Dance Time!

Last Saturday we signed Paisley and Avery up for the local high school dance clinic. It was a fund raiser for the dance team. They got to spend the day learning some dances, having lunch, and having FUN! :) I debated on signing them up because Easton had a football game that same morning an hour away and it was going to be crazy. But, Dave was the one who convinced me that the girls would LOVE it and needed to go. He was right.

I am excited that Avery is old enough to go now. Paisley has done several cheer and dance clinics in the past, but this is Avery's first. They performed for the parents at the end of the clinic. Avery did so great! :) When her little group was standing on the floor waiting for the music to start, Avery was already starting her dance. She had really learned it! It was very cute!






Paisley had a blast as well. It was fun to see her perform and really get into the dancing!





I am glad the girls had so much fun! They deserve it!

Easton's First Grid Kid Season

Easton just finished his first season of grid kid football. For those of you who aren't familiar, the grid kid league starts pads and tackling. He has played flag football for a few years, but was SUPER excited for "real" football.

They started practicing at the beginning of August. They had practice 4 nights a week for 2 hours a night. It was busy. Dave and I tried to prepare Easton for the fact that these practices wouldn't be all "fun", but also a lot of work and it would be tiring. But, it never seemed to affect him. After one of the first practices, I asked him if he had fun. He said, "Yes!" I asked him what they did. He said that they mostly ran. It really didn't matter what they did, he had a blast!!

They had a really young team. Most of the team was made up of 4th graders (in a 4th-5th grade league). So, they had a lot to learn. But, they really improved over the season. They won 2 games, lost 4. Easton's main position was corner and some time as linebacker. He played almost every defensive play. He was on the special teams. And, he played as a receiver at times for the offense, as he would bring the plays in to the quarterback from the coach every few plays.

He is really fast and aggressive which made up for the fact that he is one of the smallest kids on his team. We were always so proud of him at the games. He did great.

Here are a few pictures from his last game, (he is #17):

Dave was excited that he got this tackle on camera:







Easton with his buddy, Dylan:








After he finished his last game he was pretty sad that is over. I reminded him that 10 more months and he will start again. So, the countdown begins! :)

Happy 8th Birthday, Paisley!!

Paisley turns 8 years old today! Wow! Where did the time go? I vividly remember this day 8 years ago and the joy I felt holding my first daughter in my arms. She was such a beautiful baby and had such a sweet personality from day one. She has been such a wonderful joy in our home ever since. There just isn't another person that is like Paisley. She is truly one of a kind!

I want to try to describe what she is like now, at 8 years old.



Paisley is very outgoing, which I love. (Totally different from my own personality.) It seems that nothing scares her. She is almost always very calm and confident going into a new situation or meeting new people. She is always willing and ready to make a new friend wherever we go. Easton, being a lot more shy and reserved, really leans on her. She leads the way for the two of them when they enter new situations.



Paisley is such a great big sister. She is really like Avery's second mom. I can really depend on her to help me keep an eye on Avery when they are outside or we are in public. Avery looks up to her so much. She is always willing to read to Avery or play with her. I am soooo grateful that they are such good friends already. I never had a sister, so their relationship is very important to me. I am so happy to see the bond that they are already making with each other. Paisley really loves Avery and worries about her. One day we were at a park with lots of other children. I guess that some of the girls Avery's age were leaving her out and that Avery was sad about this. Paisley came over to me with tears in her eyes because she felt so sorry for Avery. I am so grateful that Paisley has such a large spot in her heart for her sister.





Paisley is VERY girly. She likes to say lately that she isn't and tries to act sometimes like she is a bit boyish. But, she is girly-girl through and through, and always has been. Lately she has become very into fashion. She is very conscious of what she is wearing and how she appears. She loves make-up and hair accessories. She loves, loves, loves to do her nails or anyone else's nails. She loves to experiment with the nail polish, painting stripes or polka dots. She loves glittery and sparkly things.



Paisley is a great student. She loves school, both for learning and for social reasons. She is extremely bright. She is very mature for her age. Her first grade teacher told us that there were times when the teacher was reading a story to the children, that Paisley would be the only one to "get" some of the funny parts and be the only one to laugh. I really think her mind and spirit are years ahead of her body! :) She is usually always very willing to do her homework and reading. She receives great grades. Her teachers have often times have her help struggling students with their work.



Paisley is very ambitious. She has many goals for her life. Her latest ambition is to someday open a massage parlor/nail salon. This is no joke for her. She has made a whole folder full of her plans. She has drawn the layout of the building, including the colors she will decorate it. She has lined up employees. She knows that she will be serving refreshments and what they will be. She has a price list all written out. She is very serious about this business adventure. She also has mentioned wanting to be an actress, a rock star, and a mother when she grows up. :)



Paisley is more than my daughter. She is one of my very best friends. I can confide in her at times. She is always there for me. She can tell when I am having a down day and is always very quick with a compliment and kind words. She is such a huge help to me. I know that when I need help with something that I can ask her and she will do it. Like I said before, she has a wise soul and is very mature for her age. I love being able to communicate with her on a mature level. I love the one on one conversations we get to have. She is such a bright light in my life. She is so needed in our family. I don't know what I ever did before she was in my life!



I love you, Paisley girl. You are very inspiring to me. I want to become more like you in many ways. I am a bit sad that you are already 8, it has gone much TOO fast! But, I also look forward to the upcoming years with you. I can't wait to watch you enjoy the experiences that life will hold for you. I am excited to become better and better friends as you become a young woman. Thank you for all that you are to me and our family. I love you. Happy 8th Birthday!

Summer Fun!!

We did many fun things over the summer. Besides T-ball and baseball, which kept us busy all through June, Easton and Paisley took 8 weeks of swimming lessons. We went to a movie once a week at a local theater. We went to a lake near us a couple times. The kids love love love playing in the sand. Here are some pictures from one of those trips:





We went to a couple of water parks with friends a few times:






We took a trip to the splash park with my sister-in-law and her 2 kids. It wasn't the warmest day and so the kids got chilled pretty quick.





So, we turned to plan B and rode the carousel, played on the playground, and got cotton candy.








It was a fun afternoon!

At the end of July, the kids finished up their swimming lessons with a swim meet. It was great to see how much they have improved this summer!








They each can swim 5 different strokes with ease and each won a few of their races! We were definitely proud parents!!!


On August 19th, Dave turned 34 years! The kids were very excited to buy their own gifts for him this year. They used their own hard earned dollars and bought him a stash of chocolate that I was very jealous of! :) Dave loved it!






That night my mom took the kids over night and Dave and I enjoyed a nice night out without the kids! What a great gift! ;)

Happy Birthday, again, to my best friend!! I love you sooooo much!




Two other accomplishments that happened this summer.

1. Easton learned to mow the lawn.

Dave is pretty particular with the lawn and how it is mowed. But, he agreed to let Easton learn how to mow, as long as he learned the "right" way and was able to do it in straight lines. :) Easton picked it up really quick and is a mowing pro now! He has become a great help to Dave. They have become quite a lawn mowing team! And, the best part is that Easton REALLY enjoys it!






Accomplishment #2: Avery learned to ride a bike without training wheels!

One night, we were out front and we looked down the sidewalk to see that our neighbor was walking alongside Avery who was riding her daughter's bike with no training wheels! We were very surprised and excited! Avery was so proud of herself. It took her no time at all to get the hang of it. So, we promptly took the training wheels off of her bike and she has been going strong! I can't believe how fast she is growing up!

The summer went by super fast because we were so busy having fun! I love summer. I am grateful for great friends and family who are willing to hang out with us and make it that much more fun! Can't wait until next summer!!!