Grease Fest

Back in June, Mt. Zion Events announced that they were having a back to school party in the Fall. Shortly after, the Mt. Zions Poms Team announced that they were going to host a dance camp and that the girls would be performing at the event. Of course my girls were excited to participate.

When we went to the Nifty Fifty party back in July, they got a chance to practice with the Poms team. But they kind of forgot about it for the rest of the summer. On Saturday morning when it was time to drop the girls off, Kiersten was acting very pensive. Mitch said that when they walked in she looked completely frightened, like she might cry. But he left her and said he would see her soon. When we picked her up, she was singing a different tune and totally loved it.

That night we got to  Fletcher Park right at 6. Mitch stood in line for dinner while Leah and Hattie got their faces painted. We sat and ate while we watched the Swingsations perform. Afterwards the girls got to play some games. At 6:45 the girls had to join the poms team for their performance. Mitch, Hattie and I found some seats to watch the girls dance.

They were adorable. All of them. You could tell that they worked hard to learn their routines in one day. When they were done dancing we got them snow cones and sat in the grass while we watched the hula hoop contest and the costume contest. We decided it was time to head out after that. I would have loved to stay for the "RYDELL HIGH BONFIRE" and the late night showing of the movie GREASE, but it was the girls bed time. Love that we live in a community that puts on these fun events!

Back to School

How is summer over already! Don't get me wrong, somedays I was totally ready to send them back, but others I enjoyed the leisure of not being so scheduled every.single.day! Last night we had kindergarten orientation at McGaughey Elementary. Bug was thrilled. She got to see her room, meet her teacher, sit at her desk. Then while they talked to the parents she got a tour of the school and got to try out the playground. Her teacher this year is Mrs. Reatherford and I know she will be wonderful.

After visiting McGaughey, Leah had orientation at the Grade School. I missed the beginning because I was still at McGaughey with Bug, but we made it in time for the classroom visit. Leah's teacher this year is Mrs. Hatayama. In a weird twist of fate, she is friends with my friend Ellen, and everyone assures us that we will love her. She seemed very nice. Leah knew 4 kids in her class and didn't seem nervous at all.

When they got home from school Leah told me that her bus buddy is Audrey Brent...which is fantastic since they were in the same class last year. And Bug gets to sit with her sweet friend Cayde White! I didn't have much time to think about Kiersten starting kindergarten this morning. As I followed the bus to the school I started to feel the emotions welling up. She was so excited getting off the bus and walking into school...and I was so proud and then I got to the car and cried. Oh well...maybe I will be used to this growing up stuff by the time Hattie gets there, but I doubt it. They are going to have a great year!

Merry Christmas in AUGUST

Yep, that's right...Christmas in August. Last year my parents decided that instead of having a company Christmas Party, they would start hosting a Christmas Cardinals game. Dad purchases a suite and invites all the GM's and a guest to come to the game. They were playing the Marlins. Even with 3 homeruns we still ended up losing the game 6-4 which was totally disappointing. But otherwise it was a really fun day. I didn't take enough pictures. I was too busy talking. I think my parents are pretty great employers. They really care about their people. I hope their employees feel the same way.

#clappilyeverafter

So the Title of this post is a play on words. This weekend, my cousin Jordan Hutton, married her long time sweetheart, Jason CLAPP. Our extended family spends very little time together these days. It's sad, we are all so busy with our jobs and our families, it's hard. But when we do get the chance to see one another we really have a good time. This was no exception.

Jason and Jordan were married out by a barn in Kansas, Illinois. We didn't attend the ceremony, but the pictures looked gorgeous. The reception hall was decorated beautifully as well. In one of the pictures you can see a lot of the family that was in attendance, but not all of us. There wasn't enough room for all of us!

We had a good time on the dance floor. Even my 87 year old grandfather, Merle, got in on the action. He has always been a dancer. Still goes dancing most Friday and Saturday nights. But at the reception he got out on the dance floor and did the Cupid Shuffle with us all...it was great. He was totally keeping up. Anyway, Best wishes to Jordan and Jason...may your marriage always be blessed.

Pony Express

So every August, right before school starts, The Mt. Zion Lion's Club host a festival called Pony Express. Its literally like a block away from our house, so we decided we should be good community members and go. The girls had a great time. Leah even rode the tumbler with Mitch. The lines were crazy, but we managed to get our moneys worth. They rode the tornado, the ferris wheel and the kiddie rides on repeat. Hattie wasn't sure about the dragon coaster at first, she was much more at ease on the carousel, but eventually she changed her tune. They had a great time and I am sure it will have to be an annual event from here on out.

And the Tradition Continues...

Well we just spent another fun morning at the Little Theater on the Square. I love that every summer I can look back through the blog and see how the kids have changed and how many kids we've added to the mix on that bench out front. It's wonderful that the girls know they get to do this one summer activity every year with their Gigi.

Todays production was "The Princess and the Pea". I wouldn't say that it was my favorite but it was pretty good. The cast always does such an amazing job. I think the highlight for us was definitely Princess Briar (in the orange dress). She did a rap, and was a little bossy and totally made the girls laugh. And we visit the theater so often the girls totally recognized her, as well as some other cast members, from previous performances. I think this will be a tradition we continue for a long time.

Garden Gone Mad

Mitch and I both have been in shock with how well our garden did this year. He has already canned a few times. And today he is preparing to make batches and batches of  marinara and salsa...its always so good. I wish I could take more credit for all the work in the garden but I really cant. I go out and pick from time to time. I watered it once, but mostly I just cook with it.

I love that he is teaching the girls about gardening. They enjoy going out and helping him and I think someday they may tend to gardens of their own. And of course they enjoy eating all the goodies!