10 Years Ago...

It was a beautiful July afternoon - the weather was perfect, the church was packed with family and friends, and two young people were starting their lives together. That beautiful afternoon ten years ago, I married my true love and my best friend!

In one sense, it seems like yesterday that we were standing in front of all our friends and family, sharing our vows and promises to each other.  I can close my eyes and remember almost everything from that day - getting ready for the wedding, taking pictures, decorating the reception hall.  All the while having butterflies (wonderful butterflies) inside!

In another sense, I reflect back on all the things we have accomplished in those ten years and it amazes me!  We moved away from Sioux Falls and lived in Nashville for nearly 6 years.  Not only did we start our lives there, but we met amazing lifelong friends there.  Ryan obtained his PhD from Vanderbilt, we moved back home, and we had two beautiful daughters!  I would say we've accomplished a lot of great things in the past ten years!

I am extremely grateful for the life Ryan and I have created together. While we have our share of frustrations with each other from time to time, I think we compliment each other very much!  I can't wait to share another 10 years with Ryan (times 5)!!

And so to celebrate these past ten years, we are off to Turks and Caicos with Scott and Abatha (who are also celebrating their 10th anniversary this year).  We are going to rest, relax, and reflect on the past ten years and celebrate what's to come in the next chapter of our lives!

What we are obsessed with...

In the spirit of school starting up again soon, I thought it would be fun to create a list of things that we are obsessed with right now or can't get enough of.... from A to Z!  I plan to post once or twice a week the things we are loving right now... enjoy!

Quinn - Arts and Crafts

You can find Quinn most days coloring, making beaded necklaces, painting, cutting - all in all making things to share with others.  She could spend hours each day completing these tasks and I have to admit that she is darn good at them!  She definitely has a creative bone in her body and loves to express it through arts and crafts!

Sullivan - ABCs

Sullivan is obsessed with the ABCs.  Not only does she like to sing the ABC song, but she loves to point out letters she knows in print.  She has S and O mastered and seems to really know E.  We will keep working on the rest.

Ryan - Astronaut Ice Cream

Ryan is a kid at heart.  He loves all things representative of his childhood.  One thing he used to eat as a child was astronaut ice cream, which is freeze dried ice cream.  A while back, we found a store here in Sioux Falls that carries it.  He loves getting this from time to time.  Not only is he a big fan - he has also gotten Quinn obsessed with it too!

Audra - Antiquing 

Who would have thought, huh?!  I am not a die hard antiquer but I do like to accessorize my house with some small antiques.  My sister, mom and I will spend an afternoon from time to time looking for things for our homes. It is always fun to scour the antique malls and reminisce about things remembered from our childhood.  

A Sweet Swing Set

After many years (yes years!) of saying that we need to get a swing set for the backyard, we finally got around to getting one for the girls!  Ryan has been such a trooper about spending the past couple of weekends assembling it - and he has done a fantabulous job!

Ryan started assembling it on the Fourth of July and has been putting the finishing touches on it for the past couple of weekends!  Because the weather has been so unbearably hot, the girls have not really had a chance to enjoy it yet.  They have, of course, tested it out and given it the signed seal of approval, but they haven't spent a great deal of time on it!  Soon...!

Sullivan watching her dad assemble the swing set.

Sullivan gives her dad directions -- as if to say, "You are doing it all wrong!  Do it like this!" 

While Sullivan was busy given orders to her dad - Quinn was off riding her bike!

The finished project - minus the tarp that goes on top and the unfinished rock wall on the right side!

The girls enjoying the swing set - you can't get Sullivan off the swings!

Way to go, Ryan!  You did a great job putting this all together! I know for certain that the girls are going to love it!

Hot and Humid

The weather here has been unbearable... terribly hot and humid.  We have been in a heat advisory for the past week with the heat index near 105 -110 degrees.  It makes it miserable to even step outside.  I like the heat - but seriously - not like this!

Meredith, Matt, and my mom stopped over on Tuesday night to see the girls and check out the new swing set.  In an attempt to snap a couple of pictures, this is what I got:

Gotta love the humidity!

Imagine, if you will, what the humidity does to my hair!!  Sad when my husband even agrees that I do in fact have "poofy hair"!  Because I would never let anyone snap a picture of me in this humidity, use this model as an example of what my hair just might look like.  Ugh!!!

Sullivan's Latest

My dear, sweet Sullivan can sing her ABCs!  We have been practicing this skill for quite some time, but most recently it has all come together!  Before bedtime we always read books and sing a few songs.  High on her list of favorite songs are "You are my Sunshine" and "The ABCs".  Most often she wants you to sing the songs to her, but as of lately she has been chiming in and helping sing the songs too!

Here is a short video of Sullivan singing her ABCs.  While she is capable of doing this all by herself, she sometimes looks for some help.  You will hear the great accompaniment of yours truly in the video... enjoy!

The Same, But Oh So Different

When Sullivan was born, we were shocked at how similar she looked to Quinn.  We have pictures hanging on our wall taken of the girls at one week old.  Can you tell who is who?

(Quinn on top and Sullivan on the bottom)

While they looked the same at birth, Sullivan's looks have changed over time and today I am not certain anyone would pair these two as sisters.  Take a look and weigh in... any resemblance to each other?!

          

Anyone who knows the girls, knows that (looks aside) the girls couldn't be any different.  They each have their own unique, wonderful personalities. Despite their very different personalities, the girls get along great and compliment each other very well! As a mother, I couldn't ask for anything more!

A Sad Day...

Muthuselah, the 130 year old tortoise from Reptile Gardens in Rapid City passed away this weekend.  She was born in 1881 in the Galopogos Islands.

This tortoise has been at Reptile Gardens since 1954, which means thousands of people have ridden on or petted this gigantic tortoise.  With most of our family vacations out in the Black Hills, I have many fond memories of visiting Reptile Gardens and riding on this tortoise.

(photo courtesy of Grandma Jane - Check out those outfits she dressed us in!)

They stopped allowing children to ride the tortoises about 10 years ago, however they continue to be a major attraction at Reptile Gardens. We went to Reptile Gardens 3 years ago when Nate, Scott and Abatha visited us.  Nate and Quinn were intrigued by the tortoises and spent quite a bit of time observing and petting them.

Nate and Quinn enjoying Muthuselah, the tortoise, back in July 2008.

Ryan and Quinn posing with this gigantic creature!

In honor of Muthuselah passing away recently, Quinn and Grandam Jane decided to create a Lite Brite in her honor last night.

I am sadden to hear that this tortoise has passed away.  She lived an incredible 130 years... amazing!  What stories do you think this turtle would have to share, if she was able to talk?!?

A Stunning Resemblance

As part of an art project at Kid's Club, Quinn planted some grass seed in a styrofoam cup.  They were asked to bring the cup home, water it, and see if anything grows.  Quinn took on the challenge and did just that.  Over the past couple of weeks, she has been taking care of her cup and reminding us to water it daily.

The results....?!  

I had been helping Quinn water her grass for several days and never noticed the drawing on the cup.  I stumbled upon it one day and made a comment about it to Quinn in passing.  I said to her, "Quinn, I love the picture of the little girl on your cup.  You are such a great artist."  She promptly relied in a confused tone of voice, "Little girl? That's no little girl. That is a picture of me!  I am growing myself some green hair." 

Of course it is her - how could I not see the striking resemblance sooner?!

Being as witty as she is, Quinn joked that she is going to have to show Dad how to grow hair since she has proven to be good at it!  Wouldn't you love to see Ryan with some tall green hair (or any hair at all)?!

Children's Museum

The Pooley ladies took a road trip this week to Brookings, SD to go to the new Children's Museum.  We were able to share this great experience with our neighbors.  They have two girls, Gabby and Livi, who are very close in age to our girls.  They get along GREAT and are practically inseparable most weeknights and weekends!

We had never been to the Children's Museum before, but had heard wonderful things about it.  After being there, I certainly see why everyone is raving about this place...it is truly a child's dream!  Thankfully the neighbors had been there before, so they could show us all the highlights and great things to see and do there!

Climbing the clouds to the sky... Gabby, Quinn, Livi, and Sullivan.

Quinn laying with the piggies on the farm.

Livi, Quinn, and Sullivan gathering vegetables from the field on the farm.

Sullivan grabs tomatoes while Quinn opts for the flowers. 

The cute little grocery store.

Quinn and Sullivan shopping for groceries.  

The Water Room... if you love a good smell of chlorine, this is your place!  Lots of fun for all the girls.

Who doesn't love a giant Lite Brite?!?

Gabby, Livi and Quinn make sandwiches in the restaurant while....

 Sullivan cleans up!  (Good girl!)  

Finally... the girls enjoyed the water fountains outside.  The perfect way to end a great day!

Livi and Sullivan exploring the water together.

We had a blast spending the day with Jamie, Livi, and Gabby.  We can't wait to do it again!

4th of July

Our Fourth of July festivities were plentiful this year.   We were able to spend lots of time with our families and with our friends!  I am certain that I may be about 5 pounds heavier today after all the great food I consumed this weekend!  Oh well, all worth it!

We first spent Sunday night at Nana and Papa's house (Ryan's parents) - great food and great company! Papa did a great job grilling our burgers and Nana did just as great with all the fixings.  I intended to bring the camera to snap a few pictures, but the camera battery needed to be charged.  Bummer!  Despite not having any pictures to capture the night, we had a blast!

Sullivan's 4th of July outfit.  Check out those boots! 

Another Picture of Sullivan - showing her true personality! 

Quinn's 4th of July outfit.  What a cutie!

Monday evening we went to my sister and brother-in-law's house to grill out and enjoy some fireworks with my mom and some friends. All four of the little girls there played well together and enjoyed each other's company!  Sullivan was much younger than the others but she didn't let that phase her one bit.  At times she looked like a little duckling following her clan around, but the girls were great about including her!

Sullivan initially was very hesitant about fireworks.  The sound of any firecracker (even 14 miles away) bothered her.  She would say "I scared" and cover her eyes.  She warmed up to snaps and couldn't get enough of them.  However, she improvised the strategy for using snaps a bit.  Instead of throwing them, she had someone place them on the ground and then she would stomp on them.

Sullivan stomping on her snaps.

Getting some help from Reagan.

Quinn's great love this year was parachute fireworks.  She, along with Reagan and Camryn, loved to chase the parachutes and collect them.  Unfortunately the wind was not our best friend Monday night and several of them landed in trees and on rooftops. Oh well, there were still plenty of parachutes to be had for all of the girls!

The girls getting ready to chase the parachutes.

While the older girls chased parachutes, Sullivan found a favorite lap to sit in and take in the views. She found safety and comfort in her daddy's lap. 

Quinn was able to catch a large parachute, despite the windy weather that threatened any chance of catching them!  

Quinn enjoying snaps of the patio.

The big girls got to do sparklers when it started to get dark.  By that time, Sullivan was already fast asleep and had no clue what she was missing!

We shot a great deal of fireworks Monday night and enjoyed almost ever minute of it.  I have to admit that I am not a big fan of bottle rockets. I am always fearful that they will start a fire on a rooftop, shoot out someone's window or that one will be a dud and shoot towards us.  All the other fireworks were good - the company even greater!  All in all, a fabulous weekend!