Swimming, swimming, and more swimming

We didn't do a whole lot this summer, but one thing we did was go to the pool. This is the first year that my boys haven't worn the swimsuits with the floats attached, and on top of that a swim ring. They liked the "safe" feeling that it gave them. Now I can't get Preston to wear anything, he thinks he can swim. He is getting really good, as long as he can touch if he needs to! Here are some random swimming pictures from the summer: .

Where did the summer go?

I can't believe that it is already September and we are back to school! I didn't do one blog post this summer, so now I have to do a major catch up! I will start with the trip Preston, Gavin and I took to see my sister Nicole and her family, I think it was in July. While we were there we had such amazing weather, we spent a lot of time outside. One day we went to this park that has a little nature center and a train ride. All the boys had to wear their superhero shirts, and of course Adam had to wear his batman cape. This isn't the first time that I have been to a park with him in his cape! One of the highlights was watching the snapping turtle at feeding time. I think we were all mesmerized watching him catch goldfish!



Another day we went on the "caterpillar crawl". It's a scavenger hunt through downtown Bristol that ends at the library. They give you clues, and you walk around looking for little bronze statues of the different scenes from the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The kids loved it, even though a few of the statues had been stolen!
This is the starting point

Preston and Gavin by one of the statues

Gavin, Adam, and Preston

The final statue was a butterfly

The rest of the week the boys spent playing and swimming in the backyard. This has been one of our best visits because all the boys got along so well. There was hardly any fighting. Lots of chaos, but not much fighting! We had a lot of fun, and always do when we visit!

Happy Birthday Preston!

On June 13th, Preston turned 6 years old! We didn't have the usual big birthday bash this year, a lot of family was unavailable, so he said he just wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese. So on his birthday we went to Chuck E. Cheese, he went to Toys R Us to spend some birthday money, went to lunch at Red Lobster (it's his and Gavin's favorite restaurant because of the lobster tank, we could have saved a lot of money and just went to Walmart) and had cake and ice cream that night. He said this is what he wanted to do, but sadly I think he was a little disappointed. He missed having everyone there and a big pile of presents. He probably got more gifts this year, but they were spread out over the week, so he felt like he didn't get many. I guess we won't be doing the low key birthday thing again! It makes me sad that he is getting so old, I am so happy to have him as my little boy!
Here are some pictures of Preston on his last birthdays:
5 years old

4 years old

3 years old

2 years old

1 year old

In the hospital

Happy 4th of July!

On Friday July 3rd we walked to the lake to watch the fireworks that Nashville Shores puts on. It has been a long time since we have watched fireworks, and I wanted to make sure that our boys got to see them this year. It only takes about 5 minutes to walk to the lake through the woods, and we had a perfect spot to see the fireworks across the lake. Preston and Gavin LOVED the fireworks! They were sad when they were over.


I looked at the woods, and walking out is Sasha, no one was surprised to see her!

Only July 4th we went to Patrick's parents to hang out and swim, and later we grilled out some really good steaks at our house. We were really glad that we watched the fireworks the night before, because at around 8:00, we were under a tornado watch and it rained for a long time!

Sasha's greatest hunt

I thought Sasha had hunted and brought us everything possible until this morning. From the picture it's hard to tell, but that is her hunting a deer. We were all watching the deer this morning, when we see Sasha start creeping up to the fence. She went under the fence, and got into crouching position. When the deer walked away, she followed it all the way into the woods. I wonder how she will bring that one home to us!

Best Photo Ever!

I just love Gavin- He is such a sweet, funny boy! He and Chuck E. Cheese have the same expression- I thought this picture was hilarious.

Making Strawberry Jam

Earlier in the summer, we went and picked strawberries with my mom, and then later we made lots of strawberry freezer jam. We had so many strawberries, we just kept making more. My freezer is full! The boys helped me finish up the last batches one morning. I have been eating it on everything!