Miniture Golf

 

One of the things our kids always ask to do during the summer is go miniture golf. In our small town, simplicity is key. And that goes for the miniture golf course as well! Luckily it doesn't take much to entertain our kids... at least not yet! We took along the kids' cousin, Tanner, and Aunt Julie and Uncle Derek to join in the fun.

 

The course is very simple, nothing spectacular. Here is Avery taking her first shot.

 

Good thing we didn't have to pay for Addie, she could barely hold the putter because it was too long for her little arms. Next time we will have to take her putter with us. Addison's favorite hole was the one with water... we need to teach her that she isn't supposed to aim for the water!

 

Randy's little golfers! Following their daddy's footsteps!

Swimming Lessons

 

We took swimming lessons this summer for 4 weeks... and I forgot my camera every day!! So I decided to post pictures of us swimming and talk about swimming lessons! The first 2 weeks we just put Austin and Addie into swimming lessons. Austin has been a Lionfish for I don't know how long! It's been forever! The poor boy cannot float!! Randy was getting so frustated because Austin is a great swimmer and Randy never could float either. The first session Austin did not pass Lionfish... once again. I decided to try one more time and this time he FINALLY floated on his back long enough to pass! He was so excited... he is now a Dolphin!

 

I wasn't sure if they would let Addie take swimming lessons or not. You are supposed to be 3 (which Addie will turn this summer), but they let her in! I was so happy... and I never had any problems with her going to class. She loved it! They stood on platforms in the middle of the pool and sang songs. Her only problem now is that she always wants her feet on the ground. When we take her swimming she hangs out on the stairs and sings her songs. Her favorite is "the kids on the bus go up and down" and she will go under the water when she says "down". At least she will go under on her own! She will still be a Starfish next year, but I was very proud of her!

 

After the first two weeks, we began to feel bad for Avery. She was getting bored just watching Austin and Addie, so we signed her up for Sharks. She really enjoyed it and it gave her great exercise. She has been a Shark for a long time but needed to work on her endurance... and I could really tell a difference in her this year. She was by far the smallest in her class but would lap some of the other swimmers. Avery passed Sharks and is now a Tiger Shark, which is the highest you can go.

 

So I could watch each of the kids, I signed them up at different intervals which meant the first two weeks we were there for an hour and the last 2 weeks we were there for 1 1/2 hrs. I liked it because it took up our whole morning, but I didn't like it because it ran into Ashton's nap time. She did really good though. The first week she just sat on my lap the whole time! But after that she became familiar with the place and started roaming off a little bit more. I took a huge bag every day with lots of food and toys to keep the kids happy and I think they all did great. Avery was my big helper with both Ashton and Addie. She would walk Ashton around everywhere and she would always take Addie down to her class. And Austin is great with Addie- she's his shadow and he doesn't mind. We had a lot of fun with swimming lessons this summer!

Happy 4th of July!

 

I was so looking forward to the 4th! I think this is one of my favorite holidays. I came from a very patriotic family and am very proud to have been born in the USA. We spent Friday evening with my mom, grandma, uncle and aunt and cousins. It was a lot of fun and my mom made some great strawberry shortcake- yum! Saturday night we had plans to spend the evening with our friends, the Springers, and grill out then head out to the big firework show at the Vaclaws farm which we anticipate every year. Well, fourth of July morning I woke up with a sore throat and pounding headache that lasted all day and night. I was really nervous because I was supposed to give the lesson that Sunday. I ended up staying home all night... so these are all the pictures I got of the kids! They had a great day swimming with the Murphy's and went out to the firework show with my mom (Randy was already out there, he helps light the fireworks so of course this is one of his favorite holidays as well!!). I kept Addie and Ashton home with me. Addie is so funny, she puts on a tough front but she is terrified of the fireworks! We watched them on TV instead- and that was even a little frightening at first for her. The kids took glowsticks out to the farm and left one at home so I gave that to Addison and she wouldn't even hold it because she thought it was a firework! Hopefully I won't be sick next year and she won't be afraid so we can have a better fourth of July! I made it to church to do my lesson but came home and crashed afterwards! I'm thinking its a summer cold, and I will be back on my feet soon!

OPEN HOUSE!! SUN, JUNE 28th

Well, we have outgrown our home! The time has come to move on, but the house must sell first! It's really hard to leave this house- it has some really great features and our neighborhood and neighbors are amazing. We have even had contractors out to see how we could add a bedroom and bath on just so we could stay! But in the end, we have decided to sell, and we are having an open house this Sunday (June 28th) from 2pm-4pm. We are trying to spread the word anyway we can, so if you live in Bartlesville or know anyone who does and are looking for a great house- send them our way! They can even check our our other blog for more details and pictures: www.4514limestone.blogspot.com

Ashton's First Birthday!

 

Are you sure? I really can't believe my baby is one!!! First of all, she is so little that 9 month olds tower over her! But I also just can't believe that a whole year has gone by. The kids sang happy birthday to her all day long and they couldn't wait for her to tear into her birthday cake!

 

Ashton didn't disappoint! I had the cake in one hand and my camera in the other because she was ready to dig in! She was so cute with it though, for the longest time she would take little bits and share with her sisters and brother. But after a while she did this!

 

After she picked the cake up and dropped it back down, this little piece of icing got stuck on her nose! Soooo cute! It looks placed, but it was a complete fluke.

 

Ashton McKay John, what can I say! You are so adorable and we are so glad that you are in our family! You just cut your second bottom tooth, you aren't walking yet but you do stand up on everything and are a very fast crawler. You smile at everyone. You are strong-willed and know exactly what you want! And you will only sleep in your crib... which is most of the time a good thing! You adore your mom and dad, and I hope you always will! I love you Ashton, Happy Birthday!!

Austin's T-ball

 

Austin just started t-ball this season. We have had a lot of fun watching him, and he is actually pretty good! I wasn't sure how it would be hitting off a tee, but he had a lot of good hits.

 

Randy was an assistant coach. Our friend Tyler Vaclaw was the head coach, which was a big responsibility this year because there were so many rain outs! But we finally made it through the season!

 

Here is Austin in his "ready" position. That doesn't mean the ball won't go by though!! We had a lot of fun watching the boys chase after the ball, throw it way over other teammates heads, and try to remember which direction to run after they hit the ball!

 

I loved this picture of Austin! It shows so much personality! Nice season, Austin! You played great and we are so proud of you! Can't wait to see you play coach pitch!

More Memorial Day fun!!

 

Russ and Emilie Vaclaw hosted a fun swimming and cookout over Memorial Day. We love getting together with our friends! I did have a few pics of Russ with Brian and Randy... but I think he would rather me not put them on my blog! You're welcome, Russ!! :-)

 

So I picked a couple of my favorite pictures from the cookout to put on here individually. Ashton loved the watermelon- and I love her big blue eyes!!

 

And here is Austin enjoying his icecream cone!

 

And then there is Miss Addie, shirtless, enjoying her cupcake. I just finished a weight loss competition with my sister-in-law and brother-in-law... now I think I understand why my favorite pictures all had food in them!!!