Let The Swimming Lessons Begin!

For the past two Summers, we have taken Jack to a WONDERFUL Swimming Coach - and this year, little brother, Ryan, gets to join in the Summer Fun!!!! Both boys have had a WONDERFUL time swimming - and after their first week, they are making awesome progress!!

The boys with their cool new swim goggles!

Ryan learning the hand and arm position to "streamline"

Ryan learning to do a "dead bug" float on his back

Ryan loves his teachers!

Ryan learning to kick!

Look at all that splashing!

Ryan learning arm movements

Ryan taking time out of the pool to spend time with the Coach's doggie!

He's really working on his arm positioning!

Now it's Jack's turn, and he is the life of the swimming lesson - always has something to say!

Jack jumping in the water on his own!

Jack doing a great job on his "dead bug" float!

Jack is having SO MUCH FUN this year in his lessons - he's come a LONG way!

Jack doing his "streamline" - - - PERFECTLY!

Hooray!!!! Good job, Jack!!!

Working on arm stroke positioning

Jack pays such close attention to his instructors!

Jack swimming out on his own from the stairs to his coaches!

Jack got a little scared because he swam a long way by himself! Poor little guy!

Getting ready to jump into the deep end of the pool off of the diving board!

Great jump - - right into the hula hoop circle! (It's hard to believe Jack will do this - since last year, he was scared to death to jump off the board!)

Jack swimming on his back after the jump into the deep end!

We are SOOO proud of our boys! It's so fun to watch them grow and thrive!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Two Long Years, Several Thousand Dollars, Sore Mouth . . . A Perfect Smile: Priceless!!!

Does this girl have the most BEAUTIFUL smile - - - or WHAT?!?!? After two years of braces, our sweet daughter, Ashley, got her braces removed today - -- and she has even further evolved into a gorgeous young woman! I was so proud of how well she did everything the Orthodontist told her to do. She was "relgious" in wearing her rubberbands, etc. and everyone agreed: she got AMAZING results! Good girl!!!

Ash and her good friend, Addie, BOTH got their braces off on the SAME DAY (different doctors and totally not planned together!) This is them BEFORE their "removals"!

Ashley and all her girlfriends together - BEFORE the braces came off. All these girls celebrated tonight after the two last girls with braces finally got them removed!

In the car on the way to the Orthodontist

Outside in front of the Orthodontist's office

In the chair getting ready to "get down to business"

The braces are coming off!

Ashley did NOT enjoy have the impressions made for her retainers!

A PERFECT smile!!!

Great work, Dr. Schroeder and Staff!!!! THANKS!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Could I Be a FARM GIRL????

Okay . . . my sweet husband just breaks out into deep, bent-over, belly shaking laughter at the mere THOUGHT of me being a FARM GIRL, but you know - as I am going through life, there is something more and more appealing about growing your own food and the whole simplicity of farm life! Now - before you all laugh, I KNOW I am truly a city girl by nature - - - I like to get my nails done,and nothing feels much better than a one-hour massage after a girls' lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, but my latest passion has become creating, building, and growing my own vegetable and herb garden. I've fallen in love with the concept of square foot gardening (google it sometime) - where you can get a great harvest from a surprisingly small space.

This is my garden - now about 3 weeks in - grown from seeds! I plotted it out using a really neat tools on Gardener's Supply Company's website (www.gardeners.com), then prepared my beds and now I have 36 square feet of tomatoes, peppers, onions, okra, green beans, squash, eggplant, carrots, and a variety of herbs!

We'll see how the harvest goes this Summer - - - should be interesting! I thought about adding a couple of chickens to the Blankenship Farm - but that idea was promptly put to rest by my again hysterically laughing husband (who actually DID grow up in the country - and KNOWS what chickens smell like!)

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Preschool Pool Party!!!! Wheee!!!

TODAY was a GREAT day and a little SAD day at the same time!!! We had the privilege of having Jack's End of the Year Preschool Party at a classmate's home - and the kids had an absolute blast! The sad part comes in as I think about the fact that all these precious little ones - many of whom have grown up together for the past 5+ years since they were babies - will all be separated and going to different elementary schools for Kindergarten in the Fall. With the joy of an amazing preschool comes the sadness when those preschool days end. But TODAY was SO MUCH FUN - we all LOVED every minute of it!!!

Jack LOVING hanging out on the noodle!

One of Jack's friends making an enthusiastic jump from the diving board!

This little girl is simply adorable!

Ryan loved drinking from the dolphin fountain by the pool!

Jack and two of his best buds hanging out in the water!

Is this the most adorable cake?!?!?!? Our whole lunch was DELICIOUS!!!

Baby Ryan just taking it all in!

Jack did love that noodle!

Ryan exploring the pool - complete with a life jacket AND float!!!

We will miss all our friends greatly next school year, but are so glad for our friendships!!!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Old MacDonald Had a Farm - And on That Farm He Had a Birthday!!!

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hosting an "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" (as he puts it) 3rd Birthday Party for our youngest, little Ryan! After 3 children, we had never had a Petting Zoo OR Pony Rides at a party, but I guess like many other babies of the family, our littlest boy just broke us down. He is truly the biggest animal lover of all our kids and literally sings "Old MacDonald" about 50 times a day! So. . . Steve and I decided that if we were ever going to do it, this was the year! (And I found a really good deal from a great family ranch, which didn't hurt either).

This little boy had a WONDERFUL time - enjoying all HIS friends (not just friends of his brother's or sister's) and getting all the special attention!

Just look at the excitement on this boy's face! (And a happy Mom and Big Sister - whose efforts paid off!)

Ryan on his Pony Ride!!!

Our decorated front door - Welcome to "Blankenship Acres" (Steve said that sounded like a retirement home!) HA!

These are the ADORABLE candles I found for Ryan's Cake! (How CUTE are these?!?!)

Jack having his turn on the pony ride!

Ryan petting a Bunny Rabbit (his favorite) in the Petting Zoo!

"Farm Fresh" Refreshments for our guests!

More goodies for guests to snack on!

My Mom and Dad with some of the children - while enjoying the FARM themed Puzzle and Book and Activity Table! It was a LOT of fun!

Two of Ryan's special friends from church enjoying the water table!

One of Jack's best friends - dressed perfectly for the party!

Jack on yet another pony ride - - - he couldn't get enough!!!

Cousin William and Uncle Chris watching all the activity going on!

The Petting Zoo - it's strange to see goats, ducks, bunnies - - - and even hear a rooster crow - in your own backyard!!!

Everyone enjoying the Party in the backyard!

My friend who decorates cakes just outdid herself on this one!!! It was just PERFECT!!!

Ryan admiring (and sneaking a taste) of his Birthday Cake!

Ryan had a lot of FUN opening his presents from his friends and family!

More presents with friends!

The party was a huge SUCCESS for Ryan and his sweet friends, but it will probably be the last full-blown Birthday party at our home (which makes me a little sad!) I just LOVE to have young children's parties at home, but they are a LOT of work, and as the kiddos get older, it becomes much more pragmatic to have them held elsewhere. But - I guess since livestock were involved in this one, we went out with a BANG! Even with all the work, it was a true PRIVILEGE to give our little boy this gift! We are so grateful that God blessed us with this wild, energetic, funny, creative and one-of-a-kind child three years ago! Our lives will NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!!!!!

. . . just another day in the life . . .