Go {Fourth}

Wow...July is here...and going...fast!

Since we've been home from vacation {which I still haven't posted all our pictures...}
...we have been going...

...we celebrated the Fourth of July hanging out at home enjoying a long weekend relaxing, swimming and finishing up projects...

Ellie was the Lifeguard...ha!  Alex set her hat just on the top of her head...and we all got a kick out of it...and he decided her teething ring was her lifesaver!

...she seemed to enjoy going along with it!

There were fireworks all weekend...all around our house...and Dan got some doozies this year!  A couple of our neighbors came over to watch and we had front row seats!

Ellie was just content chewing on her foot and reading her book...

Saturday night we started setting off fireworks and the wind really picked up...so we decided to go inside.  The sky was suddenly eerily dark and with the fireworks...it had a red glow...

...we found out later that there was a funnel cloud reported just about 15 miles south of us! 

It was great having such a relaxed weekend with no plans...and it was so hard to get everyone going again on Tuesday...but that is what summer is for! 

And...boy...is it moving right along...

...we also finally finished up Alex and Emily's baseball season...bittersweet for sure.  They had so much fun this year...and it was great having them on the same team!

Coach Pat was so much fun...and all the kids loved him!  He put together an awards ceremony...pizza dinner...and parents vs kids game to celebrate the end of their winning season!

Alex received an award for the player contributing the most enthusiasm and good cheer...the coach said he always had a smile on his face!

Emily received an award for the best all around attitude...

We had so much fun watching them both excel through each game and have lots of fun too...and make some new friends!

We are looking forward to next season already!

Elizabeth has been quite the trooper all summer too...she has much more patience than I do and goes with the flow!

Alex, Ellie and I went to a little park behind the ice rink during Emily's ice-skating lesson to enjoy the sunshine...and Ellie had a great time swinging for the first time!

She tried to keep up with Alex...but it won't be long before she does!

Whew...I'd say summer is truly moving right along...
...next week Alex and Emily have VBS...
...one of our little babies will be turning 9!
...and the county fair is coming to town!

...I wish I could slow it all down...
...but all I can do is continue to go {forth} and enjoy every second I can!

It's Official...

...school is out...

...summer has officially started...

...and we now officially live with a big third-grader...

...and a big {little} second-grader...

{she will always be little!}

How is this even possible?  This school year just zoomed by!

But we couldn't be more proud of both of them!

They both received all A's and Emily was third in her class for passing the most AR exams...she loves to read and sometimes read three chapter books at a time!

Awesome work! 

Alex had a great last day celebrating with a junk food party and water balloon fight!  He said his favorite thing this school year was PE!  ha!  Emily enjoyed her teacher Mrs. Olson {Alex's first-grade teacher}!  They both had great teachers this year...and Emily will also have the same second-grade teacher that Alex had!  I'm so excited! 

The last day of school is always bittersweet...I'm a little sad that they grow up so fast in a year...but we're ready to start the summer and get ready for vacation!

But I think I'm officially going to keep this one at home...

It's too late for Alex and Emily...but I'm not letting little Ellie grow up and go off to school...Nope...

She's staying right here with me...so I can dress her up with her big bows and hug her tight!  {...sigh...}  However...I have a strong feeling she's going to get her independence before I'm ready and find her own unique style {like Emily!} and march right off to school anyway!  Shoot!

Happy Summer!  We've officially welcomed it with open arms! 

We've ended today with a loss for the White Sox...but Alex and Emily played great...

{safe!}

{Emily on first...Alex on second} 

...and I think they were just happy that they can officially stay up late and sleep in!  Yippee!

{especially the sleeping in...we can only hope!}