Father's Day weekend 2014

So, I'm behind on blogging, but over Father's Day weekend 2014, we enjoyed a visit from Michael's parents (Grandma & Papa).  I worked on Saturday & then on Sunday we drove down to Idlewild (which is in Laurel Highlands--where we took our first camping trip), which was recently voted the best kids park in the US.  Last year (click here to see last years pics, wow they were little) we took them here also & we had a great time, this year, they enjoyed every minute!  What a treat to spend the day at Idlewild with their grandparents.  The girls favorites were the little boat ride, meeting Daniel Tiger, & the carousel.  Jessica obviously remembered riding tea cups with daddy & this was on her request list this year….I guess it's a tradition now!  The girls rode their first official roller coaster called "Rollo Coaster".  It was a quick ride, so we were thinking, no big deal this thing will be just a quick little roller coaster, much to our surprise, the ride was actually very fast & rough as it was an old wooden coaster….Of course, the girls were not scared & squealed with delight as they flew from their seats & clung to the seat belts.  So much fun to see the girls have a great time & to be creating such sweet family memories.

June with a 3 & 4 year old

Ahhhh…the month of June!  I haven't exactly updated the old blog with any real news in a while, but for memories sake, June 2014 has been a busy one.  It's mostly been fun punctuated by some overtired children who refused to sleep more than 8 hours a night.  My kids quit napping around 2, but apparently at Kindercare (which is where they go when I work) they are "great sleepers."  Now I'm not exactly sure if my kids are in the building when this so-called nap time happens, but I've asked the teachers to text me a photo to see this as I do not believe it.  Other than them being over tired, I've also had my fair share of competitions & jealousy battles to break up.  Then there is the all too frequent tattling.  It's usually Ella who comes to me & says "sissy hit me", when in actuality Jessica was just digging in the mud, but Ella likes to say this to get attention.  Despite all of the childhood nonsense, which I'm sure the seasoned mother's reading have dealt with more gracefully than me, we have been having a lot of fun in the warm weather.  We go to the pool almost everyday I'm home.  And now after replacing my oven (only 5 years old, by the way, yes, I was thrilled...not!) we've been doing some more baking again.  Jessica is enjoying drawing things in a more real way now, the other day she drew our camper, the lake, & a campfire (oh & also a volcano, which is apparently near the lake ;)  Ella still loves to play horses & Frozen.  Most of the horses are called either Elsa or Anna.  Speaking of Frozen, Jessica is absolutely obsessed with Sven, the reindeer....see below!  Sven goes everywhere with Jessica & she calls him "my boy."  Ella loves to play dress up & brush hair.  Hair on horses, dolls, or anything really.  The girls also really love finding worms in the yard.  Not gonna lie, I was kinda grossed out when they first started doing it, but now I just let them go to town digging in the mud & finding "Jim"....which apparently all worms are named Jim.  One of the funniest things the girls do together & for memories sake:  when they play together, I often hear Jessica directing the course of the dialogue between the figures, ponies, animals, etc.  Jessica will tell Ella, "You say....this."  And then Ella will ask Jessica, "What do I say next?"  In Jessica's land of make believe she is almost always a character.  The other day she was wearing blue so she was Cinderella;  Ella asked her "Who am I?" Ella was, of course, Anastasia as she was wearing pink.  Ella often asks "Who am I?" when trying to play with Jessica, it's funny!  Sometimes when they are playing I will hear Ella cackle in a witch-like laugh & Jessica will run to me & say the mean woman is chasing her.  It's a fun time in life, but also a busy one.  That's about all for now, hope you all are enjoying your summer!

Me & girls summer 2014

I am trying to get in pics with the girls.  Problem is, the only ones I like are the ones I've retouched :)  Since I didn't get any good ones of me & them at Mother's Day, these are two that I like…could have had better focus on the 2nd one, but what can you do?  Love these 2 more than they will ever know.

Kidz Gig 2014

This was the first year our girls participated in our church's version of vacation bible school aka Kidz Gig. I had originally offered to volunteer, but due to my working on Monday & Friday, didn't get in on the action this year.  I did, however, end up staying 2 of the 3 days at the girls request & truly, I enjoyed seeing them in their little class & do their little activities.  One of my good friends was the leader of the class so it made it all the more fun to catch up with her & her little girl who is also around the girls' age.  On Tuesday, the girls went right in & had a great time.  On Wednesday, when I went to take them, they were both tired due to being up the night before & didn't want me to leave them.  I had not exactly dressed to stay, but did anyway.  On Thursday, I didn't even attempt to leave & thought why not take my big camera to get a few candids of the girls....I personally will never regret breaking out the big camera or hauling it around to get candids of them....I really enjoy looking back at them.  When I asked Jessie what she liked most about Kidz Gig...she said all the snacks & crafts they did.  When I asked Ella, she said dancing & singing.  Yesterday (Thursday) was crazy hair day, hence the larger flower & butterfly in the girls' hair (which to me was just cute, but since they never allow me to fix their hair, was crazy to them).  I wore pig tails at their request as this is about as crazy as I get....my hair is already a bit crazy, so maybe this looked normal...not sure, but it was what I did.  It was a fun 3 days & I am sure as they get older it will only get more fun.  Thankful for these experiences & for sweet friends who share the love of Jesus with our kids.

Ms. Jessica & Lucy...our good friends & some of the sweetest girls you'll ever meet.

The girls actually sat & listened to their lesson, if you know my kids, then you would know this doesn't happen very often & is photo worthy