1st Sleepover

Miss Debra had a hotel near the horseshow grounds during their stay here. She went back and forth between our house and the hotel throughout the week.

Addison, who is having an independent streak and wanting to do anything she can on her own, had planned for weeks to have a sleepover there. Reagan went back and forth, but in the end, she was not to be left out. So, one night, my Dad, Deb and both big girls stayed at the hotel for a slumber party. They were so cute with their backpacks all packed up and their Pillow Pets. Tommy and I didn't leave the hotel until 9pm and we were back by 8:30am the next day, but they loved their stay.

Addison spent 2 nights at her Grandma and Grandpa's house when she was 1. But that is it for stays away from home. We had one quick night at a nearby hotel while Tommy's parents were here a few years ago and one quick night this summer while my sister stayed here with the kids. But, that is all we have ever left them....its just not something you do much when family doesn't live in town. All went well, despite nerves (mine) and they made it just fine....they barely even said good-bye. They all did so good, perhaps I see a beach getaway in Mommy and Daddy's nearby future?

Gifted

That is my dad. He has a gift. He can fall asleep anytime, anywhere, regardless of the noise or commotion around him. This was the first morning they were here and the girls had taken him upstairs to see their room. Next thing I know, he is in the bunkbed snoring. Reagan put a sticker on his lips, but he slept through it. I think he had a 20 minute nap that day. If you have been in my house and heard the noise level, you realize what a talent this really is.

Adrenaline Junkies

My Dad and Deb arrived for a visit Wednesday and we had the whole day Thursday to visit with them before Deb had to spend the next few days judging a horseshow. We were felling spontaneous and decided to take advantage of living in the mountains. We picked Addison up from school and headed to Heritage Square in Golden to check out the Alpine Slide.

My girls loved it. Actually, except for Gracyn, who couldn't understand why she kept getting left at the bottom, we all loved it. Reagan raced off to ride over and over again and Addison is a pure adrenaline junkie. She had several chances to ride with Pappy and Miss Debra before I got a turn to go up. She insisted on handling the brake and she NEVER wanted to use it. I kept trying to pull the brake and SLOW-US-DOWN. She spent the entire ride pushing my hands away and telling me we were going to go, "Fast as the wind!" I pointed out "SLOW" signs to her and she pressed on faster and faster. Remind me not to get the girl a fast car when she turns 16.

Pappy and Reagan are in the chairlift riding to the top.

Addison and Deb headed up.
I was waiting at the bottom with Gracyn. She wasn't too happy when they left without us. She watched the chairlift overhead and shouted "Up, up, up!"

Addison and Pappy making the turn at the end of the 1/2 mile slide.

Thrilled!

Reagan coming fast.

They are a little wind-blown.

Pure joy, already asking to do it again.

Big girls riding the ferris wheel with Daddy. Motion sick Mommy stayed on the bottom with Gracyn. More screaming, "Up, up, up!"

Mommy and Reagan riding the bumper boats. I tried to let her drive, but she would always put us in a dead-spin. It's the circles that make me sick.

Daddy tried to take Gracyn to ride this banana ride, but he physically could not fit himself into it, and I was out since it went in circles. She settled for the roller-coaster train and loved it.

See that mad face? She didn't want it to stop.

Here she is later, her hair never recovered from the roller coaster.

After heading back to the Alpine Slide for one final ride for everyone, we decided to be even more spontaneous. We jumped in the car and headed 20 more minutes into the mountains to Idaho Springs to try the famous, Colorado, Beau Jeau's Pizza. We have been hearing about it for 2 years and it did not disappoint. It had charm, character and delicious pizza! And bonus, when we stepped out to leave at 9pm, it was cold! What a great night we had. My girls are tired today, and I am paying for it, but it was totally worth it!!!

Tree Huggers

In the literal sense! Climbing trees has become the new hobby of choice, and probably the reason for a future blog post on broken bones. Addison started it, with the now slightly disfigured tree in our front yard. It isn't exactly mature, so their weight has bent several of the lower branches downward. They can get pretty high. Can you find them in all the pictures?

No tree climbing yet for Princess Gracyn. She prefers to be pushed up and down the street in her pink chariot while searching for "Roll-Rolls", or roly-polys as most people call them! She insisted on bringing the pool noodle along on this day.

Finally, The First Day

After all the registration process, Meet the Teacher, and Parent Day the big day finally arrived. Thanks to Gracyn's morning sleep strike and her screaming, "Out, out, out!!!", from her bed at 5:45am, we were all up early and anticipating the day. She is in afternoon kindergarten, so we had a while to wait! When we arrived at school, we said prayers for her, then headed in to line up. She didn't ever look back. She was ready to go and so excited!!! I only shed a few tears in the car on the way home as I was praying for her and asking God to let her be a light to the people around her and that her journey through school would be a blessing. I tried not to think too much about turning my baby over to the world. It is the beginning of a long road.

I picked her up a few hours later and took her for ice-cream and a debriefing. Turns out if you offer ice-cream she will actually talk. I got to hear all about her day and it was all good. She is ready for a great year.

Practice Run

My little carbon-copy! Daddy and his girl.

Addison and Mrs. Stromberg

The first day of kindergarten is a kind off "practice run" around here. They only go for a little over an hour and Mommy and Daddy get to go with them. We did an activity together than the children had some time with the teacher while the parents visited with the principal. Then, the kids got to have recess on the playground while we had an orientation with the teacher. It was a great way to get to know Mrs. Stromberg and learn a little more about the school and her classroom before we sent our girl off!!!

Good-bye Summertime

We were super busy squeezing in lots of last minute summer fun last week, too busy in fact, for me to take a single picture. But, I still want to remember. In the last week before summer...

~We went to two birthday parties.

~I took the big girls to see "Beezus and Ramona"....a fabulous movie!!! We are loving the books
too.

~The big girls each got their own library cards, which they are so proud off.

~We had a super fun playdate at Big Monkey Bizness

~We went swimming twice. That is where Gracyn mastered two of her newest words "Noodle" pronounced "Noo-nuhl" and "Mine". She loves her yellow swim noodle and she does not like her sisters to touch it. The pool is also where Reagan had to be rescued by a lifeguard. She was REALLY FINE, and Tommy and I were both a few feet away and watching her the whole time, but he was being over-cautious....I am glad for that.

~We had Addison's Meet the Teacher.

~We had a great family night at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo. The girls had saved up quarters to play games at the carnival, we watched a bit of the rodeo, and we had a blast walking through the animal barns. They loved getting up close to the bunnies, pigs, sheep, goats, cows, chicken and turkeys. Addison especially is such an animal lover. She even called Pappy on the way home to ask if she could have a goat at his house.

~We visited Tommy's office for Coke's Family Fun Day. The girls played games, we had hamburgers, they saw the Broncos' mascot and cheerleaders, and their fav was the wipe-off board in Daddy's office.

We put the girls to bed early Sunday night and snuck out for a date. Don't worry, we had a babysitter here. I had such a great last week of summer with my girlies. It was fun being on our own schedule and doing whatever we wanted for just a bit longer!

Meet the Teacher

Last week we went to Addison's kindergarten Meet the Teacher. Mrs. Stromberg is such a sweet teacher, I know Addison is going to have a great year. She was even nice enough to promise that Addison could sit at the same table as her good friend and neighbor Clara. We shall see if they can sit together without getting too chatty!!!

It has been a nice, slow transition into school, with several events there prior to the first day, so I think I am ready. Addison for sure is good to go. We had one last meeting with her teacher today, and she practically drug me down the hall. I told her she was walking me like our Maggie dog does!!!

Tomorrow is the official first day. Her bag is packed and she was off to bed early. Negotiations are still taking place over the bus.....she wants to ride, I am hesitant. I am so thankful to be blessed with a loving, Christian teacher. I am praying for a great year!

Messy Hands and Hair Drama

Taming these 3 of the crazy bed-head, plus my own hair take up some time in the morning!

And Gracyn loves painting, but she does NOT like to have her hands get messy!!!

Park Days

Few things are more fun to me than summer evenings at the park with my family. Saturday, we met the Coulters' at Jason's Deli for dinner and then headed to Westlands Park to play. The park is about 20 minutes from our house, so we don't go there often. Tommy had never been, and it has been over a year for the girls and I. We had such a great time. I still sometimes just stop short at the breathtaking beauty of Colorado! The girls had a great time playing with Austin, though I didn't get many pictures of him....he is too fast. Gracyn was in a great mood and hamming it up for the camera, and the big kids got to explore the tree house, a huge slide and the fountains. Fun times for all!!! We can't wait to go back.