Haley's Haven

Also due to my teacher pass of joy, we got to visit Middleton Place, a working plantation/historical preservation site here in Charleston. Ridiculous I know, but I had never been to a plantation down here, though there are many and everyone else in the world has gone. Well, it was really hot, so maybe that colored my opinion, or maybe I am just not as big of a fan of interesting historical sites as I thought I was, or maybe having two overheating girls and an overheating pregnant woman to care for made the place not quite as fun, but... I don't think I will go again. It normally costs $25 per adult - YIKES!!! Auntie Olivia and baby Amelia went with us - very fun to hang out with my dear friend and her unborn child - afterwards we ate at the Boulevard Diner during a monsoon - awesome. Thanks for the fried dill pickles, Olive! :) By the way, Ana was NOT a big fan of cow milking, but HALEY insisted about 5 minutes after we had left the cow that SHE wanted to do it but just not ri...

I posted some pictures from our adventure on Facebook!

Yikes. These are the kinds of outfits that are presented to me at different times of the day. What a wonderful surprise. And by the way, Ana is FINALLY completely potty trained. We just completed our fifth night of sleeping all night in dry big girl undies!!! She, like her sister, just decided one day to do it. I have a theory about my girls - Haley didn't decide to consistently use the bathroom until we were house training Moby last summer, and now Ana decided while we were house training Barley. I wonder if it has helped them to see the process in another living being. Interesting.

Our dear dear friends from missionary training left yesterday for Brazil!! Hooray!! We are so excited for them - they got to spend the night here on their way to Florida. The girls loved spending some time with their old friends, and it was such a joy to catch up with Macy and Jeremy. To see their cute family, go to www.ntm.org/jeremy_ketcham - pray for them as they serve in the mission school!

The girls have been showing their artistic skills lately on their new easel. I haven't been brave enough yet to let them do the painting option - images of pawprints of red paint throughout my house... :) But soon, soon!

Oh, my goodness - Haley racked in the AWARDS! I didn't know that there were so many awards for a K4 class. I love it! You should have seen how happy those kids were running up there to get those trophies, or ribbons, or certificates. I mean, flat out RUNNING! I wish we adults would get that excited about stuff and not be afraid to show it! Haley got a best all around student award, a Bible Memory award, a Reading award, and the highly coveted Citizenship award. Proud Mama. It KILLED Matt not to be able to be there. Here is Ana with her teacher, Ms. Kimmie - the girls' teachers were really great this year. And here is Ana getting a squeeze from Mema :).

These never really turn out that well, do they. But at least you can see all the cuties. We parents were so proud. Did you ever go see that video of Haley? I am TELLING you, it's WORTH it!!! :) And here is Mepa, enjoying the time with the grandbabies.