Whew!

Nate bought me shutters for my b-day & we finally made the time to paint & install them. I think they look so very nice...they are small but they add so much. Just a little accent around the two windows that lead to our front door. Thanks, babe...the paint job is awesome!! Oh, & Nate installed a screen/storm door on our front door about 2 months ago (if you click on the photo & look at the front door you can see that it is there but it is hard to see as it is white as well as our front door is white). We are able to keep our front door open to let in natural lite & still have our air/heat running because the storm door is weather tight (the door changes from screen to storm door when you close the window with the screen on it the screen rolls up into the door & the glass window replaces the screen which makes the door weather tight...hope that makes sense). We love these home improvement projects & look forward to doing more!

The kids play really well together & LOVE to play in Chloe's room. So, as long as the door is open & I can check on them regularly, I do not have a problem with it. But, if it gets too quiet, I know they are into trouble...or maybe just asleep after a hard morning of playin'. Pretty stinkin' cute!

Chloe's cheer class has sadly come to an end. Last nite was her last class. The gym is shutting down for awhile until the economy turns around. They had a fun last class stunting, dancing, doing their motions, & jumping on the trampoline. The coaches bought the girls some ice cream & gave a present to each of the girls...a new sweatshirt!! We told Chloe that when God closes one door, he opens another. So, we are a little sad but are looking forward to the new doors: like starting preschool (in 2 weeks)!! Her teacher came for an in home visit last monday afternoon & Chloe really likes her (Miss Johann). We look forward to being apart of this program.

Eli & Me

Eli & I had a Mommy & Me swim class this week. He was cold & scared most of the time so he was not very enthusiastic about the class but we made it through. He did learn to blow some bubbles & kick & float (back & tummy) & he put his eyes in the water several times. He did not like the scooping (holding your breath while Mommy "scoops" him under water) & he was not happy about being "passed" from me to the instructor & then back to me (see photo below). His best skills are kicking/floating on his tummy & sitting on the side of the pool & jumping in to me (he actually really liked doing this!!) All in all I was very pleased with the class & had a lot of fun spending time with my boy & visiting with friends.

Jumping in from the side of the pool to me.

He is smilin' now!:)

Kickin', & floatin'

Being "passed" from the instructor back to me.

Some summer fun at the water park.

Chloe has been putting puzzles together for awhile now, so I thought it was high time that I put a photo of her accomplishment on the blog!!:) (it is my bragging right!!:) )

Happy 8th!

We celebrated our 8th anniversary yesterday. Since we did not know Nate would have that day off until 1 week ago & then battling the flu for the last few days made for very simple, but very fun plans for our anniversary. Grandma Julie is visiting with Aidan & treated us all to the zoo & then we went out to Mimi's for lunch. Then home for a little rest & off to take Chloe to cheer class. We are so blessed in our marriage as it has grown & flourished over the years thanks to Jesus being our focal point. I have the best hubby ever!! We look forward to many, many more wonderful years together!!:)

Those crazy married kids...& lovin' it!:)

Aidan, Eliot & Chloe ready for the zoo!

Chloe & the chicken.

Eli & Chloe lookin' at the peacock

Chloe & Eli with the Grahm

The boys.

The bears.

Best buddies asleep & still holding hands...(sigh & wipe a tear)...so precious!!

Fun at Mimi's

So much better to be in the cool a/c!!

Aidan & Grahm enjoyin' lunch

Chloe at Cheer Class stunting with her buddy Angelina. "GO TEAM!!"

Final 4

Okay, I know, 'nough swim photos already!! I just can't help it...she learned so many new skills & had such a great time that I just had to share these last few photos. The last two days of swim class they took the kids in the big pool & had them do a lot more deep pool pencil jumps, breath holding, floating with eyes in water, floating on their backs, kicking to the instructors, noodling, etc. They had to do all these things in order to pass the swim class. And she did!:) The last day of swim class was a bit chilly but she still had a great time.

Chloe proudly showing off her certificate of completing her swim class. (And she is eating a piece of sugar candy...she is excited about both, & a little cold.)

Chloe is in the big pool noodling with Miss Rachel.

Chloe about to go under water

Chloe was lookin' & wavin' at me & I didn't catch it in time...oh well, still cute.

Our Little Swimmer!!

Chloe has been such a champ with her swim class. She started lovin' it after a few days & now can do so much in the water...she amazes us! She has come so far now that she is no longer afraid of the pool. It has been fun to watch her grow over the last two weeks with all the new skills she has learned. We are so proud of our bear cub!!:)

The pencil jump with Miss Anna

Backwards on the noodle with Miss Lauren

The alligator walk all by herself!!

A cute photo of the boy.

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.