The Witch's Birthday

This year, as Katie's teacher, I am learning how much the child does not like to put her pen to paper. Her penmanship is so perfect and neat though. Since writing is not her favorite activity, I was so impressed with her when she spent a lot of her free time today writing a story (it is very similar to a book we read last night called "Ladybug's Birthday" so I know she was listening!).

After writing it, she kept on saying, "Oh Mom! I am just so proud of myself." So cute!

The Weekend Festivities

Trevor was gone in California all week, so we were certainly glad to have him arrive home safely on Friday night. Saturday was a work day (Katie even asked, "Why do we have to do so many chores on Saturday?" and then answered her own question by saying, "Oh yeah, Saturday is a special day, it's the day we get ready for Sunday." Haylie let her know that it really doesn't do any good to work all day Saturday because we still have to do work on Sunday...like the dishes! Ha!)

Saturday afternoon we went to a birthday party for some boys in our Primary. It was a dress up party and the kids had a blast!

Dorothy, Mickey and the Cow Girl

I felt like I was up half the night on Saturday night. The rain was relentless! We woke up to flood central! Trevor had early morning meetings, and called me once he got to church to say that the way we usually go was completely flooded. The girls and I were getting ready to go early to our 9 am meetings because today was the big Primary Program and I am the Music Leader. We were able to get to church safely using another route, but the majority of the ward members were stranded in their homes and the Program had to be canceled! Bummer!

These are pictures of our street AFTER church, when the great majority of the waters had receded. You can see there was a lot of water! Driving to church was a bit scary! Water nearly up to our hood at times!!

Best Friends 4 Ever

Haylie and Katie have been begging for matching outfits for quite a while. We went to pick up some essential soccer supplies today, and they decided that this was the perfect opportunity to get something matching - soccer practice clothes! Their decision was further confirmed when they found shirts that said "Best Friends 4 Ever." The second we got home, they changed into their new get-up...

Science and Art

Here's a little bit of what we've been up to lately....

An impromptu puppet show brought hours of fun and entertainment.

Shaved crayon art. Messy, but fun!

The amazing things that air can do. In this experiment, we learned how air pushes on things. The green cup is filled with water. When we put cardboard on the top and turned it upside down, the air pushed up on the cardboard keeping the water in. The girls were so happy that they knew a new magic trick!

One Last Summer Hoorah!

***This Blog Update is having some major problems (I am sure it's not my fault). I can't get the right text to go by the correct picture. So, it's kind of a fun puzzel for you, the reader, to figure out what comments should be by what pictures. You are so welcome.

Summer has come to and end, but we finished it off with a bang. First, we went to the beach during the week....


We love South Padre Island, with its calm waves and 85 degree blue/green water.



This lovely place is in Los Fresnos, a couple miles down the road from where we live. The kids are always begging to go inside Bobz World, and this particular day I was feeling quite nice after the beach. I didn't get enough pictures to really show of the beauty of the outside of Bobz World. There are huge sharks, fishes, dinos, and shells everywhere!


And now we know what the inside of Bobz World is all about. It's a cool place with all kinds of shell decor, a museum and lots of hermit crabs ("Mom, please can't we have some? We'll take really good care of them! Please, please, please!?!?!?" NO.)

Audra especially liked this little knight who was just her size.




Katie trying on a "South Padre Island" hat.

Then it was off to San Antonio for a couple of days. Trevor and I took turns attending the Temple (which was the point of the trip). We took the girls to Sea World and had a great day! The Friday before Labor day is a great day to go...no lines!

These guys put on quite show. The girls entertained themselves for hours back at the hotel pool playing Killer Whales (Halyie and Katie) and Trainer (Audra). It was a hoot!

We were obviously sitting in the splash zone!

Good-bye summer. Bring on the fall - with its cooler weather!

The Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria Set Sail