Pool, Zoo and Baseball- ATL

Megan has a neighborhood pool just down the street, so we went quite a few times.  The pool has a lot of strict rules, the most important one that you cant be alone under the age of 18.  Almost every time we went, we had the whole pool to ourselves.  We usually packed lunch or even dinner and stayed quite a while.

This is where Elia got her nickname "Elia Franch"

One day we went to the Atlanta zoo!  This was the first day they wore their camp shirts.  Too cute!  It was a very hot day, so off to the pool once we got back.

Missing: Brendan was with mom and dad at the ATL aquarium

One night we went and saw the minor league team play.  Very kid friendly!

Tailgate first

Such a good walker!

Deep Conversations

Cousin Love at its very best!

The Top 10 of our Trip- #6

6. Slide Rock
 This event was probably the most exciting for the family.  There is a state park called Slide Rock very close to Sedona.  There is a small river that runs through lots of rocks, creating some natural slides and lots of rock drop offs to jump from.  Water Shoes are a must.  Without them, you WILL slip and fall.  Even with them it is easy to fall.  Chris fell once and landed on his elbow.  He developed Bursitis from it and still has a HUGE bruise a week and a half later.  (we also spent a good portion of our anniversary at Urgent Care to get it checked out)  Besides the slipping and falling, everyone had a blast!

Sun Bathing.  The water was COLD!!

Sliding

Small Jumping

Tall Jumping

So proud of G here!

Elia and Chris jumped from the rock later, as did I.  It was scary, and COLD!  But so, so fun.

Summer Time, and the Living's Easy...

Could there be any better job than getting paid to do whatever you want during the summer?  It seriously makes up for all the stress of the school year.  We have been having a great, laid back summer so far.

Reading, reading, reading!

Splash Park

Hanging with cousins Madison and Taylor

Pretty much swimming everyday!

Bike Riding Fiend!

Slurpees and Swinging

Shopping at our fave store

Dressing up

I love the last picture because it shows some more freedom in our house.  We put all the girl's cups, plates, and bowls in a bottom drawer in the kitchen.  So whenever I get the "mommy, I'm thirsty" comment, they can now help themselves.  With a footstool I brought home from my classroom, they can drink water all day long!  This also helps with setting the table, and emptying the dishwasher.  They can do all of their own dishes!
Stay tuned for our big summer adventure, our road trip out to AZ.  I'm sure I will have lots of pictures and stories to blog about!

Swimmy

I signed the girls up for swim lessons as soon as school got out.  So we have been to the pool every weekday so far this summer!  They both amaze me.  G's teacher said to move her up a level next summer, as did Elia's teacher.  With lots of practice in between.

Diving Board Day

I like this picture because it shows that G can handle the older kids- they were all in the same class!

This was Elia's first time, so she was a little hesitant at first.

Here is a video of them playing in the "square" pool, as they call it.  This is at our public pool, and this year is the first where both girl's heads are above water in the deep end!  I think it goes up to 3 feet.  Here they are practicing their back floating.

Labor Day Weekend

One of my teacher friends posted on facebook that as a teacher, Labor Day weekend is like the eye of the storm, craziness last week, a great relaxing weekend in between, and followed by a short but crazy packed week!  Its so true.  It was a fabulous 3 day weekend.  While I spent some time up at school on Saturday, Chris took the girls and Daria for a walk and then Saturday night we had another movie night.
Sunday was as usual- cartoons, church and lunch.  We went to the McBrides for a barbecue and it was great to catch up with them.

Monday Chris had to work (grrrrrr) so I did all the fun SAHM activities I could think of. We went to Tom Thumb and got lunchables,

 

went to the pool, read tons of books, and of course we baked.

We used a cake pop mold to get this shape.  (thanks Aunt Col!)

 

And decorated!

 

 

It was a swell, swell weekend!

A Week without the Girls

After our fun filled camping trip in Colorado, Grandma took Gianna and Elia back to California with them for a week so that I could get work done to prepare for this upcoming school year.  Chris and I drove 17 hours back to Dallas from Grand Junction, CO on Sunday.  Then, while I went to boring trainings and made my classroom look awesome here in Dallas...
 

Leveling and categorizing my library took me all day Saturday!

The girls had a blast hanging out with the Rowles!  I got an iphone (finally!) and so we were able to share pics and of course facetime every day!

Aunties and cousins

Gianna is channeling her inner Gabby Douglas

Crafty stuff

I wasn't at school every waking minute while they were gone, so I managed to surprise them with some crate chairs for the playroom.  Of course I found it on pinterest, and it was surprisingly easy.  Chris and I managed to get out for a few dates too!

Bedtime story.  Elia conked out while I was reading a Care Bears book.  So happy to have them back!

Baptism/Atlanta trip Photo Dump

It took us 14 hours to get to AtL.  We ended up stopping at Cracker Barrel for dinner 12 hours in.

The star of the weekend: Anna

Dad and Anna

Bath-tism dresses as Elia called them.

Uncle Ryan showing off his skills.

Grandma and Anna

God-Parents and God- Child

Gettin baptized.

Love this one.  Its like a family with 2 sets if twins and a baby!

The McHugh side

Sweet Uncle Ry holding back the hair.

I made bubbles for all the kids at the Baptism reception.  A pinterest find.  Bubble solution was great but the pipe cleaner wands didn't do as well as I hoped. 

Slippered cousins

G, as usual, always helping when a baby is around!

How cute is her swim suit!

Sweet action shot.

Skyping with Aunt Shanny and Baby Brendan.  All 4 cousins were pushing and shoving to be front and center.

It was a fabulous trip!  Plans are in the works for a 2 week stay at Aunt Megan's house next summer.  It is the perfect hosue for cousin camp.  Miss those crazy boys and sweet Anna too!