Sunday, September 26, 2010

Day at the Lake with Friends

Last year we invited some friend out to the Lake to go jet sking and let their family enjoy the water! We decided to continue the tradition this year as well!

We were excited as many of our friends that had plans last year were able to make it this year! We had a blast!!

Here are some pics for you to enjoy from that day at the lake!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Little Italian Chefs

A while back (I mean a long while back...like April or May) - I was gone for the evening for a Pampered Chef party and Chris was watching the girls for the evening by himself. He decided to get "creative" and make it a fun night with Daddy.

He SUCCEEDED!

The plan was to make homemade pizza! But, my dear husband decided to "kick it up a notch"...like Emeril would say!

And therefore we had...

THREE LITTLE ITALIAN CHEFS!

They did all the work!

They prepared the dough...



and spread the sauce...



and covered it with cheese...



And colored while it baked!



But, they had so much fun!!!! I think Daddy did too! :)



So much he joined in on the fun... and the costumes!!!

I can't even take any credit! Chris came up with the idea, got all the supplies (including attire) and pulled it off! He didn't even tell me what he was doing until he sent me a picture on my phone that night!

What an awesome Daddy!!!!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

School is Back in Session

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So, summer days are officially over!



School started back up this week and the girls were ready!.... and Mom and Dad were ready to get back in a routine!!!

It's hard to believe that we have a 3rd grader and a 1st grader... and technically a preschooler as well, although she doesn't actually start until this week!

Ash got a new haircut...so cute! We have bangs!....And, more importantly we can see her eyes because her hair isn't in her face anymore! ADORABLE, if you ask me!



We had fun shooting "first day of school pictures"!



However, this one scares me a little....I'm telling you, she is turning into a beautiful little lady. She's losing that "little girl" feel. It makes me so sad!



And...off they head into a new school year! Here we go!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Sleeping Beauty


In looking back at all my pictures for the last couple months...I have to share these...



my little SLEEPING BEAUTY!

Why are they so darn adorable when they are sleeping?

Sunday, July 11, 2010

It's Been FOREVER!

It has been forever since I last posted!

I have tried so many times to sit down and write a post... but that takes effort.... and thought... and time, which is what I seemed to be VERY SHORT of these days!

I have so much to share...I don't even really know where to start. So, get ready...this may be a long one ~ well, I guess that depends upon how much time I have before one of my three children or my darling husband needs me for something.
Since my last post --- on APRIL 28th (I'm ashamed to admit) ---SO much has happened.

First, my MADDIE girl turned 8! Yes, eight! I cannot beleive it!
Our girls are growing up soooo fast! She is such an beautiful little girl!

She celebrated with her friends and had a bowling party and then with family for what was supposed to be a pool party at Grandma's house, but ended up not happening because of the weather. BUMMER!


But, it was such a good birthday and she got lots of cool and exciting stuff...mainly clothes, but honestly...that is what she is into! And, she is VERY picky so both Grandmas chose to take her shopping instead of buying her clothes and surprising her. They've learned that she needs to be involved in that process!

Second... I got a job! Which, explains a LOT of the reason why I don't have as much time to blog!

I'm working at VALMONT - Salina Galvanizing as their HR Coordinator. I was very excited to go back to work and to work in my field of study - HR! I'm working at a manufacturing plant, which is different than any other industry I've ever worked in, but I really enjoy it!

It's been an interested couple months as our family has adjusted to mom not being at home during the day. Brooke has adjusted VERY WELL to going to daycare! She goes to a friend of ours from church and LOVES going there to play with her friends. She is learning so many new things...she LOVES to sing and she is so adorable when she does.

Maddie and Ashlyn get to go to Camp Swat this summer at the YMCA! The LOVE it! They get to do so many fun things and get to visit some really cool places each week. They have been to the Crown Uptown Theater and Exploration Place in Wichita, Salt City Splash and The Cosmosphere in Hutch and the new water park in Salina...Kenwood Cove! They go swimming every day and Maddie has done so well she has passed the "deep end" test and gets to go in the deep end!

I think Chris is very happy that I'm back at work....well, lets just say that he is very happy that we now have a second income! However, he thinks I'm a happier person when I'm working AWAY from home. He might be right...I just don't want to admit it! I would love to say that I LOVED staying home. I can definitely say that I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to be a stay at home mom, but I think I do make a better mom when I'm working. It gives me time away from my house and my kids so that when I come home, I am fresh to deal with whatever they bring...and I WANT to spend time with them rather than being tired and frustrated and needing a "break".

This summer we have spent a LOT of time at the Lake! Chris' parents have really spent a lot of time and effort "beautifying" the lake and making it much more user friendly. It's so much more enjoyable this year, especially since we don't have to take the jet ski out there every time we want to go out. Chris' dad built a covered boat dock where we tie up the pontoon and all the jet skis as well as a really nice deck off the dock! It is just wonderful! We LOVE to go out there.



We spent the Fourth of July weekend out there with family. Unfortnuately the weather didn't cooperate, but we still stayed out there nonetheless. We were determined to spend the 4th at the lake. We stayed in our tent overnight...in the RAIN, yes, it rained my very first time in a tent...and yes, I know it's sad...but that WAS my very first time in a tent! But, it didn't spoil my desire to go camping. I still want to! However, it would be nice without the sound of rain pelleting ALL NIGHT LONG!

It cleared up a little on Sunday evening so that we could shoot off some fireworks. Thank goodness Grandpa and Grandma had bought some of our own, since the Salina Skyfire was postponed due to weather.


Here is Grandpa and his buddy West loading the fireworks to be fired...

lighting the wick...

and running for their lives!

Waiting for the real fireoworks to start, we had some fun with sparklers...
But then we got ready to watch the sky for fireworks...
We ended with a nice display in the sky and then went home for a nice sleep in our own, cozy beds! One night in the rain is enough for me!