Summer is here!

Although school was officially out last Wednesday, it feels like summer vacation just started this week!

Last week I was in the midst of the last minute planning for our largest event of the year, our Pink Ribbon Tea Party. We were expecting over 400 women of all ages, which requires a LOT of planning. What an understatement! Plus having been out for the almost 2 weeks prior due to surgery I had not been carrying my share of the work!

So while the girls had to entertain themselves, basically, I tried to do what I could to help ensure success by Saturday.

Part of it was coordinating children to be in our fashion show.

Handy that I had to "willing" models.

So on Wednesday as soon as school was over, FINALLY!, we made our way to the Cozy Cottage at the Bishop Arts District and found VERY cute outfits for each to wear.

I was determined to have some sort of celebration for the end of the year, so first we stopped at Dicho's for one of Cretia's fantastic cupcakes. Grace has figured out that too much sugar is not good for her, so she turned down a cupcake. Annabel was all for a cookie, only. Hard to live vicariously if they won't comply with all I want to eat :)!

We ended up at Bolsa to buy a gift certificate for our fantastic emcee, Chris Arnold, of the Dallas Mavericks, and decided to stay there for dinner. It was such fun eating something different and enjoying eating outside. They make the BEST flatbread pizzas. Annabel opted for the soup, which was tomato. I asked several times since I could not remember her ever eating tomato soup.

When the soup arrived, she looked at it strangely, tasted it, looked again, tasted it. I knew something was wrong. Finally it came to me that she thought it was POTATO, not TOMATO! She ate it anyway!

I don't remember Thursday. I'm sure it was a great day, just kind of blank tonight!

Friday Mom and Dad wanted to take everyone out to eat to celebrate the end of school. Only responsibility dictated that we visit the funeral home due to a sweet family from church's losing their mother. So our celebratory dinner was at Braums!

Saturday was taken up with the tea party. Thank goodness I have Mom and Dad to run the girls around for me! They did beautifully in the fashion show, the tea party went off without a hitch, and we got to see Aunt Lisa for about 24 hours! She came to take pictures of the tea party so I could see what all I missed!

Thank goodness we have a great group that shares info on events in the area and I found a soccer camp, just up the street for only $30 each! So Monday morning the girls started soccer camp and have been having a great time ever since.

Grace told me tonight though, that every time they break into teams, that she is always the last one chosen. Oh dear! I have tried to explain to both that they have had NO experience playing soccer so how would they be expected to be the best? Yea, it sounds good, but we know it hurts!

On Monday I also found a swimming class at the local YMCA that started that night and had openings for both of their level of ability. Plus it was only $55 per child! So we start off each day at soccer camp, Mom and Dad pick them up at noon. I come running home and we run off to swim class at 6:00!

I don't think I realized that Grace can swim so well! She amazes me at how far she can go. Annabel is still struggling to feel secure jumping off the side into the pool, but each day she ventures out a little more. The teachers are excellent and really take the kids from their comfort level to pushing them further than they thought they could go!

So far they have not had a chance to get bored I don't think!

Even better, starting next week they get to go to the art camp that Marcie is teaching at! And it is FREE!!!!

I have been determined for us to take a vacation this year. For the last 5 years my trips have been centered around 2 to China, which could never be described as a vacation! First I looked at us driving somewhere and realized that Florida is at least 2 days away, with a hotel stay and meals, and me arriving exhausted, it just didn't seem like a good fit. Then Lisa thought we should go to Atlanta to see the pandas. Same thing. It is just too much for me this summer to try to go that far after 2 surgeries in 2 months.

So I have really shocked myself in making reservations for us to go to Cancun! 5 days and 4 nights, with a whole program just for kids! Hopefully there is plenty for the girls to do and I will get some down time! I cannot wait!