either.

Rylee was too fast on the bounce houses for me to get many pictures- she would be done before I could get another shot!

I wasn't sure if Ashlyn could climb up by herself,
but she did it a few times!

Here's Sparky. Again, no Ashlyn!

I told Rylee that this was for bigger kids, but she really wanted to try it. The boy was in line with her and told me that he would be nice, so she pretty much just beat him up- she even just used her hands at times to push him off. That boy was such a good sport! Rylee won!

Rylee thought this was a race
so she went really fast and she did win
most of the times she did it.
She's so competitive!

Lindsay, I've never posed like this in my life, so she didn't learn it from me!

All the good stuff with Grandma.

Ashlyn was a mess- I'm glad she was wearing a red shirt! She had an orange punch mustache, cotton candy on her forehead, and somehow she got red snow cone in her hair!

Rylee just wanted the cotton candy- I lost count of how many she actually had- probably 4 or 5 all day. I know, I'm a terrible mother, but she liked it! And we don't get cotton candy very often!

Ashlyn was dancing to the music!

Isaiah and Rylee- with more cotton candy after dinner!
(Well, it was more like her dinner actually!)

Crazy girl!