What Week Is It Anyway???

Well, after vacation taking up one week, I don't even remember which week we are on anymore! But, I just wanted to post we have finished up swimming lessons this week, and Jackson really did such an awesome job! I took the video camera on the last day because I feel noone believes me how great he does at lessons with Ms. Doris because in Florida he was very hesitant to show Daddy his moves. :) She said that he really is ready to swim alone from one side of the pool to the next (which I had been thinking also!) He just needs to gain more confidence and not be afraid at all. He is holding his breath and blowing his bubbles for 9 seconds! He would only need to stop to take a breath once to make it across the pool! I explained all that to him, and he seems to be considering "not needing any help" next time. Then, what came out of his mouth cracked me up! He said he wanted Daddy to get us a concrete hole with water to put in our yard so he could practice! We ALL want a pool really bad! Jackson, Paul, and I have never discussed it though so that was funny he said that!

The rest of today was a big blur! We originally were going swimming, but when that changed I decided to take them to see the new movie, Up. We went to lunch at Truett's (remember I am alone during all of this including swimming lessons..:)), to the movie where we had to wait through alot of previews and spend several minutes at the end searching for a missing sippie cup, to Bruster's for ice cream cones, and then to Walmart to get groceries. Whew! Now most of the groceries are put away, and we are about to get ready for bed. Lord knows I am ready to hit the sack myself! Tomorrow is the first day we can sleep in in like two weeks, so I am crossing my fingers everyone sleeps late!

Still, though, through it all, I am still loving summer! I cannot believe school starts back in like six weeks! We still have lots planned for July! Keep checking back for more fun!

If I Click My Heels...

Can I go back to this sunset? :( I took over 230 pictures (thank goodness I emptied my memory card before we went, huh?), so I will just have to blog about our trip in bits and pieces until I get caught up! :) I hope you enjoy looking back with us because I have such great memories. I will say that we all arrived exhausted what with getting up early for swimming lessons that week and with Paul working so much before we left. So, day one was kind of strained for us all. What is up with that? Every trip we ever take the first day the kids are whiny and have a hard time adjusting... Then, without fail after they finally get used to the new environment, schedule, and learn what to expect it is time to come home! :) I have no idea why they are so inflexible! I mean it's not like they have had routines and structure since they were babies! Really! That would mean their mom is OCD. Oops. I'm hiding under the table if you're looking for me. :)

They loved the pools. Preston loved the ocean, too. I would say Jackson enjoyed the ocean, but didn't love it. That's ok though. Since on the last day, someone say a 6 foot shark really close to the shoreline. Yikes! Stay hesitant, buddy! :) The pools had those ledges where you could sit and the stairs were huge in each pool, so they enjoyed that, too. Jackson did swim without floaties pretty much the whole time, but I don't know if it is because at swimming lessons it is saltwater and this was chlorine, but he wasn't all up for showing off his new techniques. But, he did perfect jumping. Cannonball, twisting, you name it. And, he had a blast!

Preston, on the other hand, really reinforced my theory that he is most like his daddy. And, Jackson is most like me. Jackson wants to go, go, go. Preston wants to go, nap, eat, drink, go, nap. :) He was supertired on this day, and I love how I was able to capture him just about going to sleep on his daddy's shoulder.

It was hot! And, I mean like 102 degrees hot. So, the water was so nice and cool. We loved it. The seaweed did come in, but I didn't care. Yes, I do prefer to have clear water (to check for those 6 feet sharks!), but I don't go that far out anyway.

And, Preston, apparently had learned tons in his free swimming lessons just watching Jackson's class! This is the child who has just about torn my bathing suit recently in the pool clinging to me, making me hold him, and that is WITH the arm floats. Plus, he wouldn't jump in. Now, he jumps in (which will make it harder for me when we go swimming catching both of them if I'm alone!) and doggie paddles! He refuses any help, and I mean refuses. He's not so nice about it! The people who have been swimming with us recently will not believe it when they see it! We were so proud of him! He mostly perfected it on the last day, and we had to exit the pool kind of early to get prepared to ride the pirate ship, so poor guy. He cried and cried because he didn't want to leave the pool.

Thankfully, we have lots of swim playdates coming up soon, so he can get more practice!

More memories to come, I promise!

Bloggin' Outta Here...

My camera is empty. I have fresh, new lithium batteries. My toes are painted. The suitcases won't zip. And, I will be back with all the details and tons of pictures to share I am sure very soon. Take care guys! Don't miss us too much!

My Smart Boy...

Jackson had his first day of swimming lessons today, and he did such a great job!!! (Well, last year he took one 1 hour private lesson somewhere else, but he really didn't get much out of it...the sun was right in his eyes and there was no cover on the pool area..and well, so much affected that.) But, this year we love Mrs. Doris his teacher and her pool is awesome and the way it is set up and covered is even better. Plus, I think I messed up last year and should have placed him in a class because well, sorry folks, but peer pressure works wonders. :)

Jackson loves school, loves teachers, and loves attention. :) He and Mrs. Doris hit it off right away, and he actually ended up being the class demonstrator for most of the moves. He really had fun. He says he cannot wait to go back tomorrow, and that he wishes he could go every day for forever!

Tonight in the bathtub he was practicing all of his moves, and I am really looking forward to our vacation now later in the week since I am taking a little nemo with me!

This was him right before class started. As you can see he seems a bit unsure if you know him well you can tell from his smile. But, I tell you he was a natural! I am SO proud of him!

Happy Early Father's Day!

Since I am a huge slacker and failed to pay attention to how Father's Day fell on the calendar this year, I planned our vacation on Father's Day weekend. Oops. Paul's dad will be with us, but my dad won't so we rented the pavilion at Heritage Park and had a picnic with my family to celebrate! The kids love the park, so they had a blast!

My sister, Chevinie, and my dad, and me

Me and my dad..we look alot alike don't we?

My sweet nephew, Nicholas

And, my adorable Aiden

It was a good time and well needed. My family isn't as close as they used to be, so I am glad we all got the chance to be together to honor my Dad. I know it meant alot to him.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

A Summer Birthday Celebration!

Jackson's friend from school, Hannah, just had a birthday! The bad part is we missed her party. :( But, her mommy invited us over for a private party playdate! Hannah has a pool AND a sandbox! Wow! What fun! (I must digress to mention remember when we went to Jackson Lake and I said it was "grumpy time?" Once again we did this event during grumpy time, so we had a small meltdown or two...but we still left with great memories!)

Jackson was so excited to visit with a classmate. This is our first playdate with school friends this summer. Jackson misses everyone terribly!

See those arm floaties? Pay attention...more pool pictures to follow..and you'll notice something is missing.....

Celebrating 40 Years With a Dear Friend...

Last week we got invited to a surprise party at Jen and Matt Brock's house for Matt's 40th birthday! Although someone at his work ruined the surprise, he was still very excited to see everyone! He cooked (yes on his own birthday, sorry) the best hamburgers I've ever tasted (his secret recipe he told me..and he doesn't tell anyone!) and low country boil. It was our first experience with low country boil even though we'd been wanting to try it for a while. Delicious is all I can say! Yummy!

The kids were excited because they have a son, Dylan, who had a playroom, and also had cousins and friends there to play with, too. They were in hog heaven. All of them got along REALLY well.

Jackson buddied up with a 8 year old little girl, Emily Elizabeth (yes, her sisters named her and they named her after the little character on Clifford the Big Red Dog!). He was all about her and flirty I tell you! They start early, huh?

Jenn and Matt are so good with the kids. They really spoil them. They let Jackson and Emily put the candles on Matt's cake.

If you aren't sure who Matt is, he and Paul used to work together at Cummins South. They really were the best of buddies. They still get together when life slows down enough to make it to a drag race a few times a year together. Every time we go around them though we ask ourselves why we don't make more time for each other. I adore his wife, Jenn, and their little boy is so cute! They do live in Villa Rica though so that makes it tougher. :(

Preston is enjoying the toys...

See how cute Dylan is?? AND, he loves the camera. I was ready to take him home!

Everyone singing...

Did I mention I love Jenn's family too? When I met them a few years ago at their wedding, I told Paul and I am positive I am adopted. I am also positive I am a transplanted Yankee. I have to be. I guess I just absorbed the dialect of the south way too easily. I think those people are my family, and I LOVE them! Seriously. I have told Paul I want to move out there to their subdivision. Seriously. They are loud, funny, and outgoing, and really they are... ME! I tell you I was switched at birth!

Silly old Matt...

Daddy and son...

Happy Birthday, Matt!!!!