Swim lessons.......

We were going to skip swim lessons this year but then I heard that Grace could do it for $10 at my hometown park pool. I couldn't pass that deal up! ;) It was only kids 5-12 so Dax couldn't do it this year. My sister's daughter, Makayla, joined us too.

The funny thing about this picture is how much taller Grace is then most of the other kids!

Grace learning to kick!

Makayla jumping off the diving board! (she's waving to me!)

She loved the diving board and was good at it too! Grace jumped off once with a life jacket but wasn't thrilled about doing again. At least she was brave and tried it once. It was a fun week and since Gene was gone it gave us something to do to make the time go by fast!

Sunflowers...

Sunflower time again!!

Sunflower times of the past: 2008, 2007, and 2006

We have about 5 different varieties this year and I can't wait to see what they will look like! I love sunflowers!

Swim party....

One Sunday in June my brother invited us over to his house for a pool party! Here are some of our action shots from the day! As you will see, the kids had a blast!

The favorite thing that day was going down the slip and slide!

My sister's daughter Payton

My brother's kiddos!

Dax going down on his belly!

Baby Asher thought the water was too cold so he just sat on Papaw's lap! I don't blame him because I am a wimp when it comes to cold water too!

Incidentally, after taking photos of the kids that day I left my camera in the drink holder of that chair. Guess what happened? Yep, I left it there overnight and of course it rained!!!!!! My camera is dead and it's really hard on me to be without a camera! For the last week, I was sad because I didn't know what we were going to do but luckily I thought to look for the warranty that we brought with it. (assuming it was too late) Well, we brought the 4 year one which means our camera will either be fixed or if they can't fix it then I will get a new one!!! Yay!!!!

End of June Garden update....

Our garden as of the end of June. It is getting very full now and veggies are starting to show up now!

We have baby green peppers and tomatoes!

Green beans and a few peas!

Corn and carrots!

Speaking of green beans..... we started picking them this week!

I have some really good helpers! Dax with his handful!

Grace and Hayden helping out too!

We ended up with enough for a dinner sometime this week which was cool!

Look what this little goober did.....he picked two not ready Roma's!

It's okay, he was just trying to help and we will have plenty. Everyday I have to tell him not to pick them until they are red just like I did with every other child! (and Asher next year!)

Garden 2009...

Planting seeds and making a mess! ;)

In May, we started by planting some seeds in this starter kit. The kids had fun making a mess and we got some plants out of it which was helpful.

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A few weeks later we started our garden outside! It's a little bigger than last year and we added some fun new things! (corn, peas, carrots, and beans) It gets bigger every year and I can't wait till I can have an even bigger one! I love gardens!

Hayden was such a good helper and Grace is a pro by now!

Asher watched nearby and Dax helped here and there but.....he mostly ran around trying to make the baby laugh! Asher thought Dax was hilarious and it was cute!

The full garden picture!

We planted tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, cucumber (Grace wants to make pickles), carrots, corn, peas, and beans!

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My mom got Dax this little guy for Easter last year and we finally got around to doing it. Dax planted the grass seed in this little planter and just a few days later he had some hair. It was cute and fun!

Up next: More recent garden pictures!!!!

Baby Kitten.....

We have a new pet in our house!

Sleeping with Grace in May when we first got him!

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It took us a few weeks to name him because we weren't sure if it was a boy or a girl? ;) Once we decided he was a boy, Grace named him Stuart little!

So meet Stuart Little!

Fake beach......

Earlier in the month we took the kids to a local lake's beach. It's not quite the same as a Florida beach but it was fun for the day! We hope to take a vacation to the beach later this summer!

Anyone know of great deals, have cheap ideas or anything else helpful? ;)

Grace and Dax

Gene covering the baby in sand.... Asher didn't seem to mind!

Hayden playing in the hole that Dax made and Asher starting to eat the sand!

Hayden and Asher hanging out!

Oh, lets just imagine that Asher's hat is blue.......we forgot his "boy" hat!! (He had to use Grace's hat!)

My sweet baby boy!

After we swam at the beach, we decided to take a hike before we headed back home. I love hiking and it's so much fun to see the kids explore!

Gene with baby Asher!

All my little lovebugs!