It's Kickoff time...

Waiting for the D1 140lb boys to run through the banner

Almost got trampled by the boys!!!

Kickoff Time

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, my name is Abby and I say Hi!

Mouth always open

Our boys

Final Score

Today was Abby's first football game of the season. It was hot, it's always hot the first game (Temp. greater than 90 degrees). The girls cheered their hearts out and our boys kicked butt. Go Hoyas's!!!!

The Happy Reader

Maddie is not our reader. It has worried us (okay me) a bit since everyone else in the family likes to read. It isn't that she can't do it. She actually can but she is easily frustrated and then makes mistakes and then cries and frankly, it is just awful and painful. Destiny came to us reading and Abby seemed to pick it up overnight at school so we are struggling to find what motivates her.

Her teacher found it. Apparently for good behavior the kids get points and Maddie had enough points to choose an activity and so based on her love for her Kindergarten teacher she chose to go to her old Kindergarten classroom to read. She hemmed and hawed for several days over books, cried when she couldn't read some of them well enough but she finally settled on a Dr. Seuss book called "The Ear Book."

From all accounts and the note her old Kindergarten teacher sent home she did fabulously. "Thank you Maddie for coming to read to us. You did a fantastic job." I think this is just what she needed to push her a little, give her more confidence and motivation. Go Maddie!!!!

Pennsylvania

The day after Bud returned home with the girls from Louisiana I barely gave them time to stretch before I put them in the car and headed to Pennsylvania. Thirteen hours, one hotel stay and numerous bathrooms stops later we arrived at my Mom's front door.

One of our favorite stops when we are home is West Park for the outdoor band concerts. The girls absolutely loved the 70 degree evening weather and playing on the soft grass underneath the trees.

I have to capture these moments to prove that they really do love each other!

Abby perfecting her back walkover/back handspring

Lounging on the blanket

Who could resist that face?

The gorgeous fountain in the center of the park.

Gorgeous park flowers

Grammy and her friend, Doris and Maddie

Isn't she beautiful?

One of my favorite views at Blue Mountain

Sisters

God's Mountain. I spent so much time here growing up. It brings back such wonderful memories. I am glad that the girls got to experience that this summer!

Daredevil!

I think this was her serious look.

Maddie and Grammy. Maddie can make Grammy smile like no one else can.

This sweet man joked and played with the girls and their friends all week. He taught Maddie how to pull a quarter out of thin air!

Grammy and the girls on our carriage ride

Destiny

We took a carriage ride around the property one afternoon

Abby and the friend that she met, Emma

Destiny and Maddie playing doubles

Minutes before Maddie smacked me in the nose with the tennis racket

Playing tennis or hanging around?

Maddie's birthday happened while we were in the mountains and she was so upset thinking that she wouldn't have a good birthday. Margaret, a lady who works at the retreat, saw Destiny's horse sweatshirt and asked her if she liked horses. Destiny said "yes" and when she heard it was Maddie's birthday she offered to let the girls come over and ride her horse. They had an incredible time. God is always good and He is even in the small things.

Maddie riding

One of my favorite places on the whole property is their prayer chapel in the woods.

Our home for the week.

Maddie enjoying her 6th birthday cake!

Grammy's beautiful morning glories. She always called me her morning glory because I hated to get up in the morning. I guess some things never change.

It was a wonderful week. We went to the local amusement park, the band concert, the mountains. There is truly no place like home and no matter how old I get and where I move, Pennsylvania will always be home.