Lake time

Saturday we got up and ready....went to brunch on the patio at 1908 and then headed towards Lake Panorama for the night. We were basically in the sun and water and heat all day. Presley and Ava are almost inseparable and Piper kind of does her own thing.

Presley did a lot of water time and jumping off the boat (she has come SO far in the last 2 yrs with water!)

 Piper wanted to get in the water but only with me, so I was a good mom and got in with her!

 We got back from the boat ride and they got in the kayaks, I was surprised that Piper agreed to ride with Ava!

 The girls are always looking for different things to do so Christie made a 'scavenger hunt' for them that included pulling weeds, doing the frog hop across the yard and singing happy birthday to Jason (whose bday is in December). They really had fun doing it and it kept them busy!

We stayed the night and spent most of Sunday doing the same thing! We weren't going to stay the night but then decided that we really didn't have anything else to do and the kids were being good and having fun! Presley and Ava were able to go tubing, which they love!

Steve and Piper ran into town for some stuff and Presley and I joined them for another boat ride, this time Presley wanted me in the water.....so I was a good mom again and got back in the water! :)

I was trying to get Piper in the water again but she refused, so I tried to tip Presley and Ava over on the water mat, I really wasn't strong enough!

 The girls got another scavenger hunt which included jumping off the dock, hugging a tree,

 and doing gymnastics.

We had a really good time in the sun all weekend, the only down side was when the air conditioner stopped working overnight Sunday night and it was 85 degrees in the house when we were sleeping! It was hot and awful! We got up and hung out and then started to collect some of our stuff and help cleaning the house and such before we headed out about noonish.

We got home unpacked, threw some laundry in and headed over to Sarah's to hang out for the afternoon/evening! The kids did more swimming and played with water guns and we ate and drank and talked....then our nice long 3 day weekend was over! Just like that! 

On to kindergarten!!!

While Presley and I were running, little miss had her preschool graduation. I can't even tell you how sad I was to miss this! I should be happy that she went thru this last year and I was able to see that, but it still makes me sad.

 She got stuck behind a tall kid, so I guess it was super hard for Steve to see her and get pictures.

 Walking across stage

 Her buddy Conner, they are so cute!

 Grandma and Pa brought her flowers (and they brought some for Presley's run also!)

Piper's teacher, Miss Kristy did SO many things for these kids! She made a summer basket with fun stuff it, so many little poems and diplomas, pictures and crafts. I can't imagine the time she put in for all of these kids.

 Holly and Jerry missed Piper's graduation so they picked up both girls from school on Friday and took them out for ice cream. When they dropped them off at home, they stayed for dinner and hung out for a while. We opened up the shed and put on The Greatest Showman for everyone to watch (neighbor kids included)!

 Holly with Mary, Talea, Piper, Presley and Kinsley

Run Presley Run

So as you may know, Presley has been doing Girls On the Run.... I really like it and the meaning behind it and I hope she continues with it.....but we'll see. For the last 10 weeks they have been running  training/walking for their final 5k. Presley didn't seem to be as into the running as I was hoping she would be. I had been running. Like really, actually running so I was worried that she wouldn't be as 'in to it' as I wanted her to be. On Tuesday they had a practice 5K....they ran from their school up to 86th St and back.

I picked up Piper from school and then knowing that Presley was going to be running down 62nd St.... I rolled down my window and yelled at her at we drove by! 'Run Presley Run!' Then we turned around and headed back to the school, with Piper on the same side of the street where they were running. I told Piper it was her turn to yell at Presley and she said "No! That is embarrassing!". So naturally I rolled down the passenger window and yelled at her as we passed again! :) #mostembarrassingmomever

We parked and went to cheer her on with the rest of the group. It was really cool to see all the girls cheering each other on when they finished!

 The girls.... Presley, Quinnlyn, Leah and Evelyn

 Piper had to get in on the action too!

Steve had some things he needed to get done so after the practice 5K we went to Presley's gymnastics. Piper was very good and very patient, for it being 1.5 hours. I took her Ipad and she was happy. I love watching Presley and now that summer is almost here a lot of the girls are at soccer so there are less people there and I can actually watch her.

Wednesday I went and picked up my running # and then picked up Presley from school while Steve took Piper to gymnastics. NW Beaver is under construction and it took us 35 minutes to get 5 miles to our house. So DUMB!!!!!
Thursday was our big day....too many things going on and too many things I need to be prepared for before 7 AM in the morning b/c I knew I couldn't go home after work....no way I would have enough time before our run that started 6:30.
I left work at 4, picked up Presley at 4:30...ran by Sonic to get some food.
Presley didn't like her food.
She needed to eat.
We stopped at Burger King for another option for dinner at 5:00.
She ate the fries.....nothing else.
It took us forever to get from the BK on Hickman and MLK to Waterworks Park......almost 45 minutes. We got there with just enough time to go potty.
They had temporary tattoos and hair fun and photo booths.....Presley had purple spray in her hair and we waited for our time to run.

Evelyn, Presley, Quinnlyn and Lean

She struggled. I knew she probably would. She got a side ache and it is really hard to run with a side ache. We walked/ran the full 3.1 miles. I wish we could've done better b/c I had actually 'trained' for this, but I knew in the end they just promoted the girls to do the best they could. "It is not a race"
They girl turned on her competiveness once she saw the finish line! I was happy that she pushed thru!

 Two of her Coaches Miss Megan and Miss Erin (her 2nd grade teacher)

I was very proud of her for completing this. I was hard for all of us. There was a lot of support from fellow classmates and family there cheering on and supporting everyone. I hope she does it next year, but I am not so sure she wants to work that hard! HA! Either way.......we did it!  It might have taken us 42 minutes but we did it! Good job Presley Grace! We are so proud of you, trying something new and different! XOXOXO

Busy Busy

Steve worked some more evening last week, which was fine. Tuesday I picked up Piper and then picked up Presley from Girls on the Run....they were having their Laps for Kyla fundraiser, selling lemonade and raising money for a 5th grader in their school....and Presley actually made the paper! https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/community/2018/05/18/johnston-iowa-wallace-elementary-kyla-tome-girls-run-childhood-cancer/622949002/

I took them to McD's before Presley's gymnastics class and Steve was able to meet us there to take Piper home so she didn't have to sit thru 1.5 hrs of P's class. And then I got a trip to Target by myself while she was in class! Woohoo!

Wednesday I picked Piper up from school and was able to a picture of Piper and her BFF Paige, it's a little sad that they will be going to different schools next year!

Miss Piper had some time to climb the rope in class, she did pretty good for never having tried before!

Thursday night we went to El Mariachi, because I wanted to. I did promise them ice cream if they were good and ate. We sat on the patio and enjoyed dinner and then headed to Van Dee's!

Friday was so slow at work and so nice outside....it is so hard for me to work. I snuck out an hour early and met Jerry and Holly at High Life for beer to celebrate Jerry's birthday, then I picked up the girls and then we headed to Latitude 41 to watch our friend Baird's band, Oreo Meatwagon play. It was perfect weather, we got a table, we met some new friends and we headed home before 8 b/c we knew we had a busy weekend.

We got up Saturday morning to head to the CF walk at the Altoona outlet mall! We had a smaller group this year b/c Andrea is actually in New Zealand! It was still a good overall turn out and a nice change of venues!

Since we were in Altoona we decided to hit up Adventureland for a couple hours. It was so nice b/c there were no lines! We did a quick 2 hours and then headed home!

 Piper and Steve are sitting on the chair behind us!

 On the ferris wheel

We did happen to swing by Van Dee's for ice cream, again! We ordered and then they asked if the girls would take a picture for the ice cream flavor of the week to put on their FB page. Of course, they said yes to free orange ice cream cones (which were really good!). So they had double ice cream treats and were pumped!

We went home for a couple hours, Steve and I both laid down to nap, both girls went and played and the we got ready to head to Creston for Cari's 40th birthday party! It was really fun to see everyone and their house is awesome. The kids all played SO good. Presley, Sadie and Grace all played and ran from all the boys (there were SO many boys, which we aren't used to!) and Piper and Claire hung out and played beanbags and spun in circles and were just goofy together.

 I can't imagine what this conversation was about!

We got home late and everyone went straight to bed. And Sunday morning...Piper was up at 7:45 b/c she had wet her bed (we are trying really hard to get her dry at night time, but when we sleep in late, I just can't blame her! HA! She went to the couch and got on her ipad....I went back to bed until 10! I rarely sleep that late and I just couldn't get up! The girls finally came in about 10:30 and we slowly got out of bed, mainly b/c the girls had a birthday party to go to at noon!
Steve took the girls to Sadie's 9th birthday party at Climb Iowa and I did my run. It was a struggle but the weather was cool and perfect. I think I'm almost ready for the 5k that Presley and I will be doing on Thursday, I'm not sure she is that ready for it!

They both loved Climb Iowa. Presley is not scared and is a little monkey.

This was Piper's first time, she was excited but a little nervous, she ended up doing great and really wants to go back again!

While they were gone I was able to get a lot done around the house, which was needed! They got home about 2:30 and then had to leave about 3:30 for Presley to go to a birthday party at the Animal Rescue League. Steve took her to that and Piper and I went to my cousin's daughters high school graduation party in Valley Junction. We hung out for a bit and then left to go pick up Presley from her birthday party!
They each got their face painted and got to 'adopt' an animal. Presley adopted a dog named Scott!

An overall busy, busy weekend but it was good! We've had some pretty laid back weekends recently and Steve should be done working evenings :) Presley and I have our 5k this week and Piper has her preschool graduation.