Love you...

I love this picture. We look happy and relaxed, don't we? It doesn't happen very often that we all get to cuddle together and appreciate each other. But when it does, it is something I deeply treasure.

Kids Count...

Here are Sadie and her friends at the Kids Count Parent Appreciation Dinner. They sang a couple songs and also signed one, as well! We parents ate yummy spaghetti and bread from Buca, and I'm pretty sure Phillip drank all the lemonade. Mommy made a dent in the mini brownies, too...

Those endless days of summer

It's starting to get colder, but we have been enjoying the transition-to-fall weather of the last few weeks in this family! We finally got a grill (on sale, end of the season) and after Phil and Cullen finally got it figured out and put together, we have been enjoying burgers, pork chops, veggies and steaks on that thing!

Sadie is not happy that it is time to say goodbye to summer, however. She keeps asking, "Mom, is it FALL?" and when I tell her "yes" she GROANS and GROANS. She's also having a hard time putting away her flip flops and we have endured two tantrum-filled mornings this week because Mean Mommy is making Sadie wear socks and shoes. Uffda!

Twinkies!!!

Here we are- Go Twins! Those season tickets made Grandpa the most popular guy in the family! We all reaped the benefits of these tickets, by not only having amazing seats to a number of awesome games, but because we got to spend time with Daddy! On Tuesday, Dad and I went to the Twins/White Sox game and gave out high fives like they were going out of style. Phil, however, drew the luckiest straw, because he got to attend with Dad on Thursday, for what was called "the best game ever" by both of them... and every one else who was there! No matter what happens tonight, I will always love my Twins... and my Daddy.

Backtrack...

I forgot to post pictures of my 32nd birthday which I spent with my best friends in the whole world, the Stenzels! Oh did we have fun. I can't even begin to describe the excitement that unfolded... but as you can see here, we had a lot of fun outside. The kids played, I ate my "birthday Special K bars" (Auntie Julie knows they're my favorite) and Uncle Troy hid. Can you find him?

The End of Summer

These pics show us celebrating our last day of summer-- before the school year began! We're now busy with daycare and swimming (Sades), teaching (Mommy), and bus-driving (Phil)! I'm working with a student teacher until December which is making for an interesting start to the school year for me. Phil's going to be the lead teacher in the school-age room at Kindercare starting tomorrow, and Sadie's learning to write her letters and cut with scissors in Ms. Candy's Pre-School Room at daycare. Lots of changes for our family, but we are taking them in stride. Sadie attended one soccer practice and one game last week before deciding it wasn't for her. (She cried the entire practice and game before she finally got to go home.) We're hoping maybe next year she'll be ready-- she was the youngest one on the team by a year! We are thankful for a happy, relaxing summer and are rejuvenated as we begin the new school year!

Sadie and Morgan

Sadie has a best bud named Morgan. They are mini-teens. They have sleepovers, giggle in the dark, wear matching dresses to school, and fight over who gets to be Belle and who gets to be the "bride." It's the most adorable thing in the world, and it makes me understand how TIRED my mom and dad must have been with three girls and triple the slumber parties! Now I know why they said "no"... once in a while!

Here's to the first day of school, Jules!