July Playdates with our Buddies

This summer we have been having so much fun! Almost every week we have been able to meet different friends for play dates.  The kids and adults have been enjoying these times together. We are very fortunate to have such great friends in our lives.

 

Our neighbor, Anna, moved to Georgia recently, but she was back for a visit.  So we took advantage of the few days she was in town to spend some time together.

 

The girls enjoyed some karaoke at CHOM.

 

 

...and popsicles...

 

...and swimming!

 

Another day we met up with our buddies Sarah and Emily at CHOM.  Following that fun, we cooled off with some Steel City Pops.

 

A few days later we met up with those same buddies for some water fun at the splash pad.



These two precious girls have spent much time swimming and enjoying popsicles!

A Week With Grammy and Grandaddy (part 1)

We didn't get to take a vacation this year so the girls and I decided to load up and visit Grammy and Grandaddy for a week while Corey stayed home to get some work done.  I wanted this week to be full of fun and exciting things for the girls.  So Grammy took off from work and we planned several surprises for Audrey and Addison.

 

One of the most important and exciting things that was top priority on the list was to spend some time in the pool.  We spent several days and nights in the pool.

 

 

I think these two girls became little fish!

 

Audrey used to be so timid and scared in the water, but she was so brave and worked hard trying to learn to swim without her swimmies on.

 

Addison had a blast and swam all over the pool! I was amazed at how well she did in the water.

 

Audrey finally got brave enough to jump off of the diving board.

 

Once she discovered how much fun that was, she jumped again and again and again and again.  All of the adults were exhausted from "catching" her.

 

Everyday that we had a free moment, we spent it in the pool.  It was so much fun to see the pure joy it brought to Audrey and Addison.

 

On the days that we spent at the pool, we usually enjoyed a picnic lunch and sometimes even grilled out and had dinner outside. 

 

We tried to visit with Nana daily and spend time with her at the nursing home.  We took her for a walk outside one evening.  Another day we took her out to eat at Cracker Barrel.  She had a great time and we enjoyed getting to visit with her.

 

This is 4 generations in this photo.  I'm very blessed that I have photos like this.  It is wonderful that my children get to know and love their grandmother and great-grandmother.

 

Can you tell they love their Nana?? 

 

Uncle Keith also joined us on our Cracker Barrel outing.  Here is Nana with 2 of her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. 

Little Fishies

My parents finally got their pool ready for swimming and my girls were sooo happy about it.  They swam for hours all over that pool and loved it.

Audrey got very brave and swam without her floaties.  She did go under a time or two, but didn't panic. She just popped back up and swam to the side.  This is a huge step because last year she didn't even want her face or head to get in the water.

Both girls jumped off the side of the pool to us.

They were like little fish. Both of them are already asking to go back to Grammy and Grandaddy's so they can swim again. 

Splashing with Friends

Today we had a fun playdate with our friends, Ms. Abby, Evan, Emmett and our neighbor Mrs. Babs brought her granddaughter, Tabi over to play.  Everyone came to our house for the fun outing.

I made everyone Icee/Snow Cones (a 'must' on such a hot day).  Addison was enjoying her's in the shade.

And we blew bubbles.  Tabi was the queen of the bubbles.

Ball skills were practiced.  Emmett spent lots of time hitting and chasing the ball.  He was quite good!

Then there was lots of swinging and smiling!

The kiddos stayed cool running in the "carwash" that Corey created.  I think this was Evan's favorite thing to do.

You could always find a few monkeys hanging around on the swing set.

Just look at this cutie!!  

Emmett

Audrey and her buddy, Evan, chilling in the pool.

My girls keeping cool in the pool!

Audrey

Addison

We had such a fun day!  I am looking forward to having everyone over again soon.  The adults enjoyed chatting in the shade while watching these sweet little ones enjoy summertime! 

Another bonus is that it wore the kids slap out so they took really good naps!! :)

Swimming with Friends

We are so fortunate to live on a road with wonderful neighbors. Audrey has a dear friend that lives just down the road and we try to get them together when we can to have some playtime. The girls are only 4 months apart and they get along so well.


Another of our neighbors, Mrs. Darlene, has a pool and she is so kind to welcome almost all of the neighbors over anytime for a swim...especially these 2 cutie pies. They love Mrs. Darlene and she loves them. Of course, she is a great friend to me as well.





There is a bad part to this swimming story...for some reason every time we have set foot in Mrs. Darlene's swimming pool this year, a thunderstorm blows up immediately and runs us out of the pool. It certainly seems bizarre since rain is so scarce this year. But it has happened to us 4 times in a row now.


I wonder if folks will start paying me to go for a swim? Wouldn't be a bad job, huh?

Mommy's Little Fish

We have spent many days this summer in the pool with our friends Abby and Evan or swimming with Anna and Mrs. Darlene. These friends are so kind to allow us to join them at the pool. Plus the kids have loads of fun (and they take really good naps too! haha)

Audrey-girl having fun swimming with some of her buddies.



And sweet Addison, cooling it in her float.

Audrey's 1st Swim Lesson

Monday, July 12 Audrey had her first swimming lesson. We found an instructor that teaches at some of the places around here, but will also teach private lessons at your house. We don't have a pool, but our kind neighbor does and she is letting us use hers. To make it even better, Audrey's little friend that also lives up the road and is her age, is taking lessons with her. They have fun and are pretty comfortable with trying new things since they are used to playing and swimming together. A plus in our favor is that the instructor can use their "competitive side" to get them to do something for her. If one does it, the other feels she must follow suit.



Audrey is learning to kick her legs. She is trying really hard.



Audrey is NOT fond of laying on her back to learn to float. :(

Audrey and her friend seeing who could splash the biggest.

Learning to put her face under water and blow bubbles.

So far she is enjoying it and learning things each time. Hopefully, she will be swimming like a little fish in no time :)