Look out: She's double digits.

We had a great day celebrating Elizabeth's first decade of life. The morning began with crepes a la Dad.

Kate wanted to make a silly face

It was foggy in the morning but that did not deter us from going to Lake Loveland to play on the beach and swim in the lake. And incidentally, Elizabeth had 10 friends come to celebrate. We were the only people there from 10-12:30. Just as I said - "I will stay here as long as they want to. Why go home if they are just going to track sand in the house and ask me for food?" - it started to rain and got breezy. We had to call it. But everyone had a great time and we are going back in a couple weeks.

With her bestie, Annabel

These kids are getting tall

Kate eating her sandwich sandwiched between the Peacocks

After dinner it was time for gifts. She practically had more fun opening the cards than the actual gifts because money kept falling (or in once case, flying) out of the envelopes. She was pretty excited to get some spending money.

A 5 dollar bill flew out of the 3D cake in this card

 Then we got to Grandma Skalicky's card. Grandma's letters are always taped shut on all corners, and then taped again just for good measure. This time though, it took us so long to get it open we thought Elizabeth might turn 11 before she'd be able to read the card.

Getting started - she's looking optimistic

She called in reinforcements to get the card opened.

After she got the card open, it was on to the next challenge: bubble wrapped and triple taped earrings.

Still working

 She finally got it open but we were laughing so much about it I forgot to take a picture. Thanks for the earrings Grandma!

New purse from Mom

 Here is a cute earrings case from Nonnie

looks like a cowboy hat...

but opens to horse earrings =)

Then it was time for singing and apple pie.

Paul helps spell "Happy Birthday" with the candles

And here is the 10 year old walking around the house doing her chores with Taylor Swift "Red" playing on my totally old school portable CD player that I use for audio books. Throwback to the 80s for sure!

and of course Hannah peeks from behind

Almost 10

The day the braces went on:

June 2012

The day the braces came off:

11:30am:

11:50 a.m. (in the ortho chair)

12:45pm*

*not pictured: 6 sour gummy worms we had for her when she was done. They were gobbled up faster than Sheldon gobbles his nightcrawlers.

Softball

Elizabeth played 1/2 season of softball this summer and really enjoyed it. Here she is at the first game of the double header that ended the season last weekend. She played 1st base at the first game and did make a play to get the batter out. Nice! She also had her best hit of the season by far, smacking a line drive into right field. Brought back so many good memories for me when I got started around the same age.

What's more important than snacks though? Gooey donuts and Sunny D.

Lost tooth

Another tooth fairy visit this week!

VBS 2013: Athens, Greece

It's that time of year again! This year the kids wound back the clock and traveled back to the time St. Paul went on his missionary journeys. They hid from angry mobs, broke free from jail, and even tried their hand at some of the sporting events that might have been done at the first Olympiad. Next time you call, ask them which "oikos" they were a part of for the week. =)

Making a torch at "Paul's Grotto"

Craft time

Also at Paul's Grotto

We even have pillars

 And the kids continued to play VBS at home tonight. They are about to start the closing song as I type...

4th of July

This year we started the 4th in old town with mass and the city parade. Then we spent most of the hot afternoon at the busy pool where Aaron did a lot of kid-launching.

At breaks there were kid games, and Hannah scored an Orange Crush. The kids were shocked that they allowed Mountain Dew to be part of the soda dive - they thought that was only an Uncle Chris drink.

whoa!

 In a relay swim game, the kids had to get bubble gum out of a pile of whipped cream. 

They didn't like that at all. =) We finished the day with a cook out and fireworks!

Mom/Daughter Day Out

A few months ago, Elizabeth and her friend Annabel coordinated a busy day out for the four of us (moms came too). This past Saturday we finally put the plan into action. First we shopped.

in Target

found matching PJs and dresses at the Children's Place

After a yummy lunch at 5 guys burgers and fries, we went back to Annabel's house to make and decorate 2 batches of cupcakes.

we tried tie dye-ing them with food coloring

Back to our house for a sleepover, they painted their toes with marshmallows between their toes.

Then they figured out how to put up the tent, had a movie night and stayed up too late (sneaking a few cupcakes along the way). Success!

Baseball

Paul is almost done with his second season of baseball; tomorrow is the last game. This year it's coach pitch until the kids strike out. Then they get one shot off the tee. Paul has had some great hits this year, a couple over the outfielders' heads. He's close to 50/50 hitting off the live pitches from the coach. He's also had a couple of outs playing first base.

Yeah, at a first grade baseball game it's not too unusual to see the whole family get involved in the game.

half our family is at 3rd base