Swimmin' 2011

Well, we survived another 2 week swimming lesson session! The kids did great, and their swimming came a long way. Teacher Linda was awesome, as always, and it was so much fun!

Curb Time at the parade

I'm just finishing up my June editing, and came across these little cuties! It was so nice that Megan and I got to sit back, relax, talk, and drink our coffees...and all the of the kids sat! They got up a few times, but stuck around, for the most part! Fun times!

One metaphor??? HUH?

For the last year or so, when I ask Carter to do something, his response is usually "one metaphor". I stopped asking what he meant by that a long time ago, and I just assumed he was making up his own version of "one minute".
When I asked him to get ready for bed tonight, he responded with "one metaphor". Ava immediately corrected him and said, "It's uno momento, por favor." Ah hah! Got it. Good thing I have his 8 year old sister to translate for me. I don't speak 6 year old Spanish yet...maybe some day!

Arrrggggg Matey! Captain Carter is SIX!!!

We can't believe our little pirate turned 6, but he sure had a lot of fun doing it! He had a friend party on Saturday, (his actual birthday) and had a family party on Sunday. I love that he came up with the theme, and it was really fun making decorations and coming up with a pirate treasure hunt.

Pirate Ship Cupcakes for his friend party

Carter's crew


Family party

Treasure Chest

The guest of honor with Carter's birthday surprise!!!

BUNNIES!

All smiles...do you think he liked them?? :)

Pretty excited!

The kids love the new bunnies- they named them sweetie and polka dot!

Black and Blue...and a little purple

Nick's been busy out in the garage working on a "birthday surprise" for Carter, and Coleson collided with a piece of plywood. The poor kids got his first shiner. :( Nick walked in with screaming Coleson, and Nick was as white as a ghost. He thought that Coleson's eye was bleeding, but it was just the scrape next to the eye. It was hard to get him calmed down because the tears were stinging his cut, which led to more tears, more crying...you get the pictures. He calmed down and let us put a little ice on it, and he was running around, getting into trouble in no time.

It looks way worse today....picture plum colored skin all around his eye.

Cheesers!!!

Oh wow, they make me smile! They definitely keep life exciting!


I can't stop laughing at this one...he does it every time I take a picture now!

Just one for now...

She's Creative!!!

I am so glad that Miss Ava Jean is following in her mama's footsteps in the art department. She loves to draw, do crafts, decorate her bedroom (if you can call it that!) and TAKE PICTURES!!! I have my old Sony camera that she has take over, and you better believe that I will teach her everything that I know. She's been asking me lately when she can start assisting me at weddings! I told her when she's 14, but she wasn't satisfied with that!
Ava and I made a Native American woman from the Hopi tribe for Creative Arts Week. I was amazed at all of the details and ideas that she came up with. I think it turned out pretty darn cute! I also got to help at school when the kids made their pueblos. They did such a great job, and it was really fun to watch them work together.

Weighing the damage

This week's destruction includes, but is not limited to, the following:

- One toilet- dropping the lid of the tank into the tank will lead to a large crack in the tank, and therefore, you will need to replace the entire toilet. New toilet- $150
- Marker on the kitchen cupboard DOES come off with 1 magic eraser- $1.00
- Sidewalk chalk on the wall will come off with water on a rag- free.
- One telephone base- ripping the phone off of the base repeatedly will cause the phone to no longer charge on the base, which leads to 4 very dead phones. $75.00
- One vase- Used for decorative purposes, but not a necessity, so it will not be replaced.
- One completely cleaned, labeled and organized closet- torn apart, clothes pulled down, toys thrown in a large pile, blankets everywhere- 2 hours of my time.

Due to this constant destruction and lack of respect for one's personal property, this mama NEEDS a vacation!

On a more serious note: none of the breaking, ripping, tearing, coloring or destroying could ever make me love my amazing kids any less. I know it's a phase,(a very, very long one)and they will be slowing down the destruction very soon...at least I hope so!

Easter Gratitude

I'm so amazed that God gave up his child so that mine can be saved and live eternally. What a blessing, and what a sacrifice.