Second Grade

I know this is how every mother feels, but I am gonna say it anyways...............  I can't believe how fast my little girl is growing up!!  This summer went way too fast and I was sad when the first day of school rolled around.  I am thankful for the structure that it brings which is something Maddie thrives on!!

The evening following the first day of school Norwayne Elementary held an open house.

This is Maddie and her teacher Mrs. Flener.  Maddie loves her, which I am so grateful for!

 Maddie showed me the line at the playground where she practices her "perfect" cartwheel.

 Aunt Kate, Auntie Tricia, and grandma came for a quick visit to open house also to see Maddie's room!  We are so lucky to have a great support system!!

Barbies and Cartwheels

I was very impressed how well Maddie did camping.  She is a bit of a priss when it comes to bugs and germs.  Even though she managed to survive while sleeping with spiders and only washing her hands with sanitizer she wasn't able to give up her Barbies and her frequent flips!

(Notice the Barbies in her Barbie basket on her Barbie bike!  We did have to stop once while zooming down a hill because Ken fell out!!)

Day #3/last day: Thursday August 16th

Thursday morning we had pancakes and bacon for breakfast.  My mom sent a cooler that could be plugged in and it worked as a fridge!  We were able to have milk, bacon, yogurt etc throughout our trip!

We had to be out of our "rent a camp" by 11:00.  We packed up after eating breakfast and headed for our last dip into the lake.

Maddie waving goodbye!

I even went in.... well up to my knees!

I took a little first aide kit since Maddie is prone to minor injuries.  Thank goodness my sunglasses were the only thing that required assistance. 

After about an hour at the beach we headed into town and rented a golf cart for an hour.



We stopped at the glacier grooves.

After lunch we headed home!!

On the ferry headed for Marblehead!

We had a lot of fun and it went WAY better then I thought it would.  We might slowly collect camping equipment prior to next year and attempt a longer camping trip!!

Day #2: Wednesday August 15

Maddie woke around 8:30 on Wednesday morning and we ate cereal for breakfast.  She quickly changed into her swimming suit and was ready to head to the lake for a morning swim.

We headed into town for lunch and ate at a cute cafe.

After lunch we played a game of putt putt golf 

After lunch we headed right back to the lake.

 Cooking supper over the fire.

Little pizzas and sweet corn.  (Thanks Uncle Kurt and Aunt Kelly for the corn)

After supper we explored a bit of the island.  We were again thankful that we brought our bikes.

This shows our "back yard."  There was a little path that led right to the lake. 

Coming soon..... Day #3/last day at the island

Day #1: Tuesday August 14

Maddie and I had a week and a half off of school together so we did a quick little vacation.  Maddie has been wanting to go camping so we have been planning this trip to Kelley's island for a little over a month. 

   We left Tuesday afternoon at 1pm with a packed car...... all ready to camp!!



Waiting for the ferry at Marblehead to take us to Kelleys

And we are off......

Maddie was a little scared at first, but soon enjoyed the ferry

......And the adventure begins!

We reserved a site called "rent a camp" at the Kelley's Island State Park.  On the web site it showed pictures of this, but with a tent instead.  Maddie was a little disappointed at first, but we soon fell in love with what was going to be our little home for the next 2 nights.

The "rent a camp" also had a picnic table, gas camping stove, and a fire ring.

Right at the back of our site was a short path that led right down to the beach.  Right after we unpacked Maddie decided that we should take a dip in Lake Erie.

 Maddie did pretty good at keeping in her ear plugs.  I was worried that the lake water was going to get in and since she has tubes, cause a yucky infection.

This is where I was most content to be.  I am a sissy of fish and water snakes, I am just not a fan of lakes.  Maddie did convince me many times to wade in, but I never went under!

I did though sit in the yucky sea weed and make some sand castles!

Cooking supper on the handy dandy stove top.

I made Maddie's favorite meal for our first "camping supper."  Hamburgers and baked beans.  We also had some frozen peaches (thanks Aunt Julie) 

We went on many bike rides!  Am so thankful we brought our own bikes!!

Time for dessert!  We roasted marshmellows for smores and made marshmellow, chocolate, and peanut butter pies with a pie iron!!  YUMMY!!!

There were two little bunks with thin mattresses on either side of the cabin.  Maddie couldn't even imagine sleeping that far from me.  So I plopped the mattresses onto the floor and put a sheet over them to make a giant bed for both!  

We played 2 games of UNO and I read a chapter to her from Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew.  She soon fell fast asleep, whooped from her busy first day at camp!

Coming soon........ Day #2 Wednesday August 15th  (No fear... not near as many pictures!!)