The Calm Before The Storm

The last three weeks have been calm and completely uneventful. No news is good news, right? Its HOT (not sure we've had a day undre 94 degrees since like July 8th). Heat pretty much sucks the motivation right out of everyone, so we've done nothing but hang out at home, only occasionally venturing out to the pool or farmer's market or outside after 7:30 at night, when it might finally dip under 90 degrees. Ugh!

School starts August 10. Next week is our "last" week of summer, and although I wish it was going to be a nice, calm week, it won't be, I'm sure. All school supplies have been bought, so we can check that off our list. However, we have dance registration next week, 2nd grade open house, haircuts and a few other misc. things. I'm also going to start Beth back on her alarm clock in the morning, gradually moving it a few minutes earlier each morning to prepare her for 6:30 the following week. And we have to get back into the routine of bedtimes, although the last few nights both girls were IN bed by 7:30 (albeit not asleep till much later). I think both girls are bored and getting tired of each other. The sibling rivalry has REALLY picked up in the last two weeks, with me or Bob constantly playing interference or breaking up fights or squabbles that end in hitting or kicking each other. Ahhh...sisterly love.

So, the chaos will begin soon.....hectic mornings, packing lunches, doing homework, carpooling to different activities, etc....oh well...bring it on!

Destin...again...

So, we headed back to Destin for our annual 4th of July trip to the beach! Its so fun! There are fireworks right on our beach and a big cook-out. This year, 4 of the owners did a rib cook-off, including Bob. He didn't win...but it was good effort! We had a bum judge who didn't like "smoked" anything...so she didn't like his ribs. bummer. Oh well...we had fun!!

The Rib Cook-Off:

Sarah Katherine's 4th of July swimsuit...so cute!

Patriotic Sisters

Goofing off at the cook-off

The whole fam...

The girls with Aunt Erin before fireworks

Some fun at the beach....

Beth and I at The Ocean Club:

And some fun taking white dress pictures at sunset...

And this one is getting blown up and going on my mantel:

Father's Day

We spent Father's Day on KY Lake with dinner at Bob's favorite catfish restaurant, Cypress Inn and Marina, which is right on the lake, so we usually partner a trip to Cypress with a day on the lake, then just dock the boat for dinner! Its always a fun trip back home b/c its usually around sunset on the lake and a beautiful boat ride! The girls love the lake and the boat....here are some fun pictures of the day, the evening and the silliness that occurred on the way home!

Spammers- please don't make me do it...

EEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR...................
I'm sick of having to delete random spam comments to my posts. If you do not know me, don't leave a comment randomly asking me to look at your blog. Anymore random comments and I'll be making this a private blog to my family and friends who actually might care. Its super annoying to have to police my own blog.

Blame Facebook

You can blame Facebook for my lack of keeping up with my blog. Sorry. All photos, updates, etc, go straight to Facebook b/c it is just so much easier. It will probably continue to be this way, so if you read this blog and we AREN'T Facebook friends and you want to be, leave me a comment or find me on Facebook!!

Just a quick update:

Beth:

She just finished 1st grade and had a great year. She says her favorite subjects were lunch and recess, however, she loved science and reading! She is also a great little writer! Writing was always my strong point, so maybe she'll follow in my footsteps. She has a rather extension summer reading list for 2nd grade that she has already made it about 1/3 way through! She loves to read and I'm so thankful of that. She has not been impressed with the 2nd grade reading list, as she says the books on it are way too easy! She is reading chapter books like they are going out of style. I'm guessing her test scores will say she is reading at a 3rd grade level, but who knows! She is enjoying a busy summer already! We've already been to Destin once, in anticipation that we might not get to go our usual 4th of July week b/c of the oil. (The jury is still out on that, though. We watch the oil maps like hawks!)

Her summer babysitter is keeping her busy with the library, pool, parks and more! She is going to her first "REAL" camp this week -Church camp. Just a 1-night camp, but she knows NO ONE there and is actually very excited!

Sarah :

She will be in 4-year old Nursery School (preschool) next year. She is super excited! She is also staying busy this summer and finding her confidence to be my little fish in the water again!

She loves to swim, go to water-play-day at daycare on Tues/Thurs and play outside. She is getting ready to go to LadyBug camp at mom's this week and is SO excited about that, too! Its her first year and Beth has her all hyped up about it!

Bob continues to stay busy with his company. He is booked solid through the first part of October, so that is very awesome!!

I continue to stay busy with work, Church stuff and mom stuff! Always running and always busy! Story of my life, but I love every minute of it!

Sarah's Last Day of 3-Year Old Nursery School

I can't believe its already time for my customary "last day of school" front porch picture...for Sarah at least!! She lost her babyface this year!!!!

FIRST DAY - SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

LAST DAY- MAY 13, 2010

Dance Recital

Okay- my turn to brag a little on my girls! They both did AWESOME at their dance recital. SO CUTE!! AND they had to do the whole thing twice - Friday night and Sunday afternoon, plus dress rehearsal on Thursday. I think Beth was more excited about getting flowers after the recital than she was to actually dance. Beth is built like a ballerina- all legs. I hope she continues to dance and the passion grows in her because I honestly think she could be fantastic. There were several seniors dancing their last recital before graduation and OH MY! They were AWESOME! I was in awe watching some of these "big" girls dance- truly beautiful. My girls' teacher, Ms. Elissa, was one of them. BEAUTIFUL ballerina and dancer. There is a picture of her below with Sarah's class - she's just beautiful! So - enjoy these pictures! Ballet is over (except for a small 2-day camp in June) till mid-August!

Beth:

Sarah: