Fair weekend 2012

The kids couldn't get enough of the fair this year! They were so excited for the weekend to begin.  Living so close to the fair grounds we were able to see the daily, okay hourly, updates on the progress of the rides being put together.  The anticipation of the weekend was the most exciting yet because Nolan was all about it too.  They both loved all of the rides that they went on.  Nolan actually helped to make Tessa brave on a few of them that she was slightly hesitant about.  Great weekend.  The kids get to spend time with family and friends.  Derek and I also get to spend some time with our friends. We both played in the softball tournament all weekend and hung out with our friends all weeekend.  We are so lucky and always have such a great weekend.  All around our family all had a great, fun-filled weekend :)  The kids are already looking forward to next year and have been asking when the fair is coming back to town... 

Happy 5th Birthday Tessa!

My baby girl is FIVE!  I can't believe it.  We sure have had a fun few days of celebrating.  She was so excited about every part of the day.  What better way to start the festivities than with a chocolate chip pancake in the shape of the number five?!  Of course it had her favorite colored sprinkles right on top :)  She was pretty excited.  (And so was Nolan as he got one too!!)  She was just so excited about every part of the last few days.  Her smile is priceless as she smiles from ear to ear.  We are so proud of her and love her so very much.  Here's to another happy, healthy, exciting year for our Tessaroo.

Best buds

Best buddies...I love it.

More summer swimming fun!

Swimming, swimming, swimming, that's about all we've done this summer.  With everyday being in the 90's, swimming is the best way to keep cooled off :)  We had another fun adventure at Merrymac Campground with the Lane kiddos.  Marah is starting to love the water and is getting so brave.  She cruised around in the "boat" for quite a while.  The boys (especially Mas) loved the big slides in the deep end.  Tessa braved it out and headed out to the deep end to watch the boys go down the big slide.  Nolan loved it but got pretty mad that I wouldn't let him go down the big slide in the deep end.  He had fun driving the snake around and snuggling with Mitchell every chance he could get.  Mitchell and Nolan are seriously like two peas in a pod.  It's quite priceless on so many levels.  We're so lucky to have these cuties, they have such a great time when they are together.

Derek's making this look pretty darn easy but in fact it was not.  Mitchell and D were having a balancing contest and I'm pretty sure D won :)

Snuggle #35 of the day.  Seriously whenver they get the chance they just have to be directly next to each other.  Nolie sure is lucky to have such great role models.  We hope Mitchell stays a kid at heart forever...

Little Ballerinas

Tessa and Marah have offically become ballerinas.  Tessa was sooo excited to find out that her and Marah would be in dance this summer.  The first picture below is Tessa walking upstairs to class.  Marah was a little more hesitant the first night but has done great since.  Last summer Tessa was still pretty scared to do things like this by herself.  She's become so independent and can't wait to go to dance each week.  Now we get to look forward to the cutie dance recital where they will dance at the high school PAC where Tessa had her Christmas concert last year.  It will be pretty darn cute to see her and Marah dancing on stage together :)

Kindergarten, here we come!

Last day of 4K for this girl.  We are so proud of you Tessa.  We love how much you love to learn, read, write, how inquisitive you are, how big your smile is every time you get on and off of the school bus (although I wish I was the one to see that smile everyday!), how the first thing you want to do when you get home is tear open your backpack and show me your school work, how much respect you give your teachers, how nicely you talk about your friends from school.  We can't wait to watch you turn into an individual as you officially head into kindergarten.  Keep working hard and keep smiling.  We love you and are so proud of you, you big 4K graduate :)

Cannonball!

"Grandpa, do it again!"  Tessa and Nolan could have stood here all day while Grandpa did cannonballs.  Dad is such a trooper and really does do the best and biggest cannonballs.  I love the look on his face, he's so intense.  He's always taught us to put everything we've got into everything we do and I guess that includes cannonballs :)  I'm thinking there will be a few more cannonballs this summer!