Harrisburg parade

Mom took the girls to the Harrisburg parade this year--it kind of popped up and surprised us all, so it was an impromptu trip--she said they had a great time and there were lots of wagons, trucks, and tractors with kids and candy, and that they want to do their own entry next year!

sounds like it was for everyone, because she said it wasn't packed, and the girls came home with grocery bags full of candy!  We missed the rest of the homecoming activities--but we're going to try to find out earlier next year. The school may have closed, but it's still a cute little town and only a mile away.

She took them to Tony's Coney's afterwards for some food--after all that candy, and it gave Eric and I an hour or two to run the chainsaw without the fear of the little girls around.

our weekends: reflecting back to a year ago

Reflecting back on where we were a year ago--a lot has changed, especially on our time at home on the weekends.  At Copper ct. we were indoors a fair amount. Between having no real shade and traffic, we were out some, but not much. Here, I feel like we all LIVE to get outside. Whether it's talking about plans on the way home, or the way we all wake up.

Lots of time is spent in Daddy's hammock--and I feel like this fall we'll be out there even more and more.

The girls play dress up. More now than ever. They have a pretty good collection of dresses (Frozen of course) some princesses, and odds and ends. They go out to the playhouse and pretend or just in the playroom--depends on the day.

Amara was never all that into dressup, but Cora has really helped bring her out of her shell in that way.

We take time. Whether it's to sit in the girls rooms, or downstairs, we are together a lot--but we also get 1:1 time with the girls and each other. Cora and Amara love their rooms and I'm so thrilled that they want to spend time in there--whether it's watching a movie, coloring, playing, or looking at their treasures.

Ily is a different dog now too. The "Great Hunter," as i call her--has plenty of room to run, things to chase, and she just seems happy. Amara particularly has become super lovey with her lately--despite the fact she insists she is a puppy ;)  We're contemplating a 2nd dog, but the bond is just so great, we don't want to ruin the mojo.

The girls PLAY here, a lot. Might be the age, Eric and my attitude, or hopefully their love for each other, but when they are silly and giggling, nothing in the WORLD is a better sound. It's normally fleeting--before the next fight, and that's ok, I'll certainly take the good with the bad.

family zoo trip

Since we hadn't made it to the zoo yet this summer, but still wanted to get out there and visit--we waited for a nice cool day and headed up. We went straight to the giraffes, a new attraction, and the girls got to hand-feed the giraffe lettuce, they loved it!

We also did the train and the merry go round, played in the play area--which we normally don't do, but since it wasn't packed we did...and shared some frozen treats ;)

The girls were being really sweet and we all just had a nice time, not being rushed, but enjoying what they wanted to see.

The camel ride line was non-existant, but Cora wasn't old enough yet, so she had a passenger, but 

Amara IS big enough! She got to ride solo for the first time and she was thrilled!  The zoo is one of those places that really is different every time you go. We don't go a ton, but I'm glad we made the time.

Upward cheer, round 2

Amara decided she wanted to sign up for fall Upward again with her friend Payton and this year with little sis Kennedy. We all were unsure about lil sis, and Cora wasn't old enough this year--but it's going really well. The girls have practice on Monday (after Amara's Karate) and have a great time.

Cora plays with Tiffany and (Master) John while the girls learn new routines. They are working up to a choreographed dance for half time too. We missed the parade and night game being in Hilton Head, but no way I'd have changed that regardless!

OLPH festival

We met up with our friends the Roberts' to have fun at the OLPH festival again this year. We always have fun--there are new rides, and the slide is always a hit.

Luckily we got there early enough to ride the slide several times before moving on--as veterans, we know this, LOL.

The girls quickly got tired though and the heat was wearing on them--they weren't even smiling riding the planes :(

Cora decided to take a swim in the corn pit while Amara went to play some games with Haylee and the dads--

Amara and I found a great balloon twister and had a grand old time with her butterfly wings and purple flower she made for Cora too.

daddy's birthday

Daddy's birthday weekend started early with a surprise in the office! we got him good :) We took him (and his team) his favorite donuts from Lil Donut factory and snuck right up on him. The girls destroyed his desk, but delighted his team members and then I took the girls off to play. Later that night we hit up Spaghetti Warehouse with Grandpa Jahn, and besides the spilled waters, all was well with dinner, the games, and Cora even won a stuffed 'animal,' we are calling Bows or Meatball--depending on the day.

Saturday morning, Amara took daddy out to hit some balls at Foxfire, he said they had a GREAT time. She seemed like it went well too--which I'm sure made his day AND birthday.

"I'm so Fancy" Cora and I stayed home to wrap presents and get ready for a dinner and cupcakes. It was a great weekend of celebrating an amazing guy with his little sweeties and doing his favorite things!

Cora completes panda tumbling

Cora LOVES tumbling. I don't know how I could bring myself to NOT sign her up for it--especially since it's close to town and we pass the school all the time. Saying "it's my 'nastics'" is just the sweetest thing and I'll take her as long as she wants to go.

For her last class, big sis (and veteran herself) came to cheer little sis on. She jumped and spun as everyone applauded for her and was eager to pose with Amara at the end of the class. I love their cheesy smiles, but the genuine ones are easy to spot.

visit with Sarah and Jonathan

I think we were all going through withdraw not having seen our buddies, so we decided to get together and have a little fun at Galaxy!  We headed here after surprising Eric at work for his bday--so it was a super fun day for the girls, filled with friends and surprises.

Cora loves this pink frog--insists on it EVERY time we go--and the 3 of them are almost too big to ride together anymore (ALMOST) but they squeezed in there and stuck it out. It was great and we all left tired, full of pizza and sweaty :)