"Oh Beautiful, For Spacious Skies..."

I love summer sunsets, especially when we watch them from our patio.

Bryton's American Idol

Uncle Jerod has been and will always be someone special Bryton looks up to. Currently, Jerod is the kid's mega-hero :) Bryton wears his F-22 shirts, dog tags, and hat pretty much all day every day these days! Sunglasses and a 5 yr. old "strut" complete Bryton's fighter pilot look. I've never seen Jerod strut, but when Bryton does, it sure makes a kid that much more cool! I'll post a picture to this blog, soon, to prove my point.

Where Do the Week's Go?

Its already Thursday, which I can't believe. And the summer is flying by. Summer park district programs, the pool, the library, hanging out at home, gardening, and spending time w/ friends and family is keeping the kids and I busy these days...but these things are what summer is all about for us! Bryton has started talking about school in the fall, and wondering who his next teacher will be... which tells me he's starting to "miss" it a little bit. And Avery says she's going to school this fall. She's in for a big surprise, as it will just be her and I all day long! Oh, what an adjustment that will be for all of us...mostly this Mom.

Avery and Emma

I should have a picture to go along with this post, as they are two of the cutest little princesses I know :) We were at a graduation party last night, and Avery played w/ her little friend, Emma (my longtime friend, Jen's, little girl). They played house, princesses, bubbles, tag, in the sandbox, etc...all night long. Jen and I get a kick out of how well they get along these days...I think it reminds us of Jen and I, when we were younger. The difference in age is about the same, and lets face it...our daughters look like their mommies. Emma and Avery had cute little summer dresses on, and "stole the show" from the graduate at times :) I can only hope that their friendship lasts as long and stays as strong as ours has.

Girlfriend

Bryton says he has a girlfriend. I doubt this particular girl has a clue, though. I asked him what "having a girlfriend" means, and he said "I like her. She's my friend." So, we are still safe...but its amazing what he learns at the pool, especially when he's been hanging around and playing w/ older kids. At least this girl's mom and I will get a good laugh out of it, when I see her next!

This Week's Favorites

Combo's - can you tell the kids and I love "filled" snacks?!
Minute Maid Lemonade - this is pretty close to the real deal.
WoodWick Candles - sound like a crackling fire when they are lit, and they smell great.
Dancing Waters - a very clean smelling soap and hand cream by Bath and Body Works.
Gogurts - a good summer snack the kiddo's are digging right now.
OPI Nailpolish - it is so worth paying a little more for this, when it stays on and I only need one coat.

"And I Could Not Ask For More"

A Little Bribery Goes a Long Way

Avery did a lot better during her swimming lessons on Wednesday. However, I did bribe her w/ lunch at the Splashland Food Court. And guess what? It worked (along with the help of her big brother, who was a "teacher's aide" during swimming lessons)! Nope, I'm not above bribery when the situation calls for it. Bryton was sitting by a friend during the first little bit of Avery's lessons, and he said to her, "We get to go for lunch here if Avery listens to her teachers this morning." Our friend replied, "So, how's it lookin'?!" Bryton's reply was, "Not so good." Obviously he had a vested interest in Avery's performance that particular day, so he gladly got into the water to help out when her teacher asked :)
But this morning Avery says to me, "Swimming wessons (lessons) today? I wike (like) swimming wessons. I wike my teacha." So, we'll see how it goes!

Swimming Lessons

Day 3 of swimming lessons, today...and each day Avery does a little better :) She's having a hard time getting used to trusting her "boy" teachers. She doesn't have a girl teacher, which she says she wants. Her teachers and I are trying not to push her too hard, as she is doing some of the techniques they want her to do and she is the youngest in her class (all of the others are around 4 yrs. old). Avery is just a bit scared of her male teachers! I suppose it would be hard at the age of 2 to trust a stranger to keep you afloat. She wants to go back every day, so that is something! And she's staying in the water, so that is another something!
So, we are taking it one day at a time, and thank goodness I'm lucky enough to be able to watch her progress.
Bryton, on the other hand, is loving his every day lessons! He's a regular fish these days, and I'm very proud of him!

Drinking and Driving

The kids and I were out and about, seeing our favorite "little people" in our immediate family yesterday. I usually have something I'm drinking in the truck w/ me...coffee, water, or pop. Yesterday morning it was coffee and Bryton says to me, "Mom, you aren't supposed to drink and drive!" I had to giggle at that, 'cause he was very serious...and this is the first time he's paid attention to me drinking something in the truck. So, for a full 1/2 hr., we discussed the true meaning of this phrase. He has little radar ears, so he must have picked it up at school or from TV. Avery didn't talk much while Bryton and I discussed this, but I know she was listening...so, it will be interesting to hear what eventually comes out of her mouth on this subject :)

Coming Out of His Shell...

Summer park programs have begun, and tball is the first on the list! Bryton has been SO EXCITED for this to start! He misses his little "buds" from school, so I think that is the main reason he is looking forward to this morning's lesson. When discussing it w/ his sister, she asked, "I be the cheerweada (cheerleader)?!" "Yes," Bryton replies, in his most exasperated voice. Then he adds, "but don't yell so loud, 'cause we can't concentrate when you do that." Wow, tball must be serious stuff his year!
I was saying that Bryton misses his classmates, whom he hasn't seen now for 1 whole week. We saw one at a graduation party this past weekend, and he and Bryton ran to each other and hugged so hard that they knocked each other over! And then in church on Sunday morning, Bryton decided to give a "high five" to another buddy of his, while he was walking in front of me in the communion line!
Bryton seems to know every kid's name in town, who is between the ages of 4-6! When we are out and about, he'll call kids by name...and I always ask "are you sure that is his/her name?!" Maybe he'll grow up and be in HR, like his Mommy...since he's doing well remembering names and faces, and he is becoming quite the little social bee :)