Summer Fun

Well, we have been keeping very busy since arriving in Indiana. The kids have attended two different vacation bible schools. Hunter has attended a sports day camp two days a week for the month of July. Grace has been doing storytime at the library on Thursday's. We've been swimming (when it's warm enough), and going to some of the free Summer movies at the Ohio Theater. Grace just finished a 3 day cheerleading clinic at the high school that was taught by the varsity cheerleaders, and recieved her first trophy last night. She will also get to cheer at one of the varisty games this season.We've also had a few playdates, and one sleepover. We made the trek out to Clarksville last week--about an hour away--and found the Target, Old Navy, and a mall!!! Woohooo! We've got some more fun things coming up--like sleep away camp for Hunter next week, then a much anticipated visit from some of our Texas friends, and we just signed Hunter up for football, and are looking to sign Grace up for gymnastics and dance. Enjoy some of the pics taken over the last few weeks!

We've had some uninvited guests. They were fun for the first few days, but they've made a mess of our driveway. So, the kids decided to encourage them to pack their bags and move on.

Daddy's helper


A video from the first VBS they attended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGkv1ohtXig&feature=player_embedded



Singing songs they learned at Community VBS at a nursing home.
Grace's first motorcycle ride with Daddy's friend, Carl.

As she was waving to me she said, "Look Mama!! I didn't fall off!" LOL!

Moose's turn. He was pumped.

Grace showing off her new "big girl" outfit.

Grace in front of a Mammoth tusk at Hanover College during our playdate with Perry. Hanover College has a ton of fossils, and bones on display in their science building, and it is open and free to the public during the school year. Perry's mom is a professor at the college, so we were able to get in eventhough school isn't in session right now.

Hunter & Perry in front of the tusks.

Grace performing at the Ryker's Ridge VBS finale.

Do you see the way that little girl is looking at my son? She was completely smitten with him. Aggghhhh. My baby boy is growing up. I kind of wish that little girls still thought he was a groddy boy with cooties.

Grace at the 2009 Madison Cheer Clinic

She's really good at the yelling part.

Here she is with her shirt and trophy. She was so excited that she would be recieving a trophy. That morning at breakfast she said, "Raise your hand if you're getting your first trophy tonight!", and raised her hand up as high as it would reach while giggling that neither Hunter nor I had our hands in the air. Silly girl.
On the way home, we spotted--a bird, a plane---NOPE!! It was Daddy! The kids love that for the first time ever, Daddy works in our town. So, sometimes we will pass him on the road, or see him drive past the house on his way to a job. Sometimes, he even gets to stop at the house for lunch.

Fun 4th w/the Family

Well, there were activities here all week long in preparation for the Regatta and the 4th of July. A block of Main Street was shut down in front of the courthouse to allow for the races. There were 8 teams, and each team had decorated their bed with a different cartoon theme. After each decorated bed paraded past the crowd, they removed the decorations and lined up to race 2 beds at a time. It was hilarious! Four people would push the bed while 1 person rode on it. When they made it down the first stretch, the person on the bed would hop off and one of the "pushers" would hop on for the ride back and the original bed rider would become a "pusher". Does that make sense? If teams did bad on this turn around/switch off, it almost always sealed their fate to lose the race.

Late Thursday night, Wes' family arrived in town after driving all day from Texas. I couldn't believe they made the trip in one day with 3 adults, 3 dogs, and 1 infant. Crazy!! The kids were so excited to see them, and we were excited to share our new home with them. Wes' dad is an avid fisherman, and participates in lots of tournaments, so he really enjoyed the pond.

On Friday morning, I headed into to town with Wes' dad so I could set our chairs out for the parade that evening. A Madison local had told me to head down to Main Street early Friday morning and set our chairs out. I was really nervous about doing this, even after she reassured me that everyone did it, and nobody would steal our chairs.

When we got home, I did a few chores and Grace joined me in the garden.

Grace played some Go-Fish with Granny and got some belly sugars from Pappaw.

Later in the day we headed into town to get milkshakes at Roger's Corner. YUMMY!! The boys headed down to the river to look around, while I browsed the little shops in downtown.

Then, it was finally time for the parade to start.

All branches of the military were represented at the parade, as well as the National Guard.

The mayor was there. I said, "Look Grace! There's our mayor!" She said, "Oh cool! What movie is he in?" LOL! She was not impressed when I gave her his job description and it did not include TV or movies.

Our favorite float was the Flinstones float put together by the drama department at the high school. The volcano would shoot confetti out of it. Grace has also now decided that she wants to take gymnastics, and Hunter wants a pogo stick. I, however, am hoping that Wes will become a Shriner and we can get one of these awesome mini-diesels. How cool would that be? You know you want one too.

Of course, you can't have a Regatta parade, without an appearance from Miss Madison, the hydroplane boat that represents our town. I couldn't believe how big the boat was. During the races, these boats reach speeds of more than 200 miles per hour!!!

We all had a great time attending our first parade.