Swim Lessons

For the first time in three years, we decided to have Makenzie take swim lessons this summer. Even though she is such a fish in water, we figured it would be best to have her learn some basic survival skills in case she were to get in trouble. I am so proud of her-she is swimming a pretty long distance in the pool and is able to come up for breaths and go back under water. She loves to jump off the side, grab a toy, and then swim to the steps. She is also learning to float on her back. We also decided to start lessons with Ashlyn since she has really taken an interest in the water like her big sister. Ashlyn will just jump off the side of the pool without reservation. She is already opening her eyes under water, kicking her legs and moving her arms as she makes her movements toward her instructor. She has also learned how to grab onto the side of the pool and move along it until she reaches the steps. The girls have learned so much and I am so excited at their own excitement for the water. Thank you Michelle for your hard work with them over the past two weeks. Tomorrow is our last day and I hope to get some good pictures of the girls practicing what they have learned.

Big Sister

I cherish the moments that I see my oldest child taking on her role as big sister and helping out her baby sister. It beats hearing "No Ashlyn, that's mine" for most of the day. Ashlyn wants so badly to do everything Makenzie is doing, so Makenzie decided to give her a hand on the scooter. I managed to get a few shots before the sisterly love ended...

Playing in the rain

A couple of weeks ago, we had our first good rain in what seems like over a month. Ever since Aaron let Makenzie play in a big rain puddle outside our house, she insists on letting her out to play in the rain. As long as there is not lightning and thunder, I don't have a problem with it, so I suited Makezie up and let her go. Ashlyn decided she wasn't going to miss out on the fun, so she quickly followed suit.

July 4th-Evening Celebration

Aaron took the girls swimming once we got back home from the parade. Both girls were worn out as I had to wake them up from their naps. Gary and Dale graciously headed over to spend the evening with Ashlyn so that Aaron, Makenzie, and I could head to the ballpark in Arlington to watch the Ranger game. The company Aaron works for had suite tickets so we enjoyed some occasional cool air as we watched the game. After about 3+ hours of baseball, the fireworks started. I think this was the first time all night our child sat still for the longest period of time. Aaron was amused as I managed to fall asleep on the way home, but Makenzie was wide awake, even for a while after we got home. I honestly think the girl was just so overtired, she could not settle down when it came to bedtime. Needless to say, we were all a bit tired when our alarms went off for church Sunday morning. We had a wonderful 5 days with you Aaron/daddy...thanks for taking some time off to spend with us!

July 4th-morning celebration

We started the morning off by watching the parade in Plano with Aaron's brother and his family and Aaron's parents. It's hard to believe that Ashlyn was just a little over 2 months old last year when we were there. I don't remember it being as hot last year, but that didn't keep the kids from having fun. Ashlyn enjoyed watching the planes fly overhead and Makenzie enjoyed having lollipops handed to her. I guess she remembered from last year because we were traveling in the car to the parade and she kept asking if she was going to get suckers. Thankfully, we walked away with a handful of them, otherwise, I would have had one disappointed little girl. Thanks Tammy and Nathan for asking us to join you again this year.

For the second year in a row we visited Fossil Rim to feed the animals. This year we took Ashlyn with us. Ashlyn was actually more adventuresome in feeding the animals than Makenzie - she fed the ostrich out of her hand which Makenzie wanted no part of. We got there about 9:30 and went through the park feeding deer, antelope, gazelle, giraffes, ostriches, zebras, auodad sheep, and more. This year we took a picnic lunch and enjoyed the lunch under the trees at the overlook area at the picnic tables they have set up. It was a lot of fun - I am sure we will be back again.