Ready, Set, Go

This is a picture of Cara and her best pool buddy, Ellie, jumping of the diving board!! Can you believe how brave she is getting! I am so happy for her (and thankful for Ellie). Ellie is quite bossy, but it has been a real plus for me. Cara has learned how to swim and has gotten much braver at the pool. It is a great summer so far!!

Here they are last summer -

Hope you are having a great summer too!

Just Swimmin'

Can you tell we are loving our new float?? Too bad she's not into using it in the swimming pool :)! Such a funny girl...

I have another one of her using it as a potty seat on the toilet!

Wow...

Sometimes I worry about Cara's confidence. Of the three she seems to need more affirmation, or so I thought!

Her ballet portraits came in yesterday and I made a big deal about them. When Jeremy got home I said, "Show Daddy your ballet pictures." She took them over to him and they were looking at them. She was studying the photo and said in a happy little voice, "Wow, I'm pretty!" We worked hard to NOT laugh, but seriousy!

So, I'm thinking she's okay...

Summer is Here and we LOVE it!!!

I have no complaints today. Summer is here and we LOVE it!! The girls and I are enjoying having Jake home. He is enjoying being home! He and I had this conversation a couple days ago:

Jake - Mom, I really want to get a cell phone before I start first grade.

Me - Why?

Jake - Well, then I can call you if I miss you and I could call just to tell you what we are doing.

So sweet! First grade is going to be an adjustment for both of us.

Our first couple of weeks off have been busy. We have already enjoyed time at the pool, the amusement park, museum and the movie theater.

Jake and Cara are excited to be back at the pool with their "summer friends" and Abby is being a bit of a stinker this season. She randomly strips her swimsuit off and puts her clothes back on. We're working on modesty. She's not getting it!

We are still trying to sell the house. We had one lady who was and is very interested in it, but her financing has not worked out! The house we would like sold, went back on the market $10,000 less and I am wondering how long it will sit at that price. Trying to be patient and seeing that I am still not very good at it.

I took these pictures of Cara today before ballet. She and I had a fun Saturday. She attended her first birthday party without Jake and Abby. She loved an "all girl" party. Afterward, she and I went to the mall to pick up this little jean jacket she spotted at Gymboree and wanted for school in the fall. I told her we would get it when it went on sale and then I was hoping it didn't sell out! We got it for 50% off so I was happy with our purchase. It is fun to shop with her, but she does seem to find a lot of things she likes (kind of like Jake in the transformer aisle at Target and Walmart). We ended our time together at Chipotle. Fun Day!

Happy 1/2 Birthday, Caraline

Today was Cara's 4 1/2 birthday. She enjoyed the day. She wore her little "Birthday Princess" pin yesterday in preparation and asked me to make cupcakes. Last night as I was getting everyone in bed Jake reminded me that I hadn't bought the stuff to make the cupcakes for Cara so he and I made a late night run to Kroger! He remembered that she wanted chocolate with white icing, which I thought was very sweet.

We haven't celebrated half-birthday's in the past and we don't give the kids gifts. I just try to make the day a little bit more special than an ordinary day. Cara is all about a celebration so she woke up bright and early and said, "Mommy...how old am I today?" I said, "4 1/2" and she ran to wake Jake up and tell him!

Jake received several "Book It" coupons for Pizza Hut that we hadn't used yet so we had planned to do that for dinner. Jeremy didn't make it home as early as I hoped and the kids started to get tired. They ended up wanting to get in p.j.'s. By then I was tired too and didn't really want to go out. Luckily, my Mom called and invited us to her house for a great home-cooked dinner. I was really thankful since I hadn't made anything thinking we would go to Pizza Hut. Jeremy got home and we all headed down there. I took the cupcakes and we sang a few times and everyone took turns blowing out candles. Lots of fun!

It is so funny to me how something so small can be so much fun to little children! I love it!!

We don't do the same thing for each child. Jake picked some special treats in Pennsylvania b/c we were traveling on his 1/2 b-day and I think we will have ice cream cones for Abby. She loves a good soft serve cone :).

Kindergarten Graduation

Jake officially graduated from Kindergarten last night and what a joy it was to watch our little guy sing songs and praise Jesus! He has learned so much over the last several months. He has grown academically, emotionally and spiritually! We can not be happier over the decision to put him at this school. He has been well-taught and well-loved. We are thankful for the investment his teacher made in his life.

Tonight he told me how much he loves me and then he said, "But I do love Jesus more than you and Daddy." Yeah!

All of the children were adorable and we enjoyed the program so much!! I got to be at all three rehearsals and I am so glad to be able to be a part of his "school life". Jeremy and I both enjoy volunteering at school. Jake seems to love it when we are there for field trips and parties. I am thankful that Jeremy was able to go on field trips! How great is it for Jake to know that he is important enough for Daddy to take off work to go??? Do you think he gets it? I don't know if he gets that it is hard for Jeremy to do that, but I know down the road, maybe even when he is all grown up, he will have those memories.

Okay, so on to the pictures.

Here he is on his last day of school. Jeremy got to take him and he went in and got some pictures for me. I wanted to compare first and last day pics.


The picture below is a video they showed where the children told what they wanted to be when they grow up. Jake said he wants to be a strong man :) !

CONGRATULATIONS BUDDY!!

End of the School Year Activities

This morning I had the opportunity to help with Kindergarten graduation practice. Actually, I get to go tomorrow and Thursday also. I can't believe another school year is coming to an end. Can he really be headed to first grade in the fall??


As I sat there and did my job (pressing the play button on the boombox at just the right time), I was reminded of how thankful I am for the people investing in my little boys life everyday. Knowing that he is in good hands when he is away from me is a blessing! I really do love that not only is Jake getting a great education, he is learning about Jesus at the same time. It was a great little program and I know I will enjoy it each time I get to hear it. By Thursday night I think it will be 4 times! My favorite is the last song, but I won't spoil it since the Grandparents all read my blog :)!

After school today we went to a picnic at one of the little girls house. Lots of fun was had by all! She had lots of kittens roaming around and a couple of big cats. Here is a picture of the kids peeking under the deck to try to watch a big cat eat a chipmunk it caught! Kind of sad, but very exciting to a bunch of 6- year olds!