Finally!

Man I was having major issues this week logging into this account. A cyberfriend added a group to google. So I joined and somehow managed to make a new google account. Then I couldn't get into this account or do anything with the blog. So I deleted the other one just now and got in. I was really worried that I'd have to start all over again. Whew!

So the twins have Coxsackie Virus, (Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease)! They have been fussy and had low grade fevers since Sunday. Well they are fever free now. Monday they started breaking out in these red blisters. Samantha has/had blisters all over her feet, a few on her hands, several on her diaper line, and tons of blisters in her mouth and on her tongue. Mallory has some on her hands, her butt is covered in them, and I think she has some on her mouth as well. They don't want to eat anything. Poor things. I feel so bad for them! I stayed home with them on Monday and Bryan stayed home on Tuesday. Wednesday they had been fever-free for 24 hours so they went back to Mrs. Sherry's house. I hope they get back to normal soon!

Not much else going on. Raegan is busy with soccer and gymnastics. And we're going to Disney in 14 days! I've been shopping, shopping, shopping for things for our trip. I've also been clearing out the stores with all the summer clearance clothes for next year. I must stop buying stuff! They already have more clothes than I do!

I'll take some new pictures this week. Hope everyone is having a great week!

Iowa

We headed to Iowa over Labor Day weekend to say farewell to Uncle Bill. We stayed with Noreen's parents out in Victor and had a good time. The memorial was great. Dari Barn was awesome. The kids were all good. And did I say Dari Barn was awesome?

Telling secrets in downtown Grinnell.

Oh how I will miss the Dari Barn. My ass, notsomuch.

Next to the Dari Barn is a tractor sales places. Good place to hang out.

Getting ready to head to the memorial.

The big girls on the Broad Street porch.

The family at Bowers' prairie. Grandma and Grandpa as 'sprinkled' there and now Bill is too. The Bowers' prairie was dedicated to Grandpa Edd and is near the soccer fields at Grinnell College.

The Bowers' grandkids. Most of them.


Riding the riding lawn mower was fun!

The Latest Photo Shoot

A week in review

The first week of first grade is done. It's been a great one for Raegan. She got STAR student on Thursday, meaning she was the best behaved in the class for the day! I've told her that she'll get $5 for each STAR student and then at the end of the 6 weeks she can buy something with the money. Yes, I'm buying good behavior!

We had a weekend full of events. Soccer game Saturday morning and one that got canceled at the last minute in the afternoon. Sunday, birthday party, pictures, and dad's birthday dinner at Bubbies. We also played outside for a long time on Saturday night. The weather was just too nice to stick to the normal bedtime/nighttime routine. The girls had a blast! They love to dig and just be outside. Here are some pictures from the week.






Raegan made a train out of the girls' toys. Mallory loved it but Samantha was fussy for some reason and just wanted off the train!

2 weeks ago Raegan had a spot on her bumm that looked like a spider bite. We took her to Russell because it was growing, quickly. He said definitely a spider bite and it would heal. Well this is what it looked like in 2 weeks. So we went back to Russell. Now it's a fungal infection that could be a result of the bite or could have been a fungal infection all along. Either way, it's getting better with the Lotrimin AF! But isn't it nasty!


Mallory has been pretty laid back at the dinner table. Little brat!

1st Grade!

Raegan started 1st grade today! I can't believe it! We did our normal first day of school routine. Got ready and took the girls to the sitters. Then had donuts. Then on to the school. Raegan has Ms. Walker, who moved up from kindergarten this year. I'm really excited about having her as a teacher and know that it will be a great year. Not to mention the tons of friends she has in her class. She really got lucky! Anyway, on to the pictures...





And a comparison picture from last year, kindergarten. Raegan has gotten taller but has actually lost weight. I wish I was built like she is. LOL!

The Beach Trip...finally!

It's been about 3 weeks since we took our 6th annual girls' beach trip. I've been super busy with work and unable to get to blogging about our trip. So here goes.

*The ride down and back was uneventful. Girls all did fabulous but Mallory wasn't too into sleeping and was more of a "talker". Such is my child!
*I got stuck in the sand in the minivan the first day there and failed to remember that the emergency brake was on while about 10 people were trying to push us out. Oops!
*No napping was not much of an issue. We only had one major meltdown but that was after a day at the beach and then the dolphin boat. Dinner out was not a good idea. My fault!
*The twins have absolutely NO FEAR in the water. They LOVED it and ate lots of sand too!
*We missed Noreen and Ellie terribly. But we were lucky to have Aunt Cindy and Erika there for 2 days. What fun it was catching up with them!
*Raegan and Sloane had very few arguments. They are so lucky to be such close cousins. I've wanted this since Raegan was born! I love watching them interact and Sloane is such a good helper with the twins. Such a lucky girl Baby Ellie is!
*The Bubbie funded the trip again (or did Grandpa). Thanks Bubbie! It was a BLAST and I can't wait until next year!

So on to some pictures. Well lots of pictures! Please enjoy.