Friday Night Lights.

Our version of Friday night lights has begun! Liberty started their first varsity season off with a 30-19 win.

It was a HOT and HUMID not exactly "football weather" night- But regardless there is something special about being out there under the lights with all of the excitement! It looks like I might even be able to catch a few more plays this year. The girls were a little easier to keep up with then they have been the last 2 years :).

The best part of the game for the girls is still running out on the field after the game with Daddy.

Flip Flop Fun!

Ava is our shoe girl so a flip flop party seemed fitting to celebrate her second birthday. It wasn't easy finding "theme related" items the end of August so we threw in some beach accents (also fitting since we visited so many this summer). It turned out to be the perfect mix.

We had such a fun day with family and friends. We even were lucky enough to get a few clouds to help with the surface of the sun feeling Texas has right now. Those of us not in the pool sure appreciated some relief!

The cutest sandcastle cake I've ever seen! Straight from Illinois. Why not have your cakes driven in from 13 hours away? Grandma and Grandpa Z and Aunt Lesley are truly the best and have helped make both Mai and Ava's birthdays amazing.

Our "sandy" cupcakes. And some of the cute cookies Grandma Z made.

Party favors and presents. What fun!
Yes, it was a pool party -those Zimmerman girls are trouble. Next year maybe we should have a shower party?

We had BBQ chicken, salads, fruit, and some hot dogs and chips for the kids. All served out of sand pails.

What''s a party without snow cones? Uncle Chris helping make sure Ava got just what she wanted.

Birthday treats and birthday kisses!

I love Ava's happy face in this video. She is so excited to be the birthday girl!

I know it's a little blurry but I this picture shows how much fun Ava was having. She was SO excited about her new purses, jewels and fancy shoes. She was hilarious trying to open the rest of her presents and keep her two purses on her arms. She wasn't putting them down for anything! Finally she trusted her friend Makayla enough to hold onto them so she could finish opening all of her fun presents.

Grandma and Grandpa Mailand got her her very own big girl bike. She is so excited about it and screams "my bike" every time she sees it.
Grandpa and Grandma Z and Aunt Lesley got Ava her very own Gator! She loves throwing her purses in the back and she's off. Part farm girl/part city girl.Mai has been more then happy showing Ava how to drive. We've joked with the neighbors that Ava got a gator and a driver for her birthday. They are having lots of fun cruising around the neighborhood.

Our Ava girl is 2!

I can't believe that this little face

Is now 2 years old. I look at her and am amazed. What a gift she is - she is full of smiles, full of love, and has a healthy bit of fire about her. There are great things ahead for this little one. Happy Birthday Ava girl. We love you to pieces.

**next post our flip flop party/beach bash gone poolside

"Mai's Corn"

On our way back to Texas we made a stop in Illinois to check on the sweet corn that Mai had helped Grandpa plant (and of course see Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Lesley and Great Grandma Z). Mai had been itching to check her corn all summer long and we couldn't get there fast enough.

Hurry Grandpa!

She approves!

Ava's approves too.

Mackinaw

We made it to Mackinaw too. Not to the island this time but, we did Mackinaw City, saw the "big" bridge, bought some fudge.

chased seagulls

built some more sand castles

and of course a swim.

It was about 150 degrees in Texas (probably 200 on the football field) while we enjoyed this... sorry Galen.

We took a break from our day trips and were able to enjoy a few more days with Grandma and Grandpa Herman before we had to head home. We can't thank them enough for letting us stay. We loved being able to be there and with them and are leaving with some great memories.

We're sad to leave, but we'll be back!

"Great Lakes and Great Times" just like the sign says.

The last week of our Michigan road trip we spent at my Grandma Mailands. We took some day trips to some old familiar favorites. We went to one of my very favorite places - Boyne City, MI. The girls got to swim in Lake Charlevoix and see some of the places that hold such great memories for me.

Who wouldn't want to spend time here?

REINDEER HUNTING

Our next big stop was to find some "reindeer". Mai had been looking in the woods at Grandma's and just couldn't find any that weren't "shy". It was frustrating to her that when she got close they would scurry back into the woods. So we found some "reindeer" and elk that couldn't get away. Her face was priceless as she was talking to and petting these animals. Now if only she could figure out how to get one home. Don't think she didn't try.

This last one is my favorite! They had to have been laughing at each other.

A Week of Camp

We had such a great time at camp and yes, I ended up taking lots of pictures... I'm trying to be creative and put together a slide show so you'll have to check back. The Raymo/Jacobs crew was so good to us we can't thank them enough for including us in the fun!

While you wait this is from the kids program on Friday night. The girls had so much fun being on stage for the first time!

Okay, I couldn't decide which one to post so I have to add another.

The Mailand Reunion

I knew at some point Mai's name would be confusing to her. She has never said anything about it - having Grandpa, and Grandma Mailand, Great-Grandma Mailand, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins... I told her as we headed to the Mailand reunion that we were going to see a bunch of Mailands. Well, we did and we saw goats, chickens, dogs, and kittens too. The day was a lot of fun for everyone. About 3 weeks later we were talking about the fun day we had and Mai says "But I never saw any other me's". Ha, in the mind of a 3 year old she was expecting a lot of crazy little Mai's running around! Here are some pictures from the day.
Mai and Ava both LOVED the goats.

They were fed an incredible amount of leaves while we were there. If they tried to go in the barn Mai would stand at the fence and yell - "Goats! Hey, Goat!" They usually came right back out.

We did give them a few breaks while we played and found lots of other fun.

This is Lucky the baby goat. I don't think she's so "lucky" that Mai and Ava were feeding her.

This is the sign of a very good day!

We got to see chickens too and they even caught a couple for the girls to pet (or if you're Mai kiss). Those pictures are on my phone so I'll have to see what I can do.