Our last week before crazy!

This last week was our last week before Wizard rehearsals begin.

Monday, we took Chloe to see Dr. J. about braces. He said her mouth looks great, so she is on there growth program. She'll go in every once in awhile just to make sure she is still going down a good path. She is excited to be a patient now; we think she'll be able to enter the monthly contests now.

The rest of our week was the usual: taekwondo, volunteering and school work. I spent a great deal of my time working on a high school schedule. I think we've mostly narrowed down everything for Jesse's freshman year. We still have to order books, but we are mostly there. I think.

Friday we had Meet the Masters. It was the first Meet the Masters we had since, well, I don't remember. That long ago! I enjoyed it because the tables and chairs were already set-up when I arrived. Usually we arrive ten minutes early and most everyone else is ten minutes late. Friday, we were the last ones there. We were two minutes early! And the tables were set-up!

Today, the girls went to a birthday party at HiWire. I don't think I will ever go back there on a Saturday again. They have a volleyball league so we had to park across a three-lane road at Academy. Unreal! But the party went well. Chloe, however, sprained her ankle. She is not a happy camper right now.

Jesse's birthday

As hard as it is for me to believe Chloe is eleven, it is more difficult to believe Jesse is now thirteen! It seems just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. But here we are.

She refused to plan anything this year. She just wanted to do whatever whim set upon her for the day. She had talked about going out to IHOP for lunch, but in the end decided against it.

I think her day was rather set after she opened her presents that morning.

 

Over 2,000 pieces! She stayed in her pajamas all day, while working 12 hours to finish it. She has decided to keep it together, for awhile, and display it in her room. I really don't blame her.

She has not started the book yet, but I know by the end of the week she'll finish it.

At lunch, it was raining so she decided having her Dad pick-up lunch at Marco's would suit her fine.

She and Chloe baked her cake Friday; she and I finished it Saturday. It is an ode to National Ice Cream Sandwich day, which is the same day as her birhday. The icing is the "ice cream". It was really good and she did a good job putting it together.

I think overall she had a good day.

Celebrating both girls' birthdays

We went to Charlotte this weekend so Grandpa and Grandma could celebrate the girls' birthdays. We chose the date because it was between both dates. My parents surprised the girls with an awesome birthday cake made for just them.

Coo1, huh?!

Of course, the dogs were along for the trip. And of course Hank is getting more and more comfortable there. Rosie considers my parents home her home. I think Hank is getting there too.

It was a birthday, so there were presents.

 

Chloe's birthday

Yesterday was Chloe's birthday. It is difficult to believe she is now 11!

I posted a picture of Chloe on Facebook yesterday for her birthday. Of course, the first question was, "Where's her hat?" lol  Yes, I found a picture where is not wearing one! At the end of the day, she was excited to read the list of all the people who liked her picture and wished her a happy birthday. It made her smile.

She decided to meet up with some friends to go bowling. I think in total there were about fifteen of us, including the adults. I think everyone had a great time, especially Chloe. Afterward, we went to Cici's for lunch...her choice.

We also let her choose a game for us to play. She loves board games! Of course, we knew which one she would pick...Scrabble. Of course! We actually had a great game. We usually wind up with a bunch of two-and three-letter words, but this game was full of awesome 5-letter words.

We spent the evening watching some of Chloe's favorite shows that had recorded and we hadn't watched yet. I think all-in-all she had a great birthday.

How could I forget to mention this?!

Last Sunday, after Family Day, John could wait no longer. Chloe received her birthday gift from us. She now has her very own, brand new, laptop...Chloe sized. She has been on it every day! She is even doing some of her on-line school work on it.

Tomorrow she is going bowling with some friends. She has one more present from us, that was going to be a "birthday eve" gift but now will be opened on her birthday; and a gift from Jesse, which she is going to totally love!

We're taking full advantage of our two week summer

Saturday, May 31st, we went to Charlotte to help my parents around the yard. We were suppose to help trim the nandinas, but instead we helped Dad build a post to hold bird feeders.

Jesse hanging the second bird feeder to our new post.



The feeder on the left side of the post.

 As a birthday present to me, John built a deck by the pool. I wanted one because I don't always want to swim with the girls, but I want to be able to see them when they are swimming. The deck is a perfect height to see into the pool and I love it!

 

 



The pool deck

John enjoying the fruits of his labor.

 Monday, June 2nd, we took the girls to the zoo. We had a great time, mainly because it wasn't too hot that day. We ate at the reconstructed Tuskers restaurant. We were rather disappointed to be honest. While the building is beautiful, the food is still not great and now it costs more. I'll be taking a backpack with our lunches from now on. lol

On Wednesday, the 4th, we met our friends, the Smiths, at Pooh Park. We also took Rosie and Hank. Everyone had a great time and we even had the chance to watch a taping a "Making it Grow". If you run across and episode of about fire ants, look for the Morgan and Smith children in the background. lol Cameras rarely stop any of them from being themselves. ;) Below are our favorite pictures from that day.

Rosie LOVED Avery's peanut butter covered fingers.

Sweet puppy looking for a bit of shade.

We see you Grace!

Thursday, we started the day with presents. John got me a float for the pool...forced relaxation! lol

Jesse gave me the rain boots I've been wanting. I now wear them in the mornings when I water plants. They are wonderful!

Chloe crocheted me a purple elephant and bought me a bag of Godiva (caramel!).

Saturday, the 7th, the girls and I drove to Charlotte to help do the work in the yard for my parents. We went through, what felt like a monsoon. I was worried we would get there and it would be raining so hard we wouldn't be able to do anything, but amazingly they had no rain that morning. Thank you universe for smiling upon us that day. We trimmed the nandinas, pulled weeds, cut down some type of bush at the road and mowed the yard. I thought we did really well for a little over an hour's work. (No before and after pictures. We were too busy working.)

John was actually off Monday the 9th; he rearranged his schedule due to a business trip. So, we headed to Lexington that morning with high hopes of BBQ at Hudson's. Guess what? They were closed. Seriously?! So, there we were in Lexington not sure where to go for lunch. Normally, we would have gone to Gilligan's but we were there for my birthday the week before. We decided to just drive. We didn't drive far when we saw the Mellow Mushroom. Now, John has eaten there a few times, but the girls and me have never been. It was an obvious choice. I'm so thankful it was! I had the lunch special: 1/2 an order of hummus and half an avocado sandwich. It was amazing!!!!! I LOVE fresh hummus and I HAVE to learn to make it. I don't think store bought will do anymore. I've had it before at Disney's Boma (John's favorite place on this planet to eat...besides his mother's). But to have it so close to home and so totally awesome (Chloe kept eating it too) just makes me want to learn. I now have a recipe to try, but I'm waiting on my nerves. lol

After lunch, we took the girls to Monkey Joe's. It was the plan all along, but we didn't tell them...exactly (they were told to bring socks). They had a blast and we had the chance to just relax. I think it was good for all of us. And it was air conditioned too. :)

The rest of the week was good, but not as exciting as I was hoping. Jesse tried a recipe she had been wanting to make for dinner Wednesday. We all decided it was a good try, but we won't be adding it to our "favorite" food list. But she did a great job. She actually prepared the entire dinner and set the table.

Chloe had her Summer Camp this week. I think they missed Monday and Friday, but the rest of the week she was able to do it. Tuesday was Perler bead creation day, Wednesday was a SC trivia game (I did not do so well. lol), and Thursday was TV game day. They also spent quite a bit of time in the pool just having fun.

Today, Saturday (yes, it has taken me a week-and-a-half to write this post) we took John out to lunch for Father's Day. We went to Texas Roadhouse then by Tiffany's to pick up a snack for today and breakfast for in the morning. He said he is having a good day. I hope so. Now, he is napping, which is how I am able to finally finish this post. :D

John's week off

We wound up having a good week, even though it started a bit rough.

Wednesday we went to Charlotte to celebrate my Dad's 77th birthday! I know the girls had fun, but I think they tired Grandpa out. lol

This cake was perfect! We all had one piece and that is all any of us needed.

Thursday we left Charlotte heading west. John surprised us with a trip to Pigeon Forge to stay at the cabin we stayed in last year. It is amazing how the landscape changes there. Last year most of it was still covered in snow and ice from the storm two days before our visit. This year, while the trees had not bloomed, the grass was coming out and the flowers were all blooming. It is always beautiful there. Just makes you go, "ahhh".



One of two new swing sets.

My picture does not do this justice. But in my mind I can still hear it.

The mini golf course at the cabin resort.

He loved looking out the windows; Rosie didn't need to hop up, she was tall enough to just look out.

They were convinced her pool cue was food. lol

Chloe was eating ice cream while John watched over the fire he was building.
 

I believe they spent most of their time here. My family would be so proud. ;)
 

I believe we all had a good time and we're all looking forward to going back again...one day.

Mom's Birthday

We celebrated my Mom's birthday a month ago. I will not say how old she turned. ;)

Jesse's birthday "party"

Jesse did not want a party this year. She only wanted the family to go bowling. John wanted to spread out her birthday too, since Chloe had a party before her birthday and a small celebration on her birthday. So, the Sunday, before Jesse's birthday, we all went bowling.

We all had fun, as you can tell by Jesse's last photo. And we each bowled a strike!

Jesse's first birthday present

In my last post, I said we gave Jesse one of her presents when we arrived home after our visit to Charlotte. This post is about that present. John found it on-line and, of course, he had to get it for her!

Imagine that! A VW Bug!!

Of course, assembly had to start right away.

John is there to help out with her first model.

The proud new owner!