Reading, Skating, Swimming, T-Ballin' fun

 

This summer has  been an exciting one for us all.  Sister is now talking a lot and pretty much hanging with the big kids on the playground, at the splash pad and letting it be known her baby days are over!  In fact when someone says "look at that cute baby" I find myself looking around because they can't possibly be talking about my big girl!  Peanut is growing by leaps and bounds as well.  I can't believe he was old enough to play t ball this year.  I mean, isn't that what big kids do?  He loved it and I'm so thankful to the coaches who made his first experience a great one.

 

Here he is with one of the fantastic dads who led our team.  It was really more of just practices not games, but great skill building and a chance to use the equipment on a real field.

After the practices were over I made him a few baseball cards for souvenirs.

Team Photo

I love this pose.  It's all his own.

His most fierce tball face...

And then on to swimming lessons!  We had some crazy weather those weeks.  From low 70's to high 90's, Mother Nature kept us guessing!

But we had fun and Sissy made some new friends poolside.  We had kind of a little sister's club going.  It's fun taking lessons at the neighborhood pool because you get to know more of your neighbors!

We had great instructors this year as we have in the past.  

Somehow in the midst of all of our other Summer activities we managed to complete the local libraries summer reading program, "Book-a-Wocky". 
So we headed to the library to turn in our sheet and claim our prizes.  We actually went one town over that day to catch the Bazillions in concert.  A great kid's band!  Peanut earned a backpack, a book, and coupons for local businesses.  Just last week we went around a spent all of our coupons.  It made for a fun day!  Here we are tailgating in the library parking lot.  That day we actually went to two library programs at two different libraries!

 

A rare shot of Sister with her headband in place.  She is enjoying the Bazillions in concert.

 

And no, we don't even brake from hockey in the summer, smile.  Peanut took lessons again at Dakotah and improved by leaps and bounds...or should I say strides and glides?

Lessons were a bit late for Sister and I but we did make it to a few.  Here is the hockey player giving a hug before he hits the ice.

 With his buds...

 Great instructors.  The few times I got to go I really enjoyed that Best was able to sit with me and watch.  It's nice to have some time together watching your kids and talking about how far they've come.     

 I had to snap a picture of this because I thought it was so creative!  Peanut is actually drawing on the ice!  I asked him later what he drew and he said his name and a Zamboni.  What a fun activity!

I am so thankful that Peanut has the opportunity to be involved in all of these activities.  And for now Sister is kind of "along for the ride" so to speak.  But don't think for a minute that she doesn't make her own entertainment everywhere she goes. She too will have her day for lessons and practices, but for now she is just content to befriend the other spectators and do a little cheering and a little snacking, and a lot of charming!  Have a great week friends and family.

Stars and Stripes (and parades with candy)

On the eve of July 4th this year we decided to let Peanut stay up and watch the fireworks at his Gammie and Papa's house in the driveway.  Now let me tell you that this had been an exciting day already as we had picked up the new vehicle you see here.  It's a 2015 Chrysler Town and Country Minivan and let me tell you it is pretty sweet.  The perfect family vehicle.  Anyways...the fireworks didn't start until around 10 oclock (3 hours past Peanut's normal bedtime) and needless to say it was much to late for Sister to be out so I stayed home with her.  The boys rolled in about 10:30 and Peanut was quite wound up but we got him to bed eventually and he slept til almost 9:30 the next morning!  Thank goodness it was an afternoon parade.  Here we are tailgating/picnicking before the parade began. 

There was a little kids festival in the same town and Peanut had fun with the games and we even ran into several friends.  Sister danced and even played her first carnival game!

Star spangled girl.

 Peanut loves fire trucks and they had some neat vintage models for him to see.

 Keeping a hold on Sister while she learns the ropes of roadside candy collection.

It's so cute to see Sister copy her big brother and I love how he explains everything to her.  He loves her to pieces and it's a good thing he's the oldest because he enjoys that so much.  He confirms almost daily that he "is always going to be older than Bree".  Yes, Peanut, yes. Smile.

Hope you had a great Independence Day and saw a parade or two!  Have a great week friends and family!