Red, White and Blue

Every year we spend the 4th of July on Amelia Island with Shayne's family. GG buys all the grandkids (5 now!) coordinating patriotic outfits for the occasion. I thought it would be fun to go back through the years and find a picture from each year to see how the family and the kids have grown.

2002

First, there was Travis...

2003

Travis (1) and baby McKenzie

2004

Travis (2), McKenzie (1) and baby Morgan

2005

McKenzie (2), Morgan (1), and Travis (3)

2006

McKenzie (3), Morgan (2), Travis (4) and baby Cole

2007

McKenzie (4), Morgan (3), Cole (1), and Travis (5)
2008

Cole (2), Morgan (4), baby Gray, McKenzie (5) and Travis (6)

Coming soon...4th of July 2009!

Swim Lessons

We just wrapped up our month long swim lessons with Aqua Tots. I would highly recommend them! The kids learned a lot--especially Cole who I'm now confident can swim enough to save himself if need be. They both really enjoyed the lessons...especially because they had some good friends in their class. My friend Jessica told us about the program and we signed up with her kids. Here are some pictures of our little swimmers on their last day.

Andrew and Cole

Madeline and Travis

Happy Father's Day

A sweet picture of Travis and Cole with their Daddy on Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day, Shayne!

You're our hero!

VBS Crocodile Dock

The boys and I participated in our Vacation Bible School this past week. Our theme this year is "Crocodile Dock--Where Fearless Kids Shine God's Light!" The boys had a blast playing and learning all week. Here's a picture of them in front of the "bayou" that was created in the front of our sanctuary!

While Travis was having fun in his "big kid" section, Cole and I were in Rocky's Preschool Playhouse. Here's a shot of Cole in front of Rocky, the mascot for the preschool section.

Since I was volunteering in the preschool section, I didn't get many pictures of Travis. But here's one of him taking a break from grooving to the music during Sing and Play Swamp Stomp!

This is a "Prayer Gator" that Travis created during crafts. It's a clip that's supposed to hold prayers that the kids write down. No big surprise what came to Travis' mind...

Cole and his crew discussing some "God Sightings"

Cole and his friend, Grace during Sing and Play.

48 inches!

Today is a HUGE day for Travis. For the first time in the three years that we've been going to this particular water park, he was tall enough to ride the big waterslide solo. He wanted to reach this height so badly, I can't even describe it. Telling him that he had to eat healthy foods so he could grow tall enough was a great motivator even in the winter months. Today was the first time we've been to the water park this year and the first order of business was to go get measured at the lifeguard station. I watched the process and it was close! (I don't think I'll be getting his hair cut anytime soon in fear it might put him under the mark!)

He was so ecstatic when he measured 48" and got his hand stamped. I was lucky to get him to pose for a picture with the slide in the background. Needless to say, as soon as I clicked it he was off for the first of many solo slides!

Cole's Swim Lessons

The boys are taking swim lessons with a group called Aqua Tots and I would highly recommend them. Cole's first lesson was rough as he refused to put one toe in the water. He gave the excuse that it was "too cold" or "too hot" and finally the truth that he was "just a wittle bit scared." His friend Andrew is in his class and Travis' was right after, so I think he got enough peer pressure that by the second lesson he only put up a mild protest before giving in and participating. He turned around to me midway through the second day and said, "Mommy! I'm doing it and I'm super great at this!" Soooo, now he's very confident to say the least!

His instructor, Blake, is extremely calm and patient. There are only three little boys in the class and they're having a lot of fun together!

All smiles and splashes!

Cole on the right, our friend Andrew in the middle and our new friend, Colton on the left.

Trophies!!!

I missed attending Travis' soccer trophy ceremony because I had a meeting at church. So there were no pictures of that event. So I had this great idea that after Cole got his today, we'd go home, put on Travis' jersey, grab his trophy and get a picture of both of them with their trophies. Just one detail I didn't factor in...snowcones! Can you tell what flavor they both enjoyed at the tball closing ceremonies??? Cole had blue raspberry and Travis had cherry!

Tball Trophy

Today was closing ceremonies for the baseball season and that means Cole finally got that trophy he's been looking forward to receiving! He's been anticipating the trophy since the day I signed him up to play back in February. Because Travis has so many trophies on his bookshelves, he was looking forward to having one of his own. The fact that Daddy got to present it to him made it all the more exciting!

Splash Bomb!

Saturday fun with Travis' friend Miles over for a playdate. Aunt Donna gave the boys this super cool waterslide called the "Splash Bomb" last year and it's always a good time!

We're all SO glad that summer is here!!!

Welcome Home Daddy!

Shayne spent 10 days in Asia on a business trip and we all missed him terribly!!! He got home mid-day Wednesday and came bearing gifts...Travis loves to play chess and is getting pretty good at it. So he got a special chess set and is so enamored with it! It truly is beautiful. I'm glad he appreciates it.

Cole is not really old enough for such an heirloom quality gift. So he got some Spiderman toys from Toys R Us China. Both boys also got a couple of personalized gifts with their names painted on them, but Cole wanted to pose with his necklace with the Chinese symbol for "Year of the Rooster." You should see him flap his wings and crow to act out his birth year. Funny! I can't believe he wasn't born in the Year of the Monkey...

The effects of jet lag are rough...