This puppy...

This puppy has been stealing my girls' hearts.  They just love him.  He may get fought over a little, but they just love having him around.  It's been busy, but good for us.  However, he seems to be the most energetic when we are trying to get ready for school in the morning and trying to get ready for bed at night.  He's a cuddler though and my girls can't get enough snuggles from him.  He is the cutest fluff ball when he is all clean.
Every day this week, Abby has run home from the bus stop shouting, "I'm going to go and cuddle Calvin!"  We love this little guy.

Happy First Day of School!

I don't think I have ever seen kids so excited for school to start.  These girls were ready early with giggles and laughter.  It was fun to throw Abby into the mix.  Olivia was so excited because she got both her best friend in her class and the teacher that she wanted.  Sammie also has one of her very best friends in her class and Abby was just excited to start school.  She does have a friend in class too.  Kindergarten orientation was a few days before school started and that was when Abby showed a little bit of nerves.  But once we were there and she met her teacher she was all confidence again.  She really wanted to take her picture by the school sign.  She feels so grown up and a part of things now. 
When she hugged and kissed my good-bye on the first day, she pulled my face in close and her big blue eyes were looking in mine and she said, "Now don't start crying when you go home all alone." I may have shed a tear or two.  

A Summer Tradition

We spent 2 weeks at my parent's while Joey was finishing up his Master's Degree.  He's been doing this for the last 5 summers!  It will be a little strange next summer when he won't have to leave to go to school.  He just needs to complete his thesis and then he will be finished with his Masters in American History and Government.  We are all so proud of him.  He loves going to school and this has been such a great opportunity for him. 
While at my parent's we mostly just hung out.  The girls had a Star Wars movie marathon, went swimming whenever they wanted, stayed up late, went to the movies, saw lots of their cousins...and we got a puppy.  We absolutely love him.  He's been getting used to our home and family since we've been home a week and a half.  He's a maltipoo and the girls named him Calvin.  I had been thinking about getting a puppy for a while.  I was going back and forth and just really felt like we should just get one.  I was concerned with how it would go, but it has been good for me and the kids.  It helps that he is so adorably cute.  Poor little guy is over burdened by hugs and cuddles.  I have to keep reminding the girls that he is a dog, not a toy.  They definitely are reminded of that when he is play biting with his sharp puppy teeth.  It will be a fun project to have a puppy, but it does make like a little less convenient.  We love him though.
I love it when we are staying at my parent's and then the little cousins drop in.  While my girls don't have any cousins their ages on my side, it is nice that they are able to spend so much time with their young cousins.  I don't know if they would, if they had cousins their age to play with.  It is so cute to see Olivia helping her little cousins with things and being a sort of older sister to them.  We did get together with some of my cousins/cousin's wives and their kids at a bounce place.  It was great to see everyone especially since we are missing out on a reunion this weekend.

I just love this little Brielle.  She is one of the sweetest little baby girls.

 And of course, Calvin.  He has already grown since we got him just a few weeks ago.  He's going to be a little guy though when he is full grown.

Happy 4th!

This year for the 4th of July we headed up to my parent's.  Then we drove to the cabin and spent a couple of days there before Joey left for Ohio to finish up his last classes.  We spent the day at the beach on the lake and I didn't have any camera with me and I only took a few others while we were there.  Sometimes, you just want to enjoy things without taking pictures, you know?  We are headed back up soon to spend a week with my family.  We can't wait to have more family time and especially cousin time.