Highlights

Sadie loved wearing Analise's sunglasses
A Day out with Thomas

They enjoy bathtime together

Maisie loves to "wim" with daddy!

Sadie Lady walking the walker

Goodness...the summer is flying by! We've been busy and most days enjoying life. I will admit, there are days I just need a break. Let's see if I remember what we've been up to.

In June we had a week of VBS at our church for ages 3- Pre. K. It was a Go Fish curriculum called "Backstage with the Bible." We averaged 40 kids, and everyone had a great time. I was kind of the head honcho in all this, so it was fun seeing it come altogether. I had wonderful servant leaders, so my mornings were pretty simple. Analise loved being with her friends. Maisie was in the nursery with some of her friends, so she also enjoyed going. Sadie went a couple of mornings, but she spent the other days with Grandma.

I enjoyed being with kids again. I absolutely love being home with my girls, but when I am with kids, it's refreshing to me. I loved interacting with them and helped lead the worship time. What a blast!

We've enjoyed time boating together as a family. Analise is getting more brave and even got in the water with her Aunt S. Maisie is always up for a swim. Maisie was so excited we let her ride the big tube. She enjoys being a big girl.

For the 4th of July we had friends come from CO to stay with us. We hadn't seen them for a long time, so we had fun. They were so kind and helpful with the girls, and the girls just adored having them around. We did some fireworks with the family, they went golfing (so Analise was thrilled to drive the cart again.) and we spent time with the whole family. The weather wasn't all we hoped it to be, so we didn't get to go boating. In fact, I was in jeans and a sweatshirt when we watched the fireworks. We also make hamburger cupcakes that turned out really cute. Unfortunately, we lost 7 of them due to them falling off the top of the car as we drove down the hill. :)Thanks, N and J for spending your holiday with us!

We had swimming lessons the last two weeks. Analise was in the preschool class, and I signed Maisie up for the parent/toddler class. We never did that with Analise. However, Maisie seemed to have no fear of the water (unlike Analise) so I wanted her to learn a healthy fear. I signed us all up for evening classes so we could go at the same time, and Brandon could stay home with Sadie. That was the perk. The downfall was having dinner on the table by 5:10, and eating quickly so we could be out the door at 5:35. What a whirlwind! Two weeks of this schedule was plenty!

Analise really enjoyed her classes and became more brave in the water. By the end she was jumping in and completely going under. Once she learned she could do it (with an ice cream bribe from her mother) there was no stopping her.

Maisie, on the other hand, enjoyed going, but she actually became much more fearful of the water. By then end she was crying when I told her she had to go under. She attempted everything the instructor wanted us to do, but she never did anything well. I got through the classes, but I was reminded that I am a better Kindermusik mom than swimming lessons mom. Brandon took her a couple of times, but Maisie always wanted me to take her. :)

This past weekend we took a little family getaway. We went to a Day out with Thomas. It was about three hours away, but we were able to drive most of the way the night before and stay at a family's place. We arrived for the ride on Sat. morning, and the girls were so excited! They saw a real Thomas train and we took a 25 minute ride on the train. We then walked around the area and did other Thomas things. Analise enjoyed it all, and so did Maisie. She was always asking to see "Matas." So cute.

We have spent a couple nights at a local track so Analise can master the bike riding. She rode several laps last week and didn't fall. Yeah! She just needs to learn to start on her own.

Maisie is Maisie and keeps life busy and full of laughter. A quick funny...one night she was messing with a rug in the kitchen. Brandon told her to put it back nicely. So Maisie bent down and gave the rug a kiss. :)

Sadie is all over following her sisters. This week she puts their shoes on her hands and crawls around.

That's about all...quiet time is over.