Wow- where has summer gone?

I can't believe it's been so long since I updated.  Here we are mid-August already!  Summer has been fantastic and we have all really enjoyed it.  The girls and I created a "Summer Bucket List" of everything we wanted to do this summer and have managed to check most activities off!  We went up to Mackinac Island for a few days, Phil and Allie went to New York for Aunt Nikki's wedding, and Maddie and I headed over to Frankenmuth for a wedding (along with Aunt Meghan!).  I could share a ton of pictures but I will try to share some of my favorites.  I would really like to post an update 1/month so that will be my goal.  Things will be busy over the next few weeks with football (Phil is coaching JV and Varsity), going back to work and the girls starting SCHOOL! Allison will be entering kindergarten and Maddie is starting preschool.  Time sure flies! Enjoy the pictures.

Sparklers!

 

Maddie had fun with sparklers too

Olivia visiting from Florida

Livi spent the night at our house- the girls LOVED it!

Maddie doing her best cheese at Mackinac!

The welcoming crew at Mackinac

Pool!

Our princess- riding her bike all fancied up!

Mmmm....smores!

We went camping overnight at the state park.

Maddie moved up to a big girl bed!

Allison is FIVE!

Hard to believe but we have a 5-year-old!  On her Birthday we invited family over for pizza, cake and ice cream.  Simple but fun.

This is what 5 looks like!

Blowing out the candles

We also celebrated at a Birthday party with her friends.  It was a surprise (sort-of) and she was so excited to see her buddies!  Grandma Sandy and cousin Connor also drove up from Ohio to celebrate- what a lucky girl.  We are so thankful for the wonderful friends and family we he have!

Yummy cake

Present time!

More gifts!

Singing Happy Birthday

And last but not least, Maddie.  She literally crashed out after the party! :-)

Barbie book from Grandma and Grandpa

 

 

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Maddie's Birthday

Hard to believe that another year has passed!  We had Maddie's party on Sunday (a small brunch) and it was a beautiful day.  Such a fun weekend!!

Sisters having fun

Birthday girl

Barbie!!

Van for the dollhouse

Cupcakes

Eating cake!

Sister love!

Our Tiny Dancer

Hello!!  No, I didn't forget about the blog.  Really things have just been pretty tame around here- nothing much going on! We had a busy weekend though so I have 2 posts to get up! Allison's dance recital was Saturday.  She has been taking ballet at a dance school since September so this was the culmination of all the work she put in.  She did a dance to "Little Pink Cloud" and had quite the crew there watching her (10 family members)!  We were not allowed to take photos during the show but I was able to snap some after.  We also went to dinner (Allie's choice) where they gave her a "Yee-haw" for her dance recital.  Maddie got one for her Birthday too, as well as some ice cream. :-)  

With Mommy

With Daddy

Flowers!

Cowgirl Maddie

Enjoying ice cream

Waiting to share ice cream

Our beautiful ballerina











 

Cowgirl ballerina

Happy Easter!

Hope you all had a fantastic Easter! We had a great day so I thought I would share some of our Easter highlights.

Last night we colored eggs...

This morning the girls woke very excited that the Easter Bunny had visited!! They found a note and their baskets by the fireplace, as well as some bunny fuzz. :-)  Both had a great time hunting for eggs.

We went to church this morning and Allison made us very proud during the Children's Sermon!  First she carried a Bible during a "parade" through the sanctuary as the congregation sang, "Amen."  Then during a discussion the Pastor asked questions about Easter.   Allison was able to tell the entire, packed full church that "God told an angel to tell the Disciples of the good news" and that the "tomb was empty!"  Ah, Lutheran Preschool is paying dividends. :-)

We relaxed during the afternoon and then went to dinner at Mimi and Grandpa's.  GG and Great-Grandpa were back from Florida so we were all very excited to see them! 

Disney Magic

Finally!! We were counting the days and the excitement had been building for our Spring Break trip to Disney World and then it arrived.  We took off very early on Friday 4/1 and drove down, stopping once in TN and once in FL.  We arrived on Sunday, 4/3 (which also happened to be my 32nd Birthday.

  We were able to enjoy the pool during the afternoon and the girls had a great time going down the waterslide!

 Later that night we went to the Grand Floridian for Cinderella's Happily Ever After Dinner at 1900 Park Fare.  We were able to meet Cinderella, Prince Charming, the step-mother and the step-sisters.  Allison loved having her picture taken with all the characters but Maddie was a little hesitant.  She did enjoy dressing up and waving to them from afar! 

On Monday 4/4 we woke early and headed to the Magic Kingdom.  There we went to breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table inside the castle!! This was a lot of fun and we met Cinderella again as well as Belle, Ariel, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.  This time Maddie got into the act a little more since she loves the princesses!

After breakfast we went on the rides in Fantasyland.  We went back to the hotel for lunch and naps and then returned in the evening and did a few activities in Tomorrowland.  We submitted a joke for the Laugh Floor- Monsters, Inc. and Allison's joke was read live on stage!!

"Where do cows go on their first date?"
"To the moooovies!"

Allison's favorite thing of the day: "Everything except the Haunted Mansion."

Maddie: "Dumbo and Small World."






On  Tuesday we woke to thunderstorms moving in. We decided to take our chances and head to Hollywood Studios since we knew most activities would be indoors.  Luckily we didn't get TOO wet and were still able to enjoy the park and lunch at Hollywood and Vine. There we dined with Oso, Handy Manny and Leo from Little Einsteins!

Allison's favorites: Beauty and the Beast and Toy Story Mania


 Maddie's favorite: Voyage of the Little Mermaid









On Wednesday we went back to the Magic Kingdom!! We rode Dumbo again first thing since both girls
loved it so much and then moved on to Frontierland and Adventureland. 

 After lunch, naps and swimming we went back for dinner at the Crystal Palace with Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore.  After dinner we scoped out a spot and watched the Electrical Parade, which we all loved!

Allison's favorite: Jungle Cruise

Maddie's favorite: Electrical Parade and the ice cream! :-)






Thursday was out last day.  We went to Animal Kingdom and had breakfast at Tusker House with Mickey, Donald, Daisy and Goofy.  Everyone enjoyed the safari and the Lion King show was wonderful as well!! 

Is this not a classic picture?

I can't tell you how many times she went down this slide

 Allison's favorite: Lion King

Maddie's favorite: The Boneyard...hands down!

  

We stopped 2 nights on the way back as well and made it home on Saturday.  Today has been spent catching up on grocery shopping, laundry and organization before we head back into the last couple of months of the school year.  We had a fantastic time and can't wait to go again!! Well, the girls and I that is- Phil said he is more than happy to let next time be a "girls only" trip.  So what do you think SILs and nieces...are you in? :-)

Happy Spring everyone- enjoy the beautiful weather!