What do you do all day?

Eliya asked what Gabie, Rachie and I do all day while she is at school - today we did puzzles!

Happy Birthday Bobby!

Curt and Rachel's youngest son celebrated his 1st birthday! We enjoyed cake and ice cream and lots of kiddos at a little party for him.

Second Day

Eliya had a hard time waking up for her second day of school - guess that first day just wore her out! It's so interesting hearing her talk about all the things that go on at school and the sorts of things that she remembers.

First Day of School

As many of you know these last couple weeks leading up to the first day of Kindergarten have been dramatic and not very fun. Eliya has been having panic attacks about it, to the point that we questioned whether she was truly ready, but we made it to the first day! She was VERY nervous and clingy, but once they all lined up as a class to go in she did great - no tears. Whew. I waited till she was safely inside to shed mine, I think it would be hard anyway to see my first baby go, but the fact that she was having such a hard time with it made it even harder for mom! She told us all about lunch, P.E., stories and what happens if you get in trouble - but according to her that will not happen. She even said she wanted to go back - yay!

Corn on the Cob!

This is a favorite of everyone at our house - although with no front teeth eliya is having a hard time eating it this year!

Saying Goodbye

We had one last shopping excursion before we went our separate ways to Target where I took a group picture.

Mad!

Let me outta here!!!

trying to get a pic of the finished product

Rachel was not a happy camper that mom wanted her to get a 'real' hair cut. I wanted someone professional to get things going so that I can just keep up with trimming it.

Friday in Sioux Falls

Swimming in the afternoon - it was perfect timing because no one for the next night could check in till after 4 so we had the pool almost to ourselves. Eliya even went down the big slide a number of times all by herself and the other two went down with me quite a few times too.
Sliding!

Aunt Stephanie helps Rachie on the bike at Chucky Cheese where we met Susan, Ethan and Luke for an evening of food, games and swimming back at the hotel

Eliya on a ride

Cool picture of Rachie on the merry-go-round - I love the image reflection

Gabie giving Ethan a hug at Chucky Cheese

Rachel crawling out with Gabie going down the slide in the background

I just think this is the coolest picture of Eliya

Eliya loves to swim

Gabie splashing in the water - she was so funny how she wanted the floaties - the water was only 12 inches deep, but hey if it made her feel better it works.

Eliya and Ethan having a discussion

Gabie

Gabie holding baby Luke after swimming

Eliya and Luke

even Rachel took a turn holding him

Minnesota Trip

On Sunday we left for Long Prairie to spend a couple days with Mark's family and to take the girl's to the dentist in St.Cloud. We had great news this year - no cavities!!! Yay! After last trip we had quite the ordeal with Gabie's teeth so we were thrilled that their mouths are so healthy this trip - whew! We got some back to school shopping done as well - what fun to get to spend a few days with the family, we were all able to have dinner together both nights we were there. On tuesday we left bright and early to pick up our new-to-us van that Richard and Ellie Reichle so

generously gave us - it is awesome! We were also able to see Sarah and Wilhelmina as well. Then we went into the cities to pick up Stephanie and began the long trip home. It was a horribly long day of driving, but well worth the trip!

News

It cracks me up how fast word gets around a small town.....so just to clarify, we are not moving and I am not pregnant. That being said, we actually do have some fun news - I got a new job! The reason the news has already traveled through town is because the preschool board here is already off and running to find a new teacher - yikes school starts in a just a few weeks! I will now be the Head Start home visitor for this area. What does this mean? Well, I'm basically doing a lot of the same stuff I was doing. There is a group preschool session every other week and then each week I get to work one-on-one with preschoolers. The hours are similar in time (the amount of time I will be working) and days off (still get holidays and summers, etc.) but it does involve traveling which they provide a car for me to use (bonus!) and it pays about four times more - plus benefits - wow! We feel so blessed that God has provided this opportunity, and I'm excited to see what lies ahead.

Saturday - LIC / Little Lambs

Goofy Gabie at breakfast
Gabie playing the fish game

a really cool picture of Eliya running

getting ready for duck, duck, grey duck

Eliya was 'it'

Gabie waiting for her turn to be picked

helping lead music during singing in the chapel

Eliya

Gabie going down the WET slide - oops!

parachute games

lift it high!

Mark and Rachie swinging - she was being a little stinker and would look away

every time I tried to take a picture

We were only able to stay till about 11am Saturday morning because we had to get back for church for Mark, but our morning was packed with fun things to do - a swimming/fish tag game in the rec hall (still raining - but much warmer!), Bible study and parachute games. Then it was time to say good-bye to camp :( We were about 10 miles from home when Gabie asked if we could go back to camp "right now!" hmmm, as much as love camp the idea of turning around at that point just didn't appeal to us - ha!

Friday - LIC / Little Lambs

Julia, Eliya and Gabriel -

going on a walk
in front of the fire

Me and my girls

We were able to stay an extra night at camp so that we had a chance to go to half of Little Lambs with Sarah and Julia. It was great to have the special time with both Eliya and Gabie this year and Mark and Rachel got some special daddy/daughter time in together too! Unfortunately it was cold and rainy so our evening program of swimming was walk all the around the island instead. Actually I very much enjoyed this - but little legs didn't - lot's of "carry me" was being heard so we baled on the group at the ERC and had some tea instead :0) Camp fire was fun though as they got a nice fire going in the fireside room so we still got a real campfire - complete with smores!!!

Friday - LIC / Family Camp

Annie the girls' favorite counselor
prior staff at LIC that reunite for August family week!

Our cabin for the second year in a row

family picture in front of the cabin