Gotta love my girls....

One day at the beach, the waves were so big that the beach was closed, the girls skin was so rashy we were planning on keeping them out of the sand anyway. It was sprinkling but we decided to head up to Currituck lighthouse anyway. It rained the whole way there, but slowed to a slow sprinkle just long enough for us to get out and see the lighthouse, and of course the gift shop (one of the girls favorites parts of vacation since they have been on a spending freeze all summer...so they would have money to spend on vacation).

We got back in the van and started back to the beach house. The rain had made huge mud puddles....more like "ponds" in the middle of the road. So, like any responsible mom, I drove us straight into them (after Craig's prompting) and the girls were giggling and laughing so hard. Even on this wet, dreary looking day....Kiley said, "Mom, this is the best day ever!"

Pirate Training...

Blackbeard the pirate made his home on the outer banks (at least for a few years), and this past Friday was international Talk like a Pirate Day (who knew?)...We went to Kitty Hawk Kites for their pirate festival. It was so windy it was hard to hear and Ashlyn couldn't see from her hair flying in her face, but they had a great time. Blackbeard himself gave the girls both rings and said they were now his girlfriends (oh dear!)...

They learned how to pull a line, draw a sword and fight, and pirate words used on a ship.

Jockey's Ridge State Park

If you haven't been here...GO! It really is amazing. From the main road it just looks like some sand, but when you get out there, it looks like you are in the middle of the desert. REALLY! The sand dunes are huge and some places you can only see sand. When you get to the top you can see water on both sides of the outer banks. It's a good place to fly kites and you can take hang gliding lessons there too. The girls have been three or four times, but it's still one of their favorite things to do there...

Back from the beach...

We spent the week in Kitty Hawk, NC last week. It was nice to get away. We had skin issues and the wind was so bad a lot of days that there was no beach...it was closed. We had a good time though. Went to the aquarium, jockey's ridge and the girls did some pirate training. There's a lot of pictures, so I'll post a little at a time. First the aquarium....

Piano Recital

Tonight was Kiley's first piano recital. She started taking lessons 9 months ago and is really enjoying it. Her teacher is great and she looks forward to her lessons. Mrs. Littauer hosted the recital in her condo on her grand piano, so it was a real treat. (I continue to get an error message whenever I upload video, so I only have the pictures now. Maybe later it will work).

Could it be true???

Today, was Ashlyn's first soccer practice! Could it be we may have an athlete in the family? Too soon to tell, but the fact that she has an interest in soccer is a good sign, right? Kiley has always wanted to have nothing to do with any type of ball, but Ashlyn has wanted to play soccer for a year or so now (although sometimes she calls the ball a football, well I guess technically she is right in all other countries)

She hopped around the field with a smile on her face the whole time. We've really taught her nothing about soccer, but she did a great job getting after the ball and even make 2 goals while they had a practice game.

Check out the smile in these pictures..she kept turning to us with a smile and high five....and what's with the Charlie Brown hop / dance???

My helper....

Ashlyn loves to help. Always asking to help me do something, wash dishes, make dinner, etc. This day she was watering the tomatoes, cucumber and zucchini for me and found a caterpillar. A caterpillar that borred a hole through my tomato! After a little while to enjoy him, I insisted it goes back outside. The next day it rained, and the caterpillar was in the jar outside, so it ended up being caterpillar soup! Opps! One of many reasons we don't have pets....poor guy!

Our Summer...

I can't believe it's almost over. We start back to school next week! We had a more relaxed summer than last. The only planned week was at VBS. Both girls had a great time. Other than that, we went to the pool some and the free movies each week. Ashlyn now can swim! Although she would prefer to stay in water where she can touch. She's not afraid, it's just a lot of work. The day she really started swimming well she was in 8ft. of water and she was worn out! Oh yeah...they also spent a week at my parents.

I think we are ready to start back, although I'm not sure the girls would admit it! Somehow I didn't take any pictures this summer...how did that happen?

It makes it easier to start back to school knowing our vacation is in September, so we have a break really soon! More later...I'll try and take more pictures!

Dance Concert

June 6th was the girls dance concert. It was Ashlyn's first time on stage...she was very happy up there! Here are some pictures, some with their good friends Meghan and Elizabeth. Once with my nephew Seth. They all did wonderful. I love the dance program they are in.










As part of the dance ministry team, sometimes the girls dance at outreach events. The next day Kiley and 5 other girls danced at an outreach at an under-privileged apartment complex. Their music stopped working but the girls did great!! They were spot on with their movements and it looked so beautiful.

All people should have brown skin....

My conversation with Ashlyn tonight as I was lotion-ing her up after bath time.

Ashlyn - "All people should have brown skin"

Mom - "Oh yea, why is that?"

Ashlyn - "Because people need brown skin"

Mom - "But you don't have brown skin"

Ashlyn - "My skin is turning brown" (she is getting tan lines from her bathing suit)

Mom - "Mom doesn't have brown skin"

Ashlyn - "Yes you do"

Mom - "Kiley doesn't have brown skin"

Ashlyn - "Her skin is turning brown too"

Mom - "Daddy doesn't have brown skin"

Ashlyn - "No, but maybe someday he will"