The Great Prisoner Exchange (AKA, The Sleepover)

We met Alex and Makayla through martial arts.  They are home schooled and about Judson's age.  Alex and Judson struck up a friendship, as did Ansley and Makayla.  The relationships have been going strong for almost 2  years.  I have to say, it makes it nice that I like to talk with their Mom too.  It's a Win-Win situation.

This weekend we decided to do a 'double sleepover'.  Meaning,  Alex came to our house and Ansley went to Makayla's house and spent the night.

I have no pictures of the girls sleepover.  The report is:  They were very quiet, had tea parties,  worked on art projects and watched movies til almost 2am.   In other words, SUCCESS!

I think we also had success here at Camp Stricklin.  The boys played chess (LOTS of chess), played computer games  (LOTS of computer games),  ate (LOTS of eating), played on the slip and slide,  rode bikes, watched tv, rough housed, and had a rowdy time.  Again, I'd call it a SUCCESS!

Here are the pictures I took of the boys.

Randy with all his little helpers!

Today....we recover.

A Few of My Favorite Things

I apologize for the shaking filming.

Turn the volume up on Sawyer's video.

Introducing......

His Highness Captain Underpants and Cinderella

(be thankful I managed to get him to wear underpants, he was really wanting to go commando today)

In case you are wondering,  he is wearing glass slippers.

Remember????

OK....remember THIS STORY?

Finally tonight, we got together with DANIEL.

Oh...Sawyer was so excited!!!

Before we (just he and I) left, he told Ansley

"Now stay out of trouble"

They were excited to see each other.

Daniel and Miss Kris, who taught both Daniel and Sawyer in pre-K

These 2 truly do have a connection!

I REFUSE!!!

Yep.

That's right!

That's what SHE said.

She was NOT going to do her homework.

Her Dad had told her what would happen if she did that a  2nd time.

Apparently, her memory is faulty.

Less than a week later, she said those same words again.

Dad didn't take kindly to it.

So he told her, if she was not going to get any book learning, she'd need to know how to work with her hands.

What better way to do that, than to spend a few hours outside WEEDING.

This is what happened after a couple of hours.

Amazingly, today when asked if she'd rather learn from books or learn to work with her hands

She decided she'd rather learn from books.

Just having fun!

Girls Day

So Randy and Judson spent all day yesterday fishing.

It's only fair, Ansley and I get to do something today.

Correct????

First....The Nails

Then to ART class with BFF Makayla.

Beginning

Middle

The End

Personally, I think we got the best deal.

The guys spent the WHOLE day in a boat,

On the WATER,

IN.THE.HEAT

We were in the a/c all day long.

Sooooo much fun we are planning another art adventure.

Next time, Moms are joining in on the fun!

Swimming

OK.  It's SOOOO hot outside (How Hot Is It?).

  It's so hot, the only thing you can do outside is swim.

And that's all we've been doing outside.

Here's another video of Sawyer's swim lesson today.

What you'll notice is that he comes up for air,

then goes back down and swims some more.

That's a very good accomplishment.

Two Trips

Randy took 2 kids and headed south last week to visit with his folks. 

I took 2 kids and headed north to visit with my Dad.  

Each of us had a camera.  

Only 1 of us took pictures. 

The View

Main Mode of Transportation

Picking Blackberries

Trying blackberries.

Everyone had a great time!!! 

Except for the whole blackberry experience.

We are all very tired.

Demolition Derby 2011

Sawyer's #8

Judson is #7

Sawyer's won this clash!

Judson came in 3rd

Sawyer actually came in 4th.  (alas 4th doesn't have a trophy)

We're Getting There

Making LOTS of progress in swimming!!!

What Day Is It?

What's with all the kids?  (just some things we've been doing the last couple of days)

Ansley decorated the cake!!!  (very festive, don't you think?)

A little slip and slide action complete with dish washing liquid for extra SLIP.

Three of the best behaved little girls I've met.  Hope they get to come back!

Classic performed the group CUZZINZ!

Break Dancin'

Since Cuzzin Libby came to visit, MiMi (the cat) has gone into hiding. 

Libby is a brave dog.  Barking at our big dogs from high above the ground and behind glass.

Happy 4th of July (2011)

A Little of This and A Little of That

Been a BUSY week.  Looks like next week is shaping up be just as busy. 

A little studying.

A little chess.

A little pouting.

A little frisbee.

A little chalk and a little scooter.

And a little fun.

Add to that, two doctor appointments and two dental appointments

And you can see we know how to keep ourselves occupied.

A Little More Swimming

Today, he jumped off the side of the pool, more than once.  He also kicked his way across the pool by himself on the boogie board. (more than once)  This is big.  He has low muscle tone and very low core strength.  To have the ability to go across the pool and not tip over and not get scared when he wobbled is great.  

Driving Already???? Where did the time go????

Seems like just yesterday, they were wearing diapers.  Now, this????

Vacation 2011 (part 3)

You thought I forgot, didn't ya?   

Nah...just got busy.

So, last we left off, Randy took Judson, Ansley, and Turner on a 2-3 mile hike.  There was no way we could have taken Sawyer on that hike without one of us having to carry him most of the way.  The solution?

Can you guess what he is doing?

Does he look sad because he's missing the hike?   Wanna know why he is so happy?

The Train!  The Train!!!

He had such a great time.  The guy let him ride extra time because we were there early and there was no one waiting.  He'd come around the curve and I'd hear him yell, "Stop the Train, Stop the Train". Not because he wanted off but because he was acting out some movie he had seen.  (Polar Express???)  He had a great time!

Next installment?   The kids learn to drive!!!