Swimming Lessons and THE SLIDE

Marin took swimming lessons at our public pool. They were awesome. She was awesome. Look at the float!

Marin loved her teacher who was so good, and only had one other student, so it was a lot of one-on-one. They both got a lot of instruction. And they became really good little friends too.

This is the slide at the pool. And the first day we went, Marin asked if she could go down the slide. We told her she was not ready yet, and the slide was really big. But she kept asking her swim instructor and they finally told her she was swimming well enough to try it. (just look how high it is! Marin's mommy was freaking out on the inside but being very brave for her on the outside)

Well she did it! We are so proud of her because once at the top she was really nervous. But she went anyways and tried it! WHOOO! Way to go little Marin.
As soon as she got out of the water she said, "I'm never going down a water slide again!"

Little fish we are so proud of you!

New Sewing Project

I have some favorite old t-shirts from college. I don't wear them all that much but I just can't get rid of them.

This is an old K-Life shirt, and a Gap shirt as the bias around the edges.

This was from our church back in Missouri. Each Summer's Kids Camp has a theme and this particular theme was Space. This was my Crew Member (volunteer) shirt. I used an old night shirt with giraffes as my bias for this one (that's the light blue fabric)

Superhero shirt handed down from a friend. I use a simple pattern. Recycled fleece from jackets I pick up at thrift stores. So far my favorite fleece is Land's End.

This one was a infant sleeper by Carter's. I love how soft their knit sleepers are. This one got some stain down the front so I couldn't pass it on... But it made a really cute diaper with no stains. I was able to use the snaps down the front of the sleeper as the snaps for the diaper.

What Do You Make With All Those Berries

Blueberry Pancakes

With berry sauce

Cobbler and cream

Sooooo good!

Or you can wear it.

Berries Take III

I only ate 5 berries, and 4 green one's well maybe more but why are you asking anyways?

Todd's a good picker...

Hey don't let that little boy steal our berries! Who does he belong to anyways, don't let him eat all our berries!

Hope all of you are out gathering up the season's delicious things right now.
Cheers!

Blueberry Season part II

Pick those berries! We love picking berries.

Marin is showing Owen how many she has picked so far.

Owen can't show anyone how many he has picked because they are all in his belly.

Eight pounds later... She ate so many her eyes turned the same color as the berries.

Blueberry Season

Owen is a professional at picking berries. Every single one goes right into his mouth... well he thought the bucket was fun for a little while. But seriously why would anyone need a bucket when you can just eat them fresh off the berry bush!

Ahhhh Summer!

Not in any hurry to "drive" through the grocery store

Owen takes his "driving" very seriously. Beep beep coming through! Get us to the bakery for that free sprinkle cookie fast!

Bring home treasures from the beach

Sort through them when Owen is napping and they can lay out on a towel and be inspected thoroughly.

Skipping church with daddy... and taking time to drink some coffee... or throw your paci in daddy's cup. Oh that sneaky boy.

Marin got something out of the school treasure box...

Just when you think your kids are sort of normal, they choose green teeth out of the treasure box (when they could have gotten any number of things, like stickers...)

or you find a chicken bone... a what? A CHICKEN BONE in their room with their ocean treasures, then you know your kid might need therapy some day.

Kids in a Hole

We went to the beach for the weekend. Owen has a new suit, he needed to try it out

A good idea is to dig a really big hole and stick the kids in it...

That little boy always figures out how to get out of things

and this little girl got a few new freckles.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OWEN!

Guess who has completed his first trip around the Sun?

Guess who loves a good book?

Guess who loves a good bucket of dirt?

Guess who loves a good snack?

OWEN THOMAS!
Happy Birthday little cake eater

Where did that bagel go?

Marin would like to point something out...

Owen has a blob of jelly bagel in his hair. The question we should be asking is how did it get there? Oh, he put it there.

You Know He's Serious When...

Yes he really is trying to destroy the house, oh look at those cute shoes, they must belong to someone trying to look like she has it all together and would never have messes like this on the floor, NEVER!

He makes huge messes when he eats, but if its left long enough he returns to finish it up. Usually after he is clean and wearing white.

Who needs a puppy, if the mother in that house gets lazy enough the baby cleans up after himself. This must mean he is either still hungry, or likes a clean house like his daddy.

When Marin Finds the Camera

I left the camera on the table today

Owen thought she was funny... but then everyone is funny to Owen, but she is usually the funniest

Coloring book, nice angle

Self Portrait titled; Jelly Face

Big Boy!

Guess who's standing up? Our Little Man learned how to pull himself up yesterday.

Now he can really get crazy, and it time to start bolting everything to the walls!

A Visiting We Shall Go

We finally made it back to the Midwest! Marin and I have not been there in almost three years and Owen... never, obviously. I went with the kids first and got to spend a few days with some of my bestest friends from college and high school. Yes I flew alone with both kids... and it was fine. I even snapped a picture of both of them sleeping on the flight. I don't know how that happened but both kids slept for over an hour!

Marin would like every one to know that she got to play in snow for her first time. And Owen was a bit worried about that white stuff.

He was not amused by the amount of clothing you must wear when its really cold outside.

Well maybe he was a little... its hard to keep that little boy from smiling.

And Marin got to ride a dolphin in the landlocked Midwest.

It was nice to be back for a visit.