Swim Meet #2

We really, really like our neighborhood and the pool is at the top of our list of reasons why. The children LOVE it and we spend a lot of time there in the summer....but what else can you do when its above 90?

Tonight was our second swim meet. It was actually not as hot as the first...the storm that delay it until Wednesday took away some of the humidity!

Coach Taylor participated in a relay and brother was overheard saying

"I didn't know coach could swim!" How cute is that!?!?!

These smile and friendships are priceless!

VBS

I bet when you think of VBS, the picture above is not what comes to mind! Our church does an amazing job with this outreach! We had 575 children register!!!!

The children enjoy this summer activity each year!

Lil sis enjoyed herself as well...boy is she going to love preschool next year!

The music leader used fun hats to reward participation/effort. Big sis' group won the fourth day!

She enjoyed trying it on!

We are so blessed to be a part of a church family that supports ministries like VBS.

So many children come to know Jesus during this special week.

First Meet of the Season!

llTis the season...swim team season that is!!!

We missed the first meet due to our awesome vacation so tonight was our first meet of the season. The children were pumped up. They missed the timed trails and to swim all events (to record a time for ranking/stats). Big sis swam 6 full laps at one meet...that's a lot!!!!

She continues to swim all strokes well but especially the backstroke!

Yeah for brother!!

Brother is also strong at the backstroke. I recall this was daddy's event when he was a swimmer. Please never ask mommy to do this!!!

Now that she's in the 7-8 group there are more events which means a later night. This is big sis getting ready for her last event - a relay race. It was 9:45!!

She did great and it was actually neat to see them swimming under the lights!

Thankfully, daddy took lil sis home after the first little bit. She was enjoying herself but it was really HOT!!!!

And she got tired as the evening went along!

So thankful for this opportunity!!!

June Beach Trip

We have been married nearly 16 years and have never taken a vacation anywhere that didn't have salt water...interesting! We spent our anual week at the beach in Atlantic Beach for the third year. Each year seems better and better...minus the urgent care visit two years ago ( very pregnant mom) and the ER visit this year ( lil sis)!

This year we drove down in time to enjoy the beach the first day!

Big sis looked so forward to collecting shells that she made an apron for them!
I adore this shot....notice the baseball in his hand?!?!

How sweet is this one?!?!

My Loves

Lots of Fosters

Since this is close to our home towns we got to visit lots of family.

Silly lil sis discovered powered doughnuts...and liked them!

Our Beach Girl

Lil sis was not as taken with the beach as the others at her age. We are hoping it was just because she didn't feel too well. (The ER visit was for pnuemonia, ear infections and restrictive airway disease!)

We didn't make this turtle but really enjoyed seeing it!

This was the view from my chair one afternoon. Priceless!

One day lil sis just didn't think she wanted to come down to the beach...but mommy was leaving the condo so off we went. No, I didn't choose to battle the Dora gown!

She warmed up quickly and played hard!

On Wednesday, the ocean was more like a lake. Big sis was so proud that she got to go out there alone...something I would have never imagined we'd let her do at 7!!

Hard to believe these two used to fit in this very box together!

I have to search for one of those photos!!

Big sis made friends with the sweetest girl from a town not too far from home.

Sure hope to see them again soon!

Not going out alone this day. The ocean is an amazing thing!

We venture over to the waterfront one morning hoping to see a big fish from the tournament but got to see a big boat instead. I think its more of a ship!

Lil sis made friends with a local rabbit.

We got to see it so much and almost got a picture with it :)!

One morning, we headed out to a local park for some fun before the heat came. It is such a neat park with so much to do

Swinging being lil sis' favorite activity!

One day it was off to the aquarium!

(Why is it so hard for one, just one, picture of all three looking?)

Lil sis and brother were so interested in the otters...as big sis was a few year ago!

Lil sis showed Pinky all of the fish...so sweet!

One night, and only one night, we ventured out to a restaurant with Grandma and Aunt Anne Marie. It was yummy but almost put lil sis (or is that mommy!) over the edge!

Daddy, Grandma, Granddad Foster and the older two took in a Morehead Marlins Baseball game.

The condo we stay in belongs to Grandma's friends. We do a little trade off with Grandma's townhouse here so everyone is happy!! The children did a great job posing there. We just love being oceanfront and super close to the pool too! It works so well for our family right now!

Lil sis love popsicles on the porch!

Big sis took pictures of every room before we left. I love this one she took of herself in "her" room! She is soo sweet!

The only family picture all week was taken minutes before leaving!!

This is how a van looks after a super nice 9 day vacation with a family of 5!