Fair Day 2014

As Amity said, "It should be called 'The Fun'."

 We let the girls each pick out two rides at the Midway.  Amity likes to spin and is getting more or more fond of roller coasters.

 Dennis is more than pleased to haveto accompany her!

 Vivien gets dizzy easily and even though, she is getting tall enough for the bigger kid rides...

 she still likes to take it nice and easy!  All she wanted was to sit in this sparkly pink tractor and ride around several times.

 My favorite three monkeys!

We coerced convinced Vivien to ride the baby rollercoaster.  Dennis was going to ride with her and then we realized that she was tall enough to ride on her own.  Amity had picked a really lame car ride for her 2nd choice, so we let her go as Vivi's mini-chaperone on the rollercoaster.  They started out with all smiles.

 Viv's grip was getting tighter and tighter.  Amity said she had one hand on the handle and her other hand patting Vivien and telling her, "It's okay!  It's okay!"

 This was pretty much Vivi's face during most of the ride.  She takes after her mom...just wanting it to be over!

 Vivi gave the ride a "thumbs down".

 Little Hands on the Farm...you make me so sentimental for these little faces from the past...

State Fair 2013

Back to this year...

 This is really the cutest thing.  I love the pretending and that they both still play along!

 Sweet Amity was one inch too tall to ride the tractor trikes this year.  Thankfully, she was okay with it.  Her mom was close to throwing a fit!

And Vivi seems to be perfecting a pageant head-tilt and wave in all of her fair pics.

 Love it!  The workers play along so seriously and thank the "farmers" for all their hard work.  The girls earned their farm buck and were thrilled to "buy" bags of Cheetos (V) and Oreos (A) from the store.

 There were Fletcher's Corny Dogs to be eaten.

 And enormous butter sculptures to be admired.

 More time with these two in the exhibit halls

 Visions of our future flashing before our eyes (11+ years to go)

 (9+ years to go)

 Big Tex 2.0

Funnel Cake was devoured. Unfortunately, the girls like it now so we found that it didn't last as long between the two of us as before.

 We saw a camel and Amity remembered the story we just read in the Just So Stories about "How the Camel Got His Hump".

 Vivien pointed to these and matter-of-factly said, "That's an African-Crested Porcupine!"  I looked at the sign and she was right BUT she can't read.  I asked her how she knew and, of course, she said, "I saw them on Wild Kratts!"

 We did some toe-tapping to the Celtic group, the Kildares.

 And we ended with the pig races.

We came home, ate dinner, and uploaded our pictures to the computer.  Dennis made some caramel popcorn and the four of us sat on the couch and looked at Fair pictures from previous years.  The girls said, "Sitting on the couch, eating popcorn, looking at pictures, and snuggling...this is the best day ever!"  I agree!

Resurrection Day 2014

Easter morning began with our traditional picture in front of THE TREE in our front yard.  I will miss this tree when we move some day!

 Dennis and I were scheduled to work in the nursery during the service and there was no class for children ages 4 and up.  Thankfully, the Hennessees invited the girls to sit with them.

After church, we headed home and picked up our Easter picnic lunch (Hawaiian ham and cheese sliders, cold veggies and fruit and homemade marshmallows dipped in chocolate).

We arrived at the Arboretum just in time to be first in line for face painting.

 Love these faces!

 The marshmallows looked more like bird poop than lovely truffles but they still tasted yummy!

 The Arboretum had lots of children's activities set up including an egg toss and relay.

 And the petting zoo...

 And then we made it to my happy place.  Dennis wasn't convinced the Arboretum would be a good place to be on Easter afternoon UNTIL he laid down on a blanket on this hill and then he agreed that I was right!  It was so peaceful and relaxing.  The girls loved running up and down the hill (see them in the distance?).

This was our first untraditional Easter in that we didn't celebrate with all of the food and extended family but we still had a wonderful time creating new memories with our little family of four!  So thankful that we can celebrate the Resurrection EVERY day!

First Day of Spring

We LOVED being outside today!  From 9:30-3:30, we were outside enjoying the sunshine and soaking up the Vitamin D with friends at the park and later at the Arboretum.  The girls had grass stains all over their pants and that made me so happy!  Of course, Vivien did fall into the water feature at the end of our visit.  Thankfully, she wasn't hurt!  Just very, very wet! :)

Carol Choir

Ever since September, a very special part of our Wednesday afternoons has been spent at Park Cities Pres for Carol Choir practice.  Amity absolutely loves her teacher, Mrs. Fray.  I got to observe one rehearsal last semester and I could understand why.  Mrs. Fray is very kind but also very structured and can really lead a large group of wiggly children in creating something that is worshipful.  Last semester, they learned "This is My Father's World" and this semester, they learned "Amazing Grace" with sign language.  

While Amity is in rehearsals, Vivien and I visit the PCPC playroom and have a fun little mom and Vivi time.  

This past Sunday was the first time that Amity got to participate in leading worship in the service.  She was REALLY nervous and worried about it all week.  Every night before bed included extra prayers for peace.  On Sunday morning, we went to PCPC instead of NSP.  We helped her put on her robe and as soon as she saw her beloved Mrs. Fray, all was well.  After leading the first song of the service, we sat through the service and then waited for her to sing at the beginning of the second service.  We also got to see lots of Chapel School friends as well as "old" PCPC friends from years ago.  

Halloween 2013

We hosted our second Halloween Neighborhood Party in our front yard and had the wonderful opportunity to host a bunch of teachers and administrators from our local elementary school.  

Our sweet neighbor Cori had the awesome idea to present each child with a certificate for their costume.  Vivien was "most WONDERful" and Amity was "Best Wings".































This was the best pic we got of the kids and it's not even all that were there!


Love our little WonderWoman!























And her Monarch sister!























And they loved the candy they collected from our kind neighbors.  We had a blast trick-or-treating with a pack of neighbor kids. 














































She LOVES monarchs these days and fell asleep while reading about them.  Love that little tummy full of candy!

2013 Home School WEEK NINE

This week has been another busy one that included some "schooling" in the car between meetings, appointments, and activities.  Thankfully, Amity does not get carsick while reading so she could read us more chapters from Little Bear and a few nonfiction books about leaves.  In math, we spent some time studying money (pennies, nickels, and dimes) and Amity helped me stay in budget at Costco by using her abacus.  The girls really enjoyed the weather this week and begged to spend time outside any time we were home.  Lily Anna (Amity's doll) has been a constant companion and Amity has been talking alot about "homeschooling" her! :)