Train Museum

Last weekend we went to the train museum with our friends. This wasn't just any ordinary train museum though. This train took us straight to the pumpkin patch. It takes us where???

The girls with Nick on the way to the patch. They are beaming with excitement.

The stop.

Here we go...

A tractor for hay rides and a bunch of scarecrows started off the adventure.

And the best of all things- a giant two story hay maze that the kids can climb on, over, and into where there's ladders and slides.

Can you say GIANT? Or perhaps, "Dave, I think we are never leaving here."

The gang at the top finally held still for one picture.

When these nice people vacated the tractor we all hopped on and headed for a ride through the spooky forest.

The girls, Nick, Rachael, and Eric.

Ava got her spider painted on her face.

Liv went for the butterfly.

Dave's most favorite part of the whole day- launching pumpkins with his girls.

What a fun day. When you have had enough you hop right back on the train and it takes you back to the station.

All Grown Up

Yesterday Olivia had her very first after school play date. She was invited to go her friend Grace's house for swimming and play. She was so excited to get picked up from school and to be driven to their house. She also drilled us earlier in the morning about the fact that Ava and I were not going to be there. What a big girl. She wasn't scared, she didn't ask for me, nothing. Not.a.thing.

When I picked her up a few hours later I was told that Olivia played with Grace and her two sisters very well. She used her manners, was very polite, and loved playing dress up. That made me feel really good that she had a great time and she was respectful of someone else's home when I wasn't there to watch her.

So enough about her- I was a nervous wreck. I worried all week about her being alone at someone else's house and what if something happened. My mind goes right into child molester mode and protecting my kids from any and all harm. So I did ask Olivia where she changed into her swimsuit, did anything happen that we've talked about that she needs to tell me about, did anyone ask her to keep any secrets... you get the gist. She said, "No Mommy, I know no one is supposed to touch me or ask me to touch them, and I know if someone does that I yell, bite, scratch, and scream for help."

Wow, she is listening. I'm so proud of her.

I feel better now getting that first time away at someone other than family's house out of the way. It was a great experience for her and it gave Ava and I a few good hours of hanging out together. We went to McD's to play for awhile. She met two boys and played for an hour with them. Then we did a little shopping, ate lunch, played in our backyard, and then it was time to pick up Liv. It was a really wonderful day all around.

And since we just don't have enough going on I did a quick height/weight check.
Olivia is now 45 inches tall, 43.5 pounds, has a BMI of 15.1 or 49%.
Ava is now 41.5 inches tall, 42.0 pounds, has a BMI of 17.1 or 88%

Planet Savers

You would have thought Dave had taken the girls to a theme park or somewhere extravagant but it was simply the recycling center. They go every Saturday. They drop off all the bottle and cans that have been collected throughout the week and everyone comes home with cash for their piggy banks.

Ava can barely reach the slot to put the can in but she does get it in.
The proud collector.
Olivia is enjoying herself as well.

The recycle man helped the girls out and posed with them for a picture.
The ticket that turns into cash and the proud little workers who earned it.

Thanks Dave for being such a great dad and teaching the girls the importance of keeping the world clean, respecting our environment, and taking the time to show them how to achieve this by recycling. They love you for it and so do I.

Sept. Continued

Gymnastics has been wonderful. The girls are loving the balance beam and hand stands most of all.

Who doesn't love a good roll down a hill???

Ava dressed and ready for school.

This was another day Ava was so excited for school and she looked so cute wearing her backpack.

I had a baby shower to go to and created a gift basket and a friend made a blanket to cover the basket so of course I just had to make a blanket for Ava. Two days later I was at the fabric store making Olivia a new blanket as well. They both love snuggling on their couches with their blankets.

Here's the girls hitting on the local firemen.

The last A's game of the season.

And yes, it was a bobble head day!

Six Flags

Ooh what fun. This weekend we took the neighbors with us for some roller coaster riding. Ava's first "big kid" roller coaster. She loved it smiling and screaming all the way.
Tori and Olivia waiting for the ride to start.
Olivia was chosen to answer a question and win a prize. This was a huge deal. She has been trying all summer and it finally paid off.
Here's the seal she won!
The water ride we waited all summer to be open was finally running today. After they went on it they were soaked. Dave rushed Ava to the restroom and dried her off under the hand dryer. Liv wasn't too bad and dried in the sunlight. They loved the ride though. I saw "no hands."
Me and Ava at the butterfly pavilion.
Dave's hitchhiker.

Look at that smile. I love that we can make our kids so happy. I also love that they are this happy in general all the time. My angels.
Practicing to be Amelia Earhart.
Up, up, and away!!
The submarine ride.
The final shebang of the day!!

I think the best decision we made all summer was to invest in season passes to Six Flags. It totally paid for itself, was a bunch of fun, and was a great learning experience for the girls while exploring all of the exotic animals. Nothing makes Dave or I happier than to see smiles on the faces of our beautiful sweet girls. I loved to see them running and playing or dancing to the music they heard while we were walking from each ride or animal. It really gives me that warm fuzzy feeling and puts a smile on my heart. I hope we always have this much fun together.

September

Some things about September I would really REALLY like to forget.

And then there are other things that just rocked.

The Horse Races: Meeting the Bugle player and a Jockey at the horse races was awesome.
Olivia loved watching the horses...
And we loved the $1 hot dogs and beer. We also were stoked that we came home winners and actually won some cash.

The Beginning of Gymnastics:

Ava on the trampoline. Guess what she wants now?
Liv practicing her balance and waiting for the higher beam.
The bars... Just look at those little monkeys.
This is when they can do whatever station they wanted.
The monkey bars- appropriately named.

The Princess Party:
I think Olivia attends a birthday party every weekend. I don't even think I know half as many people as she does. This one was a princess party that featured Ariel.
All the girls wore princess dresses and got their faces painted.
They are waiting for Ariel to perform.

Ava at school:
Loving it!
This week the kids are studying sea life. Ava made a shark hat and came home with gummy fish. What a week!!

So amongst the horrible stuff along with my Aunt passing away I guess there was a rainbow out there.

The Getaway

Labor Day Weekend should just be synonymous with Grammie's house. When we arrived Thursday evening Grammie had bought each of the girls a special gift and they haven't put them down since. Yes, Olivia and Ava each are the proud new owners of their very own digital cameras. They are becoming budding photographers and their pictures are quite good. The subjects are centered and focused, the dogs look decent, and the snapshots of everyone's toes look like toes and not big blurs. Above all, the girls think they are way cool.

This weekend has been a great weekend. We have been swimming and playing. The girls have been gardening and loving it. Fishing and houseboating has taken place along with a slurry of nightly movies. It has been wonderful to get away from the same old thing, out of our neighborhood, and really be able to enjoy the weekend without all the neighbors and kids running around. Sadly we have to go home today and back to business tomorrow. The girls have their school pictures tomorrow and then we HAVE to go shopping for groceries. But for now... we are headed for the pool. :)