Fishy-Fishy-Fishy

I'm finally getting on the ball with all our summer fun!  That is what happens when the kids go to school....

I'm one of those mean, mean moms who makes her kids take swimming lessons every summer.  Kids need to learn how to swim.  End of story.

We usually take swim lessons at the local rec center, but this year we struck gold when it comes to swimming teachers.  I found a lady who teaches at a private home for the same price as I paid last summer.  These instructors were magical to watch.  My kids were under their spell!

Every night during dinner when we asked them what their favorite part of the day was, they would proclaim "SWIMMING"!  They swam in a salt water pool - I guess the water doesn't sting their eyes.  We made leaps and bounds of progress.  Next summer, we are taking lessons all summer long!

The house where the pool was located was amazing!  I should really call it a compound!  In addition to the pool, they had a large swing set, an enormous garden and a chicken coup.  But Georgia's favorite part of swim lessons was playing with the owner's dog.  She followed that puppy around every day. 

The dog's name was "Happy" - it certainly made her happy!

Peachy would also sit and read!

Once in a lifetime.....

...do I get to send these cuties to first grade. 

All day long...lunch at school...2 recesses.  It is a day of celebration.  So we continued on with our "ice cream for breakfast" tradition (but they did have to eat their pancakes first). 

This girl has been waiting since the last day of Kindergarten to be a first grader.  Man, does she love school!

This cute muffin really wanted to wear tights on her first day (never mind the fact it is August and a million degrees outside).  She was worried about wearing ribbons in her hair and that she would lose them (it is alright if you lose them Abby - they are just ribbons!).

And this big boy was worried about lunch.  He wanted lots and lots of lunch (his lunch sack was gigantic!).  He's excited, can you tell?

It has been a day of reflection.  Bittersweet reflection.  Never again do I get to have them all to myself during the school year.  They are bombarded with outside influences.  We had to have the "say no to drugs" and "scream and yell" if strangers ask you into their car talks. 

I've never had just one kid at home.  This is a big adjustment for all of us. 

So what am I going to do with this cute thing all day?  I'm sure we can keep ourselves busy!

Garden Love

Our big garden continues to put fresh produce on our table every night (and we are able to preserve A TON for winter use...spaghetti sauce, salsa, jam, frozen veggies).  There is nothing better than a plate smothered in green beans (with a bit of bacon...cause bacon makes everything better), watermelon, and corn on the cob.  That is our favorite summer dinner.

This garden year has been a bit different though.  I have three kids who are able (not always willing) to help.  One of my favorite summer past-times is sitting in our garage, radio softly playing in the background, cutting up green beans, peas or shucking corn.  I trust the kids with scissors and knives and they are able to do the work.  It gives us a great opportunity to get work done and talk.  And they LOVE to talk.

I recently bought 90 ears of corn a few weeks ago (it was on sale for 10 ears for $1 - I can't grow it that cheap).  Because of the quantity, we enlisted a few neighborhood friends to help.  I cooked the corn and cut it up and put it in our freezer to eat during the winter.  Guess what we had for dinner that night?

Birthday Bliss

Guess who turned 3 at our house!  

This cute muffin:

I asked her what she wanted for a birthday party.  Her response, "Go to 'Donalds and get fry fries and nuggets".  I asked her who should come, "Lucy and Kaylee" (a neighborhood friend and a cousin).

When I asked her about a cake, she replied, "COOKIES".   So cookies we had!  We even shared!

We even ate them like puppies too!

We had great entertainment!

We even had a Happy Birthday song at home with another cookie after dinner!

Now this big girl needs a lesson in potty training and sleeping in a big bed.  Too bad her siblings wait on her hand and foot and she is not interested.  When they start school, this 3-year old is going to sit her hiney on the potty!