i love this 10 year old

She's fun and silly, sweet and unselfish, generous and an absolute joy to have as a daughter!

first snow

This morning we woke up to a dusting of snow.  The girls were so excited that they threw a coat over their pajamas, slipped on a pair of shoes and went out to play in it for a bit.  Before we started school the sun came out and everything started melting.  It was a gorgeous, foggy haze with the water drops shimmering in the sun.  I grabbed the camera quick but just couldn't capture it. 

You can see their snow angels there in the grass. 

Our end of the lake has a super thin layer of ice.  Winter is coming. 

the week through the lense of my phone

I love the instagram app for my iphone. It takes all my blurry pictures and turns them into cool shots!  Here are a few glimpses from our week -

Swimming lessons for the girls are every Monday afternoon.  At a hotel pool, 5 minutes from our house.  It is perfect!  I'm so glad a friend let me know about this program.

We couldn't have asked for better weather on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week.  We took the boat out for a little while on Tuesday evening after Scott got home from work and Elle braved jumping in one last time.  The water is cold! 

She can now proudly claim the family record for the earliest to jump in the lake in the spring and the one to jump in the latest in the fall.  :)

School outside on the porch.  I love it. 

A friend of mine had a precious little baby girl this month.  So fun to get to hold a newborn.

school has started

"Success is the sum of small efforts -
repeated day in and day out."
-Robert Collier

We started school last week and it is going well.  We are back to all of our regular activities and a couple of new ones too.  I am so excited about some of the new curriculum that we are using this year!  I hope to be back soon with a post to let you know all about it! 

Lettuce Wraps

These little lettuce wraps have been a favorite summer meal of ours. They don't take long to throw together and are a healthy meal that even the kids love.

Lettuce Wraps

1 Tbsp. safflower oil
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. honey
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. grated fresh gingerroot

Combine in a bowl and add 4 or 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced into thin strips.  Allow to marinate while you prepare the veggies.

Boston Bibb or Romaine lettuce leaves
julienned carrots
julienned cucumbers
peanuts

peanut sauce

Grill the chicken.  If you do this on an outside grill you will want to put the strips on skewers to make it easy.  Place a strip or two of chicken on a lettuce leaf, top with carrots, cucumbers, peanuts, and a little drizzle of peanut sauce.  Roll it up and eat it, then take awkward pictures of your kids eating them.

Recipe adapted from the Goodness Gracious Cookbook

just resting her eyes

Ava doesn't have a nap everyday anymore.  She just takes little cat naps as needed.  She denies it though and says she's just resting her eyes.  For fun I started taking pictures of her now and then to show her that it sure looks like she's asleep.  The vehicle pictures are my favorites. 

No sheets required on the bed for her to sneak a little cuddle with puppy and a quick snooze.

Last week on the way home from the beach.  That sun really wears a girl out!

tap dancing on the driveway

This morning Ava came downstairs dressed up in a dance costume and tap shoes with huge socks.  I grabbed my camera and followed her outside for a tap show on the driveway. 

new blogs

Thomas and Elle both started new blogs last week.  They would like me to pass on the new web addresses to you.  Thomas's is Hook, Sinker, Bobber and Elle's is O Happy Day. 

thomas's big catch

Thomas went fishing with his friend, Sam, on the Mississippi River this week.  They were fishing specifically for Northern Pike.  Thomas was thrilled when he got this one, as you can tell by his big smile!  He's got a new blog in the works right now and his first post is going to be all about this catch.  I will update my blog when it is online.

no training wheels required

Now she can keep up with the big kids! 

summer through the lense of my phone

We are savoring every hot, sunny summer day.  It is my favorite season.  Hope you are enjoying it too! 

summer highlights

We had to wait a long time for summer to finally get here but July's sun and heat has definately made up for the cloudy, rainy June.  We have had a blast getting out on the lake any chance we can.  Here are some pictures of our summer so far.

Watching fireworks on the lake. 

Scott ran the Firecracker 10K race again.  There's a slip and slide to go on after you cross the finish line.  The kids loved watching him go on that.

And he beat his time last year by 3 minutes!

Trac Ball in the lake is the favorite game this summer.

And she still loves to play Polly Pockets.

Sporting the sunglasses Elle found in the lake and gave to him.  A very nice early birthday present for him and one that was much appreciated after he jumped in the lake last month in the deep water with his pair on and lost them. 

She is reading through A Series of Unfortunate Events this summer. 

Scott tried wakesurfing with a friend this weekend and was hooked.  We bought a board the next day and both he and Thomas can just pop right up on it and go. 

This is me wakesurfing.  After about 20 attempts I still have yet to make it up.  :)

This is a short video of Thomas.