Summer Swim Lessons

This past summer the girls took swim lessons from a high school kid at church who has a pool in his backyard. The girls LOVED it! I really hope that he does it again this summer, so we can ditch the water wings...

The girls with their instructors (we got super lucky - there were only three kids in the class, and the other little boy didn't want to get in the water)

Water babies!

Cadence practicing her kicks with the kick board

Coming around the home stretch on the kick board

The girls loved being in the water, and would do WAY more for their teachers than they ever would for Mom and Dad. Kennedy's favorite was jumping off the diving board. After she got over her initial apprehension of course. :)

Reminiscin' on Chickens..

The girls loved chasing the chickens around the yard and picking them up. Because we handled them from the time we brought them home, they were quite used to being wrastled and wrangled and hauled around. It was fun while it lasted! Maybe we'll get an opportunity to do it again sometime...

Cadence with her chicken, Barbie

So proud of her pretty hen!

Even though that chicken is almost as big as she is, she's not afraid to clutch it as they tour the backyard

Do you want some grass out of my hand? Don't peck my fingers!

Backyard. Free-Range Style.

Posing with Barbie. Owl wanted in on the photo shoot too.

Okay, now everybody wants in on the shot!

Where's your chicken? Ummmmm.....

There she is! Hey, don't peck my toes! EEEEEEEEEEK!

Cadence: Oh no! I got pooped on!
Kennedy: Just keep smilin- WHAT?!

I don't want to stand next to you if you have poop all over you!

Cadence: Aw c'mon! It's not that big a deal!
Kennedy: I'm afraid!

Okay, let's just make funny faces at the camera. That works!

Quick Chicken Update

So, for those of you who don't already know, we had to get rid of our chickens. Yes! I was SAD! The girls were devastated. Before we even bought the silly things I combed the city ordinances to make sure I wasn't doing anything illegal. I found two ordinances which pertain to chickens - first, they have to conform to noise ordinances. Okay, no roosters. Second, they cannot run at large. Okay, keep them penned. There is another ordinance which pertains to animal husbandry which states that domesticated farm animals cannot become a nuisance due to them attracting rodents and insects, they need to have at least one half acre of land (ya right, chickens? seriously??) and their dwelling cannot be within 100 feet of a dwelling, not including the dwelling in which the owners of said domesticated farm animals live. We had a neighbor complain that the chickens were getting out and getting into other people's yards. Yes, they did get out twice, but it wasn't like an all-day or everyday occurrence. And what damage did they do? Ate a few bugs? Really. It was an anonymous complaint, but a complaint nonetheless, and when the code enforcement officer came out he said we couldn't keep them and had a week to re-home them. I asked him to show me where it says I can't have them. He just kept repeating that farm animals are not allowed in city limits. THERE ARE HORSES DOWN THE STREET, 3 BLOCKS CLOSER TO TOWN. In the end, I had to to find a new home for them, even though he could not actually SHOW me where it says that chickens are not allowed in city limits, especially if there is an ordinance to address poultry owners within city limits. So anyway, they now live down the street near the horses, at a friend's house. The code enforcement officer said he didn't care if I kept chickens, it's only if someone complains that he has to do anything about it. He didn't care if I tried again, as long as he doesn't get a complaint about it. But, he said, he has my number, so if I do try again, and he gets another complaint, he can just give me a courtesy call. We'll see what happens next year...

Visit From Papa John!!!

In May, Papa John came to visit! The girls LOVED it! I think Papa John did too. :) We all had a blast and can't wait until his next visit! They played puzzles and dress-up, and colored, and did crafts - everyone had a wonderful time. :) We love you Papa John!!!

Cadence's Masterpiece

A few months ago (obviously, since Cadence's hair is so much longer) Cadence came in to show me (she was so proud!!) the picture she drew of her first 'shark'. I was so impressed! So proud of my little girl getting so big! She looks so little in this picture! With her hair cut short she looks so much more grown up; much more so than I am ready for, but which she is growing into with wonderful grace.

Notice the jagged, ferocious sharkey teeth, the long, sleek body, and the tell-tale shark top fin. This shark looks like a man-eater!

Father's Day

So for Father's Day this year, the girls went to a local cake shop and made their dad a hamburger and fries. Yup. All out of cake and candy products. They had a blast! Jeremy thought it was totally awesome, even though there was so much sugar he couldn't finish either one. It was a hit!

First...

Cut a yellow cupcake in half, then sprinkle candy sesame seeds on top of the roundest half

Next, cut a round brownie for the 'patty'

Add some fruit roll-up 'lettuce'

Fondant 'pickles' and 'tomatoes'

Frosting 'mustard' is a must

A squirt of 'ketchup'

Smoosh the top 'bun' on, add a splash of 'ketchup' to dip the cookie 'fries' in, and you have one excited little girl with one heck of a Father's Day surprise! (the other little girl wouldn't stand still long enough to get a good shot)

And the masters in action!

Just some pics...

I know, I know. 3 months is a long time to wait! I am finally making time to get more pics up, so instead of wasting time writing, I'm just going to post them. This post will include just pics of the girls over the summer.











Okay, so Samson isn't one of the girls, but he was posing too and wanted his picture taken along with the girls. ;)