Peyton: Field Trip & Tail Gator

Peyton had a fun Friday! She and her fellow 4th graders spent the day at the Peel Mansion where they learned about "Life as a Pioneer". I wasn't able to go, thank you Angela for getting these great photos!
Friday evening we went to the Tail Gator (school fundraiser). I think her favorite part was the Trampoline:

And, being with her friends:

Cotillion Kick-Off 2010

Tonight was the first night of Cotillion for 2010. Mackenzie and friends started the night at Shogun for dinner. They were great, we even got a compliment on their good behavior from someone at the neighboring grill.

Who doesn't love a good volcano?
Kendra drove the girls and I drove the boys from Shogun to Cotillion (very different for this Mom of girls!). I was under strict instructions to not speak, she was afraid I might say something to embarrass her.

I think it's crazy how grown up they looked compared to when they started in 2008/6th grade.

Lots and Lots of Great Strides

Our Great Strides to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation was held on Saturday, August 28th. The event raised $80,000+ (goal was $75k). Woo hoo! Just when I think our friends can't possibly be even more amazing - they are! Thanks to all for your donations, support and time! Thank you for loving my girl!

Traci, Trish, Me, Laine & Jennifer

Above - Elise, Mackenzie, Ashley, Care Bear, Allison, & Emily

The Walkin' Wildcats (from Mackenzie's Junior High. Walking in her honor and in memory of Kendra.

Dani & Riley

Above - Logan & Lexa

Above - Ashley & The Care Bear

Allison, Sydney, Molly, Ashley, Care BEar, Emily, Mason, Elise

Below, Dancing provided by BEST. DJ. EVER - Trent!

Above - KDA Girls!

Above - Elise, Mackenzie, Emily Morgan, Mason, Madison & Jessie

Below - SOME of TEAM MACKENZIE! I get a little teary-eyed every time I look at this one!

Below - WJHS students!

Above - My girls! I could not love them more.

Day One, 2010-2011

Obligatory first day of school pictures:


Peyton with Mrs. White.


Mackenzie before we left home, and on the way.


It's going to take a few mornings to get used to Peyton's 7:30 start time, and Mackenzie starting an hour and five minutes after that. The morning tornado is spread out over a greater amount of time, does more damage. Mostly concentrated in the kitchen.

Back To School

Where did the summer go? I can't even look back on the blog to find out considering I posted a whopping 6 times. Yesterday we went to Peyton's Open House and met her teachers. She'll be changing classes for the first time and has three teachers.


We got this fun tag to hang on our visor:


It's going to come in handy during dismissal when all 900 students are released at the same time!

Now, off to enjoy our last day of summer vacation and an early bedtime for Peyton's 7:30 (!) start time.

Flash Me Friday - Artwork

My favorite artwork? Anything my girls create! They are getting older and unfortunately they don't bring home nearly the amount they did when they were little (especially Mackenzie being in Junior High) but I still love everything they do!

We don't have much hanging on the walls since we moved in the house (over a year ago, partly because we need to buy some things to hang and partly because Jason does not like to hang things!), but this bulletin board is something I definitely wanted since we went with the stainless refrigerator that I can't cover in rotating artwork (and reminders) anymore.

More Flash Me Friday - Artwork!

Our New Addition

Introducing the newest member of our family, a guinea pig named Gizmo.

Mackenzie's been wanting a hamster or guinea pig for quite a while and Peyton started in this summer. I was the last hold out and we started the hunt. The plan was to wait a bit but a friend on facebook posted he was looking for a new home for Gizmo.

We decided to surprise the girls. That part didn't go quite as planned...Jason got home with him and we were outside looking at him when Peyton came out to put something up in the garage refrigerator. She got a glimpse of the cage and started screaming with excitement. She had to go get her Mackenzie before she could go see him though.

Here is Eddie meeting his new brother, I am certain they should never meet without a cage or door between them!
Very exciting evening at our house tonight. Now if only my pleading eyes worked as well on Jason as the the girls' do so I could get my second dog!

Flash Me Friday - Your Outdoor Space

A fellow CF Mom, Jen, has a weekly linkup "Flash Me Friday", where everyone blogs a certain area of their homes (without picking up). I haven't participated yet - as you can all tell, I've been a bad little blogger. BUT - I just happened to have photos Jason just texted me to go along with this weeks theme of "Your Outdoor Space".

So, it's not all of my outdoor space but the outdoor space that has had the most focus over the past few weeks because Jason has been busy every weekend working on it. A while back we got a great deal on this grill and it's been waiting to be installed. Jason built ALL of this, base, concrete top, masonry, woodwork. I was pretty impressed. He also put in the walkway.

Next big project the girls have requested...TREE HOUSE!

CF Clinic, Annual

Mackenzie had her annual check-up at the ACH CF Clinic and instead of making the trip to Little Rock in one day like we usually do, we decided to go for a few days and have a little fun.

We went down on Sunday so Monday we were able to go to Wild River Country. We were there when they opened and stayed for EIGHT hours.

Fun time! After joining Jason and the girls on the slides, they let me go hang out on the Lazy River while they had fun. What do we need to have to make a Lazy River at our house? After eight hours we left, went to dinner and then I was rewarded with:
Please, The Container Store, come to NWA. I promise we will all spend our money on your products.

Tuesday morning started for Mackenzie with NO food in preparation for her glucose test. 9 am she had her CT scan and then we headed over to the CF Clinic for everything else. We were very excited for a great appointment (Mackenzie normally struggles this time of year). Pulmonary Function Test FEV1 was the best it had been since 2005 at 83%. Glucose test was good. Weight was good. Height was a little too good (she's about a quarter of an inch away from being my height! I have always hoped for my girls to be taller than me so I'm happy for her). Hopefully we'll get the results from the CT scan and the culture soon. They also added Hypertonic Saline to her treatments, she is relieved that she can breathe it during the Vest so it doesn't add more time.
Mackenzie with Dr. Warren!

Father's Day 2010

We had a nice day! We slept in, then Jason's choice for breakfast (bacon, biscuits & gravy, orange juice). Gifts (shirt, shoes, and ear protectors for when he mows - which he joked was the BEST Father's Day gift ever. I had to let him know that they weren't for wearing in the living room during our conversations, ha!). We went to see Toy Story 3 (so great, and sad!) then out for dinner and home for a game of Settlers.

And A Few More

Sunday brought day 2 of recital and I had more of a chance to get some snapshots of the girls and some of their friends (the last blog post has pictures of them on stage during their dances).
Peyton and Mackenzie (looks a lot like this picture from last year!):
Madison & Mackenzie:

Alyssa, Mackenzie & Emily:

Audrey & Peyton:

Ms. Tara & Peyton:

Peyton, Ms. Laine & Mackenzie:

Mackenzie & Emily:

Ashley & Peyton: