Helllloooo winter!

Hi. Yes, it really is me.  No, I haven't written on the blog since August. :-) Making an attempt to get up and running again so bear with me!

Let's see...it is JANUARY!! Mid-way through January and winter has arrived.  I am not a huge fan of the snow, but the kids are and seeing them happy and having a blast out there playing makes me smile!  Mid-January also means we are almost half way through the school year! Phil is still teaching and is now coaching freshman basketball.  Allison is doing great in kindergarten and Maddie is loving preschool. Both girls have been doing gymnastics so that has been fun! I am still working part-time and filling in some for a co-worker who had surgery.  Between that and taking care of the girls I feel like I am always busy! Anyway, here are a few photos from the last few months.  Hopefully I can keep up a little more and post more frequently then once a season! :-)

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!