August Already!

Wow, I seem to get further and further behind. I really do enjoy keeping this up.. it just seems to always get pushed to the back burner. This summer has just flown by! The weather hasn't cooperated as much as we would have liked.. At least to spend more time in the pool and at Soak City. We haven't done either! Hoping the next few weeks are scorchers!
The girls are doing great. I think they're both ready to go back to school and see their friends. Grace will go back first - she's going to be a 3rd grader! She'll be in JR high before I know it. She has been taking ballet this summer and is really enjoying it. She is a natural. I hope that it's something she'll stick with. She hasn't done any riding this Summer.. which she's not very happy about. But it's so hard sticking with it when we don't have a horse/barn ourselves. Terry said by the time she was 10 he'd get her one. I don't think he realizes the clock is ticking! Most of you know how much she LOVES her animals.. so imagine her delight when we had a new kitty show up at our door. He's quickly become another member of our family... Yes,, folks.. we have a small zoo here! His name is Hunter. (so far he's ate a mouse, mole and a wild rabbit!) He must have been a stray all of his life.. he's a sweetie and the girls (and Tink) love him to death. Even Champ has adjusted.. he knows to keep his distance or he will get swiped. Thankfully he stays outside most of the time.. one less animal in the house is always a good thing! Although, Grace's bunny died last weekend. That was rather traumatic. There's nothing worse than having to watch your child grieve the loss of a pet. But she was a trooper. She was upset, but she really does understand life and death. We colored some pictures and made a few cards and buried her out by Pooh. We will have our own pet cemetery before long! Of coarse she's been begging to get a new pet... guinea pig, rabbit.. turtle.. anything. No more!!
Liv is doing super. She's still spunky as ever. She loves to laugh.. She has this giggle that comes from the bottom of her toes. It's hard to not laugh with her! She's been taking a ballet/acro class and seems to be enjoying it. Anytime she gets to shake her booty - she's happy! It's hard to believe she's going to be five in a few months. She's no longer a baby! She's catching up to Grace. They will be sharing clothes before long.
Liv's looking forward to going back to school to see all of her buddies. Maybe they can remind her "how" to clean up - without using the excuse that she has a broken limb or that she's tired! Ha.. She'll be going 3 days this year - which means I'll have Wednesdays all to myself! What will I do?!?! It's going to be different.. I know that going back to school will be an adjustment for us all.
Terry seems to be enjoying his job. It's been hard not having him home as much as he was before. The girls miss him. I feel bad for him sometimes because it's almost like he has 3 wives. Now that Grace has all of our phone numbers memorized she calls him every day to ask what time he'll be home - and he has to call her on his way home. She likes to keep tabs on him! He's been enjoying his golf as much as possible. I'm sure those of you that drive by seem him out in the yard quite frequently! It drives me nuts - but I guess that is his stress relief. Now what is mine?!?! Oh, that's right.. I don't have one.. I guess that'll come when the girls are out of the house.
I've been anxiously awaiting the birth of my nephews! Any day now.. We're all excited for that. The girls especially... Grace has been so worried with who is going to watch them. She's such a worrier! We're taking a family vacation in September to the Outerbanks. Very excited about that! Grace is hoping to see some wild mustangs. Me, I'm looking forward to a week of being lazy! Then it'll be fall.. My FAVORITE time of the year! It's killing me because I have gourds and pumpkins that are ready to be picked from my garden. I love decorating with them.. but have to hold off. My mom (and everyone else) would kill me! So I'm storing them in my basement.. hoping they'll last. Speaking of Garden. Mine is doing great! I'm so impressed with myself. We've already had Kalarabi, Banana peppers, Roma tomato's, zucchini & cucumbers. I can't believe how much zucchini one plant can produce. Needless to say we've had it to eat almost every night, along with loaves, and loaves of bread! My corn is looking great, along with my brussel sprouts and cauliflower. Now if we'd just get some sun so the rest of my tomatoes would turn red. Gardening like that is very gratifying... it's amazing that something that started from a tiny seed could be so delicious!
Anyways.. I'm rambling now. I need to get some pictures together. Please keep stopping by! I promise (well maybe) to update it on a regular basis!
Much love!
Sara & Family