More Happenings...

So I am a little behind on posting...too many things going on and not enough time to just sit down and blog.  So here goes what has happened since my last post...and yes there are a lot of pics...

First day of school for the girls...Rachel in 4th grade and Haley in 1st grade

The neighbor received a phone call from her daughter saying they had been in a bus wreck (Rachel and Haley ride the same bus)  We headed out to find the bus not knowing where they were....that was so scary as I had been in a bus wreck when I was in 6th grade, so I know the feeling of being alone with no parent to hold onto....we found them not far from home....they were okay, but all I could do is run to them as fast as I could...I just wanted to hold them....now every time the bus is running late I sort of get anxiety.

Haley is showing off our landscaping remodel...yes it was HOT and yes I love the new design thanks to Chris and his talents!

Both girls were in soccer this year.  Haley was more aggressive this year than last.  She really loved it.  She is in the green shirt at a full run!

Rachel enjoyed soccer, but the physical part of it got her.  Not sure how well she liked it, but did get to score a goal or two.  She is in the blue shirt with the ball listening to the coach.

Amanda, Jordan, Jack, and Alexa came to visit.  I somehow did not end up with a lot of pics, but this is Alexa pushing Haley's baby around at the soccer game.  This is the first time we got to see Alexa...hmmm do you think we need to get together more often...yep thinking so!

The girls received balloons at school from a secret admirer....I found out later it was their dad, but the girls never knew who sent them...dad has a soft place in his heart for his girls!

Our future cheerleaders...the girls loved cheerleading camp...they both had a blast and are still doing the cheers.

Haley's class had a class trip to the corn maze....they had this huge hay pile and the kids really enjoyed it and the other activities.

Of course smores was one of the activities...YUMMY!

We have been losing teeth left and right at our house...the tooth fairy is constantly stopping at our house...Haley has another loose tooth that she is working on now!

Samantha, Taylor, Abbi, and Haley

Halloween was fun this year.  It was on the weekend so my dad was involved with the activities.  Kathy brought her trailer and we used our 4-wheeler to pull the kids around town...it was fun and I know mom and dad enjoyed being with the grandkids as they trick-or-treated...Kathy had her own 4-wheeler...she was dressed as a jail escapee and her and Zach flipped the 4-wheeler backwards coming up a hill...Zach told his mom "that was not cool mom."  I about died laughing...excitement for the night!

Haley's class put on a Thanksgiving play.  She was so excited about it and they did a really good job.  They each had their own part in the play.  Here is our proud pilgrim!

Haley had her Christmas program.  They sang beautifully and did well with their instruments.  It was so cute to see the kids all dressed up.

The girls were modeling their hats that I asked Aunt Karen to make for me.  They love them.  I dressed them up to take pictures for the Christmas cards and they decided to model a little....what fun they had!

So that is an update of what we have been up to.  I will try to do better at posting...hmmm that is I will try...

Second Half of Summer 2010

So the next half of the summer started with Stephanie, Todd, Dillon, and Dominic came to visit from Utah and cousins were reintroduced...

Riding 4-wheelers at Kathy's....Rachel, Zachary, and Dillon...note the 4-year-old is driving the 9-year-old around!

Dominic, Taylor, and Abbi (Julia's 2 girls)...Abbi dislikes fireworks

Shot off parachutes for the kids...Dominic got this one

Mike helping light sparklers

Rachel helping Stephanie make a cake

Went to the water park ....Stephanie is at the top left with Dominic...Rachel and Haley to the far right

Steph and Todd had the idea to rent jet skis at Lake Rathbun in Iowa....so we all took our turns riding...except my dad.

Julia and Luke .... I was a little nervous to drive/ride too fast

All summer long it had rained almost every other day....flooded many things...took this picture at Lake Rathbun....this sign is at the edge of a parking lot by the marina

Another picture of the marina....the building to the right is suppose to be at the edge of a parking lot...now it is in the lake

Storytime at the Library...for the past few years we went to storytime....the girls love it as they have activities for them to do and yes they have stories read to them...Rachel is in the pink hat.

The Worlds Fair aka Queen City Fair has a talent show.  Rachel and her friend Chrissy sang a Taylor Swift song.  I was so proud of them for getting up in front of an audience and you could hear them sing....go them!

Next was our surprise trip for the girls...we took them to Branson.  On the way we stopped at the Zoo in Springfield, MO.  I love this picture as the giraffe was right there to where we could pet and feed them...it was so neat!

We rode the train...and then headed to BRANSON!

Driving down the strip we saw this....Haley was so excited....Mom, look at that...wow she kept saying!

This was the outside of the Titanic exhibit....this was one of my favoriate places we went...LOVED it!

We then went to Silver Dollar City.  The last time I was there I was 14 and Chris was 8ish.  I did not take my camera with us as I was afraid to get it wet...wish I would have now cuz I missed a lot of pictures.  When we first walked in they were doing a skit of a gun shoot out....guy and a girl....it was pretty funny....the girls were loving it.  We then went down the hill a bit and there was a roller coster ride...Chris and I do not like them, but figured we could ride one with the girls.  We get to the staging and the roller coster seat we are in are backwards...two little girls and their mom are sitting facing us.  I expressed that I do NOT like roller costers and then little girl that was about 6 said that is okay as you are sitting backwards and cannot see what is coming...made Chris and I feel great...NOT!  We made it through, but that was the only one we rode.  It was a fun day!  This picture was taken after showing how hot/soaked we were from the rides.  We had a lot of fun...the girls loved the Fire in the Hole ride, the log ride, and the roller coster just for them. 

This documented how hot it was.....HOT!

Another picture after Silver Dollar City

The girls at Table Rock Lake

Haley with her duck quacker while riding the ducks and Rachel at Ripley's Believe It or Not

Of course, minature golf has to be played while on vacation...everyone made a hole-in-one!

Rachel and Haley with Charlie's Angels at the Wax Museum

See the smile....Jeff Gordan and Dale Jr. the closest he will probably get to them

This was the night after we got home....Haley was playing with her folder and the next thing we knew she was asleep like this....too funny...I think she was worn out!

And to top off the summer for Rachel....her bestest friend Quinn came for a visit.  It worked out just perfect to surprise as we met Quinn and her mom at the school parking lot.  I told Rachel I had to pick up some papers from some lady...well we waited and finally they pulled up, Quinn had her window down, and the first thing Rachel said is "you got me again mom."  They had a blast in the pool and just hanging out. 

All in all this summer was a quick summer, but many memories made!

Summer Happenings...the first half....

Our summer started off as a busy one.  Both the girls were in ball this year.  We did not have very many games that overlapped each other, but at Haley's first game she was chasing other kids, fell, and broke her arm.  She had to play in the outfield and could not bat...she was pretty bummed about that!  Rachel this year moved up to where the kids pitch to themselves.  This was hard as the balls came in there very fast, but she adjusted and did a great job at swinging and hitting the ball.  Here are some pictures of our first half of the summer.

Haley sitting in the dugout...3rd one from the left

Haley doing some sort of dance while in the outfield and with her broken arm.

Haley after getting her splint...she broke her arm at her 1st game before the game even started....running around and fell on it.....2nd time she has broke an arm...thinking she is going to be accident prone!

Rachel down and ready...actually I was taking a picture of her in her stance before her ball game for a project :)

Rachel and her team during a game...Rachel is on 3rd base

Getting ready to bat....she struggled with this, but by the end really improved...this year they pitched to themselves and those balls came in fast!  Note I am in the background coaching 1st and Haley is cheering Rachel on!

Lots of swimming this summer...between rain storms, but the girls have really got some good use out of the pool with friends and family!

Rachel, Haley, and Ann (my niece) at the Ottumwa Beach...Ann stayed with us for a week.  The girls had a lot of fun with her, enjoyed making things in the EasyBake, and really did not want her to go home..We will have to have another play date! 

My other niece Ashley at her graduation party...she graduated from high school and it makes me feel old as I can remember her taking her first steps and now she is taking a big step of going to college.

Rachel and Haley in the red shirts waiting for the race to start....there have not been many races, but the girls are right there to cheer their dad and Uncle Mike!

First day of summer school...the girls did not make it very long with summer school...decided they had had enough school...cannot blame them!

Both girls have lost teeth this summer...kind of funny as Rachel pulled her own tooth at Haley's ball game and if you know Rachel she has no pain tolerance!

Playing in the small pool (as the girls called it) at Gma and Gpa Chidester's house!