I have been awful - AWFUL - about taking pictures lately. I get so frustrated with myself every time I look at the camera and realize that I haven't taken any more pictures since the last time I looked at the camera. 

Trying to get better about that! 

We are loving the "fall' weather lately! Last weekend Brent started working on a tree house for the girls (we're calling it a tree house even though it isn't in a tree :)

Our generous neighbors said that we were welcome to have their tree house now that their son has outgrown it. For weeks we have been waiting in anticipation for Brent to finish designing his own version of the tree house, and for the weather to be tolerable enough where he can work all day outside! 

Last weekend it finally happened. It was gorgeous, sunny, and a perfect day to start building! The girls sat outside with him most of the day. 

I helped when I could...

...Allie thought this would be a funny picture! 

She suddenly became very interested in photographing the process.

She took pictures from several different angles. They actually turned out great! 

The frame is up! 

The end of the first day - we have a slide! 

He worked on the tree house all day yesterday, too. I, of course, forgot to take pictures. I'll be sure to add them later. It's going to be wonderful! I love watching Brent's projects come together. He's amazing! 

The girls have been loving school! This year is full of lots of changes, most of them fun :) I resigned from my job as the director of our preschool ministry at church. It was a great opportunity and I learned so much from the experience. Our church is building a new building in a new location. There are lots of transitions that come with that. I felt that it was a great time to transition out of that role and back into the role of mom/wife, attending church with my family for the first time in a couple of years. It has been wonderful! 

I have started substitute teaching at the girls' school. I worked three days last week - once in kindergarten and then two days in a row in the front office. I have several other jobs on my calendar in the coming weeks and I am SO excited! It is so much fun to be back in the school environment. There are days when I find myself really missing teaching! 

Third grade is turning out to be very different from second grade! There are so many more expectations when it comes to organization and responsibility. We're working on getting our binder organized and putting papers where they go instead of just stuffed in the front pocket of the binder :) Lauryn's teachers are great and I am seeing her being challenged right from the start, so we are very happy with that.

First grade is great! Allie loves her teacher (and I do too!) I have seen her become more and more confident in her reading every day! It is so amazing to watch. She writes in her journal at school every day and loves to tell me about it. She has written about anything from our Disney trip last year, to Hope passing away, to her gymnastics class. It seems that whatever is on her mind first thing in the morning is what ends up in her journal. So cute! 

Speaking of gymnastics, Allie has started taking classes again! I have been hoping this would happen. After realizing that soccer and t-ball weren't her thing, I really wanted her to try gymnastics again. She absolutely loves it. And I can't believe I don't have a picture of her on her first day. That is my goal for the week! 

Something that I don't want to forget is how much the girls are into Little House on the Prairie right now! We started reading the book and they loved it. Then we decided to get the first season on DVD from the library, and now they are hooked!! Allie instantly let us know that she wants to dress up like Laura for Halloween. Lauryn jumped on board, so we have ordered handmade bonnets and they should be arriving very soon. :) My goal is to find some "prairie" type dresses at a thrift store or resale shop. I'm actually excited for Halloween this year, which doesn't happen very often - it isn't my favorite holiday :) 

These girls are growing up way too fast! I look back at old blog posts from the days when they were both at home with me all day and I could just cry!! I laugh at the funny things they said and the cute things they did. I told Brent that there aren't as many cute little "phrases" to document now that they are older, and I (obviously) find myself blogging much less than I used to. But the stage they are at right now will be just as precious to me as when they were 2 and 4. I don't want to forget a single thing!