Good Friday/Bad Friday

Good in that the weather was gorgeous and a nice breeze was blowing.  Bad in that it was our last day on the beach.

The day started off with Maddie singing "Party in the USA".

Emma playing with new friends.

Mop-top.

Emma cooling off.

Maddie playing football

It reads "Bud's House", but for the moment it's named "Abby-Emma-Maddie-Callie's House"

Group Photo

Sisters

We ended the day & our vacation with ice cream.

Vacation Thursday

MmmmMmmmMmmmm.  Doughnuts!!

We sought.  We found.

Later, we snapped a shot of our new friends before they left for home.

The rest of the day was uneventful.  We rode our bikes searching for dinner and ended up at Bruno's Pizza.  While we waited I snapped a few black & whites.

 I then got a few shots of the girls before bed.  Rabbit crashed on Maddie, who was really tired.

Hey Blue Eyes!

Or is it Hazel?  I cannot tell anymore.  Oh well.

Hump Day

It was a busy day.  That said, let's commence with the pictures and commentary.

Breakfast. Maddie.  'Nuff said.

Emma getting the hang of the boogie board.

Emma and friends attempt to dig to China.

Maddie-Jean is the Queen!!

They didn't quite make it to China, but it was a good start.

Not sure what's happening here, but my feeling is that she's giving me an earful.

Emma and friends.

Maddie says, "I don't want my picture taken".

Cartwheels and other tumbling skills.

Emma preparing to tumble again, I guess.

Maddie climbing out of the "Hole to China".

...and again.

She jumps...!!

The sun sets on a wonderful day.

Good Night!

Day Four

Believe it or not, we had to wake the girls this morning rather than the other way around.  Momma was determined to get to the beach.  After a leisurely stroll, the sand "art" commenced.  Unfortunately, Maddie's name was the best we do.  She was also disinterested, although you cannot tell from the picture.

 We spent the rest of the day at the pool and decided to eat an early dinner.  Afterward, we biked down to the eastern end of the beach, but not before Maddie brushed her teeth.  She was rather ingenious to use the laundry basket.

Our favorite section of the beach, down by Eastern Lake.

The fun begins.

Vacation - Day Three

Hey!  What's the big idea?!  That's one of Maddie's new phrases.  And she has plenty.  Anyway, the big idea was that today was a relatively slow day.  A little sun & surf in the morning, a little sun & surf in the evening, and a whole lotta nothing in between.  It was a resting day.  And a shopping day.  All for the better because we had a little too much sun the previous day, and little ones needed the rest.

Rise & Shine : Day Two

The girls look well rested, don't they.  HA!  Although sleep came late last night, morning still came early, thanks to Maddie's 6:30 am body-clock.  While Momma & Maddie ran errands, Emma and I played on the beach.

Maddie joined us later in the afternoon and decided that rather than build sandcastles, she would fill the gulf with sand.  She hasn't quite caught on to this beach restoration thing.

After dinner, we rode our bikes into Seaside for some ice cream.  Too bad for Maddie cause she fell asleep in her carrier on the ride over.

Not once did she wake up, so we enjoyed one great BIG cone of ice cream without her.

Let the Vacation Begin : Day One

We finally made it.  After counting down the school days, our vacation has finally arrived.  Saturday morning came and we gathered our belongings, packed the cars, and headed to the beach.  Considering we made two stops along the way, we made very good time.  Maybe we are living right.  Unfortunately, with an early evening arrival, not much time was left for us to play.  The girls and I did manage to hit the beach for a short while, and then we swung by the pool before heading in for a quick bite to eat.  While we settled in, the girls watched TV.  Maddie then informed me that she wants to go home; she misses her bed.  Maybe she'll settle in as the week unfolds. 

Crawling to the Finish Line

A picture is worth a thousand words, or something like that.  The girls are completely exhausted, and Emma keeps telling me that there are only two more days.  At the rate we are going, we might not make it.  It doesn't help that we've been going non-stop over the past week.  Playing hard all day, staying up well past their bedtimes at night, it's definitely taking a toll.  You know it's bad when Maddie would rather crawl into bed than play Tickle Monster.  Oh well.  Like Emma says, "Only two more days".

Sparkie and Shinie at School

Once upon a time, there lived two dogs.  One was named Sparkie and one was named Shinie and they go to school together evrey Friday.  
The next day was Friday.  So they went to school.  When they got there, Shinie got in trouble.  He got in trouble because he brought toys in a purce to school.  Then Mr. Julian the teacher saw the toys and took them up.  Then the visitor Mrs. Hattie saw that he had extra so she took those toys up and gave them to the teacher till the end of the day.  Then when Shinie got home he got a woopin.  THE END.


- Emma, First Grade

Literary Talents

Once upon a time there lived two poneys.  One was named Debi and the other was Cutie.  They always played together.  One day Cutie got the flew.  When Cutie was sick and Debi called her then asked her if she could come over and play, Cutie said, "No! I have the flew".  Tell me where you live and I'll bring you some cookies.  I live on a bridge.  So Debi broght Cutie some cookies to her.  That made Cutie feel a little better.  But not quite.  So Cutie went to the bathroom and that helped.  Then they could play.  Then they met a nother pony and her name was Hattie.  So they played together.  Hattie's cosin was named Julian.  So they all four played together.

- Emma, First Grade

Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day was a little unusual at our house this year.  Due to scheduling conflicts, this weekend was our only chance to work in the yard.  I spent Saturday mowing, edging, trimming bushes, & power washing stuff.  And Sunday was reserved for more of the same, plus working in the flower beds.  Mind you, this was Den's choice of how she wanted to spend her day. 

Emma was a big help digging holes, moving dirt, and watering the plants.  Is there a green thumb in her future?

It is amazing what Emma's and Momma's touch did to the front of the house.