Having fun in the sun!

I love summer! I am so glad my girls love it, too!! We have a fun daily schedule for the summer. The day starts with a wagon walk (ya'll know my girls get up at 6) followed by walking Taz around the block. They are so good in the wagon while mommy gets her excerise. They sing, play with playdough, eat a snack, or watch for bunnies. We even catch some sprinklers sometimes so we run through them! We have seen so many bunnies lately! On Taz's walk they pick yellow flowers (weeds), look for rolly pollies (doodlebugs), worms, crystals (rocks), run, and take turns holding Taz's leash. Then, we play outside in the driveway or backyard until the sun hits us and then we go inside. Since my daughters have such fair skin I don't take a chance with the sun!

3D glasses with chalk

On your mark...get set...GO!!

So proud Avery can reach the pedals. This was a proud moment for her!

The girls picking flowers.

The girls with rolly pollies.

The girls have also been busy giving Taz a bath....

I love having fun neighbors....we just take our water hose over to their house and have lots of fun wet stuff to do......I remember the slip and slide. Here is today's version. All the kids had so much fun on it. They kept running back and forth to all the different water activities! We look forward to having several of these playdates this summer. I think we will even throw in a cookout with it every now and then!! I am so glad the girls have neighbor kids to grow up with.

Alexandra, Tucker, Avery, and Macy

Preschool Graduation

Alexandra had her preschool graduation on May 13th. She lead the preschoolers in the graduation march and did a wonderful job! It was a sweet graduation and just one more reminder that she is growing up way to fast for me. The class sang several songs, received a bible, and there was a slide show of all the kids. It was fun to see baby and toddler pictures of all the preschoolers. The kids laughed hard and had a fun time seeing their friends when they were babies. After the graduation, we went back to the room for a party and off to Culver's for lunch with friends. What a bitter sweet day for the kids. Alexandra will be going to school with a few friends she went to preschool with and continue playdates with the ones she will not go to Kindergarden with. I made sure my video camera was charged and assummed that my camera was. I found out it was out of battery when I went to take a picture of Alexandra at graduation. I did not get pictures of the special day but do have it recorded. So thanks to friends I was able to share a few pictures of her special day!











































Alexandra's preschool class

The Dominican Republic

This year Toby and I went to The Dominican Repubic and stayed at Punta Cana. It was beautiful and our only mission for the day was to read a book on the beach! Wow, how relaxing. The beach was breathtaking and it was amazing to wake up to that part of God's creation every morning. The people were really nice and we met quiet a few people since Toby played volleyball. I, on the other hand, layed on the beach and socialized in the evening. Each night there was a different type of themed music and skit for us to enjoy. It was nice to go lay on the beach after the music and hear the waves. We went with another couple and enjoyed their company. It is nice to go with someone you know. Dianne and I tried our hand at snorkling just off the beach. We were quiet the entertainment for our husbands. I was having a hard time breathing through the snorkle because the mask was not tight to my face. Dianne and I laughed so hard that we were tired and it looked like we were struggling. There was a much older man snorkling by us who even offered to take our snorkle equipment so that we could swim back to the shore. Boy, we must have really looked pathetic. Anyway, we made it back to shore and continued our reading. I look forward to our annual trip because it is good just to have some adult time! Not to mention, that is our anniversary gift to each other. Happy 13th anniversary, honey!! Thank you for 13 wonderful years !!



























Our first glimps of the resort as we get out of the van.















flamingos















our view everyday









































Our living quarters for the stay at the resort.

snorkling buddies

Guess who's two?

....Avery! This year's theme for Avery's birthday party was Abby Caddaby. Avery had a smile on her face the entire time. She had so much fun! We started the party off with a Fairy Dance, Fairy says, and pin the pumpkin on the Abby poster. All the kids enjoyed these games so much. I think the favorite was the Abby Cadabby puzzle. We hid the pieces to the puzzle around the house. The kids had to look for them and then put the puzzle together! Next, was presents and cake. I had a hard time finding an Abby Caddaby cake pan so I decided to make ice cream cup cakes. They were a huge hit! I was proud of myself for actually baking. Happy 2nd Birthday Avery!!!

Avery Cadabby

ice cream cup cakes

fairy dancing

Abby puzzle

Sweet girls

True Beauty comes from the heart.....

This years theme for Girls of Grace was Proverbs 31. Alexandra's dances taught us gentleness, caring, and gracious. We are so grateful to have found such an amazing dance academy. I always look forward to her recitals because they teach us so much more than dancing! Toby had to work so it was hard for me to take pictures and video. I did not do a good job of either but she did an awesome job as well as all the other girls. This year each girl got a medal that has a heart on it engraved with the words true beauty. After the recital, we were served some delicious cake balls. I can't wait until next year!

Aubrey, Haley, and Alexandra

Grace and Alexandra

The gang: Natalie, Me, Jana, Addie, Alexandra, and Grace

Me and my sweet sweet angel

Avery at 23 months

Avery is just shy of being 2 years old! She is growing way to fast. Avery is really doing well on potty training! She has a sticker chart and gets chocolate every time she has success on the potty. These are both great incentives and are working well for her. She was interested a few months ago but that came and went and now she is really serious about it. Also, Toby took the rail off of her bed. So now she has a toddler bed. Avery began climbing on the rails and we took that as a sign to take them off. It is like a whole new found freedom for her. She just can't get enough of getting in and out of that bed. She talks constantly just like her big sis! Her favorite things to say are "I do it, don't leave me, and hold me". She is so energetic and keeps all of us on our toes. We can't wait to celebrate her 2nd birthday with Abby Caddaby!!!!