Quick 5

This week was brought to you by Trader Joe's Broccoli & Kale Slaw.

1. Last Saturday Alaina spent some of her Super Summer Challenge money on a fishing trip with Dad. They got up at 5:15am and headed out. Alaina learned how to cast and caught a bunch of fish, including a tiny minnow. They capped off the morning with a donut, which really is the only way to cap off an early morning adventure.

2. Last Saturday we went to my niece Elli's birthday party, which was at a pool in Colorado Springs. I'm sad to say I took zero pictures of it, so you'll have to trust me when I say a good time was had by all. Despite the secure floaties, Bria spent the entire time in the pool clinging to an adult (me, Grammy, Grandad, Apple Ben, Aunt Jamie, Uncle Nick...she didn't discriminate). She also enjoyed playing in the fountains. Alaina and Joya were also wearing the floaties, since the most shallow part was still 4 foot deep, but they had the time of their lives jumping and being launched into the water by Apple Ben. Somehow, in the Shadow of Mount Early Child Rearing, I forgot how fun pools were.

3. The girls got to wear their swimsuits once again at a MOPS playdate. There is a park in Highlands Ranch with fountains and a wading river. The girls had fun with their friends, but mostly just had fun getting wet.

4. People keep asking me what we've been up to this summer. I have no idea. The days have obviously gone by, but I don't know what we've been doing. But this is pretty much a daily occurrence around here, so maybe I'll just start saying "we've been having fun pops."

5. The girls are totally into TY toys this year. You know, the makers of Beanie Babies? They spend hours playing with them. They spend hours dreaming of the next one they'll get. They even used some of their very own real money to buy a couple more (yes, they paid with mostly coins.) But that's what the kids are into these days, I guess. Bria doesn't have any, but so far she hasn't put up a fuss about that.

Meet Sparkle and Sophie, Smoker and Foxy

Up next week: school registration. Kindergarten and third grade, here we come!

Quick 3

Summer marches on.

1. School supplies have slowly been appearing in our house. I always feel like there is probably a better deal out there, but I've done the best price comparisons that I can, and it seemed to make sense to buy some of the stuff on Amazon. That meant packages coming to our house, and the only thing better than new school supplies is getting packages.

2. The girls had their summer dental visit on Tuesday. It's a walk in the park these days. Alaina even sees her own hygienist. I'm not even in the room with her anymore. The thing that makes that easier is that it's my friend Teri cleaning her teeth, but it's weird to me to think she's so grown up that she can handle the process, and all I need is an update from Teri and Dr. Nielsen. Joya had her first x-rays, and Bria mostly behaved herself.

3. A good dental visit required lunch at Steak n' Shake afterward. It's fun having older girls to take to lunch. (It will be even more fun when Bria isn't three anymore, but she mostly did okay.)

That's all she wrote, folks. T-minus 3 weeks until the Great Trek to Michigan.

Quick 5

This week was brought to you by Trader Joe's Organic Sriracha Ranch Dressing.

1. It was our favorite day of the whole summer: Cow Appreciation Day. Even the change in policy, from a full free meal to just a free entree didn't get us down. The kids got free meals. And we happily dressed as cows for our free salads. Last year we took the plunge and ordered Lee a full sized cow costume, which made things so much easier, not having to pin a bunch of spots on one person. I also cut all our spots and ears out of felt instead of construction paper, so now they are sitting in a bag just waiting for next year. No more cutting out spots for me! And the icing on the cake was having Apple Ben with us. He's always good for a laugh.

I wanted to get a picture of the girls looking at me, but Bria loved the cow so much she couldn't stop looking at him.

 2. Cow Appreciation Day was fun, but the girls really liked having Apple Ben come over for gummy bears after dinner. They also very much enjoyed being pelted with snowballs by him. And Alaina and Joya REALLY loved the dollar each that he gave them for cleaning up the living room when they were done.

3. For your viewing pleasure, here is Cow Appreciation Day through the years:
2010:

 

2011:

2012: Lee and I were in Alaska for Joe and Claire's wedding, so those pictures live with Grammy.

2013: The year we won a ton of Chick-fil-a in the picture contest

2014:

2015:

 4. Thanks to a brief bout of blueberry barf we missed the MOPS play date this week. But since everyone was recovered by Thursday, we did a make up day. The girls found a zip line at the park and a good time was had by all.

5. Alaina gets to spend today at Mini KICK Camp at church. She's normally the girl who likes to sleep in, but she was up at the crack of 6:16 this morning. Joya, Bria and I get to remember what it was like when Alaina went to school all day and it was just the three of us. It's going to be a long afternoon, I think.



Catch you next week! Unless the heat causes us to wilt away.

Take Heart

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33