Mostly we have been in the water. My pictures are out of order but we started this summer with a trip to the beach and that is where Tripp decided he wanted to use the potty. Biggest blessing ever!!!! It was a breeze. I did nothing. AT ALL! And after Kaylen and the years of struggles, I am ever so grateful!
We have gone out on the boat a few times. Been to the pool almost every day. Swim team has been a big deal this year! This was my first year to be the swim rep for our pool. It has honestly been quite the task. I've learned a lot and I equate it to teaching. Your first year you make all your mistakes and learn how you want to do things the following year. It will be much better next year. Kaylen has been swimming about 3 hours a day - 5 days a week. No lie. We put her in extra lessons to work out a few stroke techniques. I have to say, she has improved immensely. She seems to really like it! City meet is this weekend so we'll see how she does.
Here are the kids on the jet ski with Allen. They were on the river. Tripp really wants to ride a lot. Kaylen will ride but has never been as excited as he is.
My least favorite activity is when they all want to play on the banks. They love it but it makes me nervous. I am always afraid they are going to chew on fish bones or step on a drug needle or something. I also have an irrational fear of snakes... so I can just see them coming up on one. They love getting all dirty and have a blast!
Rylie and Kaylen are still the best of buds. Rylie came over one night and they had a photo shoot. They were cracking me up with their poses. I had to reign them in a little. These two are so silly!
Rylie is a toe pointer! She's pretty good at it too!!!
These are pictures from our long weekend trip to the beach. Allen had to work a conference and so we all went down with him. Our kids adore the beach. They were so good the entire time and we had a wonderful time!
Here we are in a really big chair like everyone always get pics of. Only problem was it had rained and we didn't actually want to sit down. :)
Here is Kaylen facing some major fears. She wanted to do this but some of the obstacles were a bit much for her. I'm so proud of her for doing it anyway.
And just in case you aren't sure why she's so scared... here is how high she really is:
Here is my child that doesn't have any fears. He'll do it by himself, thank you very much!
Best picture I have of him... he has 4 straws in his mouth. Sigh. Such a boy!
The kids loved swimming in the ocean. Adored it!
Sweet Kaylen - always a girlie girl!
What?!?! A smile from Tripp? Amazing!!!
He loved playing in the sand and was so well behaved!
Allen went out into the water with his mom and Kaylen.
Ever year we try to do a name picture in the sand.
This is the closest I got to Tripp looking at me! He also kept wanting to mess up his name in the sand. Little stinker!!!
Thanks to Allen's work, we had an awesome room for the conference. This was our view from our balcony. Only thing is that we were high up and I felt like Tripp could have gotten through those bars. Made me so nervous.
Also from our balcony. It all looks better when you don't pay for it too! Just sayin...
Okay now we're back in Bama. These silly girls were wide awake. They told me they were going to pretend to be asleep. Rylie actually cracked her mouth open. Too funny!
Here is a little pool day. The girls both happen to have the same extremely scandalous bathing suit. They loooove to wear it! Sigh.
Tripp calls this his cradle. He has sort of claimed this float and likes playing in it the most.
This is an unedited pic but I love Tripp's face in it. Happy kid!!!
This is one of my favorite pictures of Kaylen. She is such a beautiful little girl. (of course, I am biased) In all honesty, her beauty shines through in her personality. I wish I could take credit but she was born with such a sweet spirit. She is gentle, quiet and caring. I wish she was a little more competitive but may still come. She has her faults but I am proud of who she is becoming.
I tried to find a decently modest picture of us ladies since we are almost always in bathing suits. These are some amazing friends! I am blessed to have such beautiful and fun friends!
This is starting the pictures from Amy's lake house. Her dad (with the help if Jeremy and other relatives and friends) built the most amazing place on Smith lake. We are so grateful that we get invited!!! Here are the girls getting ready to tube. Now, don't be fooled, Kaylen HATED it! She did end up liking it by the end of the weekend but it's not her thing. Rylie and Andrew would spend hours back there if we'd let them. I am proud of Kaylen for giving it a try even though she was afraid. I am a strong believer in facing your fears and she is a brave girl!
My besties!!! I don't think I would get through the days without these two. God has been gracious to place them in my life!
And here are our little ones. I have so many great shots of them sitting on these steps. They were ready for bed and waiting for the fireworks show from the dads. It did not disappoint! Well, actually the really loud ones scared some of them but they can't feel bad about that! It was awesome!!!!
Ok... this is a random shot of the girls under the boat on the river. Smith lake would be offended if I let people think it's water was that green. These two do love to play under there though.
And now we're pretty caught up. I plan to take the kids to cathedral caverns in a few weeks and also have a trip to the beach with our youth group coming up. Summer is always jam packed full of fun! See you all soon!!!
