Learning to Ride a Bike, Gymnastics, and Golf! {Rest of August}

Aug. 16- Gramma is in Florida so Pappy watched BellaMei for a couple of hours by himself.  He baked his very first batch of homemade cookies with her!  It is wild to think these two were born 7,000 miles and 65 years apart, one into an Amish family and one into an Atheist country, and yet here they are!  Baking cookies together! 💕

Because I didn't want to add one more activity to our schedule outside the house, the girls started gymnastics in the basement with mom. 😄  Monday nights at 6pm!

We will see how this goes! I worked at a gym in high school, but BellaMei was already questioning my instructor status on the first night. 😆

Beilyn is only doing the stretching part since her new spine doctor said no gymnastics. Brielle is practicing her skills too. She's *this* close to a standing back tuck by herself!

Golf is in full swing & we are loving it! It's so fun to watch them play.

They did a match play with Washington. Braylee, Brynna, and Liv all won!

BR and WHS golf teams.

Aug. 17- After watching the other girls ride their bikes while camping over the weekend, BellaMei was determined she was going to get rid of her training wheels!  She was a quick learner and took right off!

This morning, I was thinking I had taught my last baby how to ride a bike, but then I remembered that Beilyn is still against learning to ride. I put these training wheels on a bigger bike for her to try this evening. She went about 10 ft, climbed off and said, "Too dangerous." 😂

So she walks while the others ride. 😊 BellaMei is already good enough to go up and down the street!

Aug. 21- Saturday Invitational at Vincennes. Their cousins came to cheer for them!

Sometimes, they just look extra cute before church and I want a picture. 😊💕

The big girls took the little girls to the movies.

Aug. 23- I love when the teacher posts pictures of the kids at school.

Aug. 24- And while the girls are school, BellaMei is still enjoying summer with her friends!

Aug. 26- They had a quad meet with WHS, SV, and Jasper. They came in 2nd.

Aug. 31- Bria was home sick from school. BellaMei was so happy to have her sister home to play with her!

BellaMei loves to fix my hair. She's a little OCD about how she prepares all of her supplies. 😄

Lincoln State Park

We survived the first week (3 days 😉) of school and treated ourselves to a weekend of camping with our besties! We hadn't been to Lincoln State Park since October 2007!  Brynna had just started walking (Now she's in high school!) and Krista was very pregnant with Addie at the time.  So 3 kids then to 9 kids now! August camping can be so hot & humid, but we had a beautiful weekend! 

Thursday was only BellaMei's 2nd day at home all by herself and it was getting to her. 😄  There was a lot of moping around in the morning.  After story time at the library, I told her we were going home for lunch. She asked, "and eat with my whole family?" 😢💕 I told her, "No, it's just you and me, remember?" "Ok, but I want to save some of my food for Bria." 💗 An hour later, she was asking how much longer until the girls would be home. She did entertain herself though by copying the skills in the gymnastics book she chose at the library! This one on one time with her will be extra special, but I know she's really missing her sisters!

Lazy Saturday morning

Then off to hike.

The big sisters...

and their miniature version. 😊

Where Abe Lincoln's childhood home stood.

I love big, old trees. 💗

After dinner, we thought we would take a little hike/bike ride to the lake again. Then we decided we would go on to the fire tower.  It took a little longer than we remembered!  It was almost dark by the time we made it back to the campsite.

BellaMei was terrified of the climb up the fire tower and yet was also determined to make it! Thumbs up for conquering her fears!

Beilyn walking her baby. She is going to be the best mommy someday.