Ava's Newest Hairstyle

This past week Ava has thrown a fit in the morning after we fix her hair. We finally understood what she was wanting. She wanted her ponytail to stick straight up off her head(See picture below). It reminds me of the little Cindy girl on the Grinch movie. It lasts long enough to get her out the door and lucky for mommy it's back to normal by the time I pick her up.

A Mom's Prayer on the First Day (&every day) of School

(Courtesy of Meredith's Blog)

Here we are again, Lord. Their backpacks are loaded and their faces are scrubbed and their lunch accounts are full.

And I know you'll walk with them, Lord. You always do. But a mom still has to ask.

Will You walk with them? Will You whisper to them what they need to hear, when I'm not there to whisper it?

Will You please, oh please, cover their school with the protection only You can give, and will You keep harm far away?

Will You make their minds strong and ready to learn? Will You help them understand that hard work honors the One who created them?

Will You guide their teachers, giving them patience and wisdom and creativity and more patience? Will You bless them for their efforts?

Will You love all those children there, the ones whose lunch accounts aren't full, the ones who feel alone? Will You teach my children to be kind and unselfish and to love those who are different from them?

Will You point them back toward home just as soon as you can?

Lord, I give them to You today and everyday, trusting them to Your care.


Amen.

1st Day of 1st Grade

Today Grace started back to school. She is now officially a 1st grader. She was so excited to go back and see all her friends. Mommy is excited that she got Mrs. Duty as her teacher. I have been given lots of GREAT reviews about Mrs. Duty.




Ava was upset that she didn't get to go to school today.

Our little Builder

Last night Ava got to stay up and play quietly with her legos after Grace went to bed. Ava heard the ice cream truck outside. Not really sure why they are out selling ice cream at 8pm the night before school starts but oh well. Ava decided to build an ice cream truck. She made this all by herself because mommy was busy making last minute hairbows. She also built a house with a garden all around it and garage at the top. Maybe her ice cream truck has the ability to fly.

She built these without any help at all! Great job!

Grandma & Poppy are home!

Grandma & Poppy just got back from a month long trip. They drove their 5th wheel up the West Coast to Vancouver, then took a 10 day cruise/trip through Alaska, flew back to Vancouver, and drove back home through the Midwest. Grace and Ava followed their trip on a map and loved getting postcards from them. Grace kept saying they were in Africa instead of Alaska. Not sure why but she must have her thoughts on mommy's dream vacation - an African Safari. Anyway, we are glad that Grandma & Poppy are home and safe.

Armstrong Porch Party

Tonight we had Porch party at school. This is the night where you meet your teacher, bring your school supplies, eat lots of hot dogs and snowcones. The Pep Club cheerleaders wore their uniforms and helped us with our PTA sales.

Cheer Camp

On Saturday Grace finished her 3 days of cheer camp and had show-offs at the high school. Here are some pictures. By the time she went through camp and got to show-offs her hair was a mess. So please excuse the hair. Note to self: Lot's of hairspray. She had a great time and is ready for football season to start.
GO HAWKS!

Surprise Date with Grammy & PaPaw

We were told that on Sunday Grammy and PaPaw were going to take all the kids somewhere on a surprise date. So Grammy and PaPaw and Ashley's brother Mike and his wife and kiddos all met at our house. We had no idea what was going to happen other than we parents had to go and we would eat dinner afterwards.

A pink Sweet & Sassy limo showed up and the kid's were so excited. He took us all on a ride to the Sweet & Sassy store at Firewheel where the girls were all given the Princess treatment. Mani, Pedi, Hair and all.






So you ask. What does a boy get to do at S&S? Well Caleb had the opportunity to go to the Cowboys store to pick out some fun stuff for himself but instead he was having so much fun dancing on stage with the girls that he got his hair spiked blue and orange and he got a T-Rex tattoo.


Then it was back in the limo all decked out to go to dinner. The kids had a great time. Grace was so excited about the limo that she was speechless which says alot for Grace because she usually has alot to say.

Thanks Grammy & PaPaw for such a fun date.