road trip to NC

Mom, Kayren and I took off last Wednesday morning, early 3:50 AM for NC.  We made it to Newport, TN Wenesday night. Got up Thursday morning and drove into Asheville, NC to tour the Biltmore. This was the highlight of the trip excluding seeing my sister and nieces! Everything about this house is magical. The house still remains in the family today. It has 250 rooms, their was indoor plumbing (a man ahead of his time by a century). We got into Raleigh around 6:00ish. Right in the thick of rush hour. Made us appreciate our "rush hour" here! HA! We stayed busy while in Raleigh. We shopped, went to Pullen Park (park that has old time carousel, paddle boats, train ride around park, normal park slides, swings). Fun park. Took V and IJ trick or treating. V was Elsa and IJ was Anna. IJ's dress even lit up and played a song from Frozen! The weather was great!! We grilled out supper our last night there. Kayren and I were able to go out for drinks and appetizers with Anna one night and the 3 of us got to spend the night together. Mom, Kayren and I left early Monday morning, 4:00AM! We made it all the way to Hannibal, MO!!  15 hrs in the car! Yesterday (Tuesday) we had a short and sweet drive back home.

 

 

group shot

 Anna and Elsa

 Biltmore

 

 down by the gardens

 Pullen Park

 Isla, Nana and Vada being silly

 showing off her light up dress

 funny sign at Pullen Park.

 

Howells 2014

We headed down to Howells today, it was a perfect day to be at the patch. The girls love this patch so it is fun to go back year after year.

 

 

strong Little women

 for some reason Haydn was scared to jump. Finally she took the plunge!

 peace out!

 sad goat

 mom bringing up the rear

 girls loved this ride this year!

 dad taking his pumpkin back!

 

Busy September..

September is almost over and I haven't posted anything! School is going strong for both girls. I think they both have woke up every day on their own, yay for that! Wes and I headed to IA City Labor Day weekend for our (my) annual football game. It was a fun day. We headed to MA for a beautiful wedding celebrating Abby and Brad. This past weekend Wes and I went to Vegas for a long weekend. Fun times there as well. The girls just started horseback riding lessons this past week and love it so far. Busy with gymnastics and Faith Formation too. It is starting to look like fall around here with leaves changing colors and falling from the trees, love fall!

 

Hannah's school has an assembly at the end of each month. Today was the 1st assembly for this school year. She was honored today. Her teacher has sent us a letter a few weeks ago inviting us and wanting to make sure we kept it a surprise from her. We did just that. She was 1 of 2 students honored today from her class. The assembly is to honor students that show great character in the classroom, school and everyday living. We are SO proud of her!!  YAY Hannah!

 

 

 K-5th graders that received certificates today.

 

end of summer and 1st day of school 2014

We had a great summer. Full of fun vacations, swimming, golfing, zoo trip, shopping, sleepovers and many memories made along the way. 

 

 

 

 Hannah 5th Grade

 waiting for her 1st bus ride in the rain :(

 yes, I got teary eyed her watching her get on the bus......there goes my 1st baby!

 Haydn 3rd Grade

 

Blank Park Zoo

The girls got free passes from the summer reading program to the zoo. We chose to go today. It was a beautiful day for the zoo.  I think the last time I have been to the zoo was for Hannah's 1st grade field trip. There have been a lot of animals added since last time being there. One thing the girls remember from when we had zoo passes when they were little was we would pack a picnic lunch and eat in the back of the van. We continued the tradition.