Swim Class

Chloe has swim class this week & next week. The first few days of class she was very afraid of the pool. But today was totally different. Not only did she get in the pool without showing her fear, but she also put her head under water...TWICE...and, at one point, was laughing & having a great time! She earned some well deserved treats from us & some wonderful compliments from her instructors. Praise the Lord for answered prayer. I shed a few tears of joy...a mom moment. She is so brave & my personal hero:).

Miss Lauren is going over pool safety rules before class.

Chloe is with Miss Rachel kicking forward on her tummy.

Here she is kicking on her back.

Chloe is blowing bubbles & kicking for Miss Anna.

Swim class takes lots of concentration.

"Motor Boat, Motor Boat" & "London Bridges"

Chloe finding "treasures" in the water.

A pool rule is to hold onto the side of the pool. Great job kiddos!!

Way to go, Chloe...our little pool rock star!!

June Beetle

Chloe LOVES bugs & we found an unusual one just before swim class yesterday morn. We think it is a Long-haired June Beetle. They hiss. It is a very unexpected & loud noise from such a small, gentle beetle.

Look at the cute beetle!

See it, Mommy!

Not only do these beetles hiss, but when we were trying to put this beetle back into the wilds of our yard (and out of my flip flop) we found out how strong they are...this one took A LOT of gentle prodding!!

Sick Day

Today was our last day of VBS. Chloe was a little sick to her tummy & Eli had a fever last nite so I stayed home with the kiddos while Nate went & still lead worship & then lead the toddler area for me & then came home, had lunch, I cut his hair & off to work he went this afternoon...what a guy, thanks babe!! He came home soakin' wet because they completely doused him in water at the end of the day...they sure did love havin' him & he was such a good sport (& man I wish I was there to get a photo of that!) We were bummed to miss the last day, but pretty thankful we had made it most of the week (the kids were threatening illness all week & the outside heat plus constant, fun motion equals totally drained...for the kids, too...he, he, he...) Chloe had been sick the week before, but, alas, it did catch up to Eli. Anyways, we stayed in the a/c all day & played Candyland, dress up, read books, watched some Hannah Montana (I know, I know...sigh...) & had a lot of fun together!! Also, Chloe had an eye check up yesterday & her doc was pretty pleased. Her right eye is just about 20/20 & her left eye is about 20/30 (this is a slight improvement from her last visit). We are all just so impressed that she can read the eye chart (her doc included!!)

Chloe is sitting on the a/c vent which is poofing up her dress!!

I love you, Daddy!!

A new self taught trick of Eli's...makes Mommy sigh...loudly & a lot!!

I don't think Eli was in the photo takin' mood!!

Another new self taught trick of Eli's...& more LOUD sighing from his Mommy...

VBS "On The Go"

VBS began today. We are "On The Go" this year, as Matthew 28:19-20 commands, & we are out in the community bringing VBS to kids. We are at 1 of the 4 locations that our church is focusing on around our county. Nate is leading our worship time, while I am the coordinator for the toddler area. We have a great, hard working crew of people who show the love of Jesus to the kids (as well as us & we are so blessed). It was an awesome time of connecting & ministering together. We had so much fun getting wet & soapy with these kids (you had to be there, te he) & we are looking forward to more fun each day!!


Me & the boy

The girl

The gang

Our fearless Sight Leader, Miss Michelle (you rock, Michelle!!:) )

Kids & Crew enjoying some singing & bible story time.

Happy Father's Day

So, this post doesn't even have a photo of Nate in it & it is Father's Day. He is still sleeping. He had a big call at the end of his nite last nite and he ended up having to stay almost 2.5 hours later than normal so he wasn't home til after 4am this am. The kids and I have been talkin' all about Daddy's Day & Daddy in general & Chloe said "take a picture, mommy" so I thought I would post a photo of the kids at breakfast this am in honor of the BEST husband & father...Nathan. Here's to you, babe, you are such a blessing to us. We pray for you always & thank Jesus for your tender, provider heart. The love you shower upon us is bountiful, wonderful, & truly priceless. Words can not express how much you mean to us, to this family. We love you. The kids just light up in your presence & I am still amazed at how I love you even more deeply today than the day of our wedding. Wow, this is mushier than I thought. So, let me end this post with this thought (which is not mine, but our Lord's) as was spoken at our marriage ceremony & I thank you, Nathan, that this commitment is stronger in our marriage today than on our wedding day & that the strength of this commitment has bubbled over to a commitment to our children (snif, snif):
A Husband's/Father's Love
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
1 Corinthians 4-8a