Swimming..Swimming..Swimming..

Gracie loving this intertube-we need to get one.


Cole also loved his. We are low on pool toys-guess I need to get some.



Can you guess what we have been doing this summer? Every morning I have been trying to take the kids outside to swim for 1-2 hours. It has been beautiful here. Last week we had a play date with our neighbors and some other friends at their pool. I hear we are supposed to get back into the triple digits this week-it's not fun when it is that hot. It is almost intolerable to be outside, even in a pool. The kids are EXCELLENT at swimming. I actually am going to put them in advanced swimming lessons later this summer,so they can start to perfect their strokes. I remember the days where I had to be right next to them. I can't believe I am at the point where I can sit in the shade and just watch them. They go everywhere, down deep, diving, jumping, sliding, catching diving sticks and diving rings, etc. They are fish. I have FISH!

Summer Nights

On Wednesdays, Robert has been playing guitar at Wahoo's Fish Tacos. We just gather on the patio, eat some dinner and watch and listen to Robert play! UNTIL, we are kicked out BY Robert because the kids are going nutty. So we don't get much more than an hour there.




The kids are really enjoying it. This is while they are still doing well. Last week we joined our friends, Niki and Matt and their kids. I REALLY love this picture.

it's hard being 3......

...to want to be big ( he believes he is as big as daddy and tells me so, "I can do what daddy does-I'm big.", to want to be able to do everything his older sister does, to be able to express himself, to be able to carry a purse...yes, you read that right. I think that is an indicator that he has been with me and Gracie for too long, I think I have him convinced that boys don't carry purses.... :) I just LOVE him so much...

A date out for the girls.

A couple of weeks ago Gracie and I went on a date. We were in need of having some girl time. What she DIDN'T know, was that I was considering surprising her and getting her ears pierced. She really hasn't been dying to get them done, she has only asked a couple of times. I remember I was about her age when I got mine done. It seemed fun and I knew she would be happy. So here we are enjoying our dinner at Islands. I have just asked her if she would like to get her ears pierced. She was very excited and a little nervous.






Here we are at Claire's getting Gracie's ears pierced!!





Smiling Gracie only after a few tears. She was a very brave girl. Notice the cute birthstone earrings.





Smiling girl after getting her frozen yogurt. It was a great night!!

What a Great Poem

i am: who God made me... i can't change it... only nurture it.
i think: too much about everything... too much and doubt myself
i know: that I love my kids.
i want: to make sure that my kids know i love them and I want for them to be confident; a task that gets harder as the kids grow. They are 4 and 7.
i have: a great family who I just try to enjoy my time with.
i wish: there wasn't such pettiness in the world.
i hate: saying goodbye.
i miss: my Mom, my Grandma, my brother and his family and dear friends
i fear: crazy people who don't think
i feel: emotions! they get the better of me!
i hear: Dragon Tales in the background
i smell: Coconut Body Lotion
i crave: small and thoughtful acts of love.
i search: for consistency and peace
i wonder: who my kids will marry.
i regret: not staying on top of sending cards like I used to & also when I lose my temper with the kids.
i love: my family, my friends and relaxing times.
i ache: when I feel people take what i say wrong.
i care: about the way i am raising my kids. i want them to be strong, caring & sensitive individuals who are confident and believe in themselves.
i always: have a sandwich for lunch-my favorite.
i am not: always sure of what I should do
i believe: in my kids.
i dance: to high school musical 1 & 2, Camp Rock & Hannah Montana. i have a 7 & 4 year old who LOVE these.
i sing: not too great
i cry: not so much anymore; sometimes I am just numb
i don't always: keep my control and composure when it comes to my kids.
i fight: when I believe in something very strongly
i write: because i enjoy expressing myself.
i never: smoke
i listen: because i enjoy the thoughts of others.
i need: to be loved.
i am happy about: everything when it is smooth sailing and I feel NO stress, this is when I notice I am most happy.

pure love...

I love them BEYOND comprehension. Please look at their adorable faces. They are the 2 best things that have ever happened to me. I just feel love right now....

If you're reading this please make a comment....

please...I like to know who my audience is!!

DISNEYLAND surprise...

the kids were so happy. We swung through the loop at gracie's school, picked her up, and I said, "guess what-we are going to Disneyland!!" Their mouths dropped open and then turned into huge grins and they started screaming. They were so excited and it was a magical day-for sure. I have decided one thing, I still love roller coasters, but there are 2 I am forever staying off of now. I have officially ridden Space Mountain for the last time. If you haven't been on it since they re-did it, it is much more nauseating. And I will always stay off of the California Screamin' one at Ca. Adventure. Enough is enough. It is not worth it to keep putting myself through that sickness. This was also the 1st time we saw Cole act a little bit on his fear. Any time he got afraid, he immediately started saying he needed to go to the bathroom. Hmmmm....