The kids has returned...

Jena is back from her nine day adventure in France.  Her life will never be the same!  She visited Paris and St. Malo.  They toured the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Monet's Garden, the Paris Opera Ballet, Mont St. Michel and several other famous spots.  And she got to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle as fireworks exploded for Bastille Day.  She brought her sisters lots of Eiffel Tower themed souvenirs (because that's what they wanted).  She said the battery died in her camera for about three days (we didn't think to get the adapter for European outlets).  There's really nothing that I can post, because I wasn't there, but the pictures are amazing.  So, here ya go...

Lots and LOTS of driving

We are home from three days of LOTS of driving.  Ashni competed in the National Championship for fencing.  The competition was is Columbus, Ohio on the 4th.  This was a huge competition for her and gave her a good idea as to what to expect at bigger tournaments.  I think the size of the whole thing may have made her a little nervous (although she is not one to admit to being nervous).  She was knocked out in the first elimination bout, but she was still ranked 50 or so in the nation, so that is something to be really proud of.  We are very proud of her.  I told her she has four years to get ready for the Olympics in Brazil (and I need to go to Brazil).

So, we drove to Ohio on the 3rd, fenced on the 4th and had to drive back to Jackson, MS on the 5th so that Jena could make her flight to France this morning.  It was a 12 hour drive, but thanks to some really sweet friends we had a place to crash overnight.  We got Jena on the plane this morning with no trouble.  She should land in Paris in a few hours.  She was SUPER excited and I can only imagine the great time she will have.

Ahhhh, summer.

Tomorrow is the first day of summer!  Yay!  So, I figured I'd share some things that we've done over the past couple of weeks (as well as some cute outfits).

We took a group field trip to a small local farm and look at the sweet little farm girl that I found there!  The girls had a great time.  They picked and ate blueberries, fed sheep and horses, milked goats and fed the babies.  Zion gathered eggs and diligently (and carefully) carried them in the little basket for the rest of the trip.  She was excited to bring these eggs home and have them for dinner.

Summer has provided us with much more time to spend with our friends.  There's nothing better than sweet friends, sprinklers, Popsicles and backyard picnics!

Then there's this.  This girl is the sweetest little human being.  And this frilly, sheer floral top (Guess - $.99 at Goodwill) is one that she LOVES!  Look at that face...

Ashni is discovering her love of accessories.  This fedora gets worn a lot.  She looks so grown up when she accessorizes.

My girls are plagued (ha) with long legs and super thin waists and my husband is plagued with his disdain for them showing too much skin.  This makes buying shorts difficult.  Bijou, on the other hand, is just the right size for her shorts to fit in the waist, but not be too short.  Yay!

pink shoes - Keds ($2.99 at Goodwill)

shorts - not sure of the brand ($1.49 at Goodwill)

tank top - Land's End (free, hand me down)

Total outfit - approx $4.50

Our annual Father's Day spread.  Every year on Father's Day, I make my husband a spinach, portobello and Gruyere quiche.  It only happens once a year and it is a huge hit every time.  This year, we also had roasted potatoes, cherries with fresh whipped cream (thanks Jena) and the girls squeezed two dozen oranges for juice

School, of course, continues over the summer.  Bijou has been working on adding two digit numbers with carrying and Zion is still working on her letter sounds.  She really wants to learn to read.

It's always fun to find pictures like this on my phone.  This is what happens when kids sneak and use your phone while you are getting dressed.  (Notice the stockpile of Girl Scout cookies in the background.)

The playground is a good (free) way to kill time between afternoon activities.  We spent a little time there this afternoon.  I love this lucha libre shirt (Boo Homes - $1.49 at Goodwill) that Bijou is wearing.  LOVE IT!

Zion at the monkey bars

desert boots - Crew Cuts ($2.99 at Goodwill)

trousers - Old Navy ($.99 at Goodwill)

popsicle tank - Gap ($.99 at Goodwill)

Total outfit - approx $5

This is what big sisters are for - to wear little sisters like hats! 

pink sneakers - Vans (previously featured)

shorts - Judith March ($2.49 at Goodwill)

t-shirt - Cherokee (free hand me down)

Total outfit (without shoes) - approx $2.50

We leave in two weeks to take Ashni to fence in the Summer National Championship in Ohio.  Jena leaves for France two days after.  We will go to St. Louis at the end of July to pick up my mother for a visit.  There will be field trips and play days and workshops to fill up all the rest of our long summer days. I'm looking forward to having a great and productive summer!