Rehearsals, Recital & Soccer

 June has proved to be incredibly busy.  With end-of-the-year school activities (Kindergarten field day, class picnics, etc.), to soccer games and ballet rehearsals, it's no wonder time flies.  We are so grateful to the Lord that we have the opportunity to experience this fun and exciting "chaos" :-) This year was Grayson's last season playing Snoopy soccer. He'll move up in the Fall to play big boy soccer (he's so excited).  Here's a pic of Gray with his new trophy at soccer.  Also, in the below video, Gray takes the ball and the net goes down!

This was Ella's second year in ballet. She just LOVES it.  Grandma & Papa came again to see her recital which was hosted at the lovely Paramount Theater.  Ella's dance was called "Carolina in the Morning". She was and is just lovely- our sweet "Tiny Little Dancer".

Ella is front right center.

Ella & her good friend Catharine

Alley Cat Ballerinas

Grandma came to school to celebrate Ella's summer birthday

Community Day

One Sunday after church we took the kids to "Community Day Fair" for some fun treats and games.  Perfect event for young kids the age of our children.  Ella & Gray especially loved the pony rides.  Gavin went on the pony for a few seconds and wanted to get off. When I asked him why, he simply stated that "the pony is gross.", which resulted in tremendous laughter from Ella and Grayson.  Not sure why he thinks some things (like ponies) are gross, but I am certain that Gavin loves to make his brother and sister guffaw. 

For the Love of Water

What I love most about summer is the water; the crystal clear blue pool, the refreshing lakes and the mighty rivers around here.  We are finally back at exploring some of the local lakes.  Did I mention that we love to kayak?! The kids love it too.  Ella always makes me go along shore to pick some lilly pads and look for pretend fairies, creepy dragon flies and real fish.  So much fun! Even Gavin like to go "on the boat ride to fight bad guys."  Can you tell Gavin loves GI Joes? ;-)

Newsies.

How we've longed for the arrival of summer.  It's not even technically here but we are grateful to enjoy these beautiful days.  A few weeks ago one of my dearest friends (and her awesome sisters & mom) from NH came for a visit and we had the opportunity to have an awesome girls' day in the city.  We went and saw Newsies and enjoyed walking around the city all day.  What a blast!  About 5 or 6 guys from Newsies were actually contestants on one of my favorite shows, "So You Think You Can Dance".  Below is a picture of me with last season's SYTYCD (Jess).  I'm laughing in this pic because I feel like I look like his mom.  Awesome.  

Jess and his "mom".

Summer Festivities

This past weekend we celebrated some of our friends who are moving to the DC area (they are being stationed there after having been here at West Point for a few years).  We all had a farewell party for them and enjoyed the summer weather. Everyone had a blast hanging out & swimming in the Joneses' pool.  I especially love this pic of Ella and her good buddy, Grady.  Grady (the son of my dear friend Erin) is the sweetest little love ever who absolutely loves to snuggle with Ella (and she loves to snuggle him).  This particular photo of Ella & Grady so warms my heart.

Grady stealing the show. His smile gets me every time.

8 out of 14 of the kids pictured here.  All the kids had a blast.

Gray loves to sport his goggles.

Comparable Offspring

Came across these pics of our kids. It's so neat to see the resemblance of each child in the other.  At times I think Gavin looks like Gray and at other times his face reminds me of Ella.  It's funny though, that I barely see a resemblance of Jeff or myself in them.  See for yourself!

Flying High with Potty Training

Well, this is our second attempt at potty training.  Pray for us :-)  This little man is so much fun and so funny.  When I try and tell him to go to the bathroom in the toilet/potty, he says, "Um. No thanks that's gross."  And then the two older siblings laugh uncontrollably.  Gavin has caught on that he's funny, and he's loving every minute of it.  Again, pray for us ;-)  He's got UNDIES on now (actually, he wears the same size undies as Gray), so here we go!

 Two days short of June 2012 and and starting this puppy back up again (it's been since LAST August that I have posted!). Speaking of puppies (this has nothing to do with puppies), here's some pics of the kids (and Ella's dearest friend Melissa) with some creepy creatures including our frog who loves to hang by our pool, a random but pretty sweet bird's nest, and 3 baby chics that Melissa's mom brought over to play with! They were delicious! Kidding.  OK. More to follow soon but this is a good start!

I LOVE Gray's facial expression here as he manhandles this creepy frog/toad.

 My sweet Gavin holding "Black Knight", the dark chic.

The nest we found in the grass by the tree! Beautiful!