Bryanna's first day of KINDERGARTEN!!

Today was Bryanna's first day of Kindergarten.  Last night we painted her fingernails, laid out her dress, socks, and shoes.  We packed her backpack, and talked about what was going to go into her lunchbox.  When we tucked her into bed she said, "I have to go to sleep now...I have a BIG day tomorrow"!   

And a BIG DAY it was!!

 Can you tell she was slightly excited?!

Bryan and I were super excited for Bryanna because she was so ready to go to school.  Last year she cried when Cole caught the bus, and she stayed at sitter's.  However, it's hard to believe our little girl....is GROWING UP!  This morning when I woke her up, she gave me a huge hug and "pats".  I pray my little girl will always give me those wonderful, warm hugs!

We are very fortunate that Bryanna is catching the bus at Amy's house --- and will ride number 14 with Lexi, Cole, Logan, and Brett each day.  The 3 boys were discussing who would walk her to her class the first day, and how they would sit on the bus.  By the time the bus gets to Amy's, however, it's packed!!

Hanna stayed awake the entire time waiting for the bus....I think she's going to miss her big sister during the day!

The bus is sooo big...and she is so small!!

Here is how the kids pass the time until the school bus comes....guess it's a tradition!!

At the end of the day, I was "chop liver"....all she wanted to do was hold her little sister.  I'll play second fiddle to that relationship anyday!!

And a successful first day of school we had! 

Special Cousins

Bryanna and Hanna were able to spend lots of time with their cousins Lexi  and Cole last week because it was Horsethief Week in Knox, and also the 3 oldest Grandkids got to have a slumber party at Nana and Papa's Friday night to celebrate the start of school!  Saturday evening as we were leaving the ice cream social at the church, I turned and found this.....

As they said, they were having a big cousin hug! 

I am so thankful for the special place these 3 kiddos and now Hanna have in each other's lives.  During the time we didn't know if Bryanna would ever be able to be a "big sister", I always said that Lexi and Cole were as close to siblings as Bryanna could have, without being biological.  We are so blessed by the friendship and love these 4 kiddos share....and look forward to the tons and tons of cousin hugs they will share in the years to come!

Very Special Visitors

One night we received a surprise call from Bryan's sister Stacey in Colorado.  She said her class reunion was going to be in Ohio, and asked if we would be able to make the trip out to see them.  Without hesitation, we said yes!  Because of other plans at home, the trip was extremely short and we didn't get to see all our Ohio family, but we did to spend a wonderful evening visiting with the Mong's!

We showed up at Grandma's doorstep, and said "SURPRISE"!  Little did she know, that later that evening she would be surprised once again by Stacey and Pat!

My girls are so extremely blessed to have lots of Grandparents and even more blessed to have tons of Great Grandparents in their lives!  Below are the first snuggles Grandma Mart and Hanna shared.

Stacey came back into Bryan's life at such a perfect time, and has a very special place in our hearts.  It's sad that when we talk to Bryanna about her family in Colorado, she knows them mostly by pictures.  However, after the short time spent together this weekend, Bryanna now has some amazing memories!!  Stace and Pat opened their hearts to our little girls, which warmed Bryan and my hearts to no end.  Bryanna still carries around a small piece of paper that Aunt Stacey and Uncle Pat signed...with Uncle Pat's funny signature too.  She then will share a story from the day.  We hope that they do return next summer with their four little men, so that Bryanna and Hanna can enjoy some time with their cousins, and we can open our hearts up to their kiddos!

A wonderful group of Mong's!!

Hot Summer Days...

One really hot summer day I told Bryanna we had to do a little work --- and decided it was the day we were going to scrub the front porch.  She and I both got our swimming suits and shorts on, as I knew with the water hose out, we were sure to get wet.  I guess I never expected Bryanna to have this much fun with a bucket full of bubble water, though!  Good news, though is the porch is clean!

And while Bryanna and I worked, Hanna took a little nap!  :)



Hanna is growimg

At Hanna's 2 week appointment she weighed 6 lb, 6 oz.  At 3 weeks, she was 6 lb, 14 oz.    She's growing!

Call me slightly prejudice, but I think she is a precious little girl!

Happy 92nd Birthday Gram, and Happy 1 Month Birthday Hanna!!

Bryanna's such a HUGE helper these days!  She's now able to hold Hanna and feed her the bottles!  Amazing in my eyes how much Bryanna is growing up!!

Family Vacation to Lake Chautauqua

For the past 6 years we have packed the truck and headed to the Outer Banks for our family vacation.  This year, however, we had a very special person "expected" around that time and had to decline the invitation to the beach.  We were blessed that Bryan's boss allowed us the opportunity to escape for a bit as a new family of 4 to his lake home on Lake Chautauqua.  It is a beautiful area, and we had tons of fun!!

Bryanna was able to enjoy evening fishing with Daddy.  Bryan would cast it way out in the lake and she wouldn't catch anything.  She casted it once close to the dock, and caught a little fish....and couldn't have been prouder!

Bryanna's favorite activity of the week was tubing. 

But the paddle boat was also tons of fun!!

Bryanna stopping a bit from the fun to say hi to her baby sister and to steal a couple kisses!

Bryanna and Daddy on the jet ski.  She LOVED to go fast on the jet ski, but hated to stop.  Bryan stopped once to let a few boats pass, and the wakes sent both he and Bryanna into the water.  So...Bryanna now associates stopping with getting dumped into the water.  As with everything else that moves, the faster the better for her!

We were so extremely blessed to have Aunt Kathie and Uncle Terry join us for a few days of our vacation.  Bryanna absolutely LOVED the time spent together!!  Above we were "tubing" behind the paddle boat (poor Uncle Terry!), while Bryanna was the co-captian.  And also Aunt Kathie, Bryanna, and I went for the long paddle boat ride to the bridge and back one evening.

A beautiful sunset over the lake --- a beautiful evening!!

And a final picture of the girls with Aunt Kathie and Uncle Terry.  We created wonderful memories with two very special people!



Bryanna's swimming lessons...

The timing of my maternity leave worked out perfectly, in that we could enroll Bryanna in swimming lessons at Wolf's Camping Resort.  Although she loves to "swim", she has a fear of putting her head under the water, and we hoped this would make her feel more comfortable in the water.  Here she is on the first day of classes.

She was very determined not to go under the water, but thanks to the teachers, here she is after the first "dip" under.

The goofy goggles were a necessity for swimming.  She's still not a swimmer, but the lessons were a success.  She now feels more comfortable in the water....and had fun!

And Hanna was always a good little girl, just hanging out beside the pool.