Keeping Elye

I kept Elye the first week that Grace and Lyla were out of school. Metro and CPA both went an extra week past us, so Elye was with me. Wow, it has been a really long time since I've had a toddler all day long. I have become very spoiled with my 5 and 7 year olds! We did find out that she loves the slide and our little pool in the backyard. And, she loves popsicles. The popsicle breaks saved my back from breaking after holding her hand and going in circles around that little pool about 50 times. She's a cutie pie though.

And, my big girl and big helper!

A day at the park

A few Saturdays ago, Eric and I took the girls to the park and to hit baseballs on a baseball field. I tried to get some pictures at the playground. Lyla didn't want to stop for me to take her picture. Grace, of course, was very accommodating and stopped to smile every time I came near. I didn't take very many because I couldn't figure out how to take a picture without their faces being dark and the sky being too bright. I know this is basic photography stuff but I can't figure it out. I need to do some research and learn more. Anyway, after the playground we went to the field.

Lyla got a real baseball bat and balls and glove for her birthday. We quickly figured out that we can't pitch to this girl in the backyard with a real bat and ball. She's too good (sorry to brag a little). She can hit it out of the backyard too easily. I'm also afraid she might break a window. Grace is good too. The funny thing is, Grace bats left handed (she right handed) and Lyla bats right handed (she's left handed).

So, Eric wanted to take them to a field to see how far they could really hit it. They did great. I'm not joking when I say Lyla (when shes trying) can hit 1 out of every 2 or 3 pitches. Grace can hit too. Then Eric made them take fielding practice. We played until there was a meltdown, which is out cue to leave. They did great and I can't wait to see them playing on a team someday!

Sleepover

This is Grace's friend, Nolyn, from her 1st grade class. She slept over one night in May. Grace loves sleepovers! She sweet enough to allow Lyla to play with them too. They had a blast!

Goodbye Ms. Hudson

This was taken the last day of school. Grace's teacher, Ms. Hudson, was GREAT! She was sweet, funny, loving and very structured...a perfect mix. Grace learned soooo much! It amazes me how much her reading ability has changed from the end of kindergarten to the end of 1st grade. Joni actually tested her for me back in the winter sometime. I was just curious what reading level she would test at. If I remember correctly (Joni tell me if I'm wrong), I think she tested at the end of 2nd grade reading level. She doesn't really love to read yet. She never just picks up a book to read on her own. Hopefully she will get there some day. I'm very proud of how hard she worked this year. She learned responsibility in doing homework too. Ms. Hudson helped me teach her that lesson. She's going to be a great student. We'll miss Ms. Hudson!

The Safe Tan

Every knows that tan skin is somehow more appealing to look at than really white skin, unless it's a babies perfect skin. As we get older, our skin gets even worse. The little spots, veins, and bumpy cellulite make it even uglier. A nice tan can camoflauge some of that gross stuff. But, we also know that a true tan is bad for us. So, we're going the safe route...a spray tan. It doesn't get us as dark as I used to get during my high school days (when I laid in a tanning bed) but it helps a little. Joni broke down and bought a sprayer off ebay. We hook it up to Eric big air compressor and it works like a charm. Here is Joni being sprayed in my front yard! Pretty funny! Hey, whatever works.

She's now an orange belt

Lyla graduated to the next belt level in her martial arts class. She gets very excited about getting a new belt. This class has been great for her! She loves it and it really has motivated to say "yes, mam" more often, which I love! Now Grace is participating too. She's really excited too. I'm proud of Lyla for sticking with it and really trying hard to do her best.

Putting on her new orange belt.

Her teacher is really great too. He calls her "Lyla Cat". Not sure why, but it's cute. He's really great with the kids and expects their best while making it fun.

Lyla's Sporty Birthday

We had PaPaw Gardner, Mimi, Papoo, Joni, Reesi, Elye, Julie and Easton at Lyla's party. Mom cooked ribs and we had some sides with it. The girls played outside and enjoyed the baby pool. They're really too big for it but it gives them a way to get wet.

Anyway, on to the presents. Lyla had a very sporty birthday this year. She got a real bat, balls and glove from us. She got a real basketball goal from Mimi and Papoo. She got a batting helmet from Papaw and Grandma Gardner. She got a volleyball/badminton set from Julie and Jason. Joni gave Lyla $20 in cash. We went to ToysRUs on Monday and she picked out a baby Elmo doll that had a pacifier that fits in its mouth. I tried to sway her decision but she wanted that Elmo for some unforeseen reason.

She could be really good in sports someday (at least we think so). She really likes to play sports in the backyard too. She hasn't been on a real team yet but one day she will. We did figure out that we can't really pitch the real balls to her with the real bat in the backyard. She hits them out of the fence! I can't wait to see her on a team one day. Grace is good too. They can both hit pretty good. The funny thing is that Grace bats left handed even though she's right handed and Lyla bats right handed even though she's left handed.

I wimped out and bought a generic Publix birthday cake. After the monkey cake I didn't feel like decorating another cake.

She kept yelling "Happy Halloween". I have no idea why. She's just crazy I guess.

Love these girls! Aren't they cute? I love it that they're so close.

"Happy Halloween!"

Grandma Gardner sent these umbrellas for Grace and Lyla that you can draw on. They really enjoyed coloring the pictures on these umbrellas. They worked on them for a long time!

These pictures were from later in the day. The ice cream truck came around and they still had money from Papoo for ice cream. They had just gotten out of the shower so Lyla is soaking wet. Yes, they shower together! I love being able to say, "Girls, go take a shower." It's so liberating! Now, there is a lot of water on the bathroom floor most of the time but I'll deal with that if I don't have to wash them myself.

I love natural laughing pictures.