Back to School Blues? Not Really

Well, Summer is fading and everyone is getting back into the school thing, except me. I have been furiously trying to get my family ready for my 2 week absence. I will be traveling to Santa Fe, NM for teacher training for my outreach job. I am excited about the trip, but it has not been easy preparing for it. I'm gonna miss my sweet girls, I know Kali will be OK (she's use to being on her own) but Peyton is a different matter. She is a Momma's girl and she's never been without me for more than 2 days! Let's hope Jimmy can keep his head above the water, I'm grateful that he is even willing to try.

We spent the last day of vacation at East Harbor Beach. The girls had a great time playing in Lake Erie. It was a picture perfect day and a wonderful way to bring Summer to a close.

Dreams Do Come True ... Just ask Peyton

Living in the Land of Tween-dom

Well, the dog days of summer are here! School starts in a couple weeks, the kids can't believe it! I can't believe my kids are in 5th grade and Kindergarten!!! They are both trying to make the most of what is left of their vacation. Kali and her show choir are "Singing Their Way To Spain" by performing all over the Akron area. These are pictures from an afternoon at Szalay's Farm. Tomorrow it's a car wash! Yippee!!! She will be so ready for Disney on Wednesday.

Peyton took in a "Show and Tell with Trish and Mel" show Saturday morning and she had a great time. She's sad that she has grown out of so many of her favorite activities. Once she starts school, though, I doubt she'll look back. She's ready to be a big girl.

As you can see, Miss Kali had her braces put on! She is so neurotic, I mean, excited about them. She brushes, flosses, rinses constantly - hopefully she'll take this good care of them the entire 2 years they are on. I'm pretty sure she'll be over the initial soreness by the time we get to Orlando this week. She's worried about how she's gonna look, I meant, eat on vacation. She is officially a "tween" - God help us all!

Lordy, Lordy - Jimmy's 40!

Well, July is almost over and the summer is flying by! Yes, we celebrated Jimmy's 40th with a cookout, german chocolate cake and a DQ ice cream cake. No, that is not the birthday cake that Kali is posing with. That dessert is a 14 layer chocolate cake topped with a spun sugar sphere (try saying that 5 times fast) that she ordered at the Wild Mango. It tasted as good as it looked! We have been exploring all the parks around our house and the girls are loving life. I am, too. The weather has been perfect for me - barely in 80's. I love a cool summer, there's no need for heat or humidity in my world. Bring on the jungle gyms!

Peyton's Pet Party Camp

Peyton spent the week at Show and Tell with Trish and Mel and she had a great time. Yes, that is a real snake all curled around her. Of all the animals, she loved the turtle and the snake best. That girl makes the most of every experience. This weekend she will be at cooking class at Paganini's and then a birthday party. Peyton is following in her big sister's "social butterfly" footsteps. Speaking of Kali, she just finished her 2nd week of Dance Intensive from 2:15 - 6:15 everyday. She loves the Modern classes and looks really good. Kali has her eyes set on Summer

Study in NYC - maybe Ailey?!?!

Summer in Full Swing

I just can't believe how the time is flying by! Kali is back from camp, the fireworks and ribs are behind us and tomorrow is Jimmy's 40th birthday! The kids spent the stormy afternoon at "All Fired Up" painting masterpieces for him. He will be so impressed.

Since summer began, we have been experimenting with new recipes and the results have been simply delicious! Peyton is enjoying the cold strawberry soup we made with fresh mint she picked all by herself from our herb garden. This week we were so happy to have my great niece in Akron. Little Miss Amaya is getting so big! The girls had so much fun "babysitting" her.

Make the best of the rest of your vacation - I know we will!!!!