Conquered the Mulch!

Last weekend we mulched our entire yard. It was an all day affair! It was a lot of work but our yard desperately needed it. It looks so much better.

  After some long hours in the yard, the girls decided that everyone needed a little "spa" treatment. Ella kept saying "lets put pickles on our eyes!" We finally convinced her that they were not pickles but cucumbers.

It is Gone!

Exciting news! Ella lost her first tooth this evening! It has been really loose for the last few days and today she got the nerve to let me pull it. After it first came out she was pretty upset. She told me "but Mom, I promise I take care of my teeth." You know how we tell our kids, or at least I do, that if you don't brush your teeth they will fall out! I think she thought that was what had happened. I told her that this is exactly what it was supposed to do. I told her that her baby teeth have to fall out so that her big teeth can come in. This means you are growing up. Later this evening Ella told her Daddy that her baby teeth have to fall out so that her mamma teeth can come in.

 This is just more evidence that my baby is growing up!

Chef Lettie

A few weeks ago, Lettie took a cooking class at Young Chef Academy. She had a great time and learned to cook some pretty neat things. Last night Lettie cooked dinner for us and it was DELICIOUS! We had southwest chicken egg rolls with avocado ranch dipping sauce...YUMMY! She did a great job. She even let Ella help! It was so good and there were no leftovers.

Ella Turns Five!

It is hard to believe that my baby has turned 5! She had a very exciting birthday that was celebrated over several days.

Granny, Emmie and Ellerie came to Georgia so that they could be at Ella's pool party. Ella has always wanted a pool party. Now that we have a pool in our neighborhood...she finally got her wish. Granny made a wonderful Minnie Mouse cake. Not only was it so cute...but it tasted delicious too! It was so sweet of them to make the trip. It was a little chilly but the kids (and Jason and Vanessa) swam anyway. I think everyone had a great time. When the swimming was done we offered Minni Mouse face painting!

On her actual birthday we all went to the American Girl Doll Store. She asked for the big Just like Me doll for her birthday. She was so proud.

It is hard to believe it has been five years but I am so glad God gave us this wonderful bundle of energy and excitement. Ella definitely keeps things interesting in this house!

School

We started back to school last week and it is going really good. Timothy Ministry started last Tuesday too. I think all of the kids like their classes. Lettie and Owen are taking more classes this year than last. Lettie is taking 2 hours of dance and also a Science class and Art class. Owen is taking Spanish, Science, Ancient History, and Cursive. Ella is taking some classes this year and she is SOOO excited about it. She is taking dance like she did last year but she is also taking a Letters class and an Art class. After we got home the first day, Owen told me that he was embarrassed when I made them stand out front and take this picture. Ooops! Guess that is my job! Ella doesn't look embarrassed!

Last week I stayed the whole morning and hung out in the lobby to make sure the kids found their rooms and didn't have any problems. Today, I went to Target ALL BY MYSELF...and then I had lunch at Zaxby's. It was nice but kind of weird too!

Ella is about to go into her first class on her first day of school!

Fun Family Pics From the Summer!

She does look a little bit like me...Ya think?

Ella loves to have her Daddy all to herself.

Eating dessert at Goosa Granny's Birthday Party....I think he gets his "sweet tooth" from his mother!

Mmmmmm Good! That really says it all!

Love this picture! Those are some tired girls!

Tell Me it Isn't So!

Is summer really almost over? It can't be! I am not ready! Where has the time gone? I asked Lettie yesterday while we were waiting in the grocery line "when she wanted to start school?" She responded very seriously "Never!" I laughed and then told her that wasn't really one of her options. I also reminded her that the later we start the later we will get done. She then agreed that maybe we should start in the near future.
Ella is very excited because she is going to be taking some classes at Timothy this year. She feels so big when she gets to do things that her big sister and brother are doing. She is taking a letters class, an art class, and dance class.
Owen has started back full force into soccer now too. He plays in a 5v5 tournament this weekend. He had a great time at MSU soccer camp last week. He even got an MVP award!

There were lots of fun trips this summer to grandparents houses and friends houses and six flags and water parks. What a busy fun summer!