While it was so good to be home, there was no time sit and dilly dally; the vacation was over and it was time to jump back into the thick of it. Aly immediately started practicing every morning with the XC team (at 6:30 am, hence no pictures) and Lise started up with her Color Guard Practices. They had a theme for every day. She was a Power Puff girl with two of her friends on Cartoon Character day and made her own batman logo shirt out of Styrofoam sheets for Superhero day. Love seeing the creativity.
Lise had practice twice a day every day learning Flag Routines and also the choreography out on the field. She put in a lot of hard work, but I think she had a lot of fun too and it was nice to be doing something fun with friends while also making new ones.
Of course it wasn't all work. We had 3 weeks of summer left and we were determined to enjoy them. One night after dinner we went to the beach with a couple of friends. 5pm is the perfect time to go to the beach!!! No sunscreen and not so blazin' hot!
About a week after we got home it was my birthday. (My 40th birthday. Shhhh!) Chris sent me some beautiful roses as well as a couple presents in the mail. Aly made me a CD of songs I wanted, Kylie bought me a bracelet with her own money, and my friend helped me pick out a new purse. I also went out to dinner and a movie with another friend. And on my actually birthday the girls made me dinner. All in all a pretty great birthday!
The girls were also very excited to hang out with their friends they hadn't seen all summer. Whether it was creating plays, swimming, going to movies, or just playing at each other's houses.
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| We went to see Christopher Robin. Ellie and Lise dressed like Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, respectively. Love it. |
We had another birthday coming up - Kylie's. We decided to go roller skating and invite some friends. At first Kylie was a little shaky, but then she really took off!
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| Within 5 minutes of getting there, Kate fell on her wrist pretty badly. She could still move it all around and so I was hopeful it was just a sprain. It did end up swelling up but ended up to just be a bruise. Thank goodness! |
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| Aly rockin' the rink like she was back in 8th grade. ;) |
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| Everyone needed a turn with the roller walker |
When we got home from the rink we opened presents online with Chris and had brownies and ice cream. Happy 8th Birthday, Kylie! (Kylie is waiting to be baptized when Chris comes home for R&R.)
Of course there is always the after birthday spending of birthday money from Grammy. This year both Kate and Kylie got a Webkinz. I love how that obsession has resurfaced with the Younger two. We haven't been this into Webkinz since Louisiana, when Aly and Lise were in 1st Grade/Preschool.
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| Love this random picture of Kate. She looks like an upside down pineapple. |
So, an awesome thing that happened when we got back to Florida is that Analise was awarded her Young Womanhood Medallion. She had finished her last project of putting together a recipe binder for me and finished the Book of Mormon right before we went on Vacation. Way to go Lise! Proud of you!
Also, Aly received her Honor Bee for 40+ hours of service (hello Leadership Class and Paraguay!) and reading the Book of Mormon again (thanks Seminary!)
And finally, I re-earned my Young Womanhood Medallion as well (mine from when I was a teenager had been stolen in the move from Louisiana to California.) It took me 4 1/2 years to earn it, from the time Aly turned 12, but it was a neat experience working on Personal Progress with my girls, knowing what they were working on and also realizing that it is always a good time to try to improve yourself, develop talents, and improve your relationship with your Heavenly Father and Savior.
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| Love Aly's stickers she got to decorate her lap top |
This summer, even though we were gone for most of it, we still also had a few goals we were working on. Aly took an Online Finance class and passed with a 97%. Go Aly! Aly also did a major de-junking of her room and redecorated with new pictures from EFY and the past school year.
Analise also did a major de-junking of her room and would practice Flag and Italian in her spare time to get ready for school. Go Lise!
Kate and Kylie learned how to do their own laundry this summer, they both worked on their typing skills, Kate learned how to do her own hair, and Kylie learned how to tie her shoes. Woot, woot! Super proud of all my girls that continue to grow into awesome people!
On the rare moments when everyone is getting along, you've got to capture it with a picture!! Love, love, love that family of mine!
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