Birthday Flips

On July 3rd we celebrated friend's birthday at another friends backyard pool. I was amazed at how well some of the men were able to show up the youngsters on the diving board.

Success

This year our pool mandated a "swim test". Before a young one can swim alone in the pool (without mom or dad in the water with them) they have to swim a full lap and tread water in the "10 feet" for a minute. Now mind you Davis has been swimming alone since last summer but now half way through the summer they realize he has never taken the "swim test", which was not even an option last year. So on the 4th of July aka the busiest pool day of the year, Davis is asked to take the "swim test". He pulls it off without a moments hesitation. He swam his lap - ran over for a coin dive (collected $3.43) - and then went for the minute tread test! He was so excited that he passed and asked if he got to take one each day. Poor guy I hated to break it to him that he never has to do it again!

Brotherly Love

Kiss me once

But don't you dare try to kiss me twice!

Ya just got to love a little brotherly love --- just don't ask for more than one is willing to give!

Summer ShootOut at Lowes

Yes, Yes by now everyone should know what NASCAR fans we are. But maybe we should broaden that to simply "Race Fans'. Even my boys have the fever. Last week we loaded up the mini-van and headed to Lowes Motor Speedway for the Tuesday night Summer ShootOut. Each Tuesday night during the summer they have mini races --- all sorts of cars--- with people competing from age 8 and up. (you know they are still relatively young when the winner thanks his "mommy and daddy") Gage really has the bug. He and Ward sat and chatted the entire time about the cars the 8 - 12 years old were driving. Who knows maybe Gage will race to fund our retirement. Truman was a trooper, we stayed until the very end so we could see the fireworks. He had a ball and loved the fireworks display. He even at that point forgot about the earlier incident where he chocked on a dum-dum. (but that is a whole other post). I was not remiss in taking pictures of Gage - he was there, he was just too busy watching and planning for his debut and would not allow photos. Maybe he does have a future is racing after all.

Intense skittle eating and race watching

Intense Chip eating

And finally the FIREWORKS!

Swimming with friends

Summertime is about the pool for my boys. They come by it honestly both Ward and I love the pool and spent many of our days as children poolside. I have been remise this year in going to the pool much. Mainly because Tru thinks he is 4 years old and can do whatever the big boys do. Case in point last weekend he went off the diving board at our club pool. And he is always screaming to go down the slide. Lucky for me there are normally enough young cute gals that are willing to chase him around and entertain him and even from time to time take him down the slide. But still we have had fewer pool days than normal this summer. Although we have enjoyed a few afternoons at the Clark pool. One of our favorite summer time rituals. One of my favorite because Mrs. Clark kept her pack and play even though her girls are old which means Truman can go down for his afternoon nap and I can relax.

Sharing a little melon after a hard day of Marco Polo and diving board competitions.

These boys have found the spout underwater where the water blows back out. It kept them busy for a good bit of the day.


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Pops in the Park

Saturday night was a beautiful night. We treated the boys to a picnic and the "Pop's in the Park" concert. A wonderful concert with modern music thanks to the Charlotte Symphony. The boys had a blast.

The only time everyone sat down was to eat!


Because a good brother always put a potato chip on your head.


Did I mention it was hot??


In order to entertain us and those around us, Davis tried to tickle himself.


Relaxing with Daddy


Sticky Sweet Candy Face

We had a great evening and surprise surprise it was not the music that the boys enjoyed the most, but the fishing pond that they found while walking around. A great little pond that was home to hundreds of tadpoles - I say "was" because now they are living in our pond and the boys fish tank!

Ice Cream Check Up

Tru had his 18 month check up and Davis had his 4 year old check up last Friday. They both did such a great job we just had to celebrated with Ice Cream at Brusters. Truman weighted in at 21 pounds - and "not tall enough to ride the big rides at Disney yet". Davis weighed in at 34 pounds and "not tall enough......." Won't that look good in the baby book.

T.R.O.U.B.L.E

We are in capital TROUBLE! T-man has learned to drive the gators - he just has not learned to steer. Which has us chasing him around and around pulling him out of trees, bushes, the pond!