School's Out!

The past couple of weeks have been filled with lots of activities for the kids.  Will's class did a presentation on famous people.  He dressed up and told about Charles Lindbergh.  He had his speech all memorized and had a great presentation.   He LOVED getting to dress up like Lindbergh!

Elizabeth was awarded a certificate at the 7th grade awards ceremony for maintaining high honor roll all year.  She also received an award from her social studies teacher for her work in that class.

Justin received the presidential award and honor roll award for maintaining honors throughout his middle school career.  Also to note, Justin got braces on this past Tuesday.  He also attended his first youth dance at church a week ago.  I better not blink, he's going to be gone! 

Justin with some of his buddies at the 8th grade reception after their awards assembly.  I can't believe we know have a high school student!  He started wrestling camp later in the day after this reception and this next Wednesday he has high school orientation.  They don't waste any time!

Picking up Elizabeth from school on her last day.  One more year of middle school...

Madelyn, Bruce, and Will after their last day of school.  I see a huge change in Madelyn.  She is looking so grown up!

 

 The kids have been in our pool pretty much everyday this week.  I told Aaron that they aren't even going to need summer clothes this year, just more swimsuits.  It's been amazing to see the improvement in their swimming in such a short period of time.  Here's to happy summer memories!

Mother's Day {photo shoot}

 

For Mother's Day I wanted a nice picture of the kids outside so we went to a local park that afternoon.  It was a beautiful day!  We've decided it's impossible to get everyone looking at the camera at the same time or standing up straight or not fidgeting or not fighting or...  

 
Aaron and the boys

Naomi was done with pictures by this time, but I wanted one with the kids because I am rarely ever in photos.  Proof that I was actually there.  Aaron and the kids spoiled me all day long.  They made breakfast, lunch and dinner and I was banned from the kitchen.  I'm so blessed and happy I get to be a mom to these kids.  They keep me busier than I know what to do with, but I love it!

Dance recital

We had trouble finding a new dance studio when we moved, but we finally found one Elizabeth really likes.  She took ballet and jazz this year.  Her dance recital was this past Saturday.  Her favorite part of the whole year is getting all dressed up for the dance recital.

Elizabeth's class was smaller than any she has been in before, but she had a lot of fun with these girls.  Her jazz dance was a dance from the 1920's.  In ballet she danced the "Spanish Rose." 

BFF's

Naomi became friends with this cute little girl pretty much our first week we moved to Tennessee.  They were in nursery together at church.  They have played together lots in the past few months, but Madalyn is moving this weekend.  This has really been Naomi's first friend that is her friend alone.  Most of the time she is tagging along with our Madelyn and whoever she is playing with.

 

A few days ago we went for open gym at a local gymnastics place.  These girls are so cute when they play together.  The good news is both sets of Madalyn's grandparents live here so we know she will be back for visits.

Cute girls!

Naomi is being so brave.  She even started jumping off the vault into the pit without me holding her hand.  It's so fun to see her coming out of her shell.

Madalyn's little sister is on Naomi's right and the other little girl is another of Naomi's good friends.  I don't think any of our kids have played with friends as much as Naomi.  With her being the only one at home this year, she gets really bored at home with just me.  It's nice for me too so that I can get stuff done!

Teenager #2

Today Elizabeth turned 13 so we now have two teenagers living in our house.  I have to say that so far it hasn't been too bad.  Justin is a pretty good kid and Elizabeth is pretty great to have around too.  Here she is today in true teenager form on her ipod.  This is her favorite way to relax after a day of school.

Elizabeth's youth leader from church lives across the street from our house.  This is a first for us having someone from church live so close.  We love it!  She brought a dozen roses over for Elizabeth.  She definitely knows how to win Elizabeth over!  

I feel so lucky to be Elizabeth's mom.  She is beautiful inside and out.  I regularly get emails and letters from her teachers telling us what a good student she is and such a joy to have in class.  She is so thoughtful to others and very kind-hearted.  She loves to plan activities for her younger sisters and cousins.  She lights up when she goes into a mall or really any store.  Lest you think Elizabeth is perfect, she does have her shortcomings.  She is great with her little sisters, but she is a little short on patience with her younger brothers.  We all need something to work on, right?  (As you can see from the above picture, I need to work on  my cake decorating skills).  Love you, Elizabeth!

Barbie House (Alas!)

We decided about five days before Madelyn's birthday that we were going to make her a Barbie house.  Her friend Emma has one that she used to love playing with in Indiana.  Four days before her birthday, Aaron and I went to Lowe's and bought the lumber.  Aaron came home and built it that night.

We ordered the furniture online from Amazon, but didn't get very far with the decorating by her birthday.

Here she is about two weeks later and her dollhouse is looking a little more finished.  I had so much fun decorating it and picking out all of the rooms (with a little help from Elizabeth and our friend Sarah). 

Even Justin helped a little (there was duct tape involved).

 We still need to get a little more furniture, but we're basically done with the decorating.

The girls have already been busy playing house.  So fun!

In case anyone is wondering, the "wallpaper" is scrapbook paper.  I used "yes paste" to adhere it to the walls.  It's a pretty sticky mess, but it works really well.  Enjoy your new digs, Ken and Barbie!

Dollywood

Last Saturday I was a chaperone for these fun girls all day long at Dollywood.  Having not met any of Elizabeth's friends at her new school, I was eager to spend the day with them.  What a great group of girls!  And our timid little Elizabeth was actually amazing.  She went on her first upside down roller coaster ride.  I guess this is one case where peer pressure was a good thing because I don't think she would have done it without her friends' encouragement!

The weather was less than desirable.  I knew it was going to be bad when I looked at the hourly forecast Friday night for Saturday and it had rain every stinking hour!  We actually were able to get one ride in before the rain started.  Yes, true to forecast, we had rain nearly the entire time we were there.   

This was my favorite time of the day - we were able to get inside and out of the rain.  I wouldn't have minded sitting inside all afternoon and watching the entertainment, but nope, the girls were ready to go back out.  (No, Elizabeth did not finish this ginormous chili dog!)

Best $5 spent the entire day?  This lovely rain poncho!