Norah's First Day of Pre-School!

Norah was thrilled to start "school" like sister! She picked out her own clothes, decided she NEEDED to bring a back pack and was ready for me to leave as soon as we walked in the door. She loves ALL of her teachers! Teacher Deanna greets her every morning, but many high school students are in and out during the day to play with the kids. She has already brought home MANY paintings and loves playing outside. "I am practicing my monkey bars so I can do them at the park by our house mommy!" She also knows a song about an apple trees you shake and the apples taste yummy - I almost caught her singing it tonight - but she won't perform it for us! She only has one other little girl in her class and LOTS of boys....after one week she told me..... "I did play with Lilyblue today." (Yes that really is her name!) Anyway, she loves it and thinks it neat that it's right by daddy classroom!

Abigail's First Day of First Grade!

She started the day at 5:15 with unbelieveable enthusiasm. She proceeded to talk NON-STOP the rest of the morning......driving me crazy!!!!! I couldn't help but laugh at her, I do remember being very excited for my first day of school, it's just more exhausting being on the parent side of things.

She had a wonderful day in Mrs. McElroy's class, she told me all about her: S.H.A.R.K. folder "that has all the important things in it", how getting a RED card is bad and "You have to go to the focus room for like 5 minutes and DO NOTHING!", how she got 4 recesses but no PE "When do we start PE mom?" But my favorite of all was when I asked, "Did you make any new friends today Abigail." She responds, "Well not technically." So I asked, "Did you learn any new names of kids in your class?" She responds, "Well not technically." (I'm trying not to laugh in the front seat) Then she asks, "Mom, what does not technically mean?" That' s Abigail for you! Reading Anne of Green Gables is already explanding her vocabulary.....watch out!!

Quick Update!

August 21st - Brett and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. Grandpa and Grandma kept the girls over night! We enjoyed a delicious brunch at a winery outside of Salem, outlet mall shopping, Bingo with our good friends Bryan and Kelli and a GOOD night sleep! What an amazing 10 years - filled with joys and challenges - and we are very grateful for the MANY blessing we have received from God!

August 26th - Margo decided not to walk the Portland Marathon in October. Instead deciding to walking the Seattle 1/2 Marathon in November. I will set a time goal in the next few weeks once I adjust to working on speed not distance!

August 31st - Brett and I headed back to work. This week was filled with meetings, frustration and a little excitement for the upcoming school year. I will now be working five days a week! (Monday/Wednesday/Friday for only 4 hours in the morning and Tuesday Thursday for 6 hours.) Should be an interesting schedule!! Brett is starting the year with a student teacher, which is great but requires a lot for more work for him! Needless to say we were VERY tired last night and are relaxing at home today!

What's coming?? THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Watch for pictures and details about Abigail starting 1st grade (she got a letter from her teacher today!) and Norah starting pre-school! It will be so exciting!!

Cousins Weekend

This has become an annual tradition with Brett's cousins. It started the summer after Brett and I were married and has grown from 10 adults to about 20 adults and 8 kids! Above the older cousins are posing with fun sun glasses they made at the most recent cousins weekend. The kids are stair steps with the oldest being 8 and the youngest 1 (the three youngest are not in this picture). Our locations have varied and we try to alternate between Washington and Oregon, depending on where weddings are =)! This year we met at the beach house on Tulalip Shores. This is a perfect location, right on the water, lots of outdoor space for the kids and enough yard for Kubb.....a family favorite! We always enjoy our time spent together and it is great for the kids to play together! Looks like we'll be back in Washington next year for a wedding =)!!!! Yahoo!

Camping with the Folks!

We met with my side of the family at Nehalem Bay State Park. On the way up we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for some delicious ice cream.....yummy!! The park was across the street from our camp site and there was a "fort" in the trees by the bathroom that entertained the girls for hours. We also went to the bay side of the camp ground to go in my brother's kayak and the girls played in the driftwood treehouse! (Abigail is posing onto of the house.) We also rode our bikes into Manzanita for a delicious pizza lunch. Brett and I did some browsing with my Aunt Annie at the VERY expensive stores, such fun to just hang out!! It was great to see everyone and sit around the camp fire and visit! The girls came home spoiled and over tired.....looking forward to life getting back to "normal" around here!

Swimming Lessons!!!

So this year has been an interesting year for swim lessons. We started off great! Both jumped in the pool happy as could be and started with good attitudes. Week one was pretty good - we had to dangle a few rewards out there and we practiced one day at the Cool Pool, but all in all it was a good week. Week two started off TERRIBLE!! Abigail refused to try, lost ALL toys for the day and threw MANY fits! Today she did great......kick boarding across the pool, supergirl glides, big arms over 1/2 way across the pool, jumping off the diving board with only minor threats - it was AWESOME! Hopefully she will end the week strong. Norah has been delightful the entire time - trying almost everything - doing bobs, glides, kicking, back floating, jumping in......she's pretty entertaining! Their teachers have been awesome and I appreciate Brianna's patience especially!

Abigail's Loosing her Teeth!

Abigail has now lost 3 teeth! She had one tooth pulled in May because an infection had developed above the top missing tooth. She then lost her first tooth naturally in June (the new tooth is almost fully grown in!) Then last weekend, while at the church camp-out, she wiggled the other bottom one free. As you can see the adult tooth was already growing in behind it! My little girls growing up TOO fast!!!