VACATION

Well like I mentioned before the girls were a little disappointed that we were not doing the Myrtle Beach thing this year, but decided we needed something a little shorter aka cheaper, so off to Gatlinburg we went. We typically go there just don't spend any amount of time because it is a stop on the way back home from the beach. So this year we took in some go carts, putt-putt golf, wax museum and the Great Smokey Mountain Park and we were so excited because we actually got to see a few bears along the way. This was our best picture of 2 bears playing in the trees. A relaxing time was had by all and the girls loved the pool!! Nothing fancy just the fact it was a pool and it did rain some so good thing they had an outside and inside pool! The only problem we had was Delaney who kept wanting to jump into the pool even if we were not in yet. Told you she came a long way with those lessons. Where oh where shall we go in 2010? We have been trying to figure that out, so we will see!

Swim Lessons

So this is the first year both girls went to swim lessons. We have an wonderful local lady that does swim lessons for one week at a time at her house. Gretchen went there last year for a week and we were so impressed with how quickly she came along, we sent both girls for 2 weeks this year. Well I knew Gretchen would be okay, but Delaney another story. And boy was I right! Kathy did put the girls together and another family friend was in there so I thought it might help because parents stay on the outside of the fence to peek through. Of course, we all could hear Delaney didn't need to look! It was her crying that she didn't want to do it. I was the mom getting the look, like I am so glad THAT is not my kid!! Well needless to say after some bribery, I will not lie (Taylor Swift doll was given after no crying and completing her classes) she LOVED it! On the last day we were allowed to come in at the end and see the progress, which is amazing! Gretchen did wonderful again and is comfortable in the deep end, while Delaney got to the point in just that short amount of time to jump into the pool herself. Kathy you are an miracle worker!

Happy B-day Gretchen!

This year Gretchen decided she wanted to have some friends over and head to the Troy Aquatic Park (TAP - Troy Pool), have pizza for dinner and have the girls stay the night. So we agreed to 3 friends and the day came, it was not a pretty day so that meant the pool was closed, so plan B was go to the Vandalia Rec Center for inside swimming so we are heading in and I am thinking it is not real busy, oh no I thought. Yep I was right! There had been an "incident" in the pool and they were draining it and closed, ugh, what to do now? So we went to the didn't have Plan C - bowling, then still got pizza for dinner and then the sleepover. All and all it went well considering nothing worked the way it was supposed to, but the girls all had fun at our beach themed party and Gretchen was an Happy Birthday Girl and that is all that matters : ) The pictures are going in to swim (happy faces), after finding out not swimming and before we figured out what to do (sad faces) and her beach themed party.

Garage Sale & Lemonade Stand

Well it has been an annual event for my friend Jen and me to have an garage sale and since she has had the last couple at her house and her husband really doesn't like it all to well I agreed that we should move the sale to my house this year and try to get a few neighbors on board and have a neighborhood sale. Well my cousin Missy had also being doing some cleaning out so she took part too. So first day was rainy and nasty and we were the only sale to brave the elements and sell. We had us 3 trying to stay dry while all 9 kids entertained themselves inside, but the next day ended up being a better weather day a couple other neighbors opened up and the 4 children that decided to come back (really didn't have a choice) decided to do an lemonade stand, which is usually an annual event too. Well we each had our own goal in mind ours was enough for an basketball hoop for the girls they wanted and I have to say we each made our goal and even though it is a lot of work, it usually ends up being some good girlfriend time!

And it is an Hit, well to the face! OUCH!!

So had to post this pic as promised to some of you. Yes, you can actually see the stiching of the softball on her little, well big chin! So as you know Gretchen as played t-ball for 2 years and moved up to softball this past year, which I love this level and watching her play. And as most of you know I am the kind of mom that says brush it off, you are fine. Well with that being said, Gretchen is playing right field, one of the power hitters on the other team gets up and line drives it towards her, grounder, so Gretchen is in position to stop the ball and it takes a bounce and she did stop it, just not with her glove, it was with her face literally! So the coaches instantly star running to her and she starts to cry on the field and they all start looking for me, so I run on the field, again not my style and another mom runs for ice and they put her in the dugout with ice. Then I see it, the stitching, the swelling, the bruising already! Can you say OUCH?? But I have to say she got back on that field and played the rest of the game, I was so proud of that because I know it could have been real easy not to ever play again and be scared, but she wasn't. The positive is that now she knows, yes it hurts, but it gets better and she is ready to sign up again, so it must have not been all that bad. To be honest I think she wore it like a badge of honor, like bring it! LOL - she is so my kid, what can I say! Plus she liked that the coaches were all like OMG, we are going to get her something from the concession stand for taking one for the team. So I think the most painful part for her was that I kept taking pics of her chin,(why her tongue is out) so I would have them to show her in the future, you know in her scrapbook that I have not done! Well at least I am thinking ahead.

Taylor Swift Concert

Well this picture of the girls at the concert with their new tee-shirts. It started by us stating we was going overnight to Ft. Wayne, going to stay so we could go to the Zoo the next day. Fun they thought, but it got better. Gretchen figured it out when we got to Ft. Wayne and she heard advertisements about the Taylor Swift Concert in town and she said I bet you are surprising us and taking us there! When we confirmed it was like we were back at the Jonas Brothers/Hannah Montana Concert a couple years ago with screaming, screaming, screaming! So yes, they were excited and we were deaf, lol! Honestly those moments are priceless!! So the concert the girls LOVED, well except the seats for Gretchen, who like me does NOT like heights and let me say they were bargain seats! You don't realize how tall the Ft. Wayne Arena is until you are that high up! So needless to say after Gretchen and me finally got up, uP, UP to our seats we stayed put!! Delaney liked it until Keith "Gerban" as she called him, Urban, really kept playing, playing, playing, so with her little ear phones on she decided to nap! Side bar, not a big Keith Urban fan until that night, he puts on an hellluva show! So we headed back to our room and went to the zoo the next day, again lots of fun and then headed back home, well actually to an softball game, but you get it! I have to say I love being able to do special things like that for our girls!

Catching Up For Real

Okay I promise I have a list and pics on the computer ready to be posted so I am going to try to get caught up and stay up to date with the blog again for 2010. So stay posted. I already added first day of school pics of the girls on my last blog. Better late than never right! Plus maybe the summer pics and blogs will help my mind trick me into thinking warmth!