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!!!

Never Too Old to Learn

So Randy and Judson signed up for a race.  Randy ran the half marathon and Judson the 5k.  Since Randy's race began first and ended last, I needed to be there to keep up with Judson.  So at 6am yesterday, we set out for the race.  ALL.6.OF.US.  Nothing unusual to begin with. 

Then after 30 minutes and only 2 folks had crossed the finish line for the 5k, people began to question where they might be.  Come to find out, the whole pack (save the 2) had taken a wrong turn and ended up on the half marathon course.  By the time the pack finished the race, they had run 5 miles instead of 5k.  I was a bit worried because I wasn't sure if Judson was upset.  I was hoping he had stayed with the crowd.  I had told him to do that since I figured he was safer in the crowd than wondering the streets of Snellville alone. 

The whole time we were waiting for them, I was getting pretty angry.  The organizer was less than stellar and I was thinking of some things I would say to him if my son wasn't finishing pretty soon.  At close to the hour mark, I saw Judson rounding the last curve.  I breathed a sigh of relief but still held bad will toward the guy in charge.  When Judson crossed the line, his first words to me were "  Next year I'm training for 5 miles in case this happens again!"  Wow.  Can you believe that attitude?  Awesome.  I tempered my attitude and realized that I could learn a lesson from this ordeal too.  Judson did not quit.  He did exactly what I told him and he persevered and finished the race.  Of the 84 people signed up, less than 60 finished.  He did not complain.  He just made the best of a bad situation. What a great example he was to his momma. 

Interrupting our regularly scheduled programming for PSA #1

OK...you can't tell me this kid isn't cute.  What a personality.  It jumps off the page.  From his description:
"little cheeky, lively and has a strong will."  He needs a Mommy.....Maybe it's YOU!!!   Just saying....

Vacation 2011 (part 2)

Checking out the trails!  (Ok...can't get used to new blogger, so the pics are out of order)

Judson and Dad (along with Cousin Mark) Hiked to the Boulevard Trail and beyond.

Dad took Ansley, Turner and Judson on a short hike to Laurel Falls.

From the longer hike overlooking Newfound Gap

Short hike, Laurel Falls.

Never fear, Sawyer was not ready to go hiking.  So he went to do some 'funner' stuff!  Since, I can't get Blogger to do what I want, I'll make that a separate post.