First day of school

Today is the first day of 1st Grade for Grace! I am sad that she'll be gone all day! She is so excited though!

Saying good-bye before running in...
We went to the school yesterday for "Meet your Teacher" day. Grace found her desk, her very own desk and put her supplies in it. She also found her cubby and the lunchbox bin.

Grace is going to learn so much from her Teacher. I just can't believe that I won't have her around during the day! Sophie starts preschool next week and she is beyond excited about that!

Two weeks in MN

We kids and I spent the last two weeks with the Beach family in Minnesota! We had a blast! It was so fun to see everyone and play with the cousins! We swam in the lake every day except one, when it rained and rained. We went to the zoo, rode the carousel, ate yummy food and went to the MN State Fair.

The kids LOVED every minute they were able to swim. Some days we were out there for 4 hours. We had some casualties though...the snake and hippo floaties didn't make it home. One floated down the river and the others popped. There was even a near disaster as Brady almost floated down the river too! Good thing mom was there and willing to jump in the lake, fully clothed, to save him. Grandma and Auntie Mara got a really good laugh at my expense!

I haven't been to the MN State Fair in 9 years and that was a MUST for this time. We stayed extra long to be able to do it. We went opening day and had a blast. There is a newer building called the Miracle of Birth Center where animals are set to deliver during the 10 day run of the fair. We saw baby pigs be born and almost a calf...the mom was having a hard time and the building was closing for the night. Grace was sad to have missed that. There were baby goats and lambs and chicks and ducks and bunnies...everything! The kids were able to put them too. Super fun!!

And of course what would the fair be without the FOOD?!?! We ate and ate. Here are Sophie and Cole sharing a ICEE with Auntie Mara. We ate fries, cheese curds, lemonade, australian battered potatoes, gyros, corn dogs and laffy taffy. We finished off the day with Sweet Martha's chocolate chip cookies and all you can drink milk for $1.

The Giant slide was the kids' favorite of the day. We rode it three times. Sophie was brave and rode it by herself the first time, but was falling off. So she asked if I would ride it with her the next time. Super fun!

Grandma and all the kids!
Sophie looks a little nervous, huh?!?

Super fun day and a SUPER fun two weeks! Hopefully we'll make it back before another two years goes by!

Dress up Night

We have been having A LOT of fun this summer playing dress-up! Garrett surprised the kids with some super fun NEW outfits and the kids were so EXCITED! We now have Cinderella, Belle and SpiderMan living at our house! You better be careful or you'll get webbed!

Brady is 3!

I can't believe this little guy is 3 years old! He is so much fun to have in our family! He loves his sisters and mom and dad and has to do EVERYTHING that we are all doing...building, sewing, coloring, painting...whatever you're doing he's right on your heels!

He also loves Spiderman and Legos and cars. TOTAL boy! Most days you can find him wearing his rainboots (rain or shine) and carrying his whole pile of blankets around.

Happy Birthday Brady! We LOVE YOU!

Weekend Getaway

A couple of weeks ago we spent a weekend overnighter at this amazing cabin near Bremerton. The kids LOVED canoeing and riding in the paddleboat. They also collected slugs and swam, swam, swam.

It was great to get away. And Garrett was in HEAVEN being able to fish. (even though he didn't catch anything!)