The Last Day of School

There is this horrible "Fred" movie (if you are not familiar with "Fred" movies then count yourself lucky and please don't look them up - they are awful!) that has a song in it that all of my kids were singing the whole last week of school  "The last day of the school is the best day of school"  over and over again.  We were all excited for school to end!  Lilah is so excited because once school ends, it can start again and she will get to go! (She has been ready to go to school for about a year now.)
 Instead of being frustrated that they didn't "do" anything the last week of school, I decided to just be glad that the kids were having fun and enjoying themselves.  I can just count the last week of school as free babysitting and then it doesn't bug me as much!
We started the day off right with doughnuts for breakfast!  They had a half day and came home for lunch.  We went out to get some celebratory ice cream that and ran a quick errand.  As I herded my five kids through Target (and tried to keep them quiet and orderly and put everything back that they pulled off the shelves and keep Celeste from being run over because she insisted on laying down on the very bottom part of the cart, by the wheels) I remembered why sometimes it's a bit of an adjustment when school gets out and why I don't go out as much in the summer.


Here is a typical "photo shoot" with Madeline:

Mom says "smile" and this is what I get 

Ok - Madeline, smile with your mouth open.

Ummm...not like that - smile and say cheese

Madeline just give me a regular smile.

Can you look at me and smile?

After school ice cream treat!  Anna Elise didn't want ice cream and Celeste didn't want to be in the picture.

Girls Weekend

I had an AWESOME getaway!  It's been several years since the girls all got together so it was about time to have an Allen Girls Weekend!  We all (6 sisters and 1 sister-in-law) traveled to my mom's house for several days of relaxing and fun over Memorial Day weekend!  I flew out to Washington State on Thursday.  My sister Janet and her cute little Stella picked me up at the airport, took me to get my haircut, and then drove us out to my parents house.  The rest of the girls trickled in that evening.  We stayed up WAY too late talking, laughing, and catching up!  On Friday we just hung out and relaxed.  We did a favorites exchange (why didn't we take a picture of all of our favorites?) where we got goodies, kitchen gadgets, and some beauty things too - so fun!  We also worked on a puzzle, played bunco, got beautiful quilts from my talented and amazing mom (yes, she made 7 quilts for the weekend!) and ate some yummy food.  On Saturday we went shopping!  Little Stella hung out with her dad, but Trina's spunky Taelyn got to come with us and did so well!  We drove to Seattle and hit several stores.  I know I stocked up!  When do I ever have a chance to go shopping with my sisters and mom without my kids?  Never!  On Sunday we went to church and relaxed.  Early Monday morning my trusty driver, Janet, drove me back to the airport.  Can't wait to do it again in another couple of years!  I LOVE my sisters and wish I could see them more often.  You gals are awesome!

Meanwhile, back at home, my kids were living it up!  My little ones had so much fun playing at my friends houses on Thursday and Friday.  Over the weekend Mike took them all out to play!  On Saturday they went to the Bass Pro Shop to see fish, color turtle magnets, and hang out.  He also took them to lunch and then home for some fun.  On Monday they went to a Memorial Day presentation, the James River, and a neighbor's BBQ.  They got mom treats and flowers to welcome me home.  I appreciate the great dad that Mike is to our kids!

There we are:  L to R Stephanie, Nancy, Betsy, Trina holding Taelyn, Mom, me, Janet, and Jana

Our haul after a day in Seattle...not bad!

The kids at the Bass Pro Shop 

 At Lowes checking out the riding mowers

Wading in the James River - yes, several of them ended up soaking wet.  Kids don't 'wade'!