Five for Friday..on Saturday

So it's Saturday...Saturday night at that and I'm just now doing a 5 for Friday post :) I'm determined to get it posted while it's still Saturday and it's getting pretty close but I think we'll be okay, haha.  I realized I hadn't posted in a while and figured this was the best way to just download what we've been up to.  I definitely don't think I'll be able to keep up this frequency when school starts (which is coming WAY too fast for me and not soon enough for Hayden).

And here we go -- why not make it Six for Saturday...

1.  Speaking of school and Hayden, I saw her school supply list this past week.  She'll be going to the Fair Grove Preschool program 2 days a week this year. She is soooo excited. Not sure she knows exactly what she's in for but I know she'll do great!  We're going to take her tomorrow to get some of her supplies.  I'm kinda thinking we're asking for trouble though because she has to hang onto them until the 15th of Aug when she starts.  Kinda like telling her that her birthday is in 2 weeks...every day at least twice a day we'll hear "Is it almost time?"  :)  Love her!

2. And then there's my school.  This coming week is the last week the girls will be here at the house with me :'(  The following week they'll be at the sitter's house full time as I'm back in the classroom, officially starting my time on the 9th with meetings all day. Yuck.  I've been going into the classroom at least once a week to start unpacking boxes and putting everything back where ti goes.  I'm soo ready for the routine and rhythm of the school year and to be with my new students, just not looking forward to the fewer hours with my girls and feeling pulled in every direction.  But, I always manage.  I'm very lucky to love what I do and have an amazing school to be at so that makes those downsides sooo much easier.

3.  Hayden had a huge achievement this week.  We met mom in Bolivar on Wed for Hay to go back with her and stay the night at the farm.  What surprised us was that she ended up staying THREE nights!! Willingly (according to mom).  I knew she would have a great time but really surprised that she managed 3 nights without having meltdowns missing me.  Seriously.  She really did have a great time. Sounds like she spent it just like I did growing up...playing outside with the kittens, adventures with Grandma, running around naked, swimming, and being outside all the time.  I loved that Dad would send me picture texts and videos.

4. Sweet Abbie sure showed her personality while Hay was at the farm. It was really great to have lots of one-on-one time with her and do some bonding.  She is a lovey little one with a determination like something fierce!  She is sooo stinkin smart too.  We've realized that she's able to follow simple one-step directions (put it in the trash, give to daddy, put it in the box, get your diaper, etc) and is excited to do them.  She wants to be involved with everything and so we still hear a lot of squeals and hollering when we don't realize soon enough what it is that she's wanting.  She also LOVES music.  Here's a video of her new dance moves, spinning as well as a video of her singing.  Again, so sweet.

5. Canada... Ethan is gearing up for his last week long trip to Canada for work.  He hasn't been there since last fall which was awful planning...he left my first full week of school, and I had a 10 week old Abbie, and the girls were starting at a new sitters.  We survived. But this year it won't be as bad. It definitely helps that I'll not be at work yet and wont have to have any schedules or routines (although I neeeed to be getting everyone up 2 hours earlier than we currently are, ouch).  This should be his last trip up there so he is going to do a lot more sight-seeing and exploring.

6. And lastly -- we went up to Aunt Shirley's today for a Cantrell get together. Shirley and Bill had been down to Alabama to see Brad and Missy and then had brought Laine back with them. We hadn't seen her since she was little bitty!  It was a great afternoon with the Minichs, Hagers, Mildred & John, and then Brian and Haddie (who is super cute!).  Hayden enjoyed playing with the girls and Abbie was content to wander and explore and do her best to do it all on her own.  We actually were able to get a picture of all the great grandkids that were there with John & Mildred.  NINE great grandkids (all girls) and we were only missing one...Morgan.  Pretty impressive!

Whew...it's almost midnight. I think I just might get this posted while it's still Saturday!

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Five for Friday

Linking up with The Good Life for today's Five for Friday.  

(cute blog if you want to check out another new blog)

I'm actually not sure we did anything "worthwhile" this week that would deem exciting to anyone looking inside our little house. But here it is....

1.  Cousin Time

We went back to the farm this past weekend for the annual Rufenacht Camping Reunion.  That's another post all in itself.  However, Hayden had a blast with her Rufenacht cousins.  She had Tyler, Talyn, Gabriel, Aliza, Aiden, Owen and Eli...although she admitted she really only played with Talyn (surprise surprise).  Those two girls really are gonna be a mess in a few years. I'm envisioning weeklong stays during the summer. Not sure what we'll do when they start driving.

2.  Half Training
Have I mentioned that Ethan and I are doing the Bass Pro Half Marathon this fall?  Call us crazy but we're kinda excited. Ask us again in a few months and our story might change.  We're still 20 weeks away but both working on getting some good runs in during the week.  We have another couple that we sneakily convinced  will be running with so it'll be a good time.  The run is on Nov 2nd early in the AM and we would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have supporters cheering for us during the race and then at the finish line.   Expect more details on that later too.

One of my favorite runs: sunsets, flowers, perfect temps

3. Brownies (yeah, brownies)
I know this isn't that exciting to most to anyone else but I made homemade brownies...from scratch. They even got the nod of approval from Ethan and Hayden. Hayden I wasn't worried about but when Ethan raised his eyebrows and nodded, I took that as they were a hit.  I love brownies.   I was wanting to bake some cookies with Hayden and knowing what was in our pantry our choices were limited. We almost got to make oatmeal cookies but I kept seeing recipes for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and once I saw those, the idea of plain jane oatmeal didn't sound so good.  So while Ethan bought some Nestle chips Hayden and I made these brownies I found online.  (I say Hayden and I very loosely...she was somewhere in the house...I think).   Anyways..the brownies were a hit and today I'm working on not eating all of them...at least without Ethan finding out.  *shhhh*

4.  Summer's coming to an end here :(

Summer Fun 

Yesterday I had my first meltdown.  I told Ethan that it was nothing, but just me thinking about having to miss out on these days with the girls.  I have loved almost every moment of being home and the thought of missing out on these random and quite boring moments make me sad. Because I've been able to see Abbie grow into her demanding personality and Hayden's quirky sense of humor and fashion. I've been able to teach the girls about nature and the world around them.  I have been able to help them learn to be nice(er) to each other and use manners...not to mention all those important things that little girls need to know (like how to brush your hair, how to put on your swimsuit the right way, how to hide brownies from daddy, etc).  I am blessed to have  a job that I love during the school year but wow, I'm gonna miss these girls.  Thinking this is about as much as I can write without getting upset (again) but you get the idea.  Gonna miss these girls.

5. And lastly...mainly because I can't think of anything else to write about, here's several videos that I captured this week. Very random, but very much our every day happenings.

Here, Hayden is showing us her Hoop-A-Loop Skills with a song/dance show

Typical day here...when they love each other, they have a great time!

she loves that she knows how to operate her CD player!

Happy Friday!
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Five for Friday

ByAnother Five for Friday post! I realize that I love these posts because it gives me a chance to post photos but also forces me to be concise with what I write (tricky, I tell ya).

1. Our first mud pie! She thought it was silly but it became serious business when I said we could use flowers to decorate it. 

2. A bath time pic, why not? Abb continues her toothless cheesy grin and seems so proud of herself.  Wonder how anyone sees Grandpa John when she smiles? *wink wink* 

3. Hayden continues to try to be a helper and "encourages" Abbie to do big girl things. Whether its showing her silly tricks at the table, see previous post, "helping" her share toys with Hayden or in this case teaching her how to ride the pony. 

4. I love capturing these moments. Its 10:30pm and they've fallen asleep watching The Lorax.  Be still my heart...

 

5. And lastly, it's the weekend for our Rufenacht Family Camping/Reunion.  We are loaded up (to the max) and taking FOR.EVER to make it the hour drive north to the farm.  Big weekend with dad's lake: paddle boats, fishing, swimming...not to mention camp food, fireworks, tents and tons of family and friends. Thinking we've been doing this since 1999 or 2000.  We started in Wheatland and have been out at the farm in Mt. Zion for the past 3-4 years I think. 

Happy first week of July!

Five for Friday

AToday is Friday so that means its time for Five for Friday!!  In the blog world its a time to post five pics from the past week to highlight on the blog.  I haven't done one on this blog yet but figured it might be time!

1. 

My HooBear:  We have been tryin as much as possible to get some Hayden and Mommy time, although it is hard to come by some days.  She loves to play outside, always in a swimming suit or a dress (not surprised, are you?)

2.

Check out our garden this year.   3 tomato plants on the patio. We also have a squash and zucchini in the little garden.   Notice the size difference in the plants? The one on the right is almost 2 foot taller than the others and is super thick!  Last year Ethan made a complicated compost mix for our raised garden bed that is apparently amazing.  The plant on the right is full of the compost where the other two are with MiracleGrow. 

3. 

And Abbie loves toilet paper.  We used it for stacking blocks but then I looked away, for just 5 seconds.  Making memories...playing with toilet paper...making messes. 

4. 

This is how we watch fireworks, apparently.  Hay is still scared of them but says she wants to watch them. So she and I sat in the back of my car, doors shut so we could still watch the fireworks but "be safe" and not  let the fireworks get us. 

5. 

Hayden and her dolls.  Some things never change. 

Happy Friday...the last Friday in June!