Finally - Real Lemonade Stand

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Well the rain finally cleared and we got to do Emily's lemonade stand with real customers!  Everything cost $.25 and Emily was quickly aware that selling 4 things would earn her $1 and possibly some kind of treat from the dollar store.  Entrepreneurship 101. She is definitely catching on to the idea of work = money.  It is cute.

I was really impressed with how attentive she was to the stand.  Each time another customer approached she would run to the stand and offer them lemonade or other treats.  She was excited that we even had some grown-up customers (without kids) and some kids we did not know. It was really fun for all the kids.

Time out to enjoy a cool drink.

I love summer.

The Best (Rained Out) Lemonade Stand Ever

Saturday, June 28, 2014


We had big plans today.  Emily's Strawberry Shortcake market stand (and lemonade stand kit) are a little more than six months old and we had yet to have the much anticipated lemonade stand.  So that was the big plan for tonight - have a lemonade stand and invite friends.

Well, we went to the store this morning to get ready.  We got the lemonade (pink AND yellow), some cookies to bake and frost (complete with a lemon drop for the top) and we even got some candy too.  We got everything ready and then spent the afternoon at the pool.

Then we came home and ate dinner and began setting everything up.  We decided to have it in the evening, after dinner, when more of the kids would be out and about and when it would be a little cooler.  Reagan and Owen came over for dinner and to offer help selling lemonade.  Well, about halfway through dinner I noticed it seemed to be getting darker.  Uh oh.  Then, it happened.  Massive cloud burst.  Loads of rain. Out of nowhere, really.  Three very disappointed kids.  But then we decided what the heck, let's just do it inside. So we did.  And it was fun.  We will try again for an outdoor stand another day.  Maybe tomorrow...

Pool Fun & Mermaid Sighting

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Summer means one thing at our house on the weekends - The Ridges Pool!  Amazingly the water is a little warmer this year and with the new little pool area there is tons of room to swim.  Two years ago for Christmas, Great Grandma Miller gave Emily this awesome mermaid fin that she could swim with in the pool, but this is the first summer she could actually swim with it and she absolutely loves it!  She has also really improved her handstands while wearing it.  Bonus!

    

Mermaid sighting!

Skating Party Days

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Well, I am really glad that Emily had roller skating lessons in gym this year because it looks like we are now in the skating party years!  I have lots of fond memories from my childhood going roller skating (without helmets).  Glad it is still in style.  Emily loves it and she has really gotten pretty good pretty quickly.  She even helped one of her little friends at the party who had never skated before.  So sweet!

Myrtle Beach 2014

June 1, 2014

We spent a whole week at Myrtle Beach again this year and it was awesome.  Way better for me than last year because I was not so tied up with lawyer conference stuff.  Rather than detail the day-to-day activities, I thought I would just share a few pictures of some general highlights.  Here is the stuff we most loved (well, I guess this is the stuff I most loved) from the trip:

The Beach - of course!

The Swimming Pool!

The water slide - Daddy and Emily take the plunge!

 Daddy's New Kite Adventures - It was awesome!

Fun Family Times

Mini Golf at Dragon's Lair at Broadway at the Beach

Grandpa's Hole in One!

Nostalgia Park at Broadway at the Beach - Rides, Rides, Rides!

A Few More Adventures for Emily

Ice Cream Sundaes at the Pool

Build a Beach Buddy

Playground time!

And wrapping up the week (and a couple of nights) with a night swim in the "light up" pool.  Great end to a great week and a great vacation.  We love the beach!! Can't wait for next year already!

Memorial Day Weekend

Sunday & Monday May 25-26, 2014

We (Mommy & Emily) headed up to Dayton for Memorial Day weekend again this year.  It is one of the few long weekends we get so we decided to make the most of it and welcome summer with lots of fun stuff. We started the fun weekend off with some outdoor play at Grandma's house while Mommy shopped at The Greene.  From there we hit Marion's Piazza for dinner and then played a round of mini-golf.  Emily has really been into mini-golf this year for some reason.

Then on Monday we loaded up the car and went to Kings Island!  Emily has been asking to go back ever since we went last year.  So I guess it was a hit!  It was a lot warmer this year than last year, but  it was not too bad.  There is more shade in the kiddie area than I remembered. 

Emily's favorite ride this year was the carousel.  She liked the roller coasters too, but this year the carousel was the most requested ride.  I think she likes it because of all the pretty colored horses and the fact that the ride lasts longer than 10 seconds (which is about how long kids roller coasters last).  Her other favorite was the log flume.  She loves the water rides.  She must get that from Grandma.

She also liked the Surf Dog ride (not pictured), Woodstock Express (formerly known as the Beastie) and the Great Pumpkin Coaster as well as all the other standard kiddie rides.  This year we also braved the Eiffel Tower.  Emily LOVED looking down on all the fun things in the park.  It was definitely a great day.  Lots of screams, smiles, snacks and hugs.  Great way to kick off summer!

Kindergarten Graduation!

Tuesday, May 19, 2014

I know I just said it in the last post, but I cannot believe Kindergarten went by so quickly.  I feel like we just had orientation.  But, here we are.  Kindergarten graduation.  They had the ceremony at Bible Center Church and it started with an end of the year program all about spring.  There was a little story line about growing things in a garden and comparing this growth to the children's growth with Christ.  It was really very good.  So many lines.  So many songs.  They worked really hard.

Once the end of year show ended, there was an intermission.  During Intermission they showed a slide show filled with pictures o all kinds of things the kids during the year.  It was really terrific.  Then the kids came back out wearing their little tiny caps and gowns.  I swear there must not have been a dry eye in the house. So precious.  The recited Psalm 100, sang more songs, and the drama kids performed.

Then they read each child's name and each one came forward, said their name, age and what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Emily wanted to be an adventurer.  Amazingly, they did not read the names alphabetically and Emily was first.  She walked right up to the microphone without hesitation.  Then she got her "diploma."  Unfortunately I was on the wrong side of the room to photograph that part.  It was really a great program and a great ceremony. 

After the ceremony, they had a little party for the kids with cookies and cupcakes and stuff and then we got their diplomas, some other goodies and a packet of pictures of things they did throughout the year - just like the slide show!  I was so excited!  But more fun was still to come.  The party continued at home with gifts and more celebration!

Emily had been wanting the Elsa dress from Frozen since last Christmas.  And as her big graduation gift, she finally got it.  She was so excited (as you can see).  She even wanted to sleep in it.  Luckily Grandma and Grandpa Heintz gave her Frozen pajamas (way better for sleeping) and flip flops.  Grandma and Granddad Miller gave her some of her first chapter books.  After all the gifts were open Emily immediately put on her dress, we filled the House with the music from Frozen and Emily and Daddy took to the dance floor (in our foyer).  I may remember that moment for the rest of my life.  Daddy and daughter twirling and laughing in our parlor.  Priceless.

Elsa!!