Stormy nights

The girls do not like storms.  They freak out about the lightening, thunder, high winds and loud rain - I don't know where they get that from...  I'm usually very calm during storms, at least I try to act like I am. Obviously I'm not playing it as cool as I thought I was. But from the past couple of storms, they have learned that the safest place to be in a storm is in the basement. It is safe down there, it is cool down there and we can't hear all those loud noises, especially when we are trying to go to sleep.  We have spent a couple of nights down there as a family during some storms or power outages, and they know it is safe.  Yet even I don't think it is necessary for every storm.  But as another stormed rolled in, the girls were determined to stay in the basement, even all by themselves (which is HUGE for them). So, to the basement they went, but this night the basement was not enough. Per their request, I had to built them a fort in the basement. The loved it and slept in their fort all night long. 

The storm rolled in...

crazy looking clouds.

The fort went up, prayers were said, and they were asleep:)

Anniversary Party

This year, Aunt Cher-gul and Uncle Car-gul (as Ainsley calls them) celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary.  Dirk & Nici and Erin & Kelsey threw them a party to celebrate this great milestone. It was a fun party with lots of good food, drinks, music and company!

Snici had a candy table for the kids... There is no telling how many pixie sticks the kids ate!

Crazy dancers!

it's hokie-pokie time!

They called themselves the cool table.... not so sure if i agree;)

Just another Friday Night

Hanging out in Menard's...

Waiting on Daddy:)

Coco Girl

Poor Coco... I have a feeling that this will not be the last time she dressed up.

Bike Ride

An evening bike ride with Addysen and Coco

Another Beach Day!

those goggles look awesome on you Ains!!

It was a little cold this day, but this little fish stayed in the water most of the day, as the water felt better than the air.

snack time at the beach!

Art Defined

Nici and Tina invited me to go to a painting class put on by Art Defined.  I went into the class with no expectations. I have NO artistic ability at all, but I thought it would be a fun girls night to hang out and laugh. But in the end, I was shocked to see how easy it was and how good our paintings turned out.  We'll definetly do it again!

all finished!

how awesome are we?

   

Morgy and Caleb's Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our Morgy and Caleb!

Ainsley's first movie at the theater!

Ainsley.... Ainsley, Ainsley, Ainsley. She is our stubborn, ornery, happy, go-with-the-flow kinda girl. She is also smart and knows how to work the system:)  We made a deal with her that we would take her to the movie theater for the first time, as long as she stayed dry at night for 5 nights in a row. And, YAY! She did it. So we went to the movie theater and saw "How To Train Your Dragon 2" (side note: Addysen's first movie was "How To Train Your Dragon")  She enjoyed the movie, but tired of siting in her seat about 45 minutes into it.  Luckily the movie kept her attention and we stuck it out for the whole thing.

but before we left for the movie, her freak of a sister organized her own closet by color.... I don't know where she gets that from????

we have our popcorn and slushies and are ready to go in!

My big girl!!!

sisters r the best!

Now the bad news of this story... She has not been dry for 5 nights in a row since then:(  UGH!!!  She played us, didn't she?

T-Ball!

Addysen played t-ball again this year.  She seems to be getting better and better each year!  Aaron and I have so much fun watching her play and this year, Aaron got a front row seat to seeing her play.  He helped coach her team.  I think he enjoyed coaching as much as she enjoyed having her Dad there with her:)

ready to knock it out of the park!

Daddy and daughter - in game mode

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to some of the best Dad's I know!

Garage Sale / Lemonade Stand

Once again this year we opened up a garage sale during the More-on-34 weekend.  Lindsay and I really enjoy doing it every year.  It is a lot of work, but we have so much fun doing it. (We feel like store owners)  Plus, the past 3 years our girls had a lemonade / cookie stand during the sale.  Each year, the money that they raise goes to a charity of their choice.  This year they decided to donate their money to the R.O.W.V.A. Elementary School for their new playground.  This was their best year yet!  They raised about $173!!  They have so much fun doing this and they are leaning a lot from the whole process!  They are pretty awesome kids.

just some of the cookies that they sold.

Peighton and Addysen - ready for some business!

I think is the sign that helped make our garage sale such a success;)

Beach fun!

The girls and I and the Lott's attempted to make it to the beach once a week all summer long.  It was a good goal and we came close to accomplishing it, but we did get rained out a few times.  All the kids love the water and sand so every time we went, we stayed all day and had so much fun together!!

Ainsley and Evan building a sand masterpiece!

Morgan turned Addysen into a sand mermaid.

FREAKS!

our favorite fishies in the lake!

how cute is that?

After the beach, we went to Grandma Sharon and Papa's house.  We were suppose to be going to a t-ball game, but it got rained out.  So we stayed for supper and obviously Addysen had some ice cream too.

Addysen, you have something on your face...

Then they had to test out Grandma's new cots.  They snuggled right in:)

Tumbling Review

Another tumbling season has come to an end, so once again Addysen performed with her class at the Tumbling Review.  She practiced a lot and worked hard all year long, and almost got her back flip, but she just couldn't get it before the review. (maybe next year) I am so proud of her and am thrilled she loves to tumble like I did.  I tried to get some good pics, but I failed.  Oh well, I got to sit and watch proudly, which is the most important part anyway.

 Ready to perform!!

look at that focus:)

Ta-DA!

The Higgy's and Strawberries

On June 6th, we got to have Beau and Peighton come over and play with us while Mr. Tate went and got his cast on.

That Peighton.... could she be any cuter?  I can just hear her cute, crusty little laugh while looking at this picture.

sand time!

Then it started to get a little warm, so we played in the water

and then we had a little snack before they had to go. 

After they left, the girls and I had some lunch and then we headed out to Country Corners to pick strawberries.  It was still early in the strawberry season, but we did get quite a few small berries.  Just enough to have strawberry shortcake.  YUMMY!!!