Ten on Tuesday

                                                    ten on tuesday......

1. On one of those perfect 75 degree summer days last week, the girls and I hit the downtown lebanon shops.  We did everything girls love to do: went to the library and checked out a couple great summer reads and filled out our summer reading list, checked out a couple new shops, checked out the vera bradley sale at "oh susanna," and grabbed a frozen yogurt at Whit's.  Found a few pieces of wall art at the pink hippo from the kelly rae roberts collection for the girls' bathroom.  Trying to get them excited about using their own bathroom to get ready in, instead of mine.  Thought maybe an update would help.  Today Ellie and I went to target while the girls were at golf camp and found a shower curtain and towels.  So tonight, erika yells down after her shower, "Mom, the bathroom pictures do not match the shower curtain!  Why didn't you take me with you?!?"  Live and learn.  so I guess the shower curtain goes back. 

2. Things have definitely slowed down here since school has been out, and we are loving every minute of it.  We were playing the "ungame," last night and one of the questions was "If you had a million dollars, what would you spend it on and why?"  ellie said flip flops, just because. Emily said, a horse farm and donate the rest.  hmmm

3. At target, (should really stay away from target!) i found a chair em has been wanting for her room.  a great deal, i thought, so i had to get it.  doesn't really match her room, but that's no worries, it's a comfy chair for her to read in!  So today as she cuddled up in it, she squirmed and re-positioned as she tried to find the right "reading position." and she said, "It's just not going to work. My neck hurts, my legs can't get comfortable, I need something else.  It's pretty, I just need a better reading chair, sorry mom."  (I didn't want to look at her and ask, "so just what does that reading chair look like?"

4. Ellie had her silly bands on her arm, and she said, "Just look at the colors, mom.  now that is art."

5. Am I really celebrating (is that the word?) my 20th year reunion this weekend?  It will be so wonderful seeing old friends, but at the same time, I am disappointed in my weight and wished I looked 1990ish again (without the hair)

6. Thinking the screened porch really helps put things in perspective for Rob and I.  Love sitting out there, listening to nothing, and enjoying his presence.  

7. just went in to let the girls know it's bedtime, and they are all crying over the extreme makeover home edition.  

8. I love that ellie is still young enough (at least she thinks she is!) to still pee in the yard while playing in the sprinkler.

9.  Can't wait to get our Mexico pics in my hands- love digital photography, just wish I ordered them more often!

10. Emily loves reading http://devotionsbycarly.blogspot.com- she actually gets her Bible out and reads and reflects on what Carly says.  Carly is one of Erika's friends sisters that writes this blog and does a wonderful job! 

Lazy Days

I had to capture this moment as the girls were hanging out in the hammock planning their "summer school" for some neighbor kids.  I guess they get it honestly.  This is the second summer they've invited some little ones over and had planned activities for them.  This year they seem much more innovative and structured.  They have a lesson plan format to write down their activities on their typed out form and they wrote out invitations and hand-delivered them.  Too cute.  Even the language they used in the letter is appropriate.  They've pulled out some of my resource books, are going to send home little books, and teach them some theme-related sign language and create centers.  How fun is that?  I pray they always continue to love school and love to learn.

Strawberry Jam

Summer days, always big plans.  We love days like this!  We headed to Hidden Valley and searched long and hard in the strawberry patch.  It was muddy and the girls were not into the prickly weeds at all, so they didn't last very long.  But we managed to fill our bellies munching on a few as well as filling 11 quarts to take home to make jam.  The process is pretty simple, just MESSY and STICKY, which they loved!  We were eating jam by the spoonfuls!  It was drippy, sweet, and so much fun! 

Sweet Friends

It's so hard to say good-bye.  Emily, Ainsley and Erica have been friends for three years, and go to all different schoools, but count down the days until they see each other again.  They were in the same kindergarten class at The Academy, and soon became the bestest of friends.  We have to really plan their playdates, since they are from Kettering and Springboro.  They pick up right where they left off.  This picture was their last playdate they will  have together.  Erica is moving to Canada next month.  Even though they had fun, it was very emotional.  They decorated pen pal pencils together, interviewed each other, took pictures, and made a scrapbook together.  Now they want Skype so they can have playdates together and play American Girls. When did emailing become not enough?  :)  So, I'm thinking maybe we need to get Skype.

Summer Time

trading silly bands with friends

feeding baby alive again and again

playing at the park

door to door lemonade stand

decorating t-shirts

quiet time

four days into summer and we are having a blast!

First/Last Day of School

             First Day of School for the girls...  Kindergarten, second and fifth grade!

 

















Where did the year go?!

Looking back on the year and the transition they made from private to public, the girls did beautifully!  Erika going into Middle School, yikes, could have had such a hard time, and she picked up right where she left off in second grade.  Ironically, finding the same little group of friends she had at Bowman, and even made some more great friendships!  So proud of her!  I couldn't have picked better friends for her. 

It's crazy how I worried the least about Emily, and she was the one who had the hardest time.  She missed her teacher (an angel) that she had for the last two years, and her friends tons.  I was so consumed with Erika starting Middle School, that I had forgotten that all Emily knew was The Academy.  This year she had 17 boys in her class and only 5 other girls.  slim pickins.  But of course Emily made the most of it and her teacher couldn't get enough of her. She's a shining star, and a day doesn't go by that I thank God for her.

Ellie, forget kindergarten, she's ready for the world!  We lucked out and she got who Erika had for kindergarten; a legend.  She had a rough Fall and Winter with her asthma, with her teacher even texting me to see how she was doing.  She had a great year, except for the fact that there were 28 kids in her class, and I'm pretty sure you just survive day to day with that number.  Not much phases Ellie, she absolutely loves school. 

We are so blessed, and I definitely think God was looking out for us this year as we went from an incredible school to another great school, just not the same. 

Here are a couple fun shots I grabbed, that I didn't want to forget:  (wish I was better at making a slideshow, maybe this summer) 

                         Happy Summer!!!!

The dance recitals are nothing short of pure joy- for them and for us.  They think performing on stage is about the greatest thing ever!  Putting on shows for us at home was good practice, as they loved every minute of being in the spotlight.  We were so proud of them; they knew their routines and had a "400 watt smile!"