September 3rd, 2018- The Labor Day Update

Another summer has come and gone!  We are in the full swing of a new school year (3 weeks down, 33 to go!) so we must take some time on this labor day to recount Ally's summer adventures.

Ally and I ended our school year in May and said goodbye to both our schools.  The boys finished in early June so we enjoyed some time just the two of us, having playdates and visiting playgrounds.  After the boys were out of school, we joined the pool for the summer and spent many happy hours swimming and playing together.  Of course we also did swim lessons in June and July, which Ally-fish enjoyed and aced!  This was the first year I haven't had to get into the pool for swim lessons with any of the kids- hard to believe!  We also had a bit more 'just girls' time at the end of June while the boys went to a half day camp at a local church- Ally wasn't old enough to attend.  We also did our usual library time- Ally is now my only child young enough for story time, and she quite enjoyed the ones we were able to make!  Our local library has many programs for kids in the summer, all free.  One that we took advantage of was a local theatre company traveled to many libraries and put on 'Frog and Toad' for free!  The boys have been to many plays with me at the children's theatre but this was Ally's first play and she LOVED it!  It was a great production and as a result this fall when I purchase season tickets for the three children's theatre shows, I will be including one for her as well.

 Solo at the playground!

At the pool!

We went on several trips this summer.  The first was to visit my parents while Granny was up visiting from Florida in June.  We had a great week with them, and Mom even took all the girls to tea one day!  She found a tea shop about 45 minutes from her home and treated us all to a tea time lunch.  It was SO much fun, we all dressed up and picked out hats at the shop.  Ally wore a Cinderella dress Mom had bought for her and found a tiara among the hats.  While all the big girls ate tea sandwiches and snacks with a pot of tea we had each picked out (hot cinnamon tea...mmmmmm) Ally got a 'wee tea' with chicken nuggets, smiley fries, strawberries, and a bagel bite, with a tea pot full of lemonade!  She was so well behaved and we all had a great time!

 Princess Ally!

 With her 'tea'

 Her super cute tea pot!!!

Just look at that pinky!

In July we took a trip to the Outer Banks with my family.  We shared one big house and went to the beach and played in the private pool.  We played mini golf, had a few meals out on the town, and drove to the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.  Unfortunately Ally wasn't tall enough to go up the lighthouse (crazy, they had a height restriction and she BARELY missed it) but at least we got to see it up close so it was interesting.  We really appreciate these trips that my parents work hard to provide for us every few years.

 At the Cape Hatteras lighthouse- tallest in North America!

 She's been learning to write her name- she's still having trouble with the 'y'.  

We went to Jeanette's Pier to fish.  Ally lasted about 5 minutes...

A few days later we went to Pawley's Island for a long weekend with Russell's family.  We never went to the beach but we spent some time in the nice pool right next door and got to go to an indoor fun zone when the weather wouldn't quite cooperate.  The kids had such a good time visiting with all their family and we really appreciated our family coming together to provide this family trip as well.

While I went back to school for work week, the kids stayed with my parents alone for about a week.  They got spoiled with trips to the children's museum, trampoline park, and many lunches out (plus, iPads for everyone at once!).  This was Ally's first time away without Mommy and Daddy (in the past it had just been the boys who got to go) but she loved her time with Nanny and Gramps and had a lot of fun. 

School started the next week, and Ally was so excited to go to school with her brothers, and ride the bus with them too!  She got to meet her teacher a few days before and explore her classroom, and we got to give the Dandy-Walker/hydrocephalus/low muscle tone what-to-watch-for talk.  But it has been fine and she loves school as we knew she would.

First day of Pre-K!

Ally had her yearly neurosurgery appointment in July.  We saw a new resident and he has said we don't have to come back for regular appointments anymore!  We just need to bring her in if there are concerns we need addressed.  We are soooo thankful for the continued blessing of a properly working shunt- June was four years from her original surgery and counting.

Some shots from our family photo shoot on July 4th.  All credit of Beth Preston at Rebel photography 

The fall looks to be fun and eventful- Ally starts ballet and tap lessons this week, and started back to AWANA Cubbies as well.  We will be having many fall adventures together as a family, which we will update on by the end of 2018!!  Thanks for your continued interest and prayers for our Ally girl!