SO LONG PLEASANT RUN!

Well, after 8 1/2 years (and about $70k Rob figured out the other day) at Pleasant Run daycare...today was our last day there! Actually it was Emily's last day, but since Adam started there when he was 14 months old, it feels like we've all been going there a pretty long time! I'll admit I was a little sad when Adam and I picked her up for the last time tonight. She's still not sure what to expect in kindergarten, but we know she is more than ready.

Emily's teachers in the 5's room (aka the Monkey Room) Miss Susan and Miss Kayla.

FAMILY TIME

Change of plans this weekend...the Russell's were supposed to come to Springfield, but Ethan started football and had practice Saturday and a scrimmage game on Sunday. Since the kids hadn't seen each other all summer, we decided the Powers would go north this weekend and then leave the kids up there on Sunday until Tuesday after work.

The 4 Muskateers!
Colleen and I took the girls to Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale Saturday afternoon and painted ceramics at the Painted Penquin. Of course, what else do 4 girls do at a mall?

We SHOPPED!
After a wonderful dinner at the Genghis Grill, we played a mean game of Scattergories. Each team consisted of one parent/one kid...and lots of laughter!
Mr. Cool and Bozo the Clown

Ethan & Colleen

Kelsey & Aaron came in first place...if you couldn't tell!

Sunday morning at Ethan's football game. What a gorgeous day!

ONE MONTH!

Congratulations to Rob for being smoke-free for one month! We love you and are SO proud of you!!

STATE FAIR TWILIGHT PARADE

Last night was a beautiful night for a parade, so we trekked out to the fairgrounds for opening night to catch the Twilight Parade. We grabbed a couple snacks and a few lemonade shake-ups along the way. Rob and Emily rode the cable cars (if you remember last year's fair post, I swore never to ride those again!) and Adam and I walked over to the Giant Slide. The night ended with a great fireworks display and a couple very sleepy children on the ride home!

Several fire trucks led the front of the parade.

Of course Emily thought the sirens were way too loud!

Robert's hat came in handy for Emily, Melanie and Sarah to catch some candy!

Our friends Janet & Maddie and Vicki & Elizabeth walked with their Showstoppers group, but I wasn't quick enough to get a picture of them!
Pleasant Run daycare (aka Emily's "school") also walked as a group in the parade. We could have walked too, but decided to watch instead. That's Emily's teacher, Miss Kayla, right above the "s" in Pleasant.

Sampling some good old fashioned fried grease at the fair!

Emily wanted to see the baby animals so we stopped in the tent to take a look. They had some baby pigs, baby chicks and this adorable 3 day old dairy calf. Emily asked where it's mommy was and the owner told us that after a dairy cow gives birth, they are immediately taken away from their calf so they can start producing milk again quickly. The calf is then bottle-fed. The kids and I were sad to learn that the calf never sees its mother again. Isn't she the sweetest thing though?

BOY'S TURN!

Finally, after a long, busy summer...Adam got to have his pool party. He mostly invited friends from his summer camp, plus one of his old friends from daycare that he still hangs around with. Unfortunately 2 of his friends couldn't make it so we only had 4 boys, which actually was plenty! Our noodles took a beating, and I don't think the dolphins will ever be the same after today, but a fun time was had by all!

Adam requested that I make Pickle Pops (frozen pickle juice) which was a HUGE hit with the 9 year old crowd!

Hence, the aforementioned "beat the heck out of each other with a noodle" game.

Taking a short rest for pizza and soda!

WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD!

Friday night we headed out to Rotary Park for the annual (and free) "Movie in the Park" sponsored by the Springfield Park District. Since they were showing the Wizard of Oz, the park was packed! We didn't get there in time to meet the characters, but luckily the McKeown's (and Emily K.) saved us some grass space until we could meet them there. The weather was perfect, the movie started about 8:45 pm and was over by 10:15 pm. Rob commented he had never watched that movie that quickly before...since there were no commericals!

Emily K., Maddie, Emily P. and Melanie

Poor Adam...he's always surrounded by the girls!

The JUMBO screen!

Janet, Robert and Rob (and a secret cooler of Bud Light!)

EMILY "PICASSO" POWERS

The other day on the computer bus (at pre-school) Emily got to pick a prize from the treasure chest. She chose a paint by numbers set, but when she started to work on it that night, we discovered it was a little advanced for her age. So I went to Walgreens and found another set just perfect for 5 year olds! She did a fantastic job on them and is really becoming quite the little artist! (Side note to family members: these sets would make excellent birthday and/or Christmas gifts!)