August 2015

The Barnhisels were able to squeeze in a visit in-between Grace's girls' camp, and the first day of school.  We had SO MUCH FUN with Sean and Kate!

the fashionistas

cousin sleepover (now that we're into sleepovers, might as well)

We took the cousins to Cliff's amusement park.  We had never been there before, and I was surprised how much fun we had.  I knew it wasn't as awesome as Lagoon, so I wasn't expecting much...

 Grace and Kate - the only daredevils who wanted to ride the crazy drop ride.

 The rollercoaster crew- poor Sean, he really doesn't like fast or scary rides so he didn't come with us.

Look how cool!  The kids pooled some tickets together and played a game together and won this prize for Sean!  Way to cheer him up after riding the rollercoaster without him!  

YES, we can go home.

oh wait, and then Grace took the last lonely ticket and randomly, shrewdly, aimed, and threw the football through the tiny hoop and ended up winning a prize too!  (crap - we have seen this movie before and we know how it ends, or at least we thought we did - please refer to the Lagoon post from last year.)

 okay... a few more rides- the swings are always fun

Not going to get out of the park without letting the little girls play some games now that both big kids have prizes.  Praying for a couple more prizes so no one goes home empty-handed.  There's no way we will win this ring, toss........ unless Harriet can freaking toss a ring right on a bottle and win the GIANT IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE UNICORN!!!!!

Many many tickets later... trying to win a second giant unicorn (so Melissa can take it on a plane?) 

No unicorn.  Kind of relieved.  How about a turtle?  YES, we CAN win a turtle.

 Oh, and maybe just one more dart game.

 Good job Lissie, I know you had your eye on that stuffed pig this whole time.

amusement park BLISS

Then, an evening walk onto the mesa for a frog release ceremony.

I think some cousins are under there somewhere.

 A little trip to the trampoline park.

And wrap it up with an impromptu birthday party for Sean.  If you can't tell, that's a Jurassic World cake, complete with mosasaur coming up out of the lake.  

There really isn't a cuter little boy than Sean.  Happy 10th dude!

Let's see, what else did August bring, oh yeah, SCHOOL.

This was the year for a 7th and a 4th grader.  We went to Harriet's "meet the teacher" day, only to find out that she had not been placed in the class where her 3rd grade teacher meant for her to go.  After a less-than-comfortable morning with the brand new principal on the first day of school, I elbowed my way back into Mrs. Blaisure's classroom.  ahhh.... turns out to be one of the best things I've ever done for one of the kids.  I am SO grateful she didn't end up in that other class for so many reasons, not the least of which is that Mrs. Blaisure took care of her all year and is now a beloved family friend.  Harriet was also able to get very close to her friend Alexis and have one of her best years at school yet.  

Grace, the smiley face.

Harriet's this theme this year, was leopard print.

Grace got her first pair of Dr. Martens shoes and Harriet was leopard print, head to toe.

Two things happened in a big way for Harriet this year.  The first one, being, that she really found her passion in cheer and gymnastics.  She and Alexis, and an assortment of other friends, would regularly attend open gym together to practice their tumbling for cheer.

   Hattie and Lexie worked tirelessly on their back walkovers at the beginning of the school year and finally got them about a week apart from each other.  It was a huge victory to see Harriet put her mind to something and work hard for it until she had it perfectly.  She is so easily frustrated and such a perfectionist - she often gives up before she finally polishes something.  It was awesome to see her so determined to do something. 

 

I know a lot of credit is due to her friends who encouraged her and stood by her and inspired her.  That was the other big thing for Harriet this year - her friends.  She kind of started off with these girls last year when they were all in Mrs. Carr's class together for 3rd grade, but this was the year that Harriet really solidified friendships to the point that she had true friends she could depend on in any situation at school or outside of school.  They all had such a great year together.

Hattie and Lexie taking a selfie at the fro-yo place just before their first sleepover together at our house.

Harriet getting her back walkover with Alexis in the background.

Just after school started David was able to take the girls on their first back-packing trip.  He had been hyping it up all summer and gathering gear.  They hadn't had a chance to go because of all of our travel and visitors.  They were both SO pumped to carry their own packs (he bought them each a brand new pack) into the wilderness and camp with their dad.  He has been wanting a back-packing buddy for almost 2 decades and I'm so glad he finally has a couple!

 I know he has some great pics of their trip.  Need to find them and load them.

 And a random cute pic of the Strydes.  I always reconnect with the dogs after the school year starts and I end up home alone.  The dog and I look at each other and finally go for a long-awaited walk.