And he's off!

Back from Big Canoe

Sarah Curtis, Carver & Abigail enjoy a beautiful day in Big Canoe

Mr. Billy braves the waters with Abigail, Carver and Sarah Curtis

Sweet Abigail diligently tried to persuade her friend Carver to tackle the rock slide...
after much encouragement and almost doing it several times

Carver decided to wait until next time.

THE rock slide

After the emotionally tumultuous ordeal of the rock slide
a very happy Carver heads back to the pool...

and then out for a little canoe ride with Daddy. Back at the house and all clean!We're just home from a wonderful trip to Big Canoe(GA) ; our days were spent playing,
swimming, riding bikes, laughing, eating and just generally adoring our time with dear friends. We miss y'all already and look forward to more time together soon!

Sweet Feet

Walker's Birthday Party

Today has been quite the day of parties; Carver began his day celebrating Lawson's fifth birthday and then joined Springer as she enjoyed Walker's second birthday festivities. Both parties were water-themed so they are both good and water logged!

The birthday boy!

Mae (or Mae-Mae as Springer lovingly refers to her friend)

Springer enjoyed taking the vehicles on a little off-roading adventure. The water from the pool and sprinklers ran through the yard and created a perfect place for a little 3 wheelin'.
Preparing ammunition

Carver and Jack crack themselves up; although most often their humor is lost on every one else!

Two Fish

Not a single picture taken this past week; we've found ourselves at the pool more often than not and I just can't figure out a safe way to hang on to Springer, take a picture and not end up with the camera being turned into a toy. So... no shots to show for it, but both of them are really enjoying the pool. Our highlight of the pool this summer has been Carver's swim lessons. We've just completed his third week of private lessons and after a rocky start to his first day he has come along nicely. By the end of last week he was going completely under water and touching the bottom of the pool in 4 1/2 feet of water. That may not sound like much, but this from a kid who wouldn't put his head under water in a hot tub in February! With a little help he is swimming nicely (with his head underwater), working on his 'circle arms', touching the bottom, and learning to push off from the side by himself. We'll probably do another round of lessons before the summer's over, but I need to save my pennies for while! I have been amazed to watch this independent almost 5 year old become such a little boy. I am all too aware that he is growing up-and although it's what I desire to happen and what should happen there are days that it takes me a little off guard. It's nerve racking and frustrating at times, but when the day's done it's an awesome privilege to parent through this stage of his life.

Springer, on the other hand, was born a fish. No fear, goes underwater without as much as a whimper, pops up and says, "that was fun!" "my turn" (which means let's do it again). I have to watch her like a hawk or else she'll jump from the side unannounced or head to the three feet end in the training pool without a care. She's definitely working her Hawaiin heritage-complete with the tan. She's darker than the rest of us combined!

Raggs TV Show!

Our little TV star....it aired this past Monday.

Needless to say we were all thrilled to see him on air! Enjoy (and you may need to turn your volume up)! The first question he's asked is 'what is family?'

Long weekend in Virginia

G worked in VA this past weekend so we all headed north to spend time with friends. The first part of our time was in Williamsburg with Brandon, Liz, Caroline, Henry and new baby John Mac (Springer adored him!). For some reason my camera never made it out of my bag while we were there (mostly because the guys were working all weekend and with two moms and 5 kids there wasn't a spare hand for a camera!), but we did leave there with wonderful memories. When we left them on Sunday we headed over to Charlottesville to see Greg, Courtney, Caroline, Margaret and baby Ann (again, Springer adored her!). The whole trip was just wonderful and full of sweet times with the dearest of friends. Here are a few shots that I did manage to get during our time away.


In Williamsburg we stayed at the home of the Barrett's friends who were away.
They had an electronic horse in the garage-loads of fun for Carver. Springer was not such a fan!

Springer and Margaret at dinner on the 'mall' in C-ville.

the super heroes (and super friends) during a still moment
(not many of those-they were inseparable)