This week

Miss F Gump...her birthday party lunch spot. She loves the fried shrimp and the boat they serve it in 

She took 3 friends to a boardwalk amusement park and the weather was gorgeous.

Pumpkin picking in the rain as we wait for remnants of a hurricane to come to town.

Birthday

Miss F celebrated 10 with a musical and some Mac n cheese. Her sister lead the birthday blessing for her at school

To remember

On our hike today McButter pushed through Mr B and Miss F and it was stated that McButter was quite strong. She replied "My arms are skinny but you need to take a closer look". For some reason, it cracked us up and I wanted to write it down to remember it.

More summer stuff and then...

Crocs after dark was quite an experience. Definitely something to do once. It's run out of a guys backyard essentially. I'm glad he's not my neighbor!!

My Sound of Music themed birthday

Alvin wildlife park--feeding giant animals, hugging deer, riding ponies and sweating. It was hot!!

Theatre camp production of "Into the Woods"

Movies! 

And then this happened

Summer stuff

Shadow Monsters at the museum. So fun we went twice!

Gorillas in the mist, literally. Enjoyed watching them get their treat of baby carrots from the zookeepers in the rain.

Part of a local TV news segment filming and enjoying a day at a waterpark

How we've spent 98% of our summer. 

Swimmingly

Yup...it's swim team season

**just realized this didn't publish back in May

Weekend of the arts

Recorder playin for the spring concert. Why the instrument of the devil is used at a Catholic school is beyond me. Tough instrument that recorder. 

Then on to performances of the Music Man with Miss F in the lead as Marian the Librarian. For the memory book, I want to  remember that Miss F was called in to help another cast when their Marian couldn't sing. We were so proud of her.

And dance time for McButter. She is asking to leave the world of ballet for hip hop now. Break it down, McButter...

Mothers Day

My Mothers Day request of a bike ride came true! McButter even kept up for the ride into downtown but luckily we were able to hook her up to a tow for the ride back

Catching up with

It's McButters time on stage in Annie this time in her school's K-2 play. She loved playing the part of Molly. And in a surprise twist, Miss F ended up having to step in for an actor that didn't show as another of the orphans

It was a great show!

Other fun times....

Open House and dress-up karaoke at the girls' theatre school

Spring Festival at the girls' school. 

Back to reality

It's been a couple weeks since spring break and we've been, in the wise words of En Vogue, back to life, back to reality.

McButter had a small birthday celebration since her real birthday falls on Eastee Sunday and our April weekends got a little crazy. She picked one friend for lunch (early release from school), nails and play date.

Banana Pudding as her "cake"

Mani/Pedi

Bouncing

Then later, we went to see "Legally Blonde:The Musical" put on by the big kids at Miss F's theatre school. Due to a misunderstanding, Miss F performed pre-show but it missed it. Thought she was on one stage but they performed on another. Kids need to survive a parenting fail now and then, right?

Science Fair

Wondering why there weren't many updates lately? Blame science fair! It took up a lot of our life these past few weeks but Miss F got Honorable Mention so maybe it was worth it??

Sister photo bomb...

Spring Break, Day 8&9

Day 8 has no photos but that doesn't mean it wasn't a full day of fun--lunch with friends, bouncing at an indoor trampoline spot (have we mentioned the amount of rain we've had this spring??) and then home for a viewing of "The Black Stallion"

Day 9 dawned with sun and spring-like temps so we decide on one last hurrah. First, Chocolate croissants for breakfast. Big as yo' head! A great Trader Joe's find

When chores were done we moved on to a dim sum lunch

The on to the Chocolate Bar

And on to Half Priced Books to fill Miss F's mind with more Titanic books 

And last, home for a swim in the not heated pool but since they're playing Titanic, the cold temps helped with their game. The hot tub is the warming station in between role playing of lifeboats and rescues.