Summer!

Maggie talks on the phone with it up.  Makes it hard to hear.  Ha. 

The girls decided to wash each others feet and then paint nails.   I pray they will always serve each other this way.   

Such sweet sisters! 

Maggie was so sweet to do Gracie's too.   

Sunday Pic 

Sister Sunday Pic 

Gracie Bug 

Silly! 

Ha, more silly pics.   Jimmy was in charge of Sunday pics.  I loved going through these. 

Some days they are so sweet and love to be together.   I reflect on moments like this when they are bickering as siblings do! 

Helping me make copies for Ms. Kelly's Birthday at work. 

Its hot here and we are on the last stretch of swim meets.    We have loved the swim season (after some initial adjustments).    Gracie’s time was really improved.  She did the freestyle 25 meter in 35.38 seconds and the backstroke 25 meter in about 40.  Both improvements for her! 

Ally, Aunt Tammy, Grammy and Papa met us in Dalton Monday for the meet.    

Maggie's ready for the meet! 

Grammy snuggles while we wait. 

Gracie patiently waiting for her heat. 

Grammy loves 

Papa loves 

Gracie and Lilly during warm up 

Maggie was entertained by Papa's hat. 

Maggie has loved the meets, but really wants to be in the pool too.  We are working to get her to swim the length of the pool by next summer so she can do team.  

Paisley (Lilly's sister) came to the meet Wednesday at Signal Mountain.  They are precious! 

We were thankful for shade to play in while we waited for Gracie to swim. 

Sweet girl! 

I laughed at Maggie this week when she wore her “Big Sister” PJs to camp.  I told her she was not a big sister, but a little sister.  She quickly and quite sternly told me “I am to a Big Sister”.  Ahh, she thinks that means grown up, like being a big girl!    Maggie also says " Don't call me Margaret.   I like to be called Maggie".  

We had a great Saturday spending time with Aunt Katelyn and Ellie at their pool and a birthday party for Gannon.   The girls are going to bed early and Jimmy and I are going to have a home date night!   

Fathers Day 2014 and 35th birthday!

This week we had some fun celebrations!  We had a low key Father’s Day and enjoyed loving on Jimmy (although really we do this every day so I am not sure there was any difference other than he got a fun yard game!).    The girls are so blessed by a Daddy who adores them and participates in their lives consistently cheering them on and pushing them when necessary for their own development.   They are spoiled by their Daddy ticklers/ back rubs at night, but we would not have it any other way.    I often just sit and watch him interact with them and know he is pouring all of him into them and smile as I think about the high standard he is setting when they begin to think about courting and marriage!   

The best Daddy to our two daughters!  

Our youngest and rotten (for those not southern that really is an endearing term I promise)

Our oldest who is growing up more quickly than I ever would have imagined!   

On the block….

a deep dive….she is working on a shallow dive to get further and not spend as much energy getting to the top. 

25 meter 

This is how Maggie spends swim meets….swimming in the baby pool and eating!   Jimmy said "snack" is going to become a bad word this summer! 

I am (and we are) also blessed by a wonderful dad and father in law who are great dads and have added to much to my life as well as wonderful grandfathers to our daughters!   

WOW.  35?  Really?   30 was hard, 35 not so bad.  I am so blessed!  I received so many calls, texts, emails and Facebook messages.  I worked, enjoyed a quiet birthday date lunch with Jimmy, took Gracie to swim practice and was surprised by Jimmy and the girls having cupcakes when we got home.   

Lilly spent a few nights with us as she was at summer camp and on Gracie's swim team (and dear friends of ours from church and small group too)

Yummy Birthday cupcakes! 

A yard project we had been wanting to do for some time….killed the grass…..

…new sod was laid this week!    

Maggie had Mommy night Friday while Gracie was at the swim team ice cream social and pictures.   

We enjoyed a low key weekend thus far with the Smiths.  We hit the pool, grilled a late lunch and the kids played together so well.  Its a blessing to have friends that you can be real with (spilled drinks, kids that are tired, and fun games) and laugh all the way through.   

Cannon Ball! 

Gracie, Maggie and Andersen 

Keaton and Maggie (Photo bomb by Andersen)

Ahh, some quiet time after a hard swim while the parents visited and got lunch ready!

Someone was sooo tired!    

New Environments!

Sunday Pic 

Sunday Pic

Sisters!  

The past two weeks have warmed my heart as a Mommy to watch our girls embrace new environments, friendships, and expectations.   Gracie has tackled swim team and we are so proud of her.  Is he the fastest swimming for points?   not yet, maybe some day.  But that is not what it is about to us.   It’s about pushing your personal best, striving towards a goal, and gaining confidence in yourself as you try different things.   Thursday they had her down to swim the butterfly stroke in the relay. She had never done this before so we immediately talked to the coach.  They encouraged her to swim what stroke she wanted that at this age it did not matter.   To our surprise, she pushed herself to try to do it and did a great job!    She truly enjoys swimming.  Her smile shines through!  I am reminded how much she is like her mama too in these moments.  She is anxious when she does not know what is next and needs the plan laid out for her.   

When did she grow up? 

They are both ready for their heats! 

Freestyle!

Anxious to try the Butterfly 

On the blocks! 

Maggie has really bloomed into quite a PreK girl.  Its amazing how putting her in a new environment really has further stretched her development all around.  She talks just as much (if not more), she captures details at a greater level, she has made new friends (which comes easy to her), her speech is improving, etc.   

Maggie enjoys swim meets and special treats. 

This girl was up first Saturday and snuggled.  

Maggie was home Thursday with Jimmy not feeling well.  She took a nap, but was playing her piano to wind down.  

Saturday we enjoyed time at the pool before date night.  I did not get a pic of all the girls, but Ellie enjoyed swimming!  

Girls, while you have been embracing the changes of growing up and trying new things, your Mommy and Daddy have had to adjust and regroup as well.    After the crazy week back from vacation, swim team practice and meets consuming every evening, and crazy work schedules I told your Daddy “I am not doing well, you are not doing well, and we are not doing well.”.   We needed time to get away and connect to be a better couple and to be better parents!    What a wonderful night away!   We enjoyed testing driving cars, quiet dinner laughing and talking, and a little shopping while we had a sitter.   We are ready to tackle another week!   Our prayer for you should you marry is that you and your spouse will have moments away where regardless of life you have nights just the two of you.  We laughed that the crazy days had felt like months rather than just a week!  We had to laugh that while it was a rough week we quickly recognized we needed time away to connect.  Thanks Jimmy for a wonderful night together.   I am so blessed that we choose to do this life thing together and for our priorities that are consistently in line with each other.  

Lets tackle another week!