Where did the summer go????

Okay.... Okay..... I know for a blog to work, you have to update it. It's probably been about a month, and I have no legitimate explanation other than the usual. Kids..., Husband..., Basketball..., Softball..., and the list could go on and on!

Where did the summer go? Before I know it I will be in a room full of 11 and 12 year olds, and having lunch duty for an hour! Yeah me!!

Here are a few things we did this summer....

Swimming at Greenwood is always sooooo COLD! The girls didn't seem to mind too much. Payton was so brave. She insisted on walking through the water without holding my hand. Needless to say, she did end up in it face first a few times.

Bored with nothing else to do? Playing in the kitchen sink will buy you some time anyday. I love these first two pics of the girls.

This one could play in water for hours!!

Emma helped Jason make fresh salsa. Most of the ingredients came from our very own garden! We had lots of peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Emma cut up the herbs. She is such a good helper.

One of Emma's favorite things to do every summer is visit the animals at the Youth Fair. The 4-H kids work so hard to show their animals. As most of you know, Emma has a special place in her heart for the furry creatures. She begs for a bunny every Wednesday at the Sale Barn.

Emma liked trying to feed the goats. Some of them were more friendly than others!

Payton kept her distance, but she liked the sheep.

Except when they tried to nibble on her toes!!!

Dont they look so good in blue?

Now the summer would not be complete without a few bumps and bruises. So far Emma has done pretty well. We didn't take the training wheels off her bike yet! Payton on the other hand.... If you look close, you can see Payton's upper lip is fat. This happened a few weeks ago, and like many of her accidents, I have no idea how it happened!

Now, this one just happened the other day. I'm sure you can't miss it. She hit her head on the radiator in the dining room. The bump on her head stuck out sooo far! I tried to put ice on it, but she ended up eating it.

I will try my best to make time to update my posts more often. School is starting in a week, and that means basketball is too. Before we know it, the Christmas decorations will be coming out!

Catching Up!!

I know it has been quite awhile since my last post, but that is what happens when you get busy. Between the girls and Jason, basketball, and softball, it is hard to find the uninterrupted time to update my blog.

Well, where do I begin....

Basketball camp was so much fun. The girls did well, and I was so proud of them. We had many silly moments! (By the way, the cheese ball barrel was FULL when we arrived on Sunday.) I am really beginning to LOVE these kids. Part of me can't wait until November when the official season begins. They have been working so hard this summer. Hopefully, it all pays off!

As for Emma, Payton, and I, we do our best to stay active and COOL during these HAZY, HOT, and HUMID summer days. Usually we go swimming at Grammy Jane's and Pappy Frank's pool, but there are days when we need a change.

At the end of summer last year, I saw an inflatable pool at the Dollar General. They were practically giving it away, so I thought it would be a good investment for this summer... I did not realize that the pool was literally 2 ft. in diameter!

Payton was not sure what to do. Is it a pool or a puddle??

Emma, on the other hand, makes lemon-aid out of lemons!

We got the sprinkler out, too!

Payton wasn't sure about it, though.

Aren't they the cutest?!!

Susquehanna Basketball Camp

As many of you already know, I am the Junior High Girls Basketball coach at IVMS. I took last year off from coaching to be at home with Payton. I had a great opportunity to get back into it when Roger Herto was hired back as the Head Coach. Many of you wonder why I give up so much of my time to coach. Coaching is part of who I am.

This week we are at Susquehanna Basketball Camp. It is sort-of bitter sweet for me...

On one hand, I get to be with my team and learn all about them. But, on the other hand, I have to be away from my girls. Emma is going through attachment issues. She wants to be with me ALL the time! So this will be a test for her, and a break for me.

I left the girls in the hands of their Daddy Sunday afternoon. They went swimming and had lots of fun! Monday the girls got to go to DelGrosso's Amusement Park with their Grammy and Pappy Frank. From the pictures I've seen, they didn't miss me much. (I'll post the pictures after Grammy sends them to me.) Luckily, I was able to come home Monday evening to check in on the family. I also came home to coach the JV team at the Y. I am going back to Susquehanna this afternoon. I will be staying down there with the team until tomorrow, when we all come home. (Hopefully I'll have some pictures of the team to show off!) Again, since Daddy has to work, the girls will be staying with their Nana tonight. Surprisingly, Emma is excited! She said she misses her Nana. I will be home Wednesday around lunch time to pick them up. Emma already has plans for us on Thursday.

So far, this little experiment is going well. Emma, Payton, Jason, and I are so lucky to have Grandparents/Parents that are always there for us. No matter what I need, I know that I can call my mom or Jason's mom, Jane. I wouldn't want to leave out my Dad either. He has helped so many times with watching the girls for me.

Well... I have to start packing Emma and Payton's bags for a night at Nana's!

GREENWOOD!!

Greenwood State Park...

Emma wants to know why she can't go play on the dam???




Over the Fourth of July weekend, Jason and I decided to take the girls on a hike around the lake at Greenwood. For those of you that really don't know Emma, she is in her GLORY! Trees, dirt, water, bugs, fish, crayfish, Daddy... It couldn't get any better!

We learned about the old Furnaces at Greenwood. Emma loved checking out all the neat artifacts in the display building with her Dad. I loved the old pictures of times past, and Payton was along for the ride.

Don't let the grin fool you... She desperately wanted out of the stroller! She sees Big Sister running around and wants to do the same.

We were looking for little fish or crayfish. As you can see, Payton only has eyes for her Big Sister!

Thank goodness for fresh, cold water! Emma found the water fountain, and we all took turns getting a drink.

Payton could have hung out here all day. She would rather play in the water than drink it! Thanks for the lift, Daddy!

PLAYGROUND!!

One of our favorite things to do on our LONG summer days is to go to the playground. The girls hop in the wagon, and off we go UP the hill. (The wagon has provided lots of exercise!)

Not only is the playground the GREATEST, but it always seems a lot cooler there.

Both, Emma and Payton love to SWING and SWING and SWING ...

Emma can finally get herself going all by herself.

It just seemed like yesterday when I would be pushing Emma in the baby swings.

PEEK-A-BOO!!!!

As Emma says, "I'm CHILLAXING!"

Every now and then you happen to hit the button on the camera at the perfect moment. Isn't she SO CUTE!!

Hershey Park

Jason, Emma, and I went to Hershey Park, the "Sweetest Place on Earth" last Friday. As you can see, Emma is a Reese's Cup, which means she is big enough to ride the Super Dooper Looper and the Comet!! She rode both, by the way!

Emma had a long day of ride after ride!

The Swings...

The Lady Bug with Daddy....

The Pirate Ship...

A nice relaxing ride with Mommy on the Train...

Driving the Classic Cars...

Probably her least favorite ride, the Ferris Wheel...

Our trip would not be complete without a visit to Zoo America!

Emma and the American Crocodile...

Emma and the Elk...

Emma, Mommy, and Mr. Reese's Cup. Last year she wouldn't go near the candy characters!

Virgin Blogger - My First Time!!!

This is my first official post. Seeing Libby's blog everyday has inspired me to create my own. What a great way to keep up with people.

These two beautiful girls are my daughters, Emma Dream, 6, and Payton Olivia, 1.