Fall 2008

Fall 2008

This year we have a better camera and so I didn't have a panic attack trying to take the photos this year. (Thanks Dad)

Yes I know that it is no longer Fall. What can I say....I am a busy mom. Sorry to you all that have been checking and haven't found anything new since OCTOBER!!!

This is were the difficultly comes in. Getting all three of them to smile or at least look cute at the same time.

I call this photo Article One:


This year Gabbie did have a leaf in her possession but at least she didn't eat it and throw up like last year.

Article Two:

At this point it is over.

Matthew's face says it all.

Gabbie can't stand to have anything on her feet so she is OUT!!!

Here is a close up of her "EEEOOOOOO!"

Case closed.

We did get some wonderful pictures and I will love to look back on the crazy ones just as much. Such is motherhood

Learning to Swim

In late July Abigail and Matthew took swimming lessons at the Y. It was 30 minutes a day Monday through Thursday for 2 weeks. We also shared the pool with a water aerobics class. If you click on the photo you can see all of the older women. I think there might be one man. Ha Ha.

One of the moms and I were joking and commenting that this will be us years down the road.

Now getting to the part you are interested in.

The kids are hanging out with their instructor. On Abigail's back you can see the floats they use in teaching them. As they progress layers of the foam are taken off until it is just them and the water. They both took to the water wonderfully. Most of their comfort came from swimming in a friends pool a couple of times during the summer.At one time he instructed each of them to jump off the side of the pool. It did take a few seconds to gain the nerve but as you can see they did it. The swimmers would practice swimming using a flotation device that resembled a dumbbell with foam on each end. They would hold it with one hand and stroke with the other and then alternate. At the end of this lesson both Matthew and Abigail wanted to dive to the bottom and get a stick.
The instructor is helping Matthew get to the bottom...


And now back up again.
He did it!!!!!
Now it's Abigail's turn...

She did it!!!

One of the lessons was on how to fall out of a boat in a life jacket. This, for the kids, was the high light of the lessons. They loved it.

Matthew getting help with the life jacket.
Matthew and his partner in the boat.
Here.....We......GO!!!!

Now it is time for Abigail and her partner!!!
They can now safely fall out of a boat!!!! Ha!Ha!

They really did enjoy the lessons and learned A LOT. Abigail can now swim without a float and Matthew is almost there. They can also dive to the bottom of the shallow end without assistance. Swim on!!!

Fun at the YMCA

The YMCA in our area just added a new play area for the kids. It is HUGE!! The kids love climbing, sliding and exploring.
They all had fun sliding down the "water" slide.

They also have a play area to the side for smaller children. Gabbie had fun in this area but she really wanted to be with Abigail and Matthew. There were too many older kids to let her have big girl fun. Oh well, she will be over there soon enough.

Gabbie aka Live Baby Doll

Gabbie loves her sister and brother and she wants to be just like them. So, when she sees them dressing up, she has to dress up also. They decided to put Matthew's Buzz Lightyear dress up on her. She looks so cute and funny. I'm sure you can see how it swallows her.

She looks like a penguin. How can you not laugh.Next they decided to dress her in an outfit my aunt gave them. We have been waiting for her to grow big enough to wear it. This is a poodle costume.


See her little tail!!
If you look closely you can see the little black eyes and nose of the dog on top of her head.

Petting zoo and Emergency Vehicles

We attended the grand opening of Ooltewah United Methodist's playground earlier this summer. The kids were able to explore some amazing emergency vehicles. As soon as the arrived I heard a helocopter in the sky. I had no idea it was going to land in the parking lot. How amazing it was to see it land and feel the air spinning around.

Matthew had so much fun climbing all around the Fire Engine and asking tones of questions.

This is a bomb squad vehicle. Pretty cool!!!

All of the kids were able to hold rabbits and chickens. We took Kaylee, one of Abigail and Matthews friend, along with us.

Gabbie had a fun time sliding on the new slide.

Cute Photos of Kids

These are just a few cute photos that have been taken this summer.

4th of July

On July 4th of this year we were in Tuscaloosa with family. We had a huge cookout and great fireworks. These are just a few pictures of the kids in their patriotic wear.