Miranda's 1st Day of Preschool

Miranda's 1st day of Preschool was August 22nd. We had her open house on the 21st. She was so excited to go!!!  I took lots of pictures of her that day and the next (I forgot to bring my camera to the school the first day). When I picked her up the first day, she ran out to me and unzipped her backpack to show me what she had made. I think she's going to have a good year!

Thursday night she came down with a fever and finally broke it on Saturday. Poor girl!! :(

1st Day of Preschool

Miranda & Miss Kami

Miss Christine & Miranda

Miss Connie & Miranda

Miranda at Daycare with all her friends

Brakke Family Weekend

We went to Scottsbluff for the weekend.  We met Nick, Brandy, Logan, Alyssa, & Devon. We left Saturday and met for lunch. Then we went to the zoo. The zoo was very fun and even had a swim area where you can run through the sprinklers. Then we went and had ice cream at Sonics!!  We ended the night with the derby in Mitchell.  Sunday we got up and had the continental breakfast and then went swimming. Then we went to Target!! Next we got lunch and had a picnic in the park and the kids all played.  It was such a fun weekend but it went way too fast!!!

Malaya, Logan, & Alyssa driving the carriage

Alyssa, Malaya, Miranda, Logan & Deon

Monkey sticking out his tongue

Miranda on the horse

Logan, Malaya, Miranda, Alyssa & Devon

Logan & Malaya

Sommerlyn & Brandy

Malaya

Miranda

Logan & Malaya

1st Day of Kindergarten

Malaya's 1st day of Kindergarten was Wednesday, August 15th.  I was so not ready, but she was so excited so it was hard to be sad.  We had an open house Tuesday night so she got to take all her supplies to her classroom and talk with her teacher. Wednesday morning I tok her down to her room...took some pictures and she gave me a kiss and away she went. I shed a few tears, but she was so excited.

Then Thursday she didn't want to go to school. She said she didn't want to go because of PE. She said they were going to play soccer and football and she didn't know how to play it. After school Thursday I aske her how PE was and she said good. She said she learned how to play football and had fun. She said so I guess if I don't know something I shouldn't be nervous because I could try it and like it. I was just shocked that she made that observation all on her own.

Malaya was so excited

Her Peace Backpack

My girls

Mommy & Malaya

Me & my girls!!

Malaya outside her school

Malaya at her bookbag hook

Malaya & her teacher, Mrs. Prante

Perkins County Fair & Grandmas Visit!!

What a busy week we have had!!!  Perkins County Fair started on Thursday the 26th. That was the same day as my play, The Very Un-Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Both of our moms arrived that day. Everyone came to see me in the play. Then Gary & I watched the talent show while Grandmas took the girls to the bouncy play things.  Friday we got up and Gary mowed the yard. Then we found out Hagan's sweet corn was ready to be picked so we put up 80 cups of corn. Then that night we went to the Mentalist Performance at the fair. We also listened to a singer, Reggie Shaw.

Saturday was the parade. We went to that and then the BBQ Lunch. Then we came home and rested. Gary & I went on a date that night. We went to Ogallala for supper and then to the dance at the fair. It was fun. Grandmas had fun babysitting.

Sunday was Church and then we put up 92 more cups of corn - so 172 cups of corn total!!  Before we knew it - it was Monday. The girls & Grandmas went to North Platte shopping. They came home with lots of cute new outfits, purses, & shoes. Gary & I worked. Then Tuesday we came home to Twila's Lasagna, Lettuce Salad, Cucumber/Onion/Vingar Salad, Garlic Bread and mom's Sour Cream Raisin pie for dessert. Then they also cleaned house!!!

They left Wednesday morning....the time went by way too fast. 

Sommerlyn (Maid 1), Shar (Maid Marion), and Tiffine (Maid 2)

Robin Hood, Maid Marion, The Maids & The Merry Men

Gary drove the digger truck in the parade and the girls rode with & threw out candy

The girls really enjoyed it

Miranda digging through the candy bag

The Grandmas with the girls

In North Platte eating

Playing in the water with Paige

The girls in some new outfits Grandmas bought them

Twila started this cross stitch 27 years ago so she finished it and frame it and gave it to the girls

Gary's Work Party at the Lake

We had a busy week.....  Gary had been on call from Wed to Wed and he ended up putting in 35 hours of overtime. Saturday was the only day he wasn't on call and that worked out great because he had his work party at Lake Mac so we were able to enjoy it as a family. Gary went to Bayside to go to golfing with some co-workers at 6:30am. We went to the Lake later in the afternoon and Gary's boss has a boat so we got to go out in it. Gary rode on the tube and then Malaya rode on the tube with him. Then we had supper and played a Rodeo Golf Tournament. It was a very fun time.

This week I started my new job as Payroll Manager at Perkins County Community Hospital. I enjoyed it, but there's a lot to learn so I was pretty overwhelmed last week. It was also hard to sit for those long hours and then use my eyes to look at the screen. I definitely think I need my eyes checked. :)
The girls did great at daycare. They didn't even cry when I dropped them off and then didn't want to leave when I came to pick them up. I was very thrilled about that. On Monday Malaya got to go to the swimming pool and on Tuesday they both got to go to the movie in Ogallala.

We went on a road trip yesterday. We went to Cheyenne. We went to Sams Club and Walmart. I also got a couple new shirts for work. We left at 7:30 and didn't get home until 10:30pm so it was along day, but very fun!!!

Here are some pictures from the boat

Malaya on the boat

Don't get that phon wet!!

Malaya Driving

Here he goes....

Daddy Tubing

Malaya & Daddy tubing

4th of July

It was sure different this year with the 4th being on a Wednesday. We went to Grant for some of their festivities in the park. Gary participated in the horseshoe tournament. The girls played on the bouncy houses. We ate at Subway and had ice cream!!! It was sooo hot that day & the humidity was terrible. Shar invited us to her parents house for a BBQ. So we spent the evening there. We had BBQ Ribs - Her dad is the best cook!!! Then we watched the fireworks show at 9:30. I was pretty impressed for it being a small town.

The rest of the week was really busy. We had hair cuts, blood drive, and errands. My computer has been in the shop. The screen stopped working and it has been taking forever for it to load up. I got it back yesterday and am going to have to get a new one. Some of the components have been friend. But, for now, it's holding on. Not looking forward to a new one at all - they take so much work!!!

I do have some news..... I am going back to work. I accepted the payroll manager position at Perkins County Health Services yesterday. I am going to work 32 hours Monday - Thursday. I start July 16th. I am excited about it, but anxious too. A lady is town is going to watch the girls for me.

So, here are some pictures of the girls on the 4th and we'll see what the next week brings!!

Miranda said she was a princess