Are We Having Fun?

We have rolled into summer F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!  We had another stretch of chilly temperatures but finally we were able to fill up the pools!  Pool's because we couldn't remember if they had holes in or leaked or whatever else...so they were both blown up and filled and....one was a little droopy but the kids had fun.

Molly was being silly with all the floaties!

Inside we've been busy with some 'table time' aka summer homework!!!!  But we've been busy playing too~~playdoh!

Chris decided to 'air-out' his tent..he called it his 'dog-house'...so apparently he plans to do something to warrant one!!!

In the meantime, the girls have been playing in it.  Sunday night Taylor and Molly decided they were going to sleep in it...sure...(I didn't think they would last the night)...Molly started worrying about it before they even got in...we were reading books inside and Molly asked me if robbers were going to come and take them away..I replied that we don't usually have robbers in the backyard..I didn't tell her what we do occasionally have in our backyard (*critters*)  They were a little nervous so I told them I would sit outside and read on the patio.  I could hear them discussing their situation and it soon became apparent that Taylor was trying to convince Molly to stay.  Molly lasted about 20 minutes and then headed into the safety of her bedroom.  Taylor surprisingly stayed.  I continued to read and Taylor commented that she could see the fireflies through the tent...it was very pretty!  The she fell asleep!  I went inside for awhile, but eventually woke her up before I went to bed...I couldn't leave her out there by herself!!!

The girls started summer school.  Three of them!  Morgan is 'On The Way to Kindergarten'.  She was very excited and loves going!

She has brought home some really cute bubble projects and fish projects and is excited to read her books to us when she gets home.  She hasn't had a chance to ride the bus yet...none of us can seem to get up and going soon enough to catch it...maybe tomorrow *I've been saying that for over a week*

And while three of them are in school this little monkey is thoroughly enjoying her 'mommy time'!

Please stay three forever!

Molly

The Big Night.

Pre-show photo opportunities!

Molly was ready for the show.  Backstage she set up her blanket, her bag, got her shoes on and found a friend to play with.

One of the other moms had some spray glitter for the girl's hair...not to be upstaged, Molly waited for her turn to get glitterized!

She did a great job.  And she even smiled on stage...some of the girls are concentrating so hard they forget to smile...so I always remind Molly to have fun while you're up there and smile!  She had a big costume and hair piece change this year but she did it all by herself...she was very proud!

Afterwards, she received some flowers from Grandma Dar to add to her flowers from Mom and Dad and she posed for a few pictures.

Bravo~

Morgan

The Big Night!

A little pre-recital sass!

And some sisterly love!

The staging area.  We brought a blanket to sit on so her white tights might stay white until her performance.  The she changed her shoes and put on her gloves.  She was very ready!

And she did great!  We talked about the differences between rehearsal and recital.  One being that it would be dark in the audience and second being that because of that she wouldn't be able to see us...but we would be there and we'd be waving...so just keep smiling...and she did!

Afterwards, she graciously accepted flowers from Grandma Dar and posed for some pictures!

Then it was off to get icecream!



Bravo~

The First Day of My Summer Break...*break~yah right!*

No really...I enjoy my crazy summer schedule!  I like all the different activities and the different schedules and the pacing..it's just a different feel then the routine of the school year.  So bring it on...we're ready!

Taylor started her first day of break with day one of soccer camp.  She's such a trooper...up and ready to go a little unsure of who she might know or not know but still very willing to go and play.  Bonus was that she did know a few of the girls and even a boy from her class.  

Then it was rehearsal day!  Morgan and Molly have been taking dance lessons during the school year and now it's recital time! This year the girls will have separate recitals so that means separate rehearsals.

Monday was rehearsal day and Morgan was first!

The hair went up; the gloves went on; and we even added a little mascara to her red...yes red eyelashes!

Molly came along for some sisterly support.

This was Morgan's first year so she had just one performance.  

Ballet.

After a quick lunch, it was Molly's rehearsal time.  She was such a pro!

This is Molly's third year.

So she has a ballet performance.

A tap performance.



 And a jazz performance.  Check out those shiny capri's!

After dinner, Morgan and Lacey had music class over at the park and recreation building.  All my girls have gone through 'Miss Kristin's' music classes.  Morgan and Lacey were so cute together.  Always checking to see where the other one was and smiling and laughing.  LOVE IT!

After all that busy I decided to introduce the girls to a new little project I had worked on.  It's the 'How I Help My Family' poster.  Other possible names that were rejected were; 'Job Chart', and 'Work Board'..but those didn't sound 'fun'...my other thought was the 'So Mom Doesn't Have To Do It All Chart'....but that was too long to fit across the top!

So I used some magnets and some clip-art to make pictures of jobs around the house that the girls can help with.  Some of them like making their beds, brushing their teeth, and reading will always stay.  Others like helping with laundry, or cleaning their rooms will rotate among them.  And some jobs like sweeping and vacuuming are only for the big girls. 

They.were.so.excited!  Lacey wanted to make her bed right away...it took some discussion to convince her that she was going to go to sleep in her bed now so it would be best to make it in the morning.

The girls have been doing great and are actually remembering more than I am....'mom, I have to help with dinner'....'mom, I get to set the table'....I KNOW!  Amazing right!

Taylor even came up to me, hugged me, and told me she loved it! Why did I not think of this sooner!

For the big girls there is $1 a week included in this deal which hopefully will help with motivation...I'm no fool...I'm well aware that the euphoria mentioned above will dwindle with time...but cold hard cash baby!!!!!....well...we'll see!

'How I Help My Family' chart week one:  a success!

I'd Like to Introduce

the brand new 4th graders.....

...and the brand new 2nd graders!



Gosh my kids are short!

Watering Cans

Eager little helpers.