Camping for July 4th

Wes has wanted to go camping for quite some time. I'm not a camper. My parents took me on many camping trips when I was a kid and I learned that I really liked electricity and toilets that flush with real water. Anyway, Wes and I took the girls to the lake this past weekend and I had an idea. Wes had July 4th off work so why not camp in the backyard. When I told my mom, she said we were like the Backyardigans. We told the girls about it Sunday and they asked every day when we were going camping.

Yesterday, Wes pitched the tent during his lunch. The girls were excited to help him. After lunch, they took a nap and Wes went back to work. After nap, we packed some friends (what we call our lovies) and a night gown and went out the back door. I had planned for Wes to grill out last night and today. He starts the grill to find out that the whole thing is eroded. Fortunately, we were just having hot dogs so we cooked them inside. After dinner, we went to get a little charcoal grill to use for the next couple of days.

The tent in the backyard

Practicing sleeping on our Hello Kitty sleeping bags

Eating our hot dogs

Two girls and a tent

After the trip to the store to get the grill, we played outside and in the tent for awhile until we could go see fireworks. Around 9:00, way past the girls bed time, we headed to our favorite parking lot to watch fireworks.

Can't wait for the fireworks to start

After the fireworks, we headed back home to camp some more. I was surprise that the girls slept all night in the tent and loved every minute of it. Of course, I didn't sleep so well and heard every car door and speeding car that passed. Both girls woke up so happy.

This morning, we woke up with the sun around 6:30. Today's activity was to go to the Coppell parade. Turns out some of the people from our Sunday school class were there too, so it was tons of fun. Good thing for Gracie, because every time we go anywhere she ask who we are going to see there. My little social butterfly.

Waiting for the parade and eating McDonalds

All the kiddos waiting for the parade and candy!

Tonight, our menu is steaks, grilled pineapple and banana boats (at least that's what we called them when I was a kid). What a great holiday! I kept thinking that today was Saturday because Wes was home. Hopefully it will make the week go by fast.

VBS

We just finished our second year of VBS at our church and we had a blast. The theme this year was Operation Overboard, which was an underwater theme. I helped out all week and we came home beat! The girls had a full week of crafts, puppet shows, singing, praying, learning about God, water day and of course snacks.

It was fun to see how much they had grown compared to last year, participating with the hand movements in the program and no crying at drop off. Gracie even went down the big water slide. Lizzie climbed to the top but was too scared to go down. So, she came back down.

Also during the week, it was Pastor Dennis's birthday. Funny story, Gracie was asked by one of the ladies if she was going to sit by the birthday boy. So, the entire car ride over that's all she could talk about. Of course, we were the last ones there and both of the seats next to Dennis were taken. I said that Gracie wanted to sit by Dennis and sure enough, two people moved so Lizzie and Gracie could sit by Dennis. What a special and sweet group of people to work with!

Gracie at crafts

Lizzie at crafts

Learning all the fun songs

The girls and I

Gracie at the top of the water slide

Gone Fishin'

We spent this weekend in Oklahoma for my nephew's birthday and Father's Day. It was a fun weekend.

On Saturday, we took the girls to a fishing birthday party. It was the first time the girls had ever fished. Gracie really liked it but Lizzie was not as big a fan. Her attention span lasted about as long as mine. Gracie caught a stick and a fish. When she caught the stick, she was so funny and said "you can't eat stick for dinner". Lizzie mostly got her hook caught in the grass or other stuff.

Patiently waiting for daddy to get the hook on the line

Gracie fishing

Daddy casting Lizzie's line while she waits patiently

Catching "stick fish"

Fishing some more

Gracie's "catch"

On Sunday, it was Sammy's birthday and Father's Day. My cousins' came over for lunch and I got to hold baby Dawson while Kassidy played with all the kids. He is so big and cute.

My sweet daddy

The girls and their sweet daddy

My cousin, Chris, telling the girls all about Dawson

Eating Sammy's birthday brownies

The birthday boy with a mouth full of brownie

It was a really fun weekend and we are all exhausted. Wes and I stayed up late both nights talking with my parents.

Four Years Old!

Today, we celebrate the girls' fourth birthday! I can't believe how far we have come. We now have healthy, happy girls! They are at a fun but challenging age. The girls know so much and say so much that amazes me. On the other hand, they test me with their independence and will. Still, every day is an adventure and really fun.

We had the girls birthday party this past weekend. They spent the previous week at Grandma and Papa's having a blast. My friend Allison took great pictures of them for their party. Here are some of the pictures (there are a lot of them).

The birthday girls

The birthday cake

Anna, Isaac and EJ (some of the girls besties)

Sweet Cousins - Sam, Lizzie, Gracie, Sydney

Gracie hugging Reese with Riley (more besties)

Love this

Lizzie's turn

Sweet sister Laura and her family

Fun on the tire swing with Caroline

No, they are not 44. Its two 4s.

My mom, Elaine, and sister

Silly girls

Sweet Amy, momma to Reese and Riley

We are 4

Yummy Hello Kitty Cupcakes

Nana kisses

Everybody hanging out

It was a great party and on a beautiful summer day. The kids just played and played. It was one of the easiest parties ever and fun to have the family there.

Pool's Open

Lizzie and Gracie have been enjoying their kiddie pool lately. We have had a hot spring, so we have been out there a lot. The girls love to play with the hose by watering everything, including each other. They take turns so every few minutes, I hear "is it my turn yet, momma?".  It reminds me of when my sister and I were little. We loved the summer and playing in the water.

 

Getting ready to squirt each other

Downward dog in the pool to get her hair wet

We have been going to a preschool yoga class lately and the girls are really into it. They know the sun salutation and can do the whole thing. I will call it out and they will do all the poses. I think their favorite pose is downward dog and any variation. They will get in the pose and then kick one foot up and then the other. Hope they keep up the enjoyment. It makes me happy.

Memorial Day 2012

We spent our Memorial Day weekend in Oklahoma with family. On Saturday, we went to the Cowboy Hall of Fame's annual Chuck Wagon event. It was fun. We did a wagon ride, the girls did some crafts, rode a pony, ate some cowboy food and listen to cowboys singing. 

On the wagon

Wearing the bandanas that they decorated

Lizzie and Wes riding the pony

Gracie with Grandma

On Sunday, my aunt Betty and cousins' came over for lunch. I finally got to spend some time with baby Dawson. He was so cute!

The kids got to play in the water, go for a ride with Papa on the tractor and have so much fun. It was really fun!

Papa taking the kids for a ride in the tractor

Fun early birthday presents from Angie, Chris, Kassidy and Dawson

Sydney loved holding sweet baby Dawson

Today, Monday, we went to see Grandma and Grandpa Potter. Grandpa gave the girls a ride in his wheel barrow and the girls asked grandma a million questions about her flowers. It was a great weekend with lots of family fun. Our summer has begun!

What a Difference a Year Makes!

Today was the last day of school for Lizzie and Gracie. This was the first year of preschool for them and they loved it. They seemed so little when they started and now they are big girls. We watched they grow so much both physically and mentally. Next year will be their last preschool year and then it's on to kindergarten. Wow, time flies.

To show the differences, I thought I would show pictures of the first day of school vs. today.

Gracie

Lizzie

Daddy and his girls

 This one is from today, it was the best I got because they were in a hurry to get into the classroom.

Standing by their names

Something really nice that the teacher did is make a scrapbook for all the kids. It has pictures in it from the year. It was nice to see what they did and learned throughout the year. Now, we start our summer.