Back to Reality

Well ... Back to reality ... for the kids that is! Back to School! Summer has been busy, fun, boring, exciting, sad, and full of changes for the girls.  But this week marked the first days of 10th and 3rd grades for them.

First day of 3rd grade.
Lauren was very excited for school. She got the teacher she wanted and so that certainly started things off well.  She now says that Mrs. Pettit is the best teacher ever!  BTW she says that every year.  So 3rd grade brings a lot of new things like multiplication and cursive and she is thrilled.  She was a little bummed that she didn't get it all down in the first week.

First Day of high school for Mikayla!
I know can you believe it?  I am the mother of a child in high school.  Everything went well the first week.  She hasn't come home crying so I think we are doing well.  She even gets to leave for lunch and she walked home a couple of days with her friend and had lunch at home.  I didn't get that privilege in high school.

Here we go. Wish me luck as I am on my own this year with homework, housework, shuttling kids, dance, drama, friends, boyfriends (?eek?) and everything else that goes with having two of the most adorable girls ever.

Denver Summer 2010

So the girls and I went out to Denver to spend a week with Derk and my parent before school started. My brother Jimmy was there too. We had an awesome time hanging out. We tried to soak every minute we had with Derk. The girls really miss their Dad. Lauren didn't leave his side for the first couple of days.

Derk flew home and stayed a few days and then he drove out with us. We arrived on Sat night. Sunday after church we went to Castle Rock to my aunt and uncles house and had dinner. I have always been close with my aunt Teresa and uncle Cobb. I used to spend a couple of weeks with them every summer. My cousin Holly was also in town so I was able to catch up and visit with everyone. It was so nice to see them all!



The next couple days we just shopped. Mikayla had saved her birthday money for this trip and so we had fun exploring all of the malls and outlets stores. Lauren even enjoyed one of the shopping trips to the "American Girl" store. She was in heaven!!! It was fun seeing new stores and having girl time with my mom and Mikayla and Lauren.

Wednesday we took the girls up to a little mining town called Idaho Springs. We toured Argo Mine and panned for gold. It was really pretty cool. Although i get a little freaked out with caves and stuff. so I didn't make it very far inside the actual mine!


The rest of the week was just relaxing with hanging out, shopping, movies, skating, & stuff. Here are a few pics from our trip.

Inside the Mill

Inside the mill

Cool bottles inside the mill

Mikayla and Lauren pushing the cart

Inside the mine

Derk and Lauren. Lauren thought she was cute in the hard hat I guess.

Lauren and I walking up to the mine

Lauren Posing in Jail

Lauren panning

Argo Mine

Me panning

Mikayla Shopping

Lauren's new doll she bought with her own money.

Lauren at the American Girl store

More of Mikayla shopping.

Mikayla just tuned us out

Lots of riding in the car

Outer Banks of N.C. 2010

Porter

Tie Dye Fun

Cheesy Mik

Lauren

   "Life Is Good"

Jimmy and Mikayla

Poppy and Lauren on attack

Mikayla Soaking up the sun!

Caroline and Lauren

Jimmy, Ashley, Heather, Katie, & Sean

Mikayla, Lauren, & Heather

Sweet Kisses

Porter & Katie

Sean, Stacie, Chase, & Cayley

Jimmy, Traci, Madison, & Caroline

Ashley and Evan

Mimi and Poppy with the Gkids

Chapman Cousins

Just wanted to share a few pics from our recent trip to NC.  My parents rented a beach house for the whole Chapman clan.  There were 9 adults and 8 children.  We had a blast!