Cancun 2014

 We just got back from Cancun Mexico where we enjoyed beautiful views of the ocean and did a lot of swimming and a lot of playing on the beach. Our hotel, the El Cid, had a cliff in the pool to jump off of. Kate wasted no time in jumping!

 Kate also loved the big slide.

 Paige did a lot of jumping off the side of the pool, splashing whoever she could reach, and going on the little slide. Both girls were little fish never ever wanting to get out.

More pics to come - but we were smiles all week :)

Kate's First Day of 1st Grade

Kate's 1st day of 1st grade!

We set her alarm for 7:45am but Jed went in at 7:40 to say goodbye before leaving. She was wide-eyed and told him she was just watching the clock because it wasn't time for her to get out of bed yet, and that she was really excited for school.

Once her alarm went off, she rushed to the bathroom and was dressed quick as can be, hair done and teeth brushed all by 8:00.

She had a good first day, and said the best part was lunch and recess.

The girls - 6 & 3 years old

Kate - 6 years old

So excited to start 1st grade

Missing her front two teeth

Loves Dragons

Favorite thing to do is play with Paige

Loves art and crafts, and draws extremely well

Loves Legos and American Girl Dolls

Loves to build forts

Saved up her money to buy her first pet, a fish named Sharkey

Paige - (almost) 3 years old

Loves to do anything her sister does

Loves babies and puppies

Is excited to start dance

Is mommies little buddy

Pulls a face for any picture

Loves to build forts and play kitchen

Loves to pick flowers

Is up early every morning waiting for her sis to wake up and greets her with "Hi Kate!" 

Zoo trip

 I'm way behind on this blog, but thought I'd try to get caught up. We headed to the zoo yesterday. It was cool and a bit rainy, but perfect for a zoo trip. Kate and Paige were the tour guides, each with a map and telling me where we'd go next. The new African section was open where we got to see zebras and a couple of ostrich, plus the giraffes.

 We even saw the lions.

 Paige loves monkeys and sat at this fence for a few minutes just watching this one eat.

 Love the grizzley bears! When we've gone on cooler days, they are so active and came nearly over to the window to give us an up close peek.

We even got to see the polar bear take a short swim. We also watched the seals for a long time in the underwater area. One of our favorite parts of the zoo!

Boston - part 3

 This is one of my highlights of our trip to Boston. We drove down to the coast in Rhode Island and went to one of the most beautiful beaches. No one was there (it was October), so we had the place to ourselves. We played on the sand next to these enormous estates/mansions/bigger than you ever need houses. These homes literally sat on several acres each of beachfront property, with rolling lawns and all.

 We all had so much fun writing names in the sand, running from the waves, and pretty much just being amazed at where we were.

 These four just crack me up. They all have such a neat friendship. Even now (months later) when Kate and Zoie facetime, out of the blue they let each other know that they miss the other. It's really sweet. Paige even still asks weekly, "Where's Zoie? Where's Bonnie?" We sure love our friends!!!!

 Poor Jed. He was stuck with 6 girls for several days (Haydn had to work), but he was a trooper.

Boston - part 2

 Day 2 of Boston. Seriously the best fall weather we could have (70 degrees!) so we headed to Salem for the day. I never thought I'd actually go to Salem and we had a blast. We dressed the girls in their Halloween skirts and they were loved by all :) Salem is really a neat place with some crazy history.

 My bestie (although we are blurry. I guess I need to teach Jed "manual mode"). Boy have I missed her since she moved, but it was so fun to spend so much time together!!!!

 These crazy girls had way too much fun together. We visited a cemetery in Salem. Amazing to see such old dates on the headstones.

 This was taken just outside a delicious restaurant we ate at for lunch. We ate some "chowda" outside on the patio overlooking the marina in the beautiful sunshine in the middle of October! Such a fun day!