Summer is Winding Down and Everything Else We Did!

I really hate that we unofficially have 2 days of summer left.  School starts Wednesday and although we might be a little bit ready, a piece of me secretly loves Summer.  Lauren is ready to start 4th grade and Addison is headed to 1st grade, although she is not quite ready to start school.  She loves summer!

Here are a few more things we did this summer....

Soccer camp was in July..the hottest week of July with high temperatures close to 100 degrees.  Good thing these girls love soccer because it was hot.  But, they had a blast and learned a ton! 

Lauren, Lily and Jade.  A few of the stars from Lauren's soccer team.  I can't wait to see how much they learned this summer.  Our first soccer game is this weekend!  

Although this picture is from a few weeks ago, we soaked up the sun this weekend by spending all day Sunday afternoon at the pool.  4 hours of sun and fun.  We probably would have stayed longer if we could have had dinner delivered to us.  Mark and I were visiting with neighbors and the girls were having a blast in the water.  

We have been to 4 or 5 Royals games this summer and are still watching every single game.  We love the boys in blue.  They are so much fun to watch! 

The girls enjoyed a sleep over a few weeks ago.  Both girls were at the same house.  They stayed  up way to late and Lauren came home and took a nap like this...for 3 hours!  

This is Addison.  But if you take a quick glance you would think it was Lauren.  Lauren sent me this picture from the sleepover...at 1130 at night...Lauren was STILL awake and Addison was fast asleep...looking just like her sister.  

Lauren got to take a friend to the One Direction concert since Addison was sick.  It was a great show! 

We stayed until the very end and soaked up every minute of the experience.  

We went school supply/clothes/tennis shoe shopping and had lunch at McDonald's...a kids favorite...Mom not so much.  

We made brownies during our first sleepover at our house for Addison. 

We iced the brownies..and ate lots and lots of brownies at 9:30 at night!  

"Never Wearing Again."  Just in case you could not interpret what this note said.  Addison left me a note one morning with a pile of clothes and shoes (brand new clothes and shoes) and stated she was never wearing them again.  Apparently they are too big.  And yes, they are a little big.  I refuse to buy my almost 7 year old a size 5/6.  Or a shoe that fits her perfectly now that she will need when it gets cold outside...so yes, things are a little big right now....But, she will grow into things and maybe she will wear them in a few months. 

Addison still sleeps with all the stuffies....

We enjoyed date day!  Addison and I went to Build a Bear, rode the carousel at the mall and had some ice cream!  

Mark and Lauren went miniature golfing and to Starbucks for their date! 

Following the KCRoayals on Instagram is always fun when you get to see pictures of this guy...Lauren has the biggest crush on Hosmer....and he has been playing so good since the All Star Break! 

Zoe.  Our dear little Zoe.  Just this past week has really had a hard time getting around.  We know we only have weeks left with her and it's so hard to determine when it is time to let her go.  She has so much life and spunk in her, but yet she can hardly walk on the hardwood floors, she has to be carried up and down the stairs, and has accidents several times a week.  But, we love her dearly and just can't let her go...so we will hang on for a little while longer and love on her for as long as we can. 

Summer 2015 was very good to us with so many memories made.  It's almost time to start a new chapter and challenges.  Bring on the new year!  

Amazing Family Time in Tulsa

This past weekend we headed down to Tulsa to spend some time with my Cousin Jay and his wife Cindy.  They have come to the last 2 Thanksgiving celebrations with their family and the girls have had a great time with their kids, Fairlyn and Morgan.  We knew we needed to get down there for a visit and not wait till Thanksgiving to see them again.  

Their house was gorgeous and they were amazing hosts.  We enjoyed our first night outside under the stars with some great drinks and conversation late into the night.

The water balloons got the girls soaked before finally changing into swimsuits.  

Lauren was in heaven when she saw the trampoline.  Several hours were spent on the trampoline!  

I could listen to my Cousin Jay tell stories all night long.  He just completed a Half Ironman last weekend.  It was great to hear all about it.  (1.2 miles swimming, 56 miles on the bike, 13.1 miles running.)  It took him 6 hours and 20 minutes.  Oh my! 

Saturday morning lot of family from Tulsa joined us for breakfast.  It was great.  My cousin Elizabeth and her son, cousin Raquel, Uncle Larry and Aunt Renee.  My Aunt Renee made a quick stop with the family quilt to take a picture.  

(Thank you Lauren and Addison for your cooperation and smiles!  Oh well, you can't win them all!) 

Cousins...and the kids insisted on being in the picture also! 

Then it was off to the Children's Museum.  We all fit in the Mini Van which the girls thought was pretty cool. Lauren was hot stuff with no booster seat and just a seat belt...and Addison was so excited not to be in a "baby seat" and to be sitting in a booster with a seat belt.  It really is the small things that make the girls happy.  It does not take much.  

The Children's museum had a huge tunnel made of tape.  They said they used 14 miles of tape to make the tunnel. 

It was strong enough to hold adults as well.  Even Mark and Jason went down the slide!  

Then it was onto the bed of nails...which actually kind of hurt to us adults.  

There was lots of hand on activities for the kids and adults too.  

There was also an arts and crafts room to make whatever your imagination could create.  

Then we had one more stop at the bed of nails before heading home for lunch and naps.

Then we hit the pool that afternoon.  We dodged some rain for a while, but it ended up stopping while the kids were in the pool.  They had a blast swimming and Addison was so proud of herself.  She was swimming  "by herself" with her life jacked and her purple tube and thought she was hot stuff.  

Lauren and Addison just finished another round of swim lessons and it was so great to see the progress Lauren has made.  Lauren was swimming all over that pool and she loved it! I think just a few more rounds of swim lessons and she will be good.

It was a great weekend in Tulsa, spent with family, great eats, great drinks, and late night talks.  We can't wait to do it again!  

Weekend Fun

Another weekend filled with fun in the Harding house.  We went to Madagascar 3 Saturday morning and the girls loved it.  This was Addison's second movie (first was Cars 2) and she did so much better.  Of course we got the kiddie pack of popcorn, a drink and fruit snacks.  I also brought in some Mike and Ike's.  A little food and candy works wonders for a 3 year old.  The movie is really cute and the girls loved it.  We hit up Chick Fil A for lunch, our new favorite restaurant.  Yummy :)  

Saturday night we headed to the Hooper's house to hang out with Killian and Seth, and Charley and Macy.  The kids had a blast outside on the slip and slide and in the pool.  

Lauren on the slip and slide, Killian and Seth.  

Addison, Charley and Macy.  These three are buddies.  

Kristi made homemade ice cream that was very good.  Strawberry and vanilla.  Everyone loved it.  

Addison was stung by a bee.  Poor kid.  She is so tough though and handled it VERY well.  She was very scared at first and crying very hard for 3-4 minutes, then she got several band aides, some ice, and a comfortable spot with Daddy.  Her finger was pretty swollen, but after about 20 minutes of cuddling with Daddy and holding ice on her finger, she was back out playing.  

I was totally craving Custards Last Stand Sunday afternoon, so that is where we went.  Isn't she cute???