Busy Times

I  have so much to get caught up on this blog, but so little time tonight so for now I will leave you with these 4 pictures...

Lauren wrapping her final week at gymnastics and cheer.  

Complete with her OWN trophy.  She was so excited!  

Addison at mock dress rehearsal this week for her upcoming recital.  

Oh my word these little girls looked amazing and so sweet...and the older girls have some incredible talent.  I  can't wait for recital!  

Heat, Hills, Humidity = Hospital Hill

It is finally here.  Hospital Hill.  It is race week.  I love all the e-mails I am getting from the race director.  I love seeing people at work who ask "are you still running a lot?" and I respond with "Yes, Hospital Hill is this Saturday!" Then I find out they are running too...and so are several other friends from work!

But, I am not going to lie...I am very nervous for this race.  My pace has slowed down the last few weeks.  I have trained hard on hills.  Every run I have done over the last 4-6 weeks has been a hilly run.  That is not easy.  Almost every run I have done it has been hot and/or humid.  Hills, heat, and humidity = Hospital Hill.  I can only hope that these hot, hilly runs will prepare me for the race on Saturday.  I know it will, but it has been frustrating seeing my pace slow down...but, that is the reality of Hospital Hill for me.  

The weather looks perfect.  I hope the forecast does not change.  That will make me super happy if it is in the 50's at starting time and 60's when I finish.  Near perfect running weather.

I will have fun at this race.  I will try not to worry about my pace as it will be slower than I would like.  When I decided to do the half marathon, I decided to do it for fun.  Not to PR, not to race, just to run.  Just to run and remember the victims of the Boston Marathon.  To run in honor of them and all the runners that did not get to finish their race.  

I am so excited for the Expo, the VIP dinner, the atmosphere surrounding all the events, and especially the starting line.  All the fun and all the excitement is finally here.  

Good luck to everyone running this Saturday.  I can't wait to see you at the finish line! 

Memorial Day Weekend

Summer has begun in our house!  School is out for Summer.  Yea!  I took Friday off since it was the first day of Summer (Lauren had 1/2 day school on Thursday,  her last day!)  

We went down and had lunch with Mark.  That is always fun...

That afternoon we decided to make cookies...

And build a fort in the living room.  That fort stayed up until Monday afternoon when we had some friends coming over.  The girls loved it and could not believe that Mommy could build such a good fort! HA! 

Saturday morning we headed to the Zoo.  We only went to Africa this time...we walked around the whole thing, which can take a while.  If you have been to the KC Zoo you know this!  

The lions were gorgeous.  

We love the Skyfari.  I love the look on Addison's face.  She is so sweet! 

We stopped to see the elephants before heading down to Africa.  

Lauren was the only one cooperative for family pictures.  Thank you Lauren.  

Addison decided to pose for a few...little diva indeed! 

Then everyone got really tired around 1:00.  Addison insisted on driving the monkey car before we left (she asks every single time) and she was so tired.  We headed out and went home and ALL took naps.  It was wonderful.  Mark and Lauren on the big couch in the living room, and Addison and I in my bed.  We all needed it for sure.  

Mark went golfing Sunday morning, and we did too!  We went to Paradise Park for a while in the afternoon.  

Addison wanted to wear her tennis shoes to make it easier to climb the rock wall.  

Lauren really wanted to help in the kitchen Sunday afternoon...so I decided to take her up on it.  Mark got  her a butter knife and put her to work cutting fruit...cantaloupe, strawberries, watermelon...I love Summer and all the fresh fruit.  

Monday morning we headed out to the Legends to do some shopping, but it was pouring down rain.  So, we hung out in Cabelas  for about an hour.  

It is similar to the Bass Pro Shop, but probably better in terms of things and animals to entertain the kids!  

After about an hour we headed over the mall and went to Polo so Mark could get some new clothes.  It was cold, windy and rainy.  The girls and I were freezing!  We had lunch at Panera and by the time we were done eating the rain had stopped, but it was still pretty chilly.  So we headed to Gap and we all bought new jackets/sweatshirts.  They were having a great sale so it was worth it! 

This little one just fell asleep among the chaos at the Nike store.  It was crazy packed in there!  Lauren and Addison were such troopers as we dragged them from store to store (and only stores for Mark and I!)  After Nike, I stopped in Ann Taylor Loft and found some really cute Summer dresses.  We should be set for our summer vacation this summer.  We can't wait!  

We ended the weekend with a BBQ with friends.  Jenna's family came over for the night and we had a ton of fun.  Well, Addison and Jenna and Mark and I did.  Lauren was a little disappointed that Jenna did not have a big sister for Lauren to play with...but Lauren was a good sport and still had fun.  

So we are wrapping up gymnastics this week.  Dance is still for 3 more weeks until Recital.  But, in my mind summer has begun.  12 weeks of fun.  We have so much planned and I am taking so much time off.  I will only work 4 full weeks this summer.  All the other 8 weeks will include at least one vacation day (and many more for some weeks!)  I have not had a day off since Christmas vacation, so I am ready.  

Happy Summer Everyone! 

Last Day of 1st Grade!

Where does the time go?  I can't even BELIEVE that Lauren is done with 1st grade.  It truly seems like she just started back in August.  Lauren had an amazing year, a fabulous teacher, great friends, and a fantastic report card today!  

She modeled for me this morning before getting on the bus to head to school for a half day.  

 The bus does not come until 8:30, so we had plenty of time this morning before I headed off to work for a few hours.  

Addison loves to wait at the bus stop with the big kids.  Lauren is so good with her.  

This is Lauren's 1st grade teacher on meet the teacher night, back in August.  Mrs. Ostrander (Mrs. O.)  Mark and I loved her.  She was an amazing teacher with open communication.  She addressed our concerns, followed up with questions, praised our parenting and involvement in Lauren's school life, and was a great fit for Lauren and our family.  She has raised (well is still raising) 3 girls of her own, so she answered many questions for me this year on raising girls and all the drama that starts at such a young age.  She guided Lauren through the school year and taught her more than we could ever imagine.  Lauren had a very successful year and we definitely have Mrs. O to thank for that.  

There were so many school events I never event got around to blogging about, so I will catch up here!  

(The quality of pictures transferred from my I-phone pretty much suck since I dropped it and shattered my cover.  I think more might be broken with it as well.  Soon, I will get a new one...) 

But, I can still remember several events through these pictures, even if they are not the greatest!  Taylor and Lauren at the pumpkin patch.  This was one of Lauren's good friends this year.  

Lauren and Aeryn at the back to school carnival night.  This was probably Lauren's best friend, although Aeryn made a few bad choices throughout the year and Lauren tried to distance her self from Aeryn a little bit...Smart of Lauren...but they are still very good friends.  

I was able to attend the Halloween party back in October...

and we had Muffins for Moms sometime this past year...November maybe???  Donuts for Dad was back in February.  A picture of Mark and Lauren made it into the yearbook!  

I was also able to go to the Valentine's Day party!  

And there was Goodies for Grandparents back in March or April (???) 

As well as the Art Fair.  Lauren really enjoys art, so it was a lot of fun walking around the school looking for her art work and seeing several of her friends.  

Addison and I snuck up for lunch one day...

Oh, and we had meet the chicks day.  The 1st grade classes had a 3 week period of science lessons about the life of a chick, starting with the egg.  They learned all about the life of a chick and watched them hatch and grow.   One Saturday morning we were able to go up to the school and hold the chicks before they went out to the farm.  

Lauren was a little hesitant, but came around after a while.  

Field Day was a few weeks ago and Mark took the day off to volunteer with Lauren.  Mark decided Field Day is his day to volunteer at the school and be involved with the girls.  Besides, it will create a great memory for girls...their Daddy always being present and helping out at Field Day.  

Zoe and I were waiting for Lauren today when she got off the bus.  She was thrilled to ride the bus to and from school today.  

After that we headed to Orange Leaf where we ran into Zach and his family.  Lauren and Zach were pretty good friends this year so it was fun to run into them.  All the kids sat at a table of their own while Zach's Mom and I were at another table...man they grow up so fast...

Like I said, I can't even believe school is out and I have a 2nd grader now.  Lauren had an amazing year.  She thrived academically and really loves school.  We will not have any trouble keeping her reading, writing and working on activities all summer to prepare her for the next school year.  It was a great year with many memories created.  Way to go Lauren.  You made it through 1st grade!  We are so proud of you!  

Date Day at Deana Rose Farmstead

At the beginning of 2013 Mark and I started Date Day with the girls.  Each month one of us takes each girl, we go our separate ways, and we spend the day together.  Sometimes it is just an afternoon, or a few hours, but it is one on one time with the girls. This month I was with Addison and Mark was with Lauren.  

Mark and Lauren went swimming at Legacy Park, lunch at Chick Fil A, then mini golfing at Paradise Park.  They had a very full afternoon.  Addison and I headed out to Deana Rose Farmstead...

with her little friend Jenna as well!  These two are so sweet together.  Jenna's family just moved into a new house, so I offered to take Jenna for the day so they could get some things settled.  Addison was so excited to pack a lunch for Jenna, have Jenna ride in her car, and to feed baby goats together.  

When we first arrived we headed straight to the baby goats...they walked like this most of the day.  

Bottles full of milk, ready for goats.  

Jenna's goats were very calm and Jenna did an awesome job feeding them.  Addison's goats were jumping all over us, so Addison was in my arms screaming, trying to feed goats at the same time...

We decided to move outside the fence and feed them from there...that is more Addison's style!

Then we saw the cows, roosters, chickens, bunnies, pigs, turkey's, and horses.  

After a while the girls were finding places to pose for me and smile.  They know I love pictures.  

Then we hit the playground and spent a lot of time here.  Addison was bargaining for 5 more times down the slide.  She won that fight.  About this time Addison and Jenna started fighting like sisters, but they are quick to forgive and forget.  They had so much fun together.  We spent about another hour there before getting brownies and ice cream and then heading back home.  They said they were tired and wanted to nap in the car, but as soon as they sat down and got cooled off they were laughing and giggling...and not napping!  Oh, well.  

These pictures are blurry (not sure why because they were taken with Mark's I-phone) but that does not matter.  It helps us remember what Mark and Lauren did for the day.  Swimming, Chick Fil A, golf and ice cream.  

Lauren said she had the most fun golfing, and Mark said he had the most fun swimming.  Great memories and a great day with the girls.