Hot Air Balloons

Every year Decatur has a Hot Air Balloon Festival.  We have never been.  One year Alan and I said Oh yea let's go see the balloons that will fly in about 30 minutes and we attempted to go.  I'm sure all the people who are from Decatur are laughing to themselves.  It's a big deal - ha!  I knew the girls would love to see them so on Saturday night we headed over so we could see the balloons and the balloon glow.  The girls loved them.

Fishing with Daddy

Tree Climber

We have the best Crepe Myrtle for climbing.  If I look out and can't find one of the girls, they are usually in the tree.

First Day of Summer Vacation

We had to run an errand for Daddy over in Huntsville so what better way to celebrate the 1st day of summer vacation then getting ice cream.  We went to Baskin Robbins which Mallary so cutely referred to it as "Basketball Robbins".  Their ice cream choices never cease to amaze me and fit their personalities so well.

Gracie chose Lemon Custard.  

Very simple.  She usually chooses unusual flavors

and ALWAYS tries something new.

This one chose the "clown cone"

Complete with tons of icing 

and had to include some pink on it.

 After a while she only wanted to eat the cone with most

of the ice cream still on top...and not let me help. 

 

And yes, I let her wear her plastic high heels to our 

errand and for ice cream just because she wanted to so bad.

(and most days she HAS to wear a dress

AND sleep in a terry cloth bathing suit cover up)

Cherub Choir

Cherubs sang in the beginning of big church this morning.  Mallary brought a purse with her from the nursery and it cracked me up that she had to have a purse with her up there!  They sang such sweet songs and it was Gracie's last performance as a Cherub.  She will move up next year to the big kid choir.  sigh....

Disco Night

My girls were so excited that their dance studio was having a family disco night - complete with a disco ball!
We jammed out to fun songs, danced with our friends and did the YMCA.  Gracie and her friends had tie dye shirts and Mallary picked out her cool girl shirt and her cool sunglasses for the night!  They danced the night away and had a ball!

Last Day of School

Wow - hard to believe another school year has come and gone.  I swear time keeps going faster and faster.  I wish someone would hit pause every now and then.  Both girls had such great years and wonderful teachers.  We have had a fun year!  The school year wouldn't be complete without End of the Year parties.  This summer will also mark a first - Mommy is letting both girls stay home from "summer school".  We have lots of fun summer camps planned and a pool membership so we will be set!

 Pizza Party!

 With Mrs. Sharon and Mrs. Suzanne

 Mallary at her party

She told me she had a pina colada!

 Mallary and Caroline too busy eating to smile!

 Mrs. Leanne

Mrs. Mary

Baby Patrick

All day on Friday, the girls were so excited because they knew that their new cousin Patrick had arrived early that morning.  They told EVERYONE that they were going to meet him that night and we did just that.  We headed down to Bham and lucked up that there were no other visitors when we got there and got Patrick all to ourselves!  He barely fussed, he was very alert and so cute!

Alan and his new nephew.  This is nephew #2 and he has 3 nieces

 So excited to hold him

Mallary waiting for her turn!

Gracie Softball Games

Gracie has improved so much this year!  We're so proud of her and how well she is doing and how great her team is again this year.  She has consistently hit in her games and even got her 1st double.  She's scored several points for her team.  We're LOVING being at the ballpark.  It keeps us busy, but we have so much fun!

Having fun in outfield!

 Gracie at Bat

 After hitting her double

 Ready to head home!

Ready to RUN!

CWS Preschool Graduation

My Gracie Girl has graduated from preschool.  No more CWS for us.  How did those 4 years go so fast?!?!  I'm amazed at the year she had in Mrs. Sharon and Mrs Suzanne's class and how much she learned.  She's so smart and always eager to learn.  She had the cutest class and has so many friends that she will miss next year.  This year she has mastered writing all her letters and numbers, learned so much science, played lots, made beautiful art projects, had fun on computer day and so much more.  Graduation was so sweet - they showed a slide show of all their baby pictures, highlights of all the fun they had during the year and a Goodbye picture.  Mrs. Kathy read that Gracie wanted to be a teacher when she grew up and she got her certificate and graduation bear.  After a photo session, we celebrated with lunch at the Brick with The Collins - definitely a treat during the week!