JACK!

I think this was a crappy day for my husband.  With the shed gone, he simply had to remove the concrete pad that was beneath it.  He thought it would be a couple of inches thick so started in with a sledge hammer.  No dice.  Turns out the concrete pad was a foot thick and required jack hammer rental along with massive tractor removal.  Thank goodness Barton came over to assist.  It took them ALL day to remove this 8x10 foot pad.  Whew.

Shed Removal

Since the new garage is going to go where the shed was located, it had to go.  We found someone who wanted it, he brought over a tow truck and they simply towed it out of there.  Then we had to deal with the massive pile of 'stuff' that was in the shed.  Most of it is now sitting in the garage with the bikes, scooters, skates and dirt bikes I previously mentioned.  It is literally impossible to get into the current garage.  Not for long though, not for long.

Backyard - MORE work

Well, we're doing it.  A two garage is on the way.  We have debated for years as we didn't want to wreck our view or plop a gigantic box in our backyard but after many discussions we decided that in order to make our lives a bit easier (meaning more places to put stuff) we needed more garage space.  Right now we have a one car attached.  It is so full of bikes, scooters, skates, and dirt bikes that there is NO way a car could possibly park inside.  Hence, a two car free standing in the back which will become Matt's garage and the little one car attached will become my garage.  To get things started we (meaning Matt) needed to relocate a shrub and thus the girls had a sweet pile of wet dirt to play in for a day.  I also snapped a few pictures of our backyard because it has come a long way over the years.  We LOVE it.

This shed is now gone and will be the site of the new garage.

This part of our view will remain intact.

Spelling

Every Friday Alexandra bring home a paper that reports on her behavior during the week.  She has to write two good things about her week and one thing to improve.  This was one of the first weeks of school.

"I was good in class." (no, not God in class) 

"I was nice"

"Better hand writing."

Twinner Twinner Chicken Dinner

....at least that is what the ladies say.  On this particular school day they both choose their heart shirts, kahki pants/skirts and pink shoes.  They were giggling because they were dressed as 'twinners'.  CUTE!

A Rare Treat

This does not happen often anymore.  Alexandra gave up princess dresses a couple of years ago...and not just princess dresses, any dresses, skirts or anything 'fancy' (which includes a shirt with a small ruffle on it).  On this day she adorned a pink poofy dress, tiara and danced with her sister.  It was darling, she looked beautiful (they both did) and I relished the moment of watching my now eight year old twirl and sway in princess finery, possibly for the very last time.  

 She also made this sign for the playhouse door.  Translation, "The Princess and the Cowgirl Live here!"

Those summer nights...

I guess I can't really say summer anymore as I believe I've already made a few references to summer being over but we still had some incredibly beautiful evenings in September and October.  On this night we had a fire going, grilled out, made a little bed on the hammock and set up an outdoor movie on my laptop.  Girls were happy and snuggly and so were daddy and I.

Shame on the Tooth Fairy

Sometimes the tooth fairy gets really busy.  Sometimes, she forgets.  This happened to us in early September, I believe it was September 5th.  Alexandra woke up and slowly walked into our bedroom with the saddest expression and her toothbox in hand, still holding the tooth she placed in it the night before.  The tooth fairy had forgotten or had a full schedule.  I explained that this happened to me once, that it happens to lots of kids.  That the tooth fairy sometimes gets really really busy and just cannot make all of her deliveries.  I also said that when this happens, usually, the tooth fairy leaves a little something extra.  She quickly smiled and said "so instead of one five dollars, I'll get two five dollars".  I'm not sure that is what the tooth fairy had in mind but she did leave this sweet little note and an extra couple of dollars.

There she goes....

It had to happen.  She had to grow up.  She was ready - I wasn't - but she was.  The first day of Kindergarten came and she was excited, a bit nervous, but mostly ready to go to school with her big sister.  When we arrived she stood in line with the other kids, when daddy and I tried to stand near her she said that we could go now.  Sniff Sniff.  She really did walk in with a smile...and came out with one too.  Love you little Av, proud of you and your attitude!

She lost her first tooth just days before.

What could she be thinking on the walk to school?

My favorite picture of the first day.  All ready.

After school she quickly settled in, had a snack and got back to the business of building her zoos.

Awwwwww....

Good-bye Summer

At the beginning of summer we put together a list of things we wanted to do during those gorgeous, warm, school-free days.  We had fun planning and crossing off a couple of items each week.  Now, summer is over.  The list comes down and I think there were only two or three things that we didn't get around to.  SUMMER SUCCESS!

Architect

Avery is ALWAYS, and by that I sincerely mean everyday, building with blocks.  She calls her creations "zoos" as she always makes a variety of homes and enclaves for little plastic animals.  It truly is a wonder how she gets it all to balance...and the patience she has is incredible.  She will work for hours to get everything just right.  I think Santa might need to bring her more blocks for Christmas this year.  GREAT job sweetie!

Before Kindergarten...

Kindergarten starts one week after the other grades SO Avery had a couple of days to play with her favorite friend Sophia.  They were so cute and SOOOO busy.  They made this very large and very elaborate blanket fort and had a tea party.  They also played Barbies and somehow set up a disco ball party in the dream house.  They also hunkered down and made a nest especially for the purpose of watching a movie and having lots of snacks.  It was a very sweet end to Avery's summer.

That face

Something about this picture of Avery is magic to me.

Harder and harder to let her go...

The end of summer.  Always a bit of sadness for me...and likely for the girls as well.  Another year has gone by.  I was once told by a friend that once school starts the years seem to go by faster and faster.  It is entirely true.  Maybe it is because I am now holding onto my girls' childhood with both hands, maybe it is because there is a more definite beginning and end to each year marked by the beginning and end of the school year...but, whatever the reason, another year has clicked by in an instant.

BUT, my girl was ready.  She was quite nervous in the weeks leading up to school but she woke-up with a smile and was excited to be reunited with her friends.  FORTUNATELY, she came home with a smile and has loved her teachers.  We are, as always, wildly proud of her.  Love you sunshine!

Summer Face

One thing on our summer bucket list was to make pudding pops.  We made them, the girls ate them and Avery also wore most of hers on her sweet summer face!

Grandparent Story Hour

Grandpa Steve and Grandma Carolyn stopped by for a couple of days on their return trip from Alaska.  Lovely to see them again and the girls always enjoy spending some one on on time with them.  On this night they were both treated to books at bedtime.

Seeds

My kitchen is almost always a mess.  Embarrassing to admit but I just can't seem to keep on top of the piles of papers and clutter.  Case in point.  Alexandra made this seed collection at the beginning of her first grade year of school, nearly an entire year ago, and it's been sitting on top of the microwave and has been moved from there to a variety of other piles throughout the house.  All the while I've been meaning to simply take the below picture of it so I could 'save' it, without really saving it.  So, finally on this fine late August day as we prepared for the beginning of her second grade year I stopped and took the photo and now I have her beautiful seed garden and one less thing on my counter.

My Day

My birthday!  GREAT day with early morning presents from my sweet family.  I've been wanting these sunglasses for awhile and scored.  SO, of course, we all had to model sunglasses, get our purses and go shopping (because you know that's what I like to do, according to both Alexandra and Avery).

Summer Zoo Day

A beautiful summer day spent with friends at the zoo.  I think we saw EVERYTHING including the new polar bear exhibit.  

The owl from the bird show....always a hit.

 Train ride too.

EIGHT!!!

August 12th.  That is the DAY!  Our once little girl is now so big, so happy, so beautiful.  She had a wonderful day.  We celebrated with presents in the morning and another party with family and close friends.  She was so excited to have Mason & Sophia over to celebrate on her birthday and re-created her party from the day before.  

The birthday shot! 

Toy Story presents - always a winner!

This time Matt Molloy was the target of the water balloons.

Happy Happy Birthday my morning ray of sunshine.  Love you forever.