First Day of School

The big kids' school started today.  Summer just went by so fast, and I really wasn't ready for today.  The kids were very excited, though, as you can see from the pictures.

Second grader:

Fourth grader.  When did she grow up?

 

 Julia is most cooperative when strapped down.

Isabel was not feeling it.

Isabel will start kindergarten next week at the same preschool she's been attending.  More pictures then.

Swim Lessons

 The kids took swim lessons last month and I found these pictures on my phone.  

 Back stroke action:

  

Even Julia had some instruction:

 

 Isabel got really comfortable in the water:

 

 

Pierce got to play some games:

Madelyn received some diving lessons, too:

Isn't she cute?

Julia is 2

Julia turned two on Friday, and there is no mistaking she's at that age.  She's got a huge vocabulary and will occasionally string words together.  She'll say common phrases, "Back up", "oh, no", "Hi, (insert name)".  And since she IS two, we hear, "NO, MINE!" and "NO, DON'T!".  She loves Frozen and constantly asks to watch Frozen videos on youtube.  She got an Anna doll for her birthday and loves it.  We had her party at Lake Anna when we were there a couple of weeks ago, and we had a small celebration here on Friday.  Madelyn made her a small cake using her Easy Bake Oven, and she opened presents after eating cake. Here are a couple of pictures from my phone taken last Friday. Sorry for the quality, but she IS two and refuses to pause for a moment.

Can you tell she has pigtails?  Look a bit more like horns.

They didn't last long.

Happy birthday, Julia!  We're so glad you are a part of our family!

Lake Anna

We went to Lake Anna with JD's family and enjoyed a week of boating, swimming, relaxing, fireworks, and a birthday party for Julia.  I took lot of pictures, so I've just embedded an album for your viewing enjoyment.

Lake Anna 2014

I've also included a video of Madelyn water skiing:

Philadelphia

 JD took the three big kids to Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago.  They went up on a Friday got to spend a night in a hotel, which was a lot of fun for them.  They got to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, run up the "Rocky" steps, and hang out with some Red Coats.

 

Madelyn reading the Declaration of Independence to the crowd, and Isabel doesn't really care.

Top of the "Rocky" steps:

Independence Hall:

Moving West

Madelyn's third grade class studied pioneers and the expansion of the United States past the Mississippi River.  To celebrate the end of the unit, the class performed "Moving West".  The students did a great job, and Madelyn played the part of Annie, a lady whose husband died along the journey.  Here are some photos of her performance:

 The entire class:

Getting ready to play the recorder:

 

Getting ready to head west:

 Annie and her husband, Jacob:

Here she is in her role: