Swim and Dive Season

Swim and dive season is upon us! Both girls have joined both teams. They love dive and are not as excited about swim this year. Sophie has made huge strides with swim and is able to participate in three strokes legally. She took ten seconds off her freestyle from last year, too.

Both girls participated in the first dive meet. Here is a picture of Sophie doing a back dive. The first meet was extra exciting because Sophie sang the National Anthem all by herself, and Maddie placed first in her age group! We are off to a great start!!

Sixth Grade Graduate

Madeline wrapped up her elementary years in June. She was so excited about her promotion ceremony and party. How pretty are these young ladies!!


Below is a picture with some of my colleagues who also had graduating sixth graders. We are really going to miss spending our days with them next year.

Madeline received a Presidential award for academic excellence for maintaining a 3.5 minimum GPA since fourth grade and earning advanced state test scores. As you can see below, she was one of many. Her award was signed by President Obama!

Following the ceremony, the kids had a huge party complete with food, soda, a DJ, and a photo booth!

Ginger, Dog #3

Once Kent approved of my getting a second dog and he saw how beautifully she fit into our family, he began to ponder adding a third. He visited the rescue group Cali came from and found a skinny shy hound with huge floppy ears. The rescue said we could take her home for a trial period to see how she fit in. She is very sweet, and Madeline adores her. However, she is definitely more work than the other two dogs put together. Maddie is rooting for her, so we are working really hard on training in several areas. I consider her on probation . . . She is pretty cute . . . when she's sleeping.

Dance Recital

 Maddie took a break from gymnastics this winter to try a ballet and an acro dance class. She really enjoyed it. She performed in a recital in early June. Grandma and Grandpa came to watch.

Internet Cafe

Just a random picture of what our living room often looks like . . . neighborhood gathering place.

New Jersey

The last weekend in May, we drove up to see our New Jersey family. We spent a night with Josh, Jenn, and our cousins enjoying their rope swing and lakeside beach.

Campout!

Sophie was over the moon about her first girl scout camping trip with her troop friends! We put a lot of time into packing and planning. I dropped her off at 7 am for a day of learning and a night of fun. Unfortunately, her troop leader called around 7 pm because it was pouring and tents were leaking. She was bringing the girls home. Sophie was so disappointed. I am sure there will be another opportunity, though.

Mother's Day/May!

My mom and Jim came over for Mother's Day. We had a great time grilling dinner and hanging out in the yard.

May is a beautiful time of year around here! Look at everything growing in my front yard. Some things I planted and some things were here when we bought the house, but I really love how it all looks right now!

I even have a cucumber growing in my vegetable garden!

Science Fair and High Ropes

Madeline participated in our school's science fair. I am proud to report that the girls completed the project without adult/parent participation! They did it all themselves and were proud of the end results!

Through Girl Scouts, Madeline participated in a high ropes adventure night climb. Personally, I thought it was a little too dark even with headlamps, but the kids had fun. We came home at midnight!

My New Baby!

Every few months over the last couple of  years, I have brought up the possibility of a second dog. And every time, Kent has been disagreeable about it. Finally though, he began to warm up to the idea. We visited several shelters and rescue events, completed multiple applications, had vet verification phone calls, and home inspections, and finally it seemed Leah would no longer be an "only" dog.

We purchased new dog bowls and a bed for our  new puppy. LOL, Leah approved.

Finally, we were able to bring our new baby home. I decided to name her "Cali" so she wouldn't feel left out; our other three girls are all Cali-girls.

She has been a wonderful addition so far! She is about nine months old her rescue group guesses. She is a shepherd mix and moslty black with some brown feet, legs, and belly. She really loves the girls and is giving Leah some much needed exercise. Madeline and I love walking the dogs nightly, and we all have been spending a ton of time in the yard.

Ha Ha. Here is Mr. "I don't want another dog" with Cali. He's smitten.

Dancing Queens

Two dances in one month! Both girls attended a Father-Daughter dance through girl scouts in April. OMG, my heart was full watching these three get ready!! Maddie found a hairstyle on youtube, and I was actually successful with it!

The following weekend, Madeline's future middle school hosted a rising 7th grader dance. She went with one of her elementary school friends. Where is the time going!!!!

Easter 2015

We celebrated Easter with our annual egg coloring, both at home and at Grandma Connie's.

Josh, Jenn, and the cousins joined us for an early Easter dinner at Grandma's, too!

The Easter bunny stopped by, and knowing our "not a ton of candy" philosophy, left earrings, headbands, markers, books, and facial masks for Maddie and make-up, mermaid dolls, lego kits, and tattoos for Sophie.

We followed up Easter morning with a brunch and egg hunt with a good friend of Maddie's and an Easter dinner with Kent's side of the family. We had a very full Easter weekend!