The Fighter's

I feel old tonight.  First...I walked into church today and two of the first people I saw were kids I babysat when they were 1 & 3.  I haven't seen them since...and now, all of a sudden...they are all grown up, have jobs, going to college, etc.  Am I really this old?  Really??? Then...last week...I played softball for the first time in 8 years and had a blast.  It made me feel like a young whippersnapper. Went back to play today...first time at bat, sprinting to first base, about 5 strides in...my quads tightened up into huge charlie horses....like nothing I'd ever felt before.  And it wasn't only one leg but both legs.  I tried to fight through and finish the sprint to first base...but my legs failed me!  Mind over matter did not work this time.  What the heck???!!!  I walked off the field (after being called out...BOO) and figured I just needed to stretch, chug water and go run around an empty field to warm my muscles ...

Since the girls don't have any brothers to squirt them with a hose...my 10 year old husband takes on the responsibility.  I guess it's good for them...toughens them up...right??  They loved it...even Ava who likes to put up a good front (see last pic):-)  Love the contemplation on Doug's face in the first picture... 

Ava conned Grampy into putting on a princess skirt.  And the wand and the sneakers add a nice touch.  Priceless if you ask me.  Especially the look on Ava's face...like...um...did I really con him in to this?  And is he really OK with taking a picture dressed like this???:-)

I have been a total slacker with my blog!  I'm going to work on playing catch up today!!  This summer has just been so busy...excuses, excuses!  To kick off my catch up effort...an update on the youngest in the group, and a quick picture of two of my favorite girls!! Olivia is getting more and more of a personality...she is as determined and stubborn as Ava...and as fearless and curious as Kate. Can't leave the girl alone.  She is trying to walk (took her first 2 steps a few weeks ago), and has worked her way up to 5 before falling down to crawl.  She is a happy, happy girl...charming people with her 2 toothed grin, obsessed with toilets, tackling her sisters and stealing their toys (remember...no fear)...and has learned to say "mama", "dada", "hi", "uh-oh" and "bye-bye".  She keeps us hopping that's for sure.  She also loves patty cake, playing peek-a-boo...and my favorite gesture of hers...she now is reaching up to be pi...

We threw a backyard princess birthday bash for Kate's 3rd birthday!  Complete with some of her favorite friends & family, cupcakes, pizza, princess decorations, pin the cinderella in the window game, slip and slide, splash pool & lots of running around with friends.  The kids had an absolute blast and Kate felt so special...having all her friends over to her house to play!!  And...the kids were playing so well that the adults got to enjoy some adult time as well:-)  We have some great peeps up here and are thankful for every single one of them.  Happy Birthday Kate!!

For the record books... 3 scoops of baby formula into the coffee filter = better turn the morning around fast!

Kate turned 3 today!!!  I took the day off work and we celebrated with a "Girls Day Out"!  So much fun... So happy it's her big day... I love my girls.... Birthday picture with Patty...their favorite babysitter!! Off to McDonald's for breakfast!!  Unfortunately, Ava was under the weather, so we had to drop her off at home after we ate:-(  But it turned out to be some awesome alone time for me with Kate and reminded me that I need to do things like this with each girl once in a while.  Mommy/daughter time is good! Build a Bear!  This was so adorable.  One cute thing to note...after picking out her own bear, Katelyn looked up at me and sweetly said..."we have to pick one for Ava."  I love that she was thinking of her sister...so we built Ava one too. Katelyn had a ball..they made the birthday girl feel so special!! stuffing the bear... Giving her bear a heart...she had to warm it up, jump up and down, give it a kiss and hug it before she put ...

I love this.  Growing up with 3 boys, Doug is the last person we ever thought would end up with 3 girls!  But he is perfect for the task...the girls think the world of him (and so do I).  I love watching him with the girls...and think this picture pretty much sums it up.  He is the best!  Here's to our guy!

Jet goes in for the tackle... Completes the tackle... Maybe he was just going for the book after all...

The last few days have been so crazy busy...it has been a blur!  Doug and I returned from a fantastic trip out west for a dear friend's wedding...and 5 hours after we returned I plunged back into real world responsibilities...craziness at work - preparing for a big presentation Wednesday amongst other deadlines, teaching vacation bible school (every night this week),  a house that needs cleaned desperately, 3 bumbling constant girls...it's been non stop. And it's not going to ease up until Friday this week...can we say ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!    And so when I start to freak out about all there is to do...I stop and remember how thankful I am... For my amazing husband who cleans the house while I'm running around shopping for VBS supplies like a crazed chicken...and who makes me laugh...especially when I get stressed... For my 3 bumbling, constant, happy, healthy  girls and the excited "Mommy" yell and wide armed hugs they gi...

Do not look at my form...I stink at Yoga...but loved that the girls took a break from running through the sprinklers to try to Yoga it out with Mom! :-)