Where did the summer go?

Summer is over and it's only August 4th. It's still a hundred plus degrees out and it still doesn't get dark until 9. The mosquito's are still bad and the pool water is the perfect temperature. So why is summer ending? Summer is ending because the girls are going back to school tomorrow :(

School's out for summer!!!!

Our last week of school was so hectic and busy. It began with Maddie's first ever soccer tournament. Her team (Spain) played their hearts out. We played two games on Saturday and a game on Sunday. We lost our first game and won our 2nd game on Saturday and then lost our game on Sunday. Thankfully the girls had a great time playing and were not too disappointed that we didn't make it to the finals. Maddie played almost every moment of the last two games. She was exhausted.

Mid-way through the week I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the 4th grade award ceremony. Abby received an award for all "A" honor roll and her surprise award was that she got a perfect score on her Reading standardized testing for the state. She was one of only two perfect scores in her school. So proud of my girl!!

Abby and the best 4th grade teacher in the entire world.

This was the girl's on the 1st day of school for the 2009-2010 year

This was the girl's on the last day of school for the 2009-2010 year. They grew so much and look so much older. Sob

Every year on the last day of school I pick the girls up and then take them for ice cream. Here we are at Brewster's for our annual ice cream cone.

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.

Bedhead

Summertime bedhead
Lots of swimming the night before.
Wearing her Daddy's old Darlington t-shirt
Thirty years old
Held up pretty well
T-shirt, not her Daddy!