Summer Adventures

Wow, long time no blog posts! We have been busy soaking up the summer.


The girls and I made a trip to Virginia Beach on Saturday, the 21st. We hit the beach, hung out with family, shopped, and ate some great food.

A day at the beach with friends

Cousin Krissy cooling off

Shelly & Aunt Linny

Pancakes by Grandpa

Breakfast for dinner
A family favorite

YUM!

Lily & Jim Jam

On Monday, the girls went to camp at the school where my sister works in VB. I was proud of both girls. They didn't know any other campers and headed off happily and willingly to volleyball and cheerleading camp. They both had a terrific time and made some new friends. 

Camp Day 1

The girls and grandpa

Cheerleader & Volleyball player

While they were with my sister and her family, John and I took a trip to Biloxi, MS and New Orleans. It was the first time in 6 years that we took a trip as a couple, alone. It was just what we needed. We laughed and laughed and laughed. Such a fun time.

Heading to NOLA

On Bourbon Street

John's childhood nickname!

Waiting in the airport
heading home

We were so grateful that the girls were with family while we were gone. It was a fabulous 10 days of new and different adventures for us all.

What a Year

On New Year's Eve, the girls filled out these fun forms about 2011 and their thoughts on 2012. I wasn't sure what they would think of the idea. So, I was really surprised when they began working on it and really gave it lots of thought. They came up with some great answers and I was excited to see how they felt about the past year. Each of them presented them to the family and we all discussed their plans for 2012. Fun activity.





Excerpt from Lily's sheet:  "Favorite Memory...Getting Daisy and going to middle school."


Excerpt from Shelly's sheet:  "Hardest Thing of the Year...Learned how to swim in the deep end."

Pottery Painting!

So, we let those pottery pieces air dry for quite awhile (like 5 days) and then got busy painting them. I chose not to use the paints that came with the pottery kit and went with my new containers of Martha Stewart acrylic paints from Michael's. 

Painter!

Artist!

Wearing an art smock that my mom made me in the early 70s!

The girls really had fun painting the pots. Lily went with a pink and green scheme and Shelly chose a purple and blue combo. They let the colors dry and came back and added the polka dots with a sponge applicator. 

Details

Daisy checking out the painting fun

Wishing she had opposable thumbs to hold a paint brush!

Lily's pot has a little more finished look and Shelly's has a rustic pinch pot effect. They are both very pleased with the outcome. (Thanks Aunt Stacy and Uncle Pat for the kit.)

Pots in the sun

Dots

Rustic pot

Summer's End

Look who is happy to be on Spring Break!!!????




We love a good break!!! A break from getting up early, doing homework, going to bed early, and the every day routine of the school year.









During that break we love to shop, sleep in later, stay up late, play, and do some crafts. And, we love to travel. Great times.

The Last Year Together

The girls are beginning the wind down of the school year. There are only about seven weeks of school left. This got me thinking about the future. 






Lily will move on to middle school next year and Shelly will enter 2nd grade. So, this year will be the last year that the girls will be in the same school building. It's a bit sad for me to think about. Lily will no longer be there to walk Shelly to class. She won't be there to remind Shelly of the daily activities (riding the bus home, buying lunch, etc.). Shelly will be on her own. She will be navigating the halls without her big sister. 


And Lily...she'll be navigating a whole new life. A life of new friends, new teachers, and new experiences. 


Honestly, it makes my heart ache a bit to see them go off in different directions. But, knowing them, they'll be just fine.

A Grandmommy's Love

One of the things I loved about my mom was how much she loved my girls. She really adored them. My mother was so in tune with their little personalities and she would play with them whenever they asked her to play. She was always patient and loving with them and I never heard her reprimand them...that wasn't a job for a grandma in her mind.

Mom really connected with Lily and they would become allies against me...plotting and scheming and doing their own thing together while enjoying their own little secrets.

And, my mother just cherished all of the time she spent with little Shelly. I always felt as though she could see a bit of me in Shelly and it somehow made their connection unique. Many times my parents would watch the girls when John and I took trips. The girls had so much fun with my parents while we were away. My mother would document their adventures with photos and then create little photo albums for the girls. One of those albums is torn in places because Lily would look through it religiously.

My girls were lucky enough to receive American Girl dolls from my parents and it was a common passion that they shared with my mother. When she would come to visit, they would snuggle up with her on the couch and indulge themselves in the American Girl catalog while discussing all things American Girl. I was a bit melancholy when the girls and I visited the store in Atlanta this summer. I just know my mom would have loved to have been there with us. I sure would have loved to have had her there.

So many times I called my mom for advice on issues I was having as a mom. She always knew just how to offer her advice without offending me or overstepping her bounds. And, she also seemed to have the perfect solution to my daily problems of mothering. I really miss that advice. Because as any mom knows, I continue to need her problem solving skills every day.

Although I can't help but be sad that my mom won't see my girls head off to middle school, graduate from high school, enter college, start on a career path, get married, or have children, I am immensely happy that she knew my girls. But, even more than that she loved them and they loved her.

A Purple Haze

The girls were off of school for three days and then went into school two hours late today. Goodness this snow can really cause a mess around here. So, the other day we did a little shopping on one of our snow days. They each picked out a purple ensemble at Justice. They wore their new outfits to school today and I snapped a photo of them while they were dancing this morning. Love them both so much!!!

 

 

Back at It

It's a chilly morning here in NC. These sweet little girls headed to the bus stop this morning to begin school once again. Hated to see them go. They are my little buddies and we had such a great time over the holiday break. Now, it's back to buses, homework, papers to sign, lunches to make, and a schedule. I have a love-hate relationship with it all. Anyway, missing them (oh, and missing VB...pictured above via the iPhone).

Hugs

I just love these two. Their hugs are the best! We have three weeks until Lily heads back to school and then an additional 9 days after that until Shelly returns for her last year of preschool. Time has gone by so quickly this summer. Hoping to finish up some of the items on our summer fun list before they return to school.

Memory Lane

After I posted the previous entry, I found this picture of the girls when they were about 5 & 1 1/2. Just thought it was so sweet and fun to compare them from 2005 'til now.

Sugar and Spice Girls

I just love these two little girls. I love to photograph them and usually they love to be photographed.

Lily asked to have her curled with the spiral curling iron. She then put it up and turned into a 16 year old!!! I can't believe how much more mature she is becoming. She is really growing up.

My other little pretty...well, she is going through quite a battle of wills. We are attempting to potty train her (and yes, I know she's 4 1/2 and yes, I know I should have done this sooner). As we attempt this, she is still NOT showing signs of interest in the whole thing. We have tried it all...books, lots of liquids, visits to the potty, incentives, potty chart, the list goes on and on. I am questioning my decision to force the whole process on her. Maybe I should just be letting it happen naturally, but my fear is that it might not happen any time soon. Not so sure what my next step will be. I do know that I am not a fan of being forced to stay at my house. Between the gas price situation and potty training, I gotta get outta here!!! Said in the nicest way!