Summertime, Summertime!

The boys and I have had a great summer so far! We have been having so much fun that I have not even had time to blog! I can't believe the summer is almost over and school starts in a few weeks! Time flies when you are having fun!

We have spent A LOT of time at our neighborhood pool this summer. We are so blessed to have a pool, playground and mini golf course just around the corner from our house!

Christian jumping in!

Christian has made leaps and bounds over the summer when it comes to his comfort level in the water and his swimming skills. I have been taking him on his own in the evenings after dinner. We have worked on swimming under water, using goggles, jumping into the deep end, floating and using the proper form when swimming above water. All that work has REALLY paid off! Christian started Level II swim lessons this week and he is right where he needs to be. Last year, he was even afraid to put his face in the water. ;) Now he is learning to swim in the deep end and go after dive rings at the bottom of the pool. Amazing! He has great confidence in the water now! It is so fun to watch him jump in over and over again! And to see him swim a lap across the pool makes me so proud! Love that boy!

Christian with his swim lesson teacher, Miss Donna. She is AWESOME! She does great with kiddos!

At the end of each class, she lets the kids get on a big mat and she shakes them around like they are in a big storm in the ocean! Christian LOVED it!

Christian swimming across the pool the first day of swim lessons. :)

We have spent some time in the kiddie pool too! Andrew loves to splash and play! Andrew, however, has no fear of the water and wants to jump in the big pool head first! haha! Luckily, next summer he will be three years old and can start his own swim lessons. ;)

Earlier this summer, we took the boys to see Cars 2.
It was Andrew's first movie at the theater. He did great! Both boys liked it and we stayed for the whole thing! The neat thing is, we took Christian to his first movie when he was 2 years old and it was Cars.

Here is a picture of me holding Christian outside the same Bella Vista theater back in
August 2006...

Seems like just yesterday.

Jim and Christian have played golf together this summer. They also like to go to the driving range after church and lunch on Sundays. It is part of their weekend routine until this horrible heat wave came along and it is too hot to go in the afternoons. Hopefully, when the temps go down, they can get back into their driving range routine. Jim says Christian hits the ball very well! I love to see them get to have "guy time" together. ;)

Christian also got to spend some special time with Pops and GoGo this summer.
Pops took Christian to see the big steam train roll through Van Buren!

Pops and Christian watching it pull up to the depot!



Pops and GoGo even took Christian out on the boat on Beaver Lake...

Christian giving Pops the "thumbs up" to go faster!

We have also had weekly playdates with my Mom's Ministry group, lunch dates with friends and lots of birthday parties over the summer...

Christian and his friend Brianna from church. We checked out the new Mellow Mushroom pizza place when it opened! Good stuff!

The boys loved the tree house and slide at the Griffiths house!

Splash time at the Bentonville Splash Park!

Fun with Natalie, Tricia and Kari!

Lunch with little Miss Diva, Ruby! :)

Hanging out with my MM ladies at Laura and Jann's neighborhood pool!

Christian roasting hot dogs at his friend Ava's birthday party!

The boys playing in Ruby's bedroom with the Young girls for Brandon's 35th birthday party!

Happy Birthday Brandon!

I was only able to work six Wednesdays this summer while the boys were at summer Mother's Day Out! I enjoyed being on the trade desk and the boys had a great time too! Andrew's little class enjoy splash days playing in the sprinkler. Christian's school aged group went on field trips to Fayetteville Air Museum, Fast Lanes, Roller City, Bentonville pool and a Naturals baseball game! How fun!

While Andrew was at MDO on his own, Christian and I had what we call "Mom and Christian fun days" doing things we can't do with Andrew like ride go carts at Fast Lanes, swimming in the deep end, race car games at Chuck E Cheese, school clothes shopping, and eating tacos! And a few trips to the Great American Cookie Co. for an afternoon snack. ;)



Andrew having fun by the pool!

Christian enjoying a snack poolside! And yes, he definitely needs a haircut. ;)
That's just one more thing we have to fit in next week along with school supply shopping!
We leave for another trip to Texas soon too! Well, better make the most of our last days of summer! I hope to post again soon!