This is Ava's classroom at Quail Springs Baptist. She has attended this school since she was 2. Hopefully, this will be her last year and next year off to kinder. But, we'll see. She's all social and less academic!
The girls also started back to ballet this week. Here she is posing for the camera!
Rise and Shine! We weren't used to getting up and getting ready so early, but the first day she popped up and was ready to go. Audrey got to eat off the special plate for breakfast and dinner. She loved that!
Here she is all ready for her big day. She had to wear blue, her favorite color!
The whole family got to walk her in on the first day. I was more nervous than she was.
And she's off with her class. She is so big and so independent. I just want her to want me a little more, but she wants things done on her own. She came home that afternoon beaming and telling me that she loved first grade and loved her teacher. Hopefully, she will have a great year. I told her that I could bring her lunch sometime and sit and eat with her. Her reply, "Why don't you wait about three weeks and then come". Oh, the independence!!!!
Here is the supportive family that got him through it. Thanks Shayne for being a great wife and supporting him all the way.
My mom and dad were very proud to see their son walk across the stage and receive his diploma. They, too, supported him the whole way!
When we got back to Waco that afternoon, we had cake to celebrate. Shayne, the cake was great, even if it was purple!!!! hahaha!!!!
Before the girls and I left town, we got to see Abbi play volleyball. I can't believe my little niece is 15 and a sophomore in high school. She is beautiful and is a great athlete.
We went to the old downtown Branson and bought these cute hats at an old 5 and Dime, along with a bunch of other junk we didn't need. Thanks, Meme.
The girls wanted to wear the hats the entire trip! So, they wore them when we went to eat at the Dixie Stampede. They loved the horses, the piggie races, and the ostrich races.
After dinner, we took most of the kids to ride go-carts. I had to miss out on the fun this year because of the baby. But, as you can see, everyone had a blast. Ava got to ride with Daddy.
Audrey was the lucky winner that got to ride with Crabby Abbi!!!!!! Just kidding, Abs. Audrey loved it.
The girls found some cars that were just there size. They loved running into each other.
The next morning, we rented two boats for tubing. In our boat, we had the little girls and Jonah and Jacob. Yes, we were lucky!!! Jonah and Jacob loved Uncle Chad driving them around on the tube. They hung on for dear life and took a beating. Audrey and Ava loved jumping off the boat and swimming in the lake. Shayne and Michael had the rest of the crew, including Philip.
We stopped for the traditional cliff jumping. This is one activity I truly missed because it is a blast. Here is Miss Abbi getting ready for the plunge.
Yes, we talked Audrey in to jumping this year and it was probably her last. As you can see by her face, she wasn't impressed. It kind of ruined the rest of her boating experience that day.
Here's little Allison on the tube. I don't think she is scared of anything!
Ava just loved being with Jacob. He bugged her all day long!!!!
This is what fun at Big Cedar can do to you. After boating all morning, the girls slept for 2 1/2 hours. I can never get these two to slow down and take a nap. But, the lake did it to them.
That night, we celebrated Chad's 34th birthday with my family. Michael and Shayne cooked out steaks, baked potatoes, and all the fixings. It was yummy. Of course, the kids loved the chocolate cake.
We really missed Papa not being able to come on the trip this year. All the kids kept saying they wished he was there. Here's Meme with all 8 grandkids on the last night of our trip. Jonah, Audrey, Taylor, Allison, Ava, Amy, Abbi, and Jacob. Next year, there will be two more added to the mix!!! Thanks Meme and Papa for a great vacation! We love you!
