Safety Town

The city of Strongsville puts on a program called Safety Town for all incoming Kindergartners.

Two hours a day for a week the kids learn about bus safety, learn their phone # & address, go to the police station, go to the fire station, learn about traffic signs, and get to ride in little cars around the town pictured above.  Before we came to Seattle, Mckenna got to participate in Safety Town.  Mckenna had a blast - who wouldn't :)!

On the last day of Safety Town the kids sing a few songs, get a certificate, and shake hands with all the police officers and firefighters they have met throughout the week.

Mckenna looks so little!!!

One of the neat things that I like about living in Strongsville, Ohio!!!

Spa Day

During the first week of summer vacation the girls opened an AMAZING Spa!  Everyone got a chance to visit the spa, choose a treatment (long list prepared by the girls), and lay down for some relaxation.  Even Daddy got a spa treatment when he got home from work.  He choose "the everything" treatment but soon realized that he didn't really want his feet sprayed & wrapped, his ears rubbed, or lip gloss put on - hahahaha!

Mckenna's Spa Treatment!

Mommy's turn!!! 

Who needs to pay for a spa with this treatment at home!

Kiara's turn!  MC loved the spray bottle :)!

Love the creativity of these girls - wonder what the plan is for today!!!

Shoes

Yesterday our family was heading out to run a couple of errands.  The instructions I shouted to Kiara and Mckenna were fairly normal and sounded something like this "Girls, go potty, get your shoes on, and get into the car."  We all piled in the Yukon and began our errands.  We drove to the other side of Strongsville to drop off Kiara's registration for travel soccer and then made our way back towards our house to hit Costco and then Best Buy.  We pulled up to Costco and all got out of the car except Mckenna.  She poked her head out of the car and shouted "I forgot my shoes!!!  I went potty and then forgot to get my shoes!!!!"  Tom, Kiara, and I looked at each other and started rolling.  Only Mckenna could get into the car without shoes on, travel with us for 30 minutes and not realize what she has forgotten until she was climbing out of the car!  Oh - I LOVE this little girl and all her silly antics :)!  We still went to Costco, Mckenna just had to ride in the cart.  The whole time she complained that her feet were cold (with a huge smile on her face of course)!!

 *This is Ava smiling for the camera - hahaha

Back to Ohio after a month on the road

Seattle, Seaside, Bainbridge, and Vancouver Island were amazing (pics to come).  There is so much planning and anticipation leading up to the trip and then before we know it we are back on our own couch in Ohio.  Walking into our house on Wednesday night was a great feeling.  Our house, our toys, our food, our schedule.  Those familiar and welcoming things were quickly not important on Thursday morning.  Thursday was a difficult day for all of us.  What a transition.  We went from family, chaos, laughter, playing, and being surrounded by so many people that love us and that we love to just the five of us in Ohio.  After Kiara walked around our house in circles for about an hour, she settled down and drew this picture.  Brings tears to my eyes to think about how she is trying to process her feelings. 

I found the picture that night when I was picking up and knew exactly what she had drawn.

This is a picture of the place that Kiara, Mckenna, Mason, Gabe, and Ryan went for walks with Gram and Gramps every morning on Vancouver Island.

On Friday morning I woke to Mckenna bouncing into our room shouting "good morning!!!"  quickly followed by a very happy (and fever free) Ava.  Kiara came into our room about 45 minutes later and said with a huge smile "I just finished my book!"  Whew - bad Thursday gone and a happy family once again.  We have been swimming in our pool a ton and made it back just in time to go to the Strongsville Homecoming Carnival!

The girls waiting for a ride

I realize I always take pictures of the Tom and the girls on the Carousel - I can't help it :)!

Love these girls and their happy smiles!