Ping Pong Meet #2

Kate won't be an officially registered Boomer until tomorrow (July 1st), but Coach Tom knew she really wanted to participate in the Ping Pong meet so he added her into the schedule this afternoon!

These swim meets are fun and definitely a confidence booster.  Kate & Gabe are not strong swimmers with all the strokes yet, but they are learning!  I'm curious to know how these events compare to a real meet, which we will be attending soon enough.

Go Kate Go!

Kate and Gabe each participated in five events today, using three different strokes:

Freestyle, Backstroke, and a Kickboard event.

Kate was awarded 3rd Place in the 25m freestyle and 25m backstroke,

2nd Place in the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke, and 3rd Place in the 50m kickboard.

Gabe was awarded 4th place in the 25m freestyle, 2nd place in the 25m backstroke,

3rd place in the 50m freestyle, 1st place in the 50m backstroke, and 3rd place in the 50m kickboard.

Gabe was especially proud of his 1st place ribbon in his best stroke, the backstroke!

They both did great in their heats!

I don't have their actual times for these events, but I know they keep improving each week!

 The team with Coach Tom and Asst. Coach Anthony

Proud Mommy & Daddy with our little Boomers!

Shrek, The Musical

One place I have always loved going to is the Alhambra Dinner Theater in Jacksonville.

I can still remember so many times going there growing up, enjoying great plays, delicious dinners, and great memories.  When the theater closed a couple of years ago I was so sad that my children wouldn't have those same opportunities.  But then, it reopened even better than before!!  We truly do love coming here and have yet to have a bad experience.  It's a must do for anyone local.

Anyway, tonight Jon and I are taking the kids to see Shrek, The Musical!

Kate & Gabe were so excited...and so were we!  The play was great and of course so funny!

We look forward to the Summer family show every year!!

Little Chef

I had an extra special helper in the kitchen today.

Chef Grant is cooking up a delicious pizza for dinner tonight!

Thanks for all of your help!

I love you, Muffin!

Kate goes curly

One thing Kate really loves is styling her hair.

And one thing that her mommy is lacking skills in, is hair styling!

I wish I could pay a hair person to teach me how to do a variety of styles on Kate, and maybe one day I will find said person!  Until then, Kate just takes matters into her own hands and watches hair styling videos on You Tube to come up with all sorts of designs!

Great job Kate,  It looks beautiful!

Kate joins the Boomers

I have felt bad about not including Kate on the swim team ever since we made the decision that we could really only afford to put one of them on the team.  We chose Gabe first because although he plays baseball in the Spring, he really hasn't found another (year round) sport that he likes, but he seemed to enjoy swimming.  Kate loves all sports and already excels in soccer and only wants to get better at it, plus it is Spring, Fall, and then Summer camp.  But, I knew she wanted to join after another mom asked her why she wasn't swimming and she responded by saying we couldn't afford to put her on the team.  Yeah, that was a little embarrassing, however true it was!  Lol!!  Anyway, I could tell in Kate's voice that she was disappointed, and thanks to my parents, Kate will now also be a Boomer!!

80's Babies

Have I ever told you that we go to a "cool" church?!?

Okay, I know being cool shouldn't exactly be top on the list of reasons to choose a church, but it is important to find a church that the kids really want to go to each week.  We definitely feel it's important to be in a church that puts a heavy focus on winning the hearts and minds of the kids and teens, and Christ's Church Camden does a pretty great job at that!

And this week, our three little monkeys are getting an opportunity to help out on stage in an effort to increase the number of adults who volunteer with the kids each week.  And what better way to convince people that they want to work with kids than to put a bunch of adorable kiddos on stage to sing some 80's Rock?!?

I let the kids help choose their outfits....the 80's were pretty funky, right?!?

I originally had not intended to include Grant, but he was with us at rehearsal and did great,

and the adults in charge told me to let him be a part of today too.

I was nervous because with Grant you just never know what you are going to get, but he did amazing today!!!

He danced, he sang, and he even tried to follow along with the actual choreography!

I was so proud!!

Now I gotta cut loose.

Footloose.

Kick off my Sunday shoes.

Please, Louise. Pull me off of my knees.

Jack, get back. 

Come on before we crack.

Lose your blues.

Everybody cut footloose!

Gabe was on the far side of the stage so unfortunately my picture of him turned out blurry.

Waiting between services for their next time on stage.

Mrs. Amanda!

Thanks for teaching the kids all the fun moves and for always being so much fun!

These cool kids rocked that stage this morning!!

They cut footloose and just did a super amazing job!

Happy Birthday, Ava!

Today Gabe and I headed to Fernandina Beach to celebrate with one of his sweetest friends, Miss Ava.  And what better way to celebrate than with a round of putt putt.

Happy 5th Birthday Ava!!

Gabe and his girls.

Gabe ~ Ava ~ Casyn ~ Georgia

Thank you for including us on your special day!

Mommy Turtle is back!

While the big kids were off at work with their daddy, guess who came back to visit Grant and me?!?

Mommy Turtle!!!  I was SO excited when I looked out and saw that the turtle from a couple weeks ago was back!  Of course, I can't be certain it's the exact same turtle since hundreds live in the pond behind our house, but in my heart I believe it's the same one.  :)

Anyway, this time we stayed very quiet and just watched from inside the house.  Mommy turtle found a spot in the corner of our backyard, dug a hole, and then sat there for about 30 minutes.  I was glued to the window the whole time!

Eventually she started kicking the dirt again

and then found the hole in the fence and disappeared back into the pond.

I could hardly wait to run out and see the eggs.

But all I found was dirt!!!  The mommy turtle laid her eggs and then completely buried them back underground!  I have to admit, I was a little disappointed.  I saw videos on YouTube and the hold is partially uncovered.  Didn't mommy turtle know I was waiting to see the nest?!?  :)

Nevertheless, I shall guard this little patch of dirt until I see little hatchlings begin to pop up.

Young Minds at Work

It's summer break, but the kids were very excited to get up early today for "take your child to work" day,

better known at Lockheed Martin as "Young Minds at Work!"

Kate had a blast at the last event two years ago,

and Gabe was thrilled that this year he is finally old enough to attend!

They arrived at work and received their schedule.

The kids loved everything and hope that Lockheed hosts this event again next year!!

Best Friends

Gabe & Jack Jack became great friends in preschool and over the years their friendship has only continued to grow.  So thankful for such a great best friend and now teammate to grow up with!

Snuggle Bugs

My sweet little snuggle bugs.

I sure do love these sweet boys and hope they love to snuggle for many more years to come.

Osprey Pool

It's a beautiful summer day so we headed out to the pool in Grandma & PawPaw's neighborhood.

We are so excited to be able to spend the summer at the Osprey Pool!

Laney Grace & Grant

We had a blast, but it's time to go home now.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to two of the best dads I know!

My dad was a pretty fantastic dad, but he's also the very best PawPaw!

Kate, Gabe, & Grant sure are lucky to have him in their lives!

I love you, Dad!

Thank you for being who you are, for always being there when I need you, and for always loving unconditionally!

Happy Father's Day!

This boy...  He found a dead worm and was so excited.

Time for gifts.

And last but not least, a cookie cake.

Greatest Father, You Are!