Disney World or BUST!!!!!

We may "bust" before we get on that plane!!  The girls are SOOOO excited for the trip.  I can't believe it's here.  We have planned and talked about this trip for a long time, and it is finally here.  Packing is mostly completed, Disney tickets are safely in my purse, mail is stopped, toe nails got a special off season pedicure, house is cleaned (thanks to my absolutely wonderful husband) and now it's time to get a little rest before the fun begins.
I can't wait to post about our wonderful adventures we will have this next week. 

                                                                        
                                                                       

Teeth, Toenails, and Tutus

My baby finally lost her first tooth.  It was much overdue because she already had two permanent teeth growing in behind the baby teeth.  At her last cleaning back on July 30, the dentist told us that if she didn't get those teeth out soon, he would need us to schedule an appointment to pull them.  He encouraged Allison to wiggle those teeth and get them out.  Finally, on Sunday, August 25, Allison let me pull her tooth.  We were all so excited!  Now she just needs to let me pull the other one.  It's more loose than the first one was, but she is not interested in letting me pull that one.  

Allison loses her first tooth

Sweet little smile

We spent Labor Day weekend at my mom and dad's house.  Bill helped Dad build a deck on the side of their house, and Mom and I took the girls to get manicures and pedicures!

Allison getting her toes painted

Lauren getting her toes painted

Allison's cute toes

Allison has wanted to take dance lessons for a while now and we told her she could start this fall.  Today was her first tap and ballet dance class.  And I forgot to take her tap shoes!!!!  She was so sweet and didn't mind at all, but I felt horrible.  I think we are going to really love these dance lessons.  The instructor was super nice and fun.  Allison had a ball and I am so happy for her. 

This picture was taken after we got home from her dance lesson.  She put her tap shoes on to show me what she learned.

Showing off her ballet moves

First position

Silly sisters showing second position!!!!  Love those little girly girls

Lauren is going to start taking Jazz dance lessons at the same place beginning Thursday evening.  She's pretty excited, too!

My Baby turns Eight

What a wonderful eight years we have been blessed with since our vivacious, energetic, full of life little girl became part of our lives.  In some ways in seems like just yesterday when she was born.  In other ways it seems like she's been a part of our lives forever.  As I watch the pictures scroll over the computer and look through albums of photos, I just can't believe how much you have grown and changed.  I love you, Lauren Elizabeth.  I think you are an amazing young lady and I know God has big plans for you. 
For your birthday we told you we would not have a big friend party because we were going to Disney in October.  You chose to invite your friend Lilly to go to JumpJam (a hot new trampoline place) and then spend the night with you.  It turned out to be a lovely evening.  After jumping, we went to Salsarita's and then Froyoz for a sweet birthday treat.
On Saturday morning after the sleepover, Daddy fixed chocolate chip pancakes for your breakfast.  We had a light lunch before celebrating your birthday with family.  You got some great presents that you have already enjoyed playing with a lot.  You got a horse which you love, a beauty seat for your doll complete with tools for fixing your dolls' hair, doll clothes, a knitting kit from your sister, earrings, necklace, bracelets, high top converse tennis shoes, clothes and roller blades. 

Lauren, Lilly and Allison at JumpJam

Fun times jumping

Strike a pose

Opening presents at your party...the horse Aunt Jen gave you

Reading a card

A birthday card mask from Aunt Jen...she gave you those adorable cat ears last year that we loved...Aunt Jen is the best!

Panda bear mask card

Reading Uncle Bill's card

Your Roller Blades

Sweet girl

Cute expression

I don't have any pictures of the birthday cake.  Uncle Bill took those.  Maybe I'll add them later. 
Lauren I pray you have a wonderful year and that you grow and learn so much.  You are such a smart young lady and I love how much you enjoy learning.  May this be your best year yet!!!  Love you Lou!!!!!  I'm so proud to be your Mommy.

First and Third Grade Year

My big girl is no longer in "primary" school.  She has moved up to intermediate.  I just can't believe she is beginning her fourth year in school (not counting preschool).  It is so fun watching her grow into this sweet young lady.  I am so proud of her. 

Lauren on her first day of third grade

 Lauren has a  first year teacher this year, Mrs. Evans.  I believe this is a second career for her.  She seems very nice and Lauren LOVES her!  (Not that I expected anything less from Lauren).  I have been pretty impressed with the things Lauren tells me about her day.  I believe we are in for a great year. 

Lauren and Mrs. Evans

My sweet baby is beginning her second year of full time school.  Allison has a seasoned first grade teacher, Mrs. P. Davis (there is a C. Davis teaching first grade, too).  She is lucky to have a good friend from Kindergarten in her class as well as a friend from church.  I'm so excited about that.  And to add the icing on the cake, the girls' cousin just started going to their school and Parker gets to go to Encore classes with Allison.  She was so ecstatic about that.  I think Allison is in for a great year, too.

First day of first grade

Ashley, Allison and Sydney

Allison and Mrs. P. Davis

My big first grader

I am in my second week of my new job as a Teaching Assistant at Bearden Elementary.  I am enjoying being there and I LOVE being the assistant and not the teacher.  I have said for a while that this would be my ideal job, and I think it might just be true.  I am so thankful for this school year and I pray it will be great for all of us! 

Camping in the mountains

This past weekend we went on our second family camping trip.  The first trip was with our H2H group back in April and it literally poured rain the ENTIRE weekend.  Our second experience was much better.  We camped at Elkmont in the Smokey Mountains with four other families.  The weather was pretty close to perfect, not too hot, and only a slight shower early Sunday morning.  The girls loved every minute of the weekend.  They played in the creek,  the mud, the river....they loved sleeping in the tent, they didn't even really complain as much as I did about the bathroom facilities.  I really enjoyed spending time with good friends around the campfire, picnic table and out hiking.

Bill has even decided that we are going to purchase our own tent after this last experience.  He says he would like for us to go camping on our own some.  I thought I would really only want to go in a group, but now I'm not so sure that we wouldn't enjoy it on our own as well.  (Since I got a job today, we might actually be able to go ahead and get a tent and try out camping this fall.)

In the group picture below starting in the back row from left to right...Ashley, Britt, Haley, Wendy, Annie, Ed, Cindy, Julia, Mike, Mike, Bill, Cindy.  Front row, Sam, Will, Braden, Rebecca, Laurel, Joanne, Donna, Allison and Lauren.  Some of these folks have been camping together for 12 years or longer.  They started back when we were in a small group together.  I am glad they invited us to go along with them this year.

Group picture

Part of our group campsite

Sitting around the picnic table

I like this picture because you can see the kids in the background playing in the stream.

Allison, Lauren, Will, Braden, Rebecca, Sam and Joanne

Allison playing in the stream

The group going on a hike

Sweet girls

Allison's walking stick she found for the hike

I love this boy!!!!

Annie, Ed, Wendy, Rebecca, Allison, Braden, Lauren and Haley

Allison and Julia

Braden, Will, Allison, Julia, Sam, Haley, Lauren and Annie (Rebecca and Laurel slipped out of the picture)

Playing in the river......it was FREEZING!!!

Julia and Lauren

Fun times  with great friends.  I am thankful to live near the beautiful Smokey Mountains and to have good friends to spend time with.  I am also thankful for my precious family and getting to make sweet memories with them.

As far as camping goes, I don't think this will be our last trip!  :)