Dauphin Island

Just another weekend checkin' out the local beaches. Other than the fact that I had to walk a mile round trip just to get to the bathroom, the beach at Dauphin Island was acceptable. The weather was breezy and overcast which was perfect. No rain, although it looked like it was going to.



I think Tanner was a fish in another life. He LOVES the water, he found it especially funny when a big wave would come a long and push him over. I, on the other hand, was trying to resist the urge to tie him to my waist with the beach towel because he was making me so nervous. He actually navigates the water fairly well.



Lana enjoyed running away from the big waves and playing with her friend Emma who's family met us at the beach.



I have never laughed so hard at the beach before I saw Emma's dad play "Dead Body" with her. He lies dead still on the beach where the waves was up while she pulls on his arm trying rescue him. I'm pretty sure it freaked some people out, thankfully he'd poke his head up every few minutes to check on his boys.



The hole digging contest. It's amazing how much fun kids (and adults) can have with just a plain ol' hole at the beach.

Last day of Preschool

It is a bittersweet day for me today. Bitter because it was the last day of pre-school for Lana.

FOREVER. (sniff, sniff)

Sweet because I get to have her home with me all summer long before I have to give her away to all-day Kindergarten.




I made the kids sit for a few pictures before leaving for Lana's End of the Year program.



When my kids are yelling and screaming at each other this summer I will look at this picture and remind myself that they are not always monsters.




This one was my favorite of Lana. I think she was laughing at Tanner doing something silly.



My "thoughtful" Tanner.

I love Tanner's facial expression in this picture.

Lana did so great in her program this year. She sang all the songs and did all the actions and there was no crying because she found us in the audience!

We have grown to love her friend Gracelynn because Gracie really took Lana under her wing this year (as much as a 5 year old can). Gracie looks out for Lana (and sometimes would make her a partner in crime) but she really helped Lana come out of her shell. During the program she even made sure Lana had found us in the audience. We're sad Gracelynn will be going to a different school next year.

Lana and Mrs. Monika

We could not have asked for a better teacher this year. Each night before bed Lana frequently talks about Mrs. Monika. Sometimes she'll talk about what she did at school but mostly she talks about what she wants to give to Mrs. Monika. There were a few days where I had to do a little convincing to get Lana to go to school but for the most part she was happy to hop in the car and go. Occasionally she was sad it was a Saturday or Sunday and that she didn't get to go to school.

There are actually 11 kids in Lana's class but they took the picture on the Kindergarten registration day and a few kids were missing.

Kindergarten here we come!

Copy Paper

By Paul:
So it seems like recently the children will color on everything they arn't suppoed to color on. I will find writing/coloring on walls, furniture, windows, floors, televisions cabinets etc. The thing that has me confused is that we recently purchased paper for the purpose of coloring on, but it is still clean. I have come up with an idea. I will cover the items I don't want a crayon or pen to come close to with clean white copy paper. If my theory is correct, the children wont go near it! So if you come to our house and see white copy paper taped over all the cabinets, you will know why.

Emergency Trip To Coast-Paul

As many of you know, we have a problem brewing on the gulf coast. On Tuesday I got a phone call from my concrete supplier about an emergency trip to the coast due to the pending destruction of the coastal area. The fear is that the oil spill will cause enviornmental and economic havoc to the coast. They decided to swing into action and do what they could, while they still could. They booked a fishing cabin and chartered a fishing trip. Now this is no ordinary fishing trip, but an emergency fishing trip. With the pending catastrophe, fisherman will be out of work, and the coast will be off limits to fishing. I am so glad I was able to selfishly give of my time to help in this great effort.