My Girls

My sister wanted to do this cool project she found on Pinterest for our Grandma for Christmas this year.  We took pictures of the girls for it and I can't wait to see the final picture.  But, these girls were too cute not to share!  So, we have a picture of the girls, then I hold a picture of them, then my mom will hold that picture, then eventually my grandma will be holding a frame with all of us in it...yeah, it took like 10 explanations from my sister for me to finally figure it out!

 Can't wait to see the finished project!  Thanks Steph for being on top of things!

Violin

Brenalee decided she wanted to try out playing the violin.  Virginia Tech does a strings project for beginning students and it was perfect for us.  I hope she likes it and continues with it!  Although, I'm pretty sure she is in it more for the socializing since some of her friends are there too...

Church Garden

Our ward decided to have a community garden this year.  In previous years the space at the church was used by individual families to grow their own crops.  This year everyone chipped in to build a fence, plant, weed, and harvest.  Everything went to the Interfaith Food Pantry right here in Blacksburg.  The kids and I went a few times to help with things.  I thought this was such a neat idea and a great way to serve our community!  The kids never complained (well, except Bristol!)

 Just a small amount of the hundreds of beans that were donated throughout the summer.

Garden Produce!

Our garden is out of control!  We have been getting so much produce.  It's awesome, but a little daunting in trying to use it all up.  I have taken some large bags of different veggies in to some of my classes and given it away to people after class.  We make batch after batch of salsa and just sit and eat it.  It's so good!

These first few pictures are when the crops just started producing (and we were better at controlling the weeds!):

 Then before we knew it the corn was taller than us!

 And it was a lot harder to keep the weeds under control...

 But, we sure did enjoy all of this food!

Oh, David!

Bristol loves this book.  We have checked it out from the library more than once.  I really need to get her her own copy!  She is so funny - she will shake her little finger and say no no to the book.  There is one page where he won't open his mouth to eat his oatmeal and she sticks her face in there and acts like she is eating it!  She is constantly just looking at this book!

2014-2015 School Year

Writing 2014-2015 just seems like it should be in some sort of science fiction novel - is it really almost 2015?!  Weird...
After a very, very short summer, the kids went back to school.  Tyler started 6th grade and Brenalee started 4th.  Tyler is at the middle school and Brenalee now walks to school by herself.  It's so sad they are separate now!  Tyler rides the bus and it comes at 6:56a.m.!  Lucky for me he is very responsible.  He sets his alarm and gets up at 6am.  He packs his lunch and makes his breakfast and the rest of us roll out of bed about 6:30am to say good bye.  His first day was a little rough.  He forgot his schedule, so he didn't know where he was going.  He also had lots of locker problems and ended up missing his first period class.  But, it all got resolved and even though I thought he would tell me he was never going back, he loves it!

Brenalee got home and I asked her what her favorite part of the day was.  She said lunch.  She has Mrs. Pleasant - the same teacher Tyler had - so I was thrilled about that!  As usual, she wouldn't let me touch her hair.  I hope she looks back and says to herself "I should have let my mom do my hair!"

Here's to a great school year, and our last here in VA :(

Happy Birthday Brenalee!

We had 2 celebrations for Brena.  One while grandma Franklin was here, and then one on Brena's actual birthday.  Grandma and the kids made cupcakes and then Brena got to open a couple of presents.

She got a pretty dress, leggings and doll clothes from grandpa & grandma Landes.

 She had been dying for her own camera forever, so she was very excited to get this from mom & dad!

 And grandma Franklin made her her very own apron and gave her some cash.

She said it was the best birthday ever!  Happy birthday to my favorite 9 year old!  I hope you are always this spunky, creative, happy, energetic, social and overall awesome!

Mini Golf

The kids wanted to mini golf with grandma.  As usual, TJ won - but I was a close second!  Bristol was a stinker, she had to be contained in her stroller here and she didn't want to be!  After a good game we went and got some frozen yogurt.

Swimming with Grandma

We really haven't had hot weather much.  It's been almost chilly!  Of course that doesn't stop the kids from swimming.  They were finally able to talk grandma into jumping in!

This little cutie wanted to swim, but we knew it was too cold for her.

Washington D.C. Day 3

Last day in D.C.  They didn't have a lot of time, but the went to the Museum of American History.  Then headed home.  Bristol and I were very excited to see them!