A Brief Catch-Up

Ok, yeah, so it's been a while since our last post. I was hoping to have some new pics to include, but I don't yet. Hopefully soon.
After almost 11 weeks in Puerto Rico with their dad, the girls arrived back home on Monday, Aug 18th. As usual, Paul and I drove to Charlotte to pick them up at the airport. After grabbing a quick dinner at Texas Roadhouse (where the staff acknowledged Ally's birthday by having her sit on a saddle and engaged the entire restaurant into one big "Yee-Haw!"), we hit the road. We hoped to make a brief stop at grandma and grandpa's, but (as usual) there was road construction and we were delayed. It was after midnight when we finally arrived home. Fortunately, Paul and I had scheduled the day off on Tuesday, so we were all able to take it easy the next morning.
It is so nice to have our beautiful girls back home with us. Though Paul and I enjoy our "quality time" together during the summer, there is always a feeling of things not being quite right. There is a huge void, that only they can fill. Now that they are home again, things feel like they're back to normal.
Yesterday was the first day of school (Ally-3rd, Angie-1st) and the girls came home happy and excited about their new friends and about starting a new grade. I'm still getting over the hand cramps from all the flippin' paperwork they make us fill out! Ally had softball practice last night, (yes, on the first day of school) so it was a super busy day for her from start to finish. As soon as we got home after work, Ally changed into her practice clothes and Paul whisked her off to practice. When they got home, it was nearly 8:30, and Ally rushed through the shower, wolfed down her dinner, and then finished her homework before zipping off to bed. Fortunately, not every day will be this hectic for her. On Wednesday, Angie and I will check out the local dance studio to see about signing her up for ballet and maybe another form of dance as well. I'm curious to see what this new studio has to offer. Angie really enjoyed her 1st year in ballet, and I'm hoping to continue and encourage that avenue for her.

Happy Birthday Alexandra!!

Today is Ally's 9th birthday. Wow... 9! She is growing up so fast. She and her sister are still in PR with their dad for two more weeks. I called her this morning at 8am, and she had already opened up her gifts and was busy playing with one of them. She was thrilled to tell me she had received a new game for her Nintendo DS: Lego Indiana Jones. She gets a kick out of Indiana using his whip to get the bad guys. She was having such a fun time with it she could barely pull herself away long enough to let me sing happy birthday to her. =)

Today they are planning to go to a resort hotel to play in their swimming pool. It sounds like the perfect thing for this little fishie's birthday. Ally absolutely LOVES swimming.