August-The Dog Days of Summer

Once we got back from Wisconsin trip 5 days later my BFF and her husband came for a visit!  

She is good for the soul! 

I didn't know how much I missed her until we hung out.  Life gets busy and since she is not always in Bowling Green when we are and kids and family stuff, we don't always get a visit in.  It was soooooo good to see her!  

And she stirred up all our college songs on her play list and that's all I have been wanting to listen too.

And we got them out on the boat! Lots of sun and laughter and catching up that weekend. 

With all the flight delays it took them 2 days to get home!  I am so mad about it cause I doubt they will come again after that debacle!

The next weekend was the LAST weekend before I had to go back to work.  And the YMCA happen to have roller skating going on.  

Of course, I ROCKED it ;)

Josie was a quick learner and was doing really good skating.  She was MVP for the night.

Eli fell at least 500x's in the first hour of skating.  He didn't give up and did get better and fell maybe 100x's after that.  Even with all of his falling he had a blast.  He was even getting daring and going under the bar by the end.  I gave Eli Most Improved for the night. 

And Ella, little Ella...She fell more than Eli, never really got the hang of it but some how won one of the games by crawling around on the floor!  She was the winner of that hat.  

All in all it was a FUN night with the kids and they all enjoyed it and want to do it again and it was something different here in Ottumwa.  I hope they do it again because we will all go again!

That was it.  Summer was "over" for me.  Back to work I went.  

Enough of that garbage

We were asked to play in golf tourney that next weekend and that was the SECOND time I golfed this summer.  Woah! Don't worry, it did not help my game!

Ella had been wanting her hair cut short and I FINALLY took her.  She changed the look up with some layers!  Here is the BEFORE!

And the AFTER!  She loves it and I am getting used to it! 

And just like that, the first day of school is here!

This is the girls' LAST year at this school. They will head to middle school next year and just CANNOT believe it.

Josie is going into 5th grade wanting "more weekends!"

Eli is going into 2nd grade and he will ROCK!

And Ella going into 5th grade as sweet and cute as ever!

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL year with lots of friends, learning and excitement!

And why not throw a little fender bender into the mix of this busy summer.  Thankfully it was only a fender bender and the truck is fixed and back already.

And that first weekend after school started we were home with NO PLANS!  It was NICE to just be at home, get stuff done around the house, relax and have a NIGHT swim.  It was an awesome night and the ambiance is not captured in these pictures.  Great at home family night!

And just like that August is over!  We are well into the swing of school and work and now all the fall activities again and Ella's face captures exactly how our schedules will be for a while....CRAZY!

More on the fall activities to come!

July

July came and went in a blink.  After we returned home from our big trip I was able to get a girls night in.  This is one of 2 times I did my hair and makeup all summer. LOL

Here the girls were doing something on the couch and I couldn't help but notice them looking so much alike.  I mean, I know they are twins but to me they look so different all the time.  So I snapped a pic.

The girls talked my into having a impromptu swim party one day.  I came up with a lot of LAME excuses and then thought, what the heck.  I wasn't sure who would be able to make it, but everyone was able to.  It was a good thing we had this cause just after this Ella was having some ear trouble and needed to get her ear tube out which meant she couldn't swim for several weeks.  She was so bummed, but did very well thru all the times she couldn't go under.  The day she got the OK to swim she cannonballed in the pool as soon as she got home :)

Then it was mom's time to have a pool party.  All 3 kids had been signed up for a day camp and at the time I signed them up I let all my friends know to plan to come over for a pool day!  We all enjoyed the day with drinks, music and great company!

And yet another trip this summer, we took off to Ohio.  This time we were able to catch the Shultz family reunion on the way in.  Always good to catch up with the extended Shultz family and of course didn't get very many pictures. 

We were able to see my grandma who is not to great.  She is having a lot of pain.  I wish there was something we could do to help her. 

And my dad was in rehab from a below the knee amputation had in June so we were visiting him in the nursing home.  However, this was also the visit my dad went on hospice :(

I am so hoping I can get back to see him again soon!

We left from Ohio and had about 3 days to get ready for a week long trip to Wisconsin with friends.  We have done this for 3 years in a row now.  We meet on the Mississippi river to camp and boat.  Joey was anxious to try his boat on the big river. 

Part of trying his boat was tubing and trying to knock the kids off.  And he was successful with throwing Eli off.  This is right before he fell off.  He was in good spirits about it and loves tubing.

And my birthday happens to fall in the middle of this trip.  I told Joey I wanted a new weight belt and weight lifting gloves.  Isn't this what every 44 year old mom wants for her birthday?!!! So Josie wanted me try out my new belt so that is what I was doing!!  LOL!!

And then we headed to the pool for a little celebration.  

Here's to 44! 

This summer has been SO BUSY for us!  I am not sure I want a repeat, but it mostly has been a lot of fun!