Fire!

The view from our backyard Saturday night.

Last night while Bob and I went out, the lightning and thunder decided to hit. Ryan said it was hitting all around our house and Maddie was freaking out! Luckily we were on our way home when he called. The lightning decided to hit the hill above our house which started a nice little brush fire (it started little anyway). When we got home it had spread a little but the wind picked up and it started moving faster. Ryan put on Hannah Montana and it was blaring from our room, which Maddie would not come out of. There were many fire engines and onlookers driving through our neighborhood until the wind shifted north. Then everyone left and headed that way to watch it spread. What can you say, this is the most excitement the town gets here.

When it started.

Getting bigger...

Getting bigger....

At one point I was a little worried because it was heading towards our neighborhood fast!

The next day...

Maddie's First Day of Kindergarten :(

If you haven't already seen Andrea's blog, here are some pictures from their first day of school. It's so weird to think that they are in kindergarten now. Maddie and Paige are on their way to independence. I'm sad and happy at the same time. I don't want my little girl to grow up but it'll be kind of nice for her to start taking on some "big girl" responsibilities (wishful thinking anyway).

Maddie getting into the Truck to head to Jeff & Andrea's

Maddie and Paige ready for their first day!

Out the door.....

Getting on the the bus. It was supposed to come at 12:00 but it didn't arrive until 12:30. Their class started at 12:40 and the bus driver managed to get them there and in their class on time not that this was a good thing. If you know how far their school is from the house you might be a little concerned.

Maddie on the bus (you can't see her because she wouldn't stand up!)

Maddie and Paige in their new classroom safe and sound.

There's my shy Maddie (note hand in mouth).

Getting off the bus after their first day of school.

When we asked the girls if they had fun, Maddie said her favorite part was the bus ride home. She said she didn't like the bus ride to school because the driver made it bumpy. In truth, I think he was haulin @$$ to make it to school on time. Hopefully he was on time today.

Ouch!

It all started when Andrea asked me if Maddie was going to get her ears pierced for Kindergarten. I don't know what happened after that but yesterday became the day that the girls would get their ears pierced. We met Jeff, Andrea, Paige & Kortlin at the mall and headed to Claire's to check it out and see what the girls thought. The girls weren't sure about it and at one point I didn't think it was going to happen. Maddie said, "I'll get my ears pierced if Paige does" but Paige wasn't too sure about it. I think Maddie really wanted those earrings in her ears because she agreed to have them done without seeing Paige first. If you know Maddie, this is pretty amazing because she is the cautious and timid one and Paige is the daredevil who doesn't hesitate.

Unfortunately, (I am so mad at myself) I don't have any pics of this monumental event because I forgot to bring my camera! I did take one picture with my phone just as she was getting her ears pierced but then I exited out without saving the darn thing. So I guess I'll just explain what happened. So Maddie agreed to have her ears pierced if she could sit on Dad's lap which she did. She got very quiet and still as she does when weird things are happening around her. The girls put the earrings to her ears, counted to three and boom it was done. I still can't believe Maddie's reaction. She just sat there very still and didn't say a word or move an inch. She didn't even make a face. Bob said she held his hands kind of tight but she didn't even squeeze them when it happened. All very unMaddie like. I told her to breathe because I wasn't too sure she was (she was sitting so still). Well it was done, yea! and then Maddie got into her mode where she wouldn't let me take any pics and she kept giving me dirty looks.

After the dreaded ear piercing we shopped for a few things to start the school year. Maddie had to have these shoes and she had to have me take this pic for Grandma... so grandma here they are....

What the .... ?

Well, I couldn't sleep this morning so I thought maybe I'd add some images and stuff to my blog. Getting up at 5 am every morning is really messing with my weekend sleep in schedule. I'm sure by about 1 pm I'll be zonked!
So since I've just started this thing up again I thought I'd add some pics from July. We've had a fun and busy summer but school starts next week so the fun and freedom is ending fast.

July 3rd


This is one of our many trips to Dam. We've spent many a weekend there. On this evening trip, Dani and Richard came with us along with Jeff and Andrea (Paige and Kortlin were at grandma's). Richard showed us his wakeboarding skills on our girlie board. He barely managed to fit his feet into the bindings and by the time he was done his feet were numb and as red as a lobster. I've got to give him credit. I thought it would be hard for him to ski on that board but he did just fine (except for the feet). Maddie doesn't wakeboard but she likes to drive the boat (with the help of dad of course).

July 24th

Let me just say that my sister in law is a huge baseball fan. She's an awesome softball player (well I have another sister in law who is also an awesome softball player too, she's just soooo far away) and she coached a Teeball league this summer so her daughter and son could/would play. Maddie said she didn't want to but then changed her mind a few weeks into the season. It was too late to add her to the roster but we managed to tag along to some of the local games that Andrea got the team involved with.

We've been to a few games this year and the kids have had a blast. My daughter now knows all the words to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Who knew, I suck at sports!! (unless it's spectator sports that is.)

I have more pics. Unfortunately my computer has them hostage right now. Bob, i'm begging you to fix the computer :)

A Lazy Summer Sunday

Here we are.... another sunday spent at the lake. The kids (Denise, Maddie, Paige in the front, Kortlin and Skylar in the back) have been having fun this summer jumping in the lake. Kortlin just learned how to swim on his own (with the assistance of a life jacket). He's already a pro at it. Watch out Jeff & Andrea.

On this day we had the pleasure of a few beavers for company or should I say they had the pleasure of our company. The kids thought it was pretty cool... and we didn't even have to go to a zoo.

Last but not least, here is Blake wakeboarding for the first time. Rumor has it, he was pretty sore the next day but he skied like a pro.