Camping trip

Andy and the girls have been trying to go camping since last October. They rescheduled many times due to weather. July came and Andy was off and he was determined that it was going to happen. It was hot as blue blazes, but they got everything together and headed up before his vacation was over.

Here are the girls at one of the waterfalls at Hanging Rock.

Climbing the steps

More time with the falls.

The camping gang! Look how red and sweaty they are!

Getting our hands wet.

Carly in the tent

The tent and Joiner outside

The fire!

The camping site

The crew waiting on dinner. I heard that the yellow jackets were bad. I think they actually ate dinner in the tent to avoid the bugs. I know that is a serious no-no with bears, but I think Andy was willing to risk it to stop the "get away from me" dancing moves that the yellow jackets were inciting.

More hiking the next morning. I think this was before 7am!

What sweet sisters!

Just about to head home!

Can't leave without a visit to the plunge pool. I heard it was very cold!

Tired but fun!

We asked the girls the other day if they wanted to go camping again on their Fall Break. Carly was in, but Joiner said that she wanted to stay home with mommy and Bennett. I told her that I might go this time. She still seemed hesitant. Then we said that it would be cooler and there wouldn't be as many bugs. She was in:)

July fun!

I know, it has been a while. It would seem that with two kids in "big" school that I would have all this time. Well, it actually is the opposite. Anyway, work must take all my additional time so the blog is not on the list.

I will try to do better and here are some pictures of some summer fun taht haven't made it yet.

Bennett discovered the sand table. Here is Joiner helping him.

Such a sweet picture.

She was actually a little perturbed that he was in her sand piles!

Big boy in the baseball hat

Gigi came and loved to spend time with him out there.

Speaking of Gigi, we had a surprise retirement party for her. You can't see her face, but she was surprised.

You can see her face a little now. I don't have many pictures with trying to mingle and keep Mr B in line.

Here is her cake that says "Free Gigi"

Bennett trying cake for the first time.

I think it was a hit!

Uncle Bill and Aunt Marilyn from CA came to visit. I think Carly took this picture.

Uncle Bill, Joiner, and if you look close, Bennett's head.

Here is Bennett with a 4 lb zuchini. I made 12 loaves of bread with this sucker!

The girls love to walk by the big jumper at the mall. It costs $6 a kid! So, I told them if they saved their allowance, I would pay 1/2. So when I knew they had more than enough $, I surprised them and said today was the day. For those of you who don't know about this thing, it is basically a huge johnny jump-up.

Here is Carly getting strapped in.

Joiner waiting for her time.

Joiner jumping. She was screaming and shaking her legs. I think she would have done it all day. They can jump as high as the second floor!

Carly on her ride up. You can see by her stance that she was much more reserved. Rigid might be a better description! She said she had fun, though.

I had bought a Groupon to Dippin Dots so they even got to get a treat! I get very few days as a mom where I am fun and seem to have no rules, so I will take what I can get!

We did lots more this summer, but at least we finally have an overview!

First Day of Kindergarten

How is it that these two precious babies who were little enough to fit in the hospital bassinet together...

...are now these two big girls who headed off to Kindergarten this morning?

I don't know how it happened, but my babies started big school today. I will admit that I am not doing well. They were super excited and were out of their room at the dot of 7:00am! We started breakfast on the Red Plate with our customary cinnamon rolls and eggs. Gigi found us another Red Plate at Goodwill, so now we have two!

Carly in her new dress. We had a special girls day this week that I will post about when I learn how to take pictures off my IPhone and they each got to pick a new outfit. Their school is a uniform school 3 days a week but they started on a "where what you like day."

As you can see, they picked the same dress. I tried to suggest they pick different things, but they told me they would just tell people who they were. As it turned out, they didn't even see each other at school, so no confusion possible.
Joiner with her breakfast.

Getting ready to go!

Joiner

Carly

Walking into school with Andy and their new book bags.

They will be riding the bus home as I don't know how to get them from school and let Bennett nap. I am very nervous about the bus, but they are excited. Thanks to Gigi, I was able to get them today and Monday so they can learn the ropes before we add the bus. I was in car line at 2:45pm and dismissal isn't until 3:15pm. I wasn't the first car or even the 20th! After they called their names I saw them walk out holding hands and hugging after not seeing each other all day. I was able to get a picture when the line wasn't moving.

It was a great first day. I cried off and on all day and I am sure I will be sad for a while. They want to do this so bad and are so excited, so I will be excited for them. I don't know how it has gone so fast, but I will try to enjoy this moment and encourage them to grow! Because of the staggered entry, they are home tomorrow, so we can chill out like the good ole' days!

Bennett Turns One

I didn't mean for a week to go by before I posted about Bennett's birthday party, but that is what happened. It was a really fun day with family and friends!

Carly and Joiner had spent the previous week with Mamie and Pops. They came home on Sunday with Mamie and Pops ready to party.

We started the day the way we start every birthday, with cinnamon rolls and eggs on the Red Plate. This was Bennett's first time with cinnamon rolls and he seemed very pleased!

The girls were in Dance Camp at their dance studio last week (bad timing, but I had planned and paid before the GA trip was organized) so I took them to get party supplies after camp. They decided on an Elmo theme since Bennett loves his Elmo music table. We went a little crazy and had Elmo balloons and signs everywhere. We had pizza and a big salad for dinner as B loves pizza.

Here is Bennett and Margaret having a little snack while I got the pizzas cooked. You can see that even his highchair was decorated:)

Now he has a party hat!

Mamie, Margaret, and Lissa

Andy and I in our party hats

Margaret and Bennett along with a huge Elmo

Tina, Carly, and Joiner with Bennett's cupcakes. I intended to decorate the carrot cake cupcakes with little Elmos, but I took the easy way out and bought cute candles:)

Bennett wasn't sure what to do with his cupcake at first. He figured it out after Margaret broke it up a little for him. The he was very excited.

Yum!

Pure joy!

Getting some help from his sisters

Where's Bennett?

Almost...

There he is!

Mommy and Bennett

We moved into the living room to open presents. Here is B clapping as we got started.

Bennett with all his help:)
Caga and Miriam gave him a sweet basket filled with all sorts of goodies including this cuddly dog that he likes to eat! The doggy was wearing the hat that Bennett had on in the delivery room. They picked it up when they were there. Such a sweet thought.

The piano that Mamie and Pops gave him. One of the buttons on the piano plays "The Farmer in the Dell." If you start singing the song, he will go over to the piano and push buttons to start the song.

Some of the gang

Bennett playing with his Elmo ball

So big!

It was a great night and a great way to celebrate our sweet boy.

Bennett, at one year old you are trying so hard to walk and will go 15 or so steps at a time. You can stand on your own very well and turn. You are into anything and everything. If we catch you doing something you shouldn't, you look down and wiggle in satisfaction at your naughtiness! You wave and clap all the time. You have started saying "hi" and holding out your hand to talk with people. You LOVE to play peek-a-boo. You like to be in the mix of chaos and seem equally at home reading your books alone in the living room. You have the sweetest smile and attitude. You love to eat. Food and water play are about the only things that can make you mad. If you see someone eating and you want it, you get a little antsy. If we try to pull you out of the pool or a puddle, you get mad. You get out of the bathtub without fuss, but that may be coming. You are such a gift to our life!

We love you sweet Bennett! We look forward to so many more years of fun!