When you have an older sister...

you want your nails painted too.  

first day of school

The first day of second grade was a success.  McKenzie was pretty reluctant to go back to school this year, but she had a great day and is ready to go back tomorrow. 

ready for the big day.

Carter had to get in a photo too. 

McKenzie and I had a girls day today before she has to start school tomorrow.  I gave McKenzie the option of watching a movie, going shopping, bowling, skating, pedicures, or painting a ceramic piece at the mud room.  Her choice.....skating. 

They had the neatest things to help the kids learn to skate. 

McKenzie and I had a great time 

McKenzie made major improvements from the time we got there to the time we left with her ability to skate.  It was exciting to watch her confidence grow.

We did spend some time on the ground - both of us.

It was such a special day and so much fun to have the 

one-on-one time with McKenzie.  She is growing up so fast and becoming such a little lady.  Tim and I are both so proud of her. 

back to school night

Tonight we took McKenzie's school supplies to her room and got to meet her teachers.  McKenzie will have two teachers this year.  Her homeroom teacher, Mrs. Krueger, will teach the literacy components: word work, writing and reading.  And then Mrs. Kupferer will teach the math and science classes. 

Mrs. Krueger had made a bag of goldfish for each one of her students, with a cute saying on them about the 2nd grade and fish (I honestly can't remember what it said)  :-).  But she thought Carter was so cute he needed his own bag of goldfish.  She won him over right away. 

McKenzie getting all checked in and giving her after school arrangements to her teacher.

McKenzie with her homeroom teacher, Mrs. Krueger.  

McKenzie with Mrs. Kupferer, her math and science teacher. 

McKenzie is still not sure she is ready to go back to school.  She has had such a fun summer hanging out with Reiche and Grandad.

State Farm Luau

State Farm hosted a "luau" for all employees and their families.  Everyone had a great time with all the activities planned; swimming, DJ playing music, photo booth, tie dying, games, lots of free stuff, a delicious dinner and so much more.  

My kiddos were exhausted by the time it was over. 

tie dying t-shirts

It was fun but oh so messy. 

swimming and playing with the water guns

The kids always love the bounce houses.  Someday I am going to get in and jump with them.

Carter was trying to get water in his mouth to spit on me.  It didn't work very well in the zero entry portion.

face painting - such a cute kitten

Carter's really had a good time playing on the playground equipment.

snow cones

Shyla loved the snow cones also.

yum!

Our photo from the photo booth

(sorry for the quality, this is a photo of the photo)

Pizza night

Tim is working out of town currently, so when he is home we enjoy spending time with him.  Last weekend we went to our favorite pizza place.  They give the kids pizza dough to play with while they wait.  Carter was not real sure about it when they threw it at him but he soon decided it was ok.

Carter loved that his daddy was making snakes for him.

like I said above....for the kids to play with.

It is finished

We picked up our table last Thursday and I love it.  

Our chairs are yet to come.  I can't wait until they come in and our set is complete. 

This past weekend we went to Tim's moms.  Tim's brothers; Scott and Jason and Scott's kids came too.  It was a fun weekend filled with good talks, kids playing, swimming, eating great food, and little girls giggling.  

Isabelle and I getting "fancy" in some of Nana's play jewelry.  Isabelle loves being pretty, but what girls doesn't?

playing a little pinball.

The boys had so much fun playing trains. 

The kids ready to go to the pool.  We got to the pool around 11, swam for a while, ate a picnic lunch and swam some more.  The pool was the neatest public pool I have seen.  It was made up of 6 individual pools.  It was almost as good as a water park. 

McKenzie jumping off the high dive.

Nana gave the girls goggles and snorkels for the pool.  It didn't take them anytime to figure out how to use them.

Carter taking a short break.

We are in big trouble in about 5 years.  The girls had to get dressed and ready before they could go down stairs.


After we got done swimming we played for awhile in Bruce and Nana's basement...The girls and Nana colored,

and the girls did a little dancing while the jukebox played.

Saturday night we went to a T-Bones baseball game.  Carter loved watching the game and imitating the players.  All the kids (big and little) loved the concession stand.

It was a beautiful night.  Our seats were in the shade and the weather was perfect.

Nana and Carter enjoying the game

This is when you know you have had a fabulous day. 

Sunday morning we went to breakfast, the kids all climbed up on a bench to wait very quietly for our table and they just happened to set by age from oldest to youngest.  

Jayden, McKenzie, Isabelle, Brodie and Carter

It was such a fun weekend.  I know Cathy loved having all of her kids and grandkids there for the weekend and we all loved being there.