NO JUMPING

I find these pictures hilarious because of the sign that says NO JUMPING. Chloe and her swimming pals, Leah and Camryn, are jumping in the pool on the last day of summer before school started. We ate lunch at the pool that day and they had a fun time.








Owen and Phoebe had fun too, but didn't do any jumping in the water.




We'll swim this weekend for Chloe's pool party (it is supposed to be cold which has me stressed out about her party), and that will be it for swimming this year. Goodbye summer.

First Day of School

I can't believe the summer is over. Chloe headed to sixth grade today, and Owen to first grade.





I've wondered, worried, and prayed about and for them all day. I think Chloe will be fine but I worry the most about little Owen. He's such a baby in so many ways, and gets so nervous about things. He was very brave this morning though. I'm hoping they both had a great day, and I can't wait to hear about it, and kiss their faces! Three hours to go!

High Dive

This summer Chloe has been going off the diving boards at the pools. She has never had swimming lessons, but taught herself to swim, and has always loved the water. Swimming is her favorite summer activity. We usually go to our little country pool, but sometimes we go to the town pool which has a couple diving boards. This week we went to a different pool about 30 minutes away. It's a much bigger pool than we are used to, with a slide, a mushroom of water, and two diving boards. One of the diving boards is pretty high. Chloe and her friend Camryn were brave enough to jump off of it on Monday when we were there. It made me so nervous, but I'm proud of Chloe for being so brave (and Cam too). (I wouldn't jump off that high dive for $100!)







Here is the summer pool crew! Front: Sophie and Carolee, Middle: Owen, Leah, Phoebe, Back: Camryn, Chloe, and Joseph. When we first started our summer friend swims, we only had two kids between us. Now we have 8. (When we went into the new pool this week they asked me if we were a daycare!)



Owen with his friend Carolee. They have a love hate relationship. ;)



And this pic is for Mindy because she said it was good blog material:



Thanks for the great summer, friends!

Peace Out

This evening Phoebe was banging two of her baby dolls together. She said they were in a fight.

I recently ordered her birthday gift. It came in a big box. We put it in our bedroom until I could get it hid. I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth and Phoebe came in and smiled up at me. She said "I peeked in the box. I am going to freak out when you give me that for my birthday".

Chloe has taught her to give the peace sign and say "Peace Out!". Only sometimes she holds up three fingers instead of two.

She likes to say "actually" all the time. I was holding her saying she was my baby girl and she said "Actually, I am a big girl".

Peace out!

Last days of summer

This has been the fastest summer ever. We are trying the enjoy the last of our days before school starts. We go to the pool as often as possible with our friends. Tomorrow we're having lunch before the pool with our little group, and then hitting a much bigger pool. We're hoping to squeeze in all the fun we can these last days. We went to the county Fair last week and had a great time. Yesterday we went on a bit of a road trip to Danny's 20th high school reunion, then stopped for a visit with his parents. We ended the trip with a late dinner at Long John Silvers.

Always at the end of summer I wonder if I did enough with the kids, or if I spent enough quality time with them. I know I've loved them enough, which is the best I have to give them.

Here are pictures from the Fair:

Chocolate Crackers

I first had these when I was in high school. One of our favorite substitute teachers shared them with my friend and I. We got the recipe and I've been making them for over 20 years. My sister and I love to make them together. I made a pan of them this week and Danny and I ate them all gone in a couple days.



Chocolate Crackers

Melt 2 sticks of butter in small saucepan. Add 1 cup sugar. Boil for 3 minutes. Cover cookie sheet with foil. Spread saltine crackers all over pan in a single layer. Pour butter/sugar mixture over crackers. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle one package of chocolate chips over the top. Let set for a few minutes then spread chocolate over the top. Refrigerate until firm and cold. Break into pieces and enjoy!! Store in fridge.

Hula Hoops

Last weekend when we were at the mall, Phoebe wanted to "get her ears pinched so she could get some hula hoops". The mall is where she got her ears pierced back in the winter. She wanted some new hoop earrings (like mine and Chloe's) and she thought she had to get them pinched (a.k.a. pierced) again to get new earrings. I loved that she called them hula hoops. I may never say hoop earrings again. I told mom and dad the story about it. On Saturday we went to watch the Fair parade that kicks off the Fair that starts today. Dad was there too and we watched the parade from in front of my aunt's jewelry store.





After the parade Dad asked Phoebe if she wanted to go into the jewelry store and get some hula hoops. So, he bought her some hoop earrings.







He got some earrings for Chloe too, but for some reason my sister and I couldn't talk him into getting us new earrings.

I see the light

Owen was shining a flashlight in his ear. He asked me if the light was coming out his other ear.



We were talking about a dog that was going to have puppies. He asked how a dog got babies. I paused for a minute thinking of what to say, and he said "The mommy and daddy dog just lick each other". Reminds me of a couple years ago when Chloe saw Danny and I kissing and said we'd better stop that or we'd get another baby.




Phoebe was talking about something a couple days ago and then she said "Mark my words". Chloe said she heard it from a cartoon. She also likes to say "It's not my fault" often.