4th of July

We were in town for the actual 4th. Mia chose to participate in the Lenexa Parade with her acrobats studio. She was nervous at first, but ended up doing acrobats down the street. She is a treat.

 We packed all day and had a little dinner. I even made a tablecloth, thank you Pinterest.

The Lake

We have been to the lake several times this summer, the girls and I stayed for 10 days straight in June. I hope to do that each summer with the girls. We hope Brad can stay next year, much more fun with that guy around. We haven't been as much because we are moving and that packing business takes up some time.

 We tried out a new restaraunt which had an old west theme.

 Canoe rides were new this summer.

 Paddle boat and Sea Doo rides with Grandma and Grandpa are always a hit.

 A little tubing and I of course did a lot of suntanning. :)

 Low country boil to celebrate the 4th.

The girls are little lake go getters and enjoy themselves immensely.

blueberry patch

Another fun year at the Blueberry Patch! Jillian finally picked her fair share this year, as she was trying to keep up with the big girls! We took friends this year and had a blast!

ice cream truck

The girls had their first ever experience with the ice cream truck this summer. I know that is kind of sad. Anyways, Jillian heard it and ran out front and was waving it down. Brad was laughing because I took their picture. Boy, they were so proud of themselves, they paid with their own money. Mia was especially proud because the night before she let Brad pull her tooth. We told her the tooth fairy brings more money if you let someone pull it. Brad told her that it was time and she finally just said "I know." She was very proud to buy a special treat with that tooth fairy money!

Big Enough....

Mia's favorite event this summer was hands down, being able to do the "big slide" at Splash Cove. She could go over and over! It was a little hard for me to do it with her when it was just the 3 of us, I couldn't really leave Jilli on the side. So she convinced Brad to come and try it out!

Little girls are growing up! Lookin' pretty leggy!

Lake Fun

We have been on a lake whirlwind this summer, but we honestly wouldn't have it any other way. The girls are at great ages and thoroughly enjoy the lake, plus travel well. We took a weekend off in early June for a dance recital and a weekend off in early July for a golf tournament, other than that, we were lake bound. Now that school and in-service are upon us, we are winding down for the season. My house needs cleaned, my school lessons need planned, and our gas budget needs a breather.

Aaron & Brad skiing together.

I have a much better video of this, will have to figure out how to post it.

One picture you will NOT see is of my water skiing adventure. I got up the first time, and lasted much longer than I thought I would. However, I could.barely.walk the next day, and had to cancel a run with my running partner 2 days later. All summer we have been trying to show Mia that skiing is fun. Brad did more skiing and wakeboarding than he has in years. Finally, I just decided that I would set an example for her. So, she saw someone on two skis get up nice and easy and never leave the wake. I probably looked like a 6 year old.

Maybe all of her dad's hot doggin' scares her?

Fireworks in the boat, where I sat a bad example by getting really scared when it was lightening!

3rd Annual

4th of July Low Country Boil

Mia learned to do a "flip" off the board.

book club

The girls finished their public library reading club in July. Once you return your book club paper, you earn a new book that you can keep. Mia picked a chapter book and buzzed through it. Jillian picked a board book, it was a Bambi counting book? I bit my tongue and let her pick.

jumping back in

If anybody reads this blog, I am back! My last post was June 22nd, yikes. Shortly after the 4th of July we had lightening strike our home. We were actually at the lake when it happened. Brad's work computer and our air conditioner had to be replaced. Brad then had to use my laptop until he had a new computer built. Therefore, my time on my laptop was non-existent. We were a little nervous that we would lose the laptop as well, as it was plugged in when the air conditioner surge occurred.

blueberry patch

This was our 3rd year to pick blueberries at The Berry Patch. I always go with the intentions of picking enough to make something, and then we end up eating them frozen. This year I actually looked up a recipe for Blueberry Pie, we will see if the berries last.

While we were picking I noticed this gal walking down the aisle with 3 large cameras draped around her neck. Turns out she was reporting from the KC Star and doing a project on berry picking on the first day of summer. I am so organized that I planned to pick berries on the first day of summer, ha ha. News to me! Some of our pictures were online today, and possibly in the community section on Saturday. She caught the girls perfectly, Mia hard at work picking.......
Jillian enjoying the sunshine.

Now onto my photos.....

Mia picked exactly 5 cups, the exact amount for a pie. Ironically enough, she won't eat a blueberry to save herself.

Jillian picked berries for about 2 minutes, and that might be stretching it. Next, she wondered LOUDLY when she was going to ride the train. After I told her that our main goal was not to ride the train, but to pick berries, did she began entertaining herself. Her entertainment consisted of singing to the bushes, climbing on the wagon, eating berries off the bushes, stealing berries out of my bucket, and eating every snack I had packed.

Ironically, she will eat the entire 6 pounds that Mia and I picked.

While I weighed and paid for my berries, the girls road the Berry Train.

I took this picture at home because I was cracking up laughing at their bags. I showed them to Brad and we both started laughing again. Jilli looked at us and sighed and said "I will pick more next year."

The top 3 photos courtesy of The Kansas City Star.