Boy's Sprotsmans' Dream Road Trip

The first week of summer, the boys boarded a plane headed for Indy where they ultimately met up with their Uncle Bruce and cousin Sam. Bruce has been graciously asking to take the kids vacationing with him for years, and being the over-protective mom that I am, I am always to stressed to let them go. This year I finally felt like they were big enough to go. My thinking was that they are big and they have cell phones and that they could probably fight off any possible kidnappers. So, they traveled across the Midwest hitting various minor and major league baseball games and attended the Indy 500. Brennan is a Danica Patrick fan now and has her picture in his room and a hot wheel size replica of her car. Just a side note, while the guys were in Louisville, KY, Bruce took them to the house that he and his family lived in when they were children. This would be the house that Mark was told not to go out on because of the loose bricks. Guess what, Mark waited til his parents left, went out on the porch where a brick promptly fell on his head necessitating a Trip to the E.R. And we wonder when our kids fail to follow instruction. I wonder where they got that tendency? Oh, and just an aside. In the pictures where there is suddenly another big boy, that is Bruce's other son, Andew, who didn't trek acorss the midwest because he was at home taking driver's ed. They were able to spend some time together once the boys all got back to S.D.

Imagine It Museum

Top 5 Things I Love About Living in Atlanta:
5. Canton Steet
4. Great little restaurants
3. Great Friends
2. FCC Playgroup
1. An abundance of things to do

To that end, Mag and I, along with a few other friends, packed it in and headed out for Imagine It Children's Museum. Today's Friendship Festival was "Friends from China." Two ladies performed Chinese dances like the Silver Plate of Good Fortune and the Ribbon Dance. After they performed, the children were able to participate. Mag opted not to participate, but we enjoyed the dances just the same. Later we did the puppet make and take workshop, making a Panda puppet in keeping with the China theme. Presently the museum has a gallery featuring a traveling Sesame Street Exhibit. Mag had a great time playing. Other than having to travel the dreaded I-75 and I-85, it was an awesome day.

Last Day of VBS

Well, today was the last day of VBS....As the week went on, Mag was more full of smiles and giggles each day as she arrived home. This was such an awesome experience for her, and she learned so much. it was good for me, too. I learned that I can survive without her home, and as I said earlier....I even enjoyed the calmer house a little. But it wasn't too much calmer since I had Ryan Ashton 3 of the 5 days this week, and the teenagers in and out. I am just so thankful that Mag had this experience and thankful for her sweet little group of friends who went to VBS with her. Then this afternoon, two of Mag's little friends came home with us to spend the afternoon. Despite the intense heat, they had fun playing outside on the swingset.

Vactiona Bible School

What a big week. Maggie went to VBS (Avalanche Ranch)with some of her little friends from playgroup. This is the first time that she has ever done something like this. She has looked forward to going every morning and excited to tell me about her day when she gets home. Today was really big because they got to ride ponies. She wasn't sure if she really wanted to do that or not, but one of her little buddies rode with her and that made it all better. WE did have to wait a long time for our turn. Note the glistening sweat on the girls foreheads. Not only has it been good for Mag, but it has been good for me...I have been holding her closely, not wanting her to do things without me. Although I still had Ryan Ashton here, the quiet of just me being home has been kind of nice. I think I am looking forward to the three hours a day that she will be in preschool 3 days a week. This has been a big week for both of us, and I am so proud of her independence.

Our BABIES

I have been told that all sorts of things start happening when your children start to leave for college. In an attempt to avoid the beginning of the "Empty Nest Syndrome," we have added two little kittens to our brood, Eloise and Charlotte. I will spare the details of how we got the cats, but suffice it to say that there was HIGH DRAMA in our house for a couple of days. Eloise and Charlotte are sisters and when they aren't sleeping, they are wreaking havoc everywhere they go. We all our loving them, even Mark, but he would NEVER admit that. I did warn Mark to get prepared. Maggie starts kindergarten and then the following year the boys go to college. Who knows what could be added the our family menagerie at that point.

Playgroup at Tanglewood Farm

href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQd-9b391FjVy7-sEvi1MViFKYmtLcs0xcFrHrhOiGnU9fXHvUoh3fO6TSJumY0w2OaGDv_zFAG-Cgdlmi1JmRastz6pfxA4ZI5rvg8G1v0JL3mX7QagWsFrNbEnW3QKXmW93Ql4kxzCs/s1600-h/la+freak.jpg">


I learned two things about Maggie today: 1. She does not like animals up close and personal. The animals at Tanglewood were all up in her "grill" and she came unhinged. 2. Maggie has it in her to "boss" other people around. She was on a mission today to get the girls organized in order to play 12 Dancing princesses. Unfortunately, she could only get Princesses Blair, Courtney, Hadlee, Genevieve, and Janessa to participate (for those of you who don't know the 12 Dancing Princesses those listed above are 5 of the 12).

After the farm, the girls went to a friend's house to picnic and play. What a beautiful day and it was capped off with Popsicles. What more can you ask for. We are blessed.