A Few Firsts

 We've tried a few new things recently. Taylor had her first softball practice.

 She was most excited to get dressed for the first practice.

 Chase was thrilled the concession stand was open on practice nights. At least he took care of his sister too!

 First time our furniture has gotten this much attention?!? We hosted a 60th birthday party for my dad.

 Selfie with the birthday boy.

Taylor took the party pic with her selfie stick.  Almost got the birthday boy in the picture!

Opening some funny cards.

 Taylor and I went to our first mommy-and-me barre class.  She loved it mostly because the music play list for the day was KidzBop!

 Allie celebrated her 1st Birthday.  I feel like I reached a milestone as well!

 She was too busy devouring the cupcake to smile for the picture.

 She is never far from these two.

 Best buds.

 Finally, another BIG first....Chase can ride a bike.  He wanted nothing to do with it for so long but now we can't get him off!

 It's taken so long that he just learned and he's already too big for the bike!

 Thumbs up.  He came back from his first solo ride down the street and said "that's what freedom feels like"....he also said "coming in hot" which I told him was not necessary!

 Fun for everyone.

 Hanging out at Chase's baseball practice.

 Ready for her first softball game!

 She never made contact with a ball in practice before the first game. (They do machine pitch at 32 mph!)  She got 2 hits in the first game and caught one ground ball at 2nd base.  She was pumped.

Taylor's game was at 10 and Chase's started at 11.  I missed most of his game waiting on Taylor to finish.  He got 2 good hits and did some great catching before I got there.  Once I arrived, he got hit by a pitch!  It's his first season of kid pitch so I'm thinking that might not be the last time he gets hit!  Most exciting though, I got to see him try his first time pitching!  He caught a diving pop-up, struck one out, and the third batter hit a ground ball to first.  It was exciting.  

Believe it or not, this catches the blog up to date for the first time in forever!!!!!!

We'll see what happens from here!

Back to School

 Luckily the kids were not sad to see summer go.  They were ready to move on and get back to school!  It makes my life easier for sure.  They pop up ready to go each day!

 Taylor has Mrs. Hile and only has a couple of kids from her class last year still with her.  One of those is her best pal Sydney so she's a happy girl!

 Chase is obviously thrilled about this year.  He has several of his favorite friends in his class and he says his teacher, Mrs. Kelly, is the nicest ever!

 Meanwhile back at the ranch, you'd think I'd be getting more accomplished with the kids in school.  You'd be wrong.  This pretty lady is at my heels or on top of my laundry every minute I'm at home.  If I dare leave home, I'd better home I cleaned up well or she has her way of reminding me what I left out!

August: The End of Summer

 Right after vacation, it was straight to tennis camp. I got to coach and the kids got to play. Chase was the designated "dabber" for his group!

 I led Taylor's group.  She may have been my second most difficult student. (One held the top spot all alone!)  She shed more tears and walked off the court a few times which she was even willing to admit she would have NEVER done with another coach!  It was still fun though.

 We tried to make the most of the Busch Gardens passes by sneaking in another visit.

 Sometimes the kids take my phone and change the coloring on my pictures and I don't even realize it. This would be one of those.

 Headed out of the park for the last time this season.

 Chase was complaining about his eyes earlier in the summer and both kids were dying to get glasses so I finally took them to the eye doctor.  They could not have been more excited about it.

 Like I suspected, their eyes are fine! (Who is this giant kid?!?!)

 They got a little eye dilation and some cool shades to go!

 We've taken Allie to the dog park a few times this summer.  This picture does not do the situation justice but there were 14 dogs there and some of them were crazy!  She was a wet, muddy mess by the time we left!

 We left the dog park and found a playground to ourselves.

 Taylor was thrilled to see Allie go down the slide!

 We were expecting company so I asked Taylor to help clean.  NOT what I had in mind but doesn't she look pretty pleased with herself?!

 Grandma and Grandpa Edwards made it to town and these kids wear her OUT with the games.  Taylor never gets tired of playing!

 I had planned a end-of-summer bash for the preschool and elementary kids at church.  These guys helped get everything set up.

 Dave tested out the slip-n-slide for me.  Might have added a little too much dish soap!

 Chase knew how to work it!

 I even tried out the slide!  I also tried to slip-n-slide and found that I am NOT a good slider - OUCH.

 Taylor was living it up but she doesn't look wet at all.

 Watch out for these girls!

 Little Cheyenne enjoying a popsicle in one of my favorite of Taylor's old swimming suits.

You can tell it was hard for Chase to stay still for a picture.  He was on the move!

 He will pause for a popsicle.

 Most of the gang.  It was a fun time!

 Best buddies.

 We took Grandma and Grandpa to a Squirrels game.

 We also ran into these guys at the game by chance - how crazy!

 We always go bowling with Grandma and Grandpa are in town but this time the kids went 3 times!  We had summer bowling passes that expired soon so they made the most of them!

 I got "serenaded" on my birthday.  Even Allie can't figure out where all the noise is coming from!

Dave took me out to dinner to celebrate and had my favorite kind of flowers waiting on the table for me when we got there!!

 I got tricked into taking the kids to Chuck E. Cheese (VANESSA!)  We had plans to meet Vanessa and Cheyenne there but found out they weren't going to make it AFTER I had already told my kids about it.  We had to go but I got to pick lunch afterwards!

 Chase and Bryce had 2 nights together in a row!  Allie wasn't letting them go to bed easily.

The girls had plenty of fun too.  They enjoy coordinating their Sunday outfits these days and matching shades is just a bonus!  This was the end of Labor Day weekend....the fun of summer came to a screeching halt!