Isabel's 5th Birthday

Isabel  turned 5 last week, and we celebrated on Sunday because JD was traveling last week.  She left 4 behind with a bang, as we ended up in the E.R. on Monday night after she split open her forehead on the front steps.  We had a small celebration and invited a few kids from the neighborhood to have cake and ice cream.  They were all so happy to run around the backyard and eat the cake that it made me wonder why I ever planned more elaborate parties.  Isabel at five is spunky, determined, petite, the youngest in her class, and the loudest in her class and of her siblings.  She is a funny girl, and we love her so.

North Myrtle Beach

We went to North Myrtle Beach last month with my parents and had a great time.  I hadn't seen the beach (unless you count 1.5 days in Italy which wasn't too shabby) in 6 years, and I just loved it.  I'm definitely a beach girl, and all of the kids loved it, too.  No one was scared of the ocean and they all loved playing in the waves. 

I took a lot of photos with my cell phone camera. I forgot my "real" camera which was just as well because I would not have wanted to take it out to the beach every day.  So, the pictures aren't the best quality, but I love them anyway. 

Here's a link to the photos:

Myrtle Beach 2014

Isabel's First Day of Kindergarten

Isabel started kindergarten today!  She finally got excited about school, as most of the summer she kept saying she didn't want to go to school every day.  Her preschool has a half day kindergarten program, and it seems like a perfect fit for her.  Our plan is for her to do kindergarten again at ICS next year, so this is just a warm up for her.  Here are some pictures from her first day; this kid has the best expressions even if you don't like the attitude behind them.  She was all smiles today, though.

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!