just keep swimming!

just keep swimming...everyone singing along with Dory now??? Last night we had another swim meet. Now let me say that at the beginning of the season, neither Caden nor Alli knew what an official stoke was. Alli would often doggie paddle down the pool and not put her face in the water. But last night...that all changed! Caden & Alli love backstoke. Caden was second in his heat and Alli won hers! I can't wait to up load the photo to show you her excitement when she realized she won! Go Alli & Caden! One more meet to go...just keep swimming...

Face Painting

The kids went to a birthday party today...when we picked them up we were greeted by a princess and a skeleton! I was so impressed with our friend Bryan's facepainting talent I just had to share these photos! I hope he is ready for next Halloween...we may be calling!

baby brayden visits

Thanks to Grandmommy Virgina & Mommy Rebecca...young Brayden was able to make his first road trip to Raleigh! It was so much fun to have our cousins visit. We went shopping, out to dinner with more family members and they joined us for the kids swim meet! Brayden was a champ...cheering them on even in the heat & humidity. Rebecca hasn't had very much sleep since this little one doesn't want to sleep in his own room, so I wanted to help out my cousin and give her a good nights rest. Selfishly, I also got to spend the evening with a sweet little baby and knew I could give him back the next morning! Don't get any ideas...Andy & I feel very blessed with our two! They did have fun holding their new little cousin and Alli loved giving him a bottle!

Feed the Cats!

Before the kids started school...YaYa took them to the Credit Union to open up their very own Fat Cat accounts. Both Caden & Alli decided to empty their piggy banks & put all the coins into their accounts. They didn't do too bad...over $100 each! Now we just have to remember to feed the cats!

Happy 4th...a little late!

We had a great 4th of July! I hope each of you did as well. The kids & I went up to the lake to visit Debbie & Jay for a few days and then headed home to celebrate the 4th with Daddy. After a visit to Sunset Slush for some red, white & blue italian ice...we went out to Brierdale for fireworks celebration. I love this photo of Alli in the convertible watching more fireworks as we went home. Our friends & neighbors the Treichlers had us over for a little celebration of our own! We loved them, well except for the screamers! They were really loud!

Eat our Bubbles!

As promised here are a few photos of our little maniacs! Swim meets are going well...both kids are having a blast! Caden & Alli have had fun with all their friends & their times are improving! Both of them have learned how to dive! I think they really like the meets because they get to hang out on their towels and eat dry Jello!

pencils & crayons & notebooks...oh my!

Yes it is that time of year again...back to school! The kids have finished their first week of school and are both very excited about what the year will hold. One of my good friends posted on her blog her daughter's 1st day of school photos...well I too went for a little trip down memory lane.
It is so neat to see how different they look from year to year! Caden may be in for a bit of a suprise this year with all of the homework...or at least Andy & I will be! Alli has really gone from little girl to 1st grader with ease! She loves school...but last year her teacher called her Florence Nightengale. Alli visited the office at least once a day for ice for herself or a classmate that was "injured". Susan maybe she will be a nurse just like you! Well once we found out she had Mrs. Pfanmiller, we warned her of the ice queen! Here is the email I received after her first day...

"She had a good day today....earned a sticker, volunteered for everything and only asked for ice once!" Here are her photos from last year and this year...wow time flies!