Photoshop Entrepreneurs

 Madison and Abby designed these in photoshop.  They chose the picture, design, and then went crazy with the different brushes. They had so much fun doing it!  I love these girls!!!

This was taken in July on the field.  Alice was in my belly last year for this picture:-)  Go BLUE!!!  I am super sad that this is our last year.  Where does the time go?  

The Geode

My friend Noa came back from California, she is my school friend.  She came back with two geodes and she gave me one.  That night I cracked mine open, it was so beautiful.  I called Noa and said “it was beautiful”.  She cracked hers open and said “it’s a dud”. I started to rap the smaller half of my geode my mom said “why don’t you give her the bigger half?” I  said, ”yah I’ll give her the bigger half” so I started raping the bigger one.  Abby was crying on the couch because she wanted a geode.  I gave the smaller half to her because I felt that she needed to have a geode.  After it was wrapped I said, "I think its better to be a good friend than to have a geode.”  The next day I gave Noa the geode at school.  We went into the bathroom to see it because we didn’t want anyone to see it.  We were going to show and tell it.  Noa said, “the geode diamonds looked like soap.” 

--Written by Madison 

Something else that I want to add is that Madison and Noa went on a field trip to a rock quarry where Noa's mom was a chapperone.  At the rock quarry the girls searched for geodes and we sad when they didn't find any.  That is why Noa bought one for Madison too.  When Madison got one and Abby didn't, Abby cried in the car and was very sad.  I said, "Well, when we crack it there will be two pieces and Madison might give you the other half."  So when Noa's mom texted us and told us Noa's was a dud and Madison was going to give Noa half of her geode Abby knew that she now wasn't going to get half.  That was why she was crying on the couch.  On the way to school that morning Madison was so excited and said, "I can't wait to see Noa's face when she sees the geode".   

June-October Fun

 Girls night while daddy was working on call.  We put on fake nails.  Abby wanted the off in about 10 minutes.  I am so glad I didn't use that permanent glue!!!

 Alice driving the car on our trip to Kirtland, OH.

 Here we are at the saw mill.

Kirtland Temple 

 This is the room where Joseph Smith received revelation for an hour.  The spirit was so strong during this part of the tour.  

 For a few days, we went up to South Haven, rented a beach house, and spent time together as a family playing at the beach, going out to dinner, walking along the pier, and just being together.  It was so fun and relaxing!

 It was the perfect time to go (JULY), Alice just sat (she wasn't mobile yet) on the blanket while Brian and I threw frisbee, played in the sand, etc.  Alice loved the seagulls!  She would squeal and squack at them.  We fed them kix and cheerios to get them to come over.  

Silly Madison! 

 I went to work out at the park and Madison and Abigail kept taking Alice all over to have an adventure with her.  She is so blessed and lucky to have such great big sisters!!!

 We got rollerblade and rollerskates for the girls after they prayed to get some.  We found them at the second-hand store for only a few bucks each.  They practiced every day for a week or so.  They both got pretty good!

 Two teeth at 6 months!!!  You go girl.

 Madison begged and prayed to begin violin lessons, so after much prayer on her part, we found a great teacher and Donna lent us a violin.  Madison loves playing it and is doing so well.

 We went to Cedar Point (Amusement park) for a family trip and the girls LOVED it!  

 Abby was so excited to get the purple one!

 This is a very mild ride for Madison.  She went on multiple roller coasters with Brian.  Even one that went upside down:-)  Abby is excited to go on those when she is a bit taller.

 Madison and Abigail on their way to school for the first day.

 Abby in her Kindergarten Class.  She was so excited to get the same teacher Madison had for Kindergarten.

 Alice loves to scoot through her exersaucer.  She is so mobile now:-)  

 First time pulling up on things.

 I love this SMILE!!!

 Apple picking.  It's one of my favorite things to do in Michigan.  We made apple crisp with the apples and ate the rest.  Mmmmm good.

 Alice even got into it:-)

 Alice really enjoyed going on the rides with Abby at Chuck E Cheese.

 Brian took me to a really nice restaurant for my birthday.  It was so fun to get all dressed up.  Thanks to Anna for watching the girls.

 Too bad we don't have sliding glass doors for Alice to look out of.  She loves windows.

 Alice at her 9 month check-up.  

 Silly girls.  I told them to go and get their pj's on and this is how they came downstairs.  They were laughing and giggling so hard. 

Back to School

 I knew this day would come...it did for Madison, but I wasn't ready.  Abby was, but I was not:-)  It helps that she has the same teacher as Madison did for Kindergarten.  Oh, how they grow up so fast.  She was convinced that she needed to learn how to read before Kindergarten, so she worked on reading all summer long.

Best Friends! 

 I told them to just laugh...this is what we got:-)

Hooray for school!  Abby and Madison were counting down the days until school started.  I wonder how long that will last? 

My oldest in Second grade.  She is so big and responsible.  I will have to get a picture of her playing the violin as she has just started lessons.  She knows "Hot Crcross Buns", "Mary Had a little lamb", and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."