Botanical Gardens

Our last field trip of the Summer was a hot one but a fun one. We went to the Botanical Gardens. We walked and enjoyed the plants and even a few sprinklers. We fed the fish and ducks. Then we headed to the Children's Garden for some splashing and cooling off.

Cooking on the Farm

This summer we were lucky enough to have my 2 nieces come a visit for 4 whole weeks. It was so much fun for Trey to have a playmate his age. It was also good for him to practice how to share his toys. One day we took Trey and my niece Seneca to a Mommy and Me cooking Class. They both had fun!

Trey making his beach bundle and cutting all by himself!

All set and ready to get cooking...

Fresh picked from the farm Seneca's favorite BLACKBERRIES!

Making an absolutely yummy and totally good for you treat. Peach Frosty's....We have made these at home this summer for a cold delicious treat!

Field Trip to Grants Farm

We always take field trips in the summer. I forgot to bring my camera to some of the fun but I didn't forget to bring it on this trip. Usually our trips end up being a big group of my extended family which equals.....whole bunch of kids.


Here is the group of kiddos that came to grants farm with us. A whole lotta family lovin.


Feeding the goats is always a must. I've never seen them turn away food.

Nina is a bit scared to feed the camel.

Trey is not afraid at all.
Sure looks like his fingers are going to get gobbled up.

Sometimes I get lucky and can snap a cute photo of them together.
If you can't tell it was a hot summer here.

Swim Team 2011

This year the girls decided to join a summer swim team.  They started the year with a very small amount of swimming background.  I wasn't completely sure they would love getting up every morning and heading to the pool to swim laps for an hour but they LOVED IT.  Their swimming has improved dramatically.  They loved swimming and they loved the swim meets the best I think.  They would really like to swim year-round.  We will have to see how far the water will take these two fish!

 Gini posing for a photo while she waits in the bull pin for her next race.

Swimmer Take your mark...this photo was taken before Gini learned to dive so at this point she just jumps in and starts swimming.

 Nina with one of her swimming buddies.

 Neither of the girls knew how to dive at the beginning of the season but by the end they were both diving and going off the blocks too.

Breaststroke has been Gini's best stroke since she started swimming this summer.  She is super fast!

This is Nina swimming Freestyle.  At the end of the season she could hold her breath for 8-10 strokes and she learned side breathing too!  She even asked her coach to let her swim a Individual Medley.  If you aren't sure what that entails, it is one length of the pool for each stroke (Fly, Back, Breast, Free).  That's right 4 laps!  After that she ended up swimming an IM in every meet and did great.

Camping by the River

This year we found this really great campground right on the Meremac River.  We spent a few days in early June camping right next to the river.  The first day it was HOT.  The second day we floated the tube loop right  behind our camp site all day to stay cool and after that night it stormed really bad.  The day we packed up the weather cooled off and was pleasant. As we headed out we stopped by the Onondaga Caves and were cold.  the kids even met some friends in the campground to play with.  We had a really great time and hope to go back again.

Trey's newest obsession Beyblades.

 The Girls gearing up for a day on the river floating in a tube.

 The year of the Cicada.  Imagine these hole everywhere you walk.

 Now imagine these and their shells everywhere else you look.  Think of Gini screaming and crying every time she had to take her trash to the trash can because she was scared of them.  Can't say she loves Cicadas yet. 



Having fun in the river and having fun cooking out our meals.  We have such good little campers!

State Farm LPGA Classic

For the last couple of years Byron has taken Nina up to the State Farm LPGA Classic on a practice day to watch the golfers. This year Gini started playing golf too so they all went up. They had such a good time watching the Ladies practice and talking with them as they walked by. They even came home with a bunch of autographs too!

 Getting autographs on their souvenir flags.

 Girls with Christie Kerr down by the green. 

Girls with Nina's favorite Player Minea Blomqvist on the tee box. 

Imported....

The clothes that is.  Maw Maw and Paw Paw came home from China with lots of goodies for the Kids.  Here is a photo of the Silk Dresses/Outfit they brought them. 

School Picnic

I can't seem to ever remember a school picnic and parade that we have ever had to dress in long pants and sweatshirts. Usually we are sweating, hot and ready to jump in the pool. This is also the first year since the girls started school I have been a specatator and not a participant.

Nina being silly with her friends and marching in the recorder band.

Gini marching with her friends.