Art Gallery

The girls are really enjoying drawing this summer. When we were in New York Nana bought them each an "Ugly Doll." Have you seen these things? They really are ugly, but cute too.
Here are what they actually look like:
Plunko



Ugly Worm





And here are the girls' drawings they made for Nana as a thank you:
Attempt #1 By Sydney

Hayley's Drawing of Plunko. Except he is green instead of orange.


I think this Ugly Worm is looking for LOVE!!!

And check out Plunko in his HOT bikini!!! Is that a pool of TAR he is swimming in?

Happy 4th of July

We had our second annual (we can call it annual now that we've had two) 4th of July party. And of course I was so busy running around that this is the only picture I was able to get. We had about 40 people at our house and Jeremy's fireworks display was awesome. We've been asked to choreograph it to music next year (Thanks a lot Missy- you know it will happen now. Jeremy can't be outdone!)

This view will never get old

Vacation Picture Overload

Well, here is a picture overload (and this is just a fraction of the pictures) of our trip to Mohonk. You can check out their website at http://www.mohonk.com/.

We left bright and early, we had to leave for the airport at 4:45. But the girls were wide awake and SO excited!

No trip to Mohonk is complete without a Gazebo Challenge!
Right after lunch Nana and Papa got Sydney & Hayley out on the courts for some tennis.

Addy and I went on a walk to Copes Lookout. About 2 minutes into the walk and Addy was asleep. So I sat to rest a while and admire the view that goes on forever!
The next day Sydney was out playing tennis with Nana and Papa again when the tennis pro offered to give Sydney a 30 minute lesson. She did GREAT! He said there were thing she was able to learn quickly that some of his college players can't even catch on to.

>While Sydney was taking her lesson, I took Hayley down to the beach. I think this might have been her first time ON a beach (besides when she was little in Oregon).

Addy enjoyed the beach too. She wasn't sure about the sand at first, but then made herself at home.
Hayley and Nana went for a paddle boat ride!
Addy was ready to throw her shoes IN the lake.
The girls pause for a quick picture on a staircase in the hotel. If you have 3 or more kids you understand how rare it is to get a picture of ALL 3 looking at the camera and smiling. I think it is because they were all so happy to be on vacation!

Nana and the girls play a little shuffle board.
Sydney caught 24 newts on the beach during our stay.

Hayley even got brave enough to hold them.

Hayley is always eager to play photoshoot!

Hayley won the award for the best dessert during the trip. This was an angelfood cupcake with blueberries, whipped cream and a white and milk chocolate straw!

Here are Hayley and Nana sitting under a "Summerhouse" on a rock on the lake on our way to a campfire.
Sydney and Hayley at the campfire!
Nana was standing on the other side of the fire. The heat made a rippled shadow on us. Kind of cool!

On Saturday and Sunday Sydney & Hayley got to go to Kid's Club. The did crafts, Hayley went on a paddle boat ride, and Sydney went on a hike to the lilly pond.

While the big girls were at kids club, Addy got some alone time. Nana and I did a "wherever Addy wants to go" walk. We just followed behind her. She thought that was VERY cool!
When it was time for a nap, Nana and I took Addy for another LONG walk, up to Eagle Cliff. You can see the storm clouds in the distance.
This a view of the mountain house and lake and how it fits in relation to the scenery all around. Simply beautiful!
This is Skytop. A cool lighthouse at the top of one of the cliffs at Mohonk. We didn't hike to the top of it this trip as it is mostly uphill and not much fun with a stroller to push.

We ended the trip with lunch at the Granery! A great way to wrap up a wonderful vacation!

Thank you Nana and Papa for a great trip! We all had so much fun and have lots of great memories (and pictures!)

I LOVE SPRING (part II)

Thank you, Mary, for all of your work this weekend planting new plants.
Thank you, Jeremy, for all of your work putting in the new beds and mulch!

I LOVE SPRING!!!

Nothing more to say other than I just LOVE this time of year!

Soccer is over

After only 2 games actually PLAYED on time this year (thank you mother nature for 2 snow storms and rain and cold days), soccer is over. And what a LONG way the girls have come. Hayley FINALLY scored a goal, the last one of the season, with another teammate. (The jury is still out on who actually kicked it IN the net, but they happily shared credit). For her first year I think she did a great job!

One of my favorite parts of the game, and the part that for some reason always brings tears to my eyes, is at the end when the players line up to high-five eachother and say "Good game! Good game! Good game!"

Sydney also had a great season. Her coach gave her the MIP (Most Improved Player) award. She went from being pretty timid around the ball to scoring 7 of her team's 12 goals in the final game. One of them included her stealing the ball from the other team's player while Sydney was blocking the goal, and taking the ball all the way from the other team's goal to her own goal.

As you can see from this picture Sydney puts her WHOLE body into the kick!