Painting Project...

Since we couldn't decide which girls' room to paint first--we went with their bathroom instead...finally! (It's pretty sad that we're still talking about painting rooms when we've been in the house for a little over two years now.) Here are some pictures from the finished project...

Sunny Sunday...

Yesterday the girls had a game to cheer for, but today we have nothing on the schedule (besides church). What a beautiful day!

Before Mass...

No School = Pool Day...

The teachers had an in-service day today, so the kids had no school. The girls had a blast with all their friends from school.

Look at this bunch...

School Picture Day...

Always a stressful fun day. The girls were looking super-cute when the bus arrived. Hopefully they'll still look that way when they snap the photo. Luckily I will be there to help out (and make sure not a hair is out of place).

Say "cheese"...

Back to School...

The girls were back to school today. It was no fun getting them up at 6:30, but they all got on the bus with minimal yelling and crying ; ). Per my usual, I went in for lunch/recess duty...mostly so I could take pictures. All three girls had a great first day of school!

Maren and Carsyn watching for the bus...

Looking good for the first day...

Logan's first day of 4th grade, Carsyn's first day of 2nd grade,

and Maren's first day of Kindergarten...

Maren getting on the bus for the first time...

Logan and Maren...

Logan and friends...

Maren and two of her third grade friends...

Carsyn and friends at recess...

'Twas the Night Before School...

Our summer is officially over...boo! Today after Mass there was an open-house at school so all the kids could drop off their school supplies and meet their teachers. While I'll be glad to get back into our regular routine, I'm really not looking forward to waking up tomorrow.

Before Mass...

Cheering at the High School...

We had a super-busy day today. After spending the afternoon at the pool, we ran home for a quick dinner and shower before going over to the high school for cheer. The entire little league got to practice and cheer with the high schoolers. The girls had a great time. Afterward we rushed over to a friend's birthday party. Busy, busy, busy.

4th grade cheer...

Lil and Carsyn...

Lots of cheerleaders...

Everybody do the "Beaver Rumble"...

Judith, Kennedy, and Logan...

They love Maddy...

Final Pool Days...

Today was one of the last pool days before school starts, maybe even for the summer...boo. You know how I measure the quality of a summer? By how tan we are...we've had a great summer! ; )

Pool friends...

Cheer Pictures...

Wouldn't you want to spend your birthday watching your sisters and their cheer squad getting their pictures taken? Poor Maren. But, she made the most of it. Actually, she's a pretty big deal anywhere she goes--or at least she thinks she is.

Logan and Carsyn...

Lilli, Maren, and Carsyn...

Logan...

4th grade cheer squad...

with their awesome coaches ; )...

Carsyn with the football team...

Logan and the boys...

Happy 5th Birthday, Maren!

I can't believe our baby is five years old today...crazy! What's even harder to imagine is that she starts kindergarten next week. Happy birthday, sweet pea!

Five year-old Maren...

Maren and her Hello Kitty cake...

Back to Life, Back to Reality...

We are back and slowly adjusting to being back at home in Ohio. It's weird not being able to walk out to the beach to run each morning; the streets just aren't the same. We are keeping pretty busy--unpacking, cheer practice, and catching up on pool time.

Pool friends...

First game of the season...

Watching her sisters...

Lilli, Logan, and Kennedy...

Before Mass...

Last Days in Virginia Beach...

Wednesday the girls were super-excited to show Nana the beach that they had called home for the past couple of weeks. They had a blast playing in sand with her, and I was thrilled not to have to ; ). I finally got to relax. That night we went out for Mexican, and of course the girls insisted that Mike join us.

Logan...

Carsyn...

Maren...

Ready for dinner...

Hanging out with their two favorite guys...

Thursday was our last full day at the beach (kind of sad--we weren't really ready to leave). But, we packed tons of fun into that day. Jill brought her kiddos over to play, which was awesome to see them one last time. All the kids had a great time. Then daddy and Mike cam out after class. Poor Maren actually cried when we had to go in to get cleaned up. She didn't want to say goodbye to the beach or her friends.

Their last beach pics (from this trip, anyway)...

Wearing matching suits that Logan hated, but received several compliments...

Evan and Logan...

Maren and Madison...

The whole gang...

Aww, Maren loves Mike...

Thursday night daddy and Mike grilled out for dinner. (They'd been talking about it for three weeks--I didn't think it was ever going to happen.) We had fun eating outside, and regardless of what you might hear--I most certainly did NOT eat red meat!

The girls on our last night in Virginia Beach...

Bad influences...

Maren is truly going to miss this guy...

Grill Masters Barry and Mike...

On Friday the guys got out of class pretty early, so we packed up and headed home. You would think that after three weeks of being away from home, we'd be ready to get back. But, we weren't. We had the best summer...spending time with friends, going to the beach, and having Uncle Mike right across the hall. Back to the real world...

Last picture in Virginia Beach...