Last hurrah of the summer, the guys went camping with the group from church...they set up the tent in our backyard...just so Ellyana & I could see what it was like...very cool!
Zach started PM Kindergarten, he is ABSOLUTELY loving it! He's as happy as can be, he's only got 16 kids in his class...11 boys...the weekend was too long...he couldn't wait to get back to school on Monday!
Here he is waiting to go in the first day...tough day for mommy "letting go"...so much rejoicing now to see him so happy where God has him!
Ellyana LOVES to talk on the phone, "Gam-ma?" She talks & listens for a little bit & then starts pushing all the buttons.
Street hockey with soccer shin guards, ski goggles & a mower & doll car?
Ellyana was happy to get to be in the "haircut chair" on the night of the guys' haircuts...it was a sad day for me to snip out a couple of "knots"...all the website advice, multiple hair products, and the satin pillowcase did not prevent them...we'll keep trying!
At our local "Victorian Festival" (a very scaled down version of the Pumpkin Festival with lots of people wandering around in long dresses & wide hats & guys in knickers)...BJ did awesome again at free throws...even beating out his dad
The kids trying their 1st cotton candy...while waiting for the parade...I would say the cotton candy got "mixed reviews"
& sharing the "loot" after the parade
OK, this was last year to this year at the orchard...boy, have times changed! Lots more excitement with Sister Bear running around!
Apples to eatGoats to feed
Hay bales to jump with Daddy
And speaking of Daddy, is that him or a Superhero...side-walking/ side crawling to push the Princess on a trike through a tire!?! It was amazing to watch!
And if you were standing here right now, she would probably yell "BYE-BYE" at the top of her lungs and maybe blow you a kiss!
Cousins learning the joys of Jarlings.
Getting to be with girlfriends (we missed you Jode!)
Both girls have been home 1 year, seem so similar & are suriving just fine in their families of brothers! 
Brian told a few of the older girls at our friends event that Ellyana doesn't have any sisters, so they could show her "girl" stuff...she made her "debut" in this beautiful princess dress...she does love to wear around her plastic high heels my sister gave her & bang things with her "wand"...but I don't think she has been in a full princess dress before!
And this week has been a wonderful week of doing whatever...the beach, the pool, bowling, bike riding, playing outside...
soaking in the last few days of summer, it feels too soon to be over. I'm sure I would be still saying that in 6 months...I love having my kids home & not being on a tight schedule...with both boys headed to school in the fall...I'm very sentimental...we had "meet the teacher" night last night...it is peaceful & good & we are so thankful for how God has done abundantly more than we can ask or imagine...to HIM we give all the glory & we trust HIM for this next school year!
