Eclipse

Amanda and I counted down the days... We couldn't wait for this movie. Amanda came down for the week just to watch the movie with all of us again. We first saw the movie, then to dinner, then out for frozen yogurt... a great night with the girls!

Eclipse was, by far, the best movie YET! And the DVD is going to be released... when?

Swimming with the Garrett's

One of our favorite places to go... slide, waterfall, fountains, baby pool, and a great diving board... to Brooke's family's pool! The little kids were loving the slide while the big kids couldn't get enough jumps off the board.

Twas the Night Before Eclipse...

Twas the night before Eclipse and all through the house,

Not a peep was being made,

For the girls were getting ready to watch New Moon

Before the 4:15 movie theatre raid!

Grandpa Mr. Fixit with Grandson Mr. Fixit

You know the stories by Richard Scary? Busytown? Well, they were some of my favorite as a child when I couldn't even read. I would beg my mom to read me just one more story... just one more, PLEASE! I was captivated by the pictures in the stories more than reading the stories themselves... all the detail in the drawings.

Daniel has been the same way, loving the books as a baby and now he even enjoys reading them to Samuel. His favorite character in the stories is Mr. Fixit. Mr. Fixit can fix most anything but something is always different and mixed up. For example, Huckle takes his bike bell and a coo coo clock to Mr. Fixit because they were broken. Well, after Mr. Fixit fixed the bell and clock... his bell now coo coo's and his clock now rings like a bell.

Daniel loves to build and fix things too. He wanted to fix the broken rung on the chair. So after much discussion with grandpa about how to fix it, this is what they decided would work best.

a little wood glue, wax paper, and bungee cords... whala! a fixed chair.

Note: My dad in the background on skype talking Daniel through the process.

Great Skate

An afternoon at the skating rink. My friend Stephanie picked up Shannon and Daniel and off they went to make a try of it... skating. It was Daniel's first time and he had a blast and couldn't stop talking about it. Thank you Steph! Can't wait until next time!

Blake, Daniel, Tayler, Shannon, Kinley, Brady, and AJ

Night at Barro's

Out at Barro's Pizza with great friends and great food.

Stephanie, Lynsi, Amanda, and I tried to get in as much catch up talk as possible while the kids were running around everywhere.

I caught Kaylea...

Kaylea loves doing handstands everywhere... in the house, yard, trampoline, bed, car... the list is endless. So the other day, I had to do a double take to figure this one out. She totally left the evidence behind!!

I caught you girlfriend!

P.S. Notice how great she cleaned the fridge before adding the finishing touches....

Report on London

Shannon and Daniel had been secretly working on something for the past few days... They didn't want to share with us what they were up too.

Well, to our surprise, they invited us all downstairs so they could share with us all they had learned about London. Shannon researched by googling London and then wrote down lots the information. Daniel contributed by drawing the flag, making another Big Ben after Samuel ripped up the first one, and cutting out the letters that spelled LONDON. It was exciting learning so much about that great city.

Fish and chips, Wimbledon, Big Ben, Double Decker Red Buses... the list is endless.

The interested audience... can't you tell!

Girls Night at Ra

Rachael, Amanda, Brooke, Jacque, and I met at Ra and later headed to Cold Stone Creamery. UMMMMM, DeLiCiOUS!

Swimming at the Changs

With the Maughan's in town... we have had many swim parties planned. And really... we are just pool hopping from one friends pool to another. It may sound silly but the kids love it and look forward to it.

So today, it was the Chang's house along with Brooke and her kids.

Even though they love swimming... I think their favorite part was watching the movie, Finding Nemo.

That evening we met Miss Jill at Chick-fil-A where she gave Rachael her belated birthday present. She is such a dear sweet lady!

Relay Freestyle Teams

The girls were excited to be on the same relay team tonight. They took 2nd place with two other girls on their team.

Daniel's and his buddies were so excited to get first place in their freestyle relay. Stephen, Joseph, and Ben!!! You rock guys!

Samuel's Swim Lessons

I haven't had Samuel in swim lessons in years... Now that all the kids are on the swim team, the thought of taking him to his own lessons later in the day is just too overwhelming for me. Now, I totally see how the last one gets left out of everything.

So, when my friend Rachelle told me about teaching swim lessons... I totally signed up. She comes to our pool and I have some of his other friends there too. It has taken less than a few weeks to pick up the freestyle stoke. Now, he is no master yet... but will be soon. Thanks Rachelle for helping my little boy swim! You are the best.