Ready, Set, Go

August 1st is the first day of volleyball tryouts and the first day of football practice for Donavan. Starting tomorrow I will be back in the van every night of the week, probably until next summer. I also get to start juggling how to be in two or three places at the same time that are 15 miles away from each other. Thank God for family and friends. I am complaining but I would have it no other way. I love when we live sport to sport, and apparently I enjoy the chaos that comes with it.

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SIERRA AND GRAM. Sierra is the birthday present to Gram that just keeps getting better every year.

My baby girl is growing up

Sierra only has a couple of more days of being one. Sierra is in constant motion and always has a purpose. I love her independent spirit and how she always has a smile on the cute little face.

Beaver Boot Camp

Ray has been doing boot camp work outs with the kids. Donavan is working on keeping his weight down, Colleen and Conlan are trying to get "buff" and be in condition for upcoming sports. This day was 112 heat index. Even Sierra was trying to get in the action.

HOT AND HUMID

We are in a heat wave. Today Fredericksburg was 103, but the heat index hit 130. One more horrid day before it goes down 10 degrees. Our 15 year old AC does not work like it should so we are in fan mode. Memories of my childhood....and definitely ones I want to forget and not experience anymore.

Triple Winner- again

Conlan is rocking swimming this summer. He was a triple winner for the second time this season. It is incredible to see how much he has improved and how he just keeps getting better.

Is there a Northern Baptist?

"I accepted Jesus" was the first thing out of Conlan's mouth this evening, then he began talking about camp. Later we were talking and I said you already believed in Jesus and he said " I got the Catholic way covered and once I get baptized in the river I will have the Baptist way done." Then he looked at me and said "Is there a Northern Baptist way I need to do?"

I am just thrilled he loves Jesus and wants to have all his bases covered.

She is BAAAACK!

Colleen hasn't swam all summer due to her shoulder injury. The swim coaches begged and pleaded with her to please try and swim so they could have a relay team. She was very concerned about her shoulder, which also made her think she might not be able to finish a lap and full embarrassment would happen. She spent ALL day "in her feelings" and was a very unhappy teenager with the thought of having to swim. The meet had a storm delay which added to her anxiety. She started off with the free relay team. She was first leg, lo and behold she managed to make it to the end of the pool with a good lead. She came out of the pool with a smile on her face for the first time all day. She also won her 50 free and 50 breast and two more relays...during the medley relay was losing and Colleen caught up at the very end and they won. She was on cloud nine. It was great watching her swim again and that it still has the ability to make her feel spectacular!

Colleen and Nicolas

Nicolas loved talking to Colleen. He found if she was laying in the sun she was a captive audience.

Nicolas and Sierra

Nicolas and Sierra are two peas in a pod. They are both non stop, full of action, happy kids. They also have the common love of nakedness. I wish they could spend more time together because they have best buds written all over them. But then again the world might not be ready for those two to be paired up.

off he goes....

Conlan left this morning for FUGE camp. He will be gone all week. His first time away from us. I don't know if he was more upset about leaving his momma or his ipod. I am excited to see what God will bring to his life this next week and all the new experiences he will have. I told him after sharing a room with 5 other boys he might learn to appreciate Donavan. I will miss him, I tried hard not to cry until I got back into the van. Embarrassing him in front of 80 other 13 years would not be acceptable:)

Jersey Shore Fun

NJ SHORE

Conlan

Conlan

Running Water Boys

How cold is that water?

Donavan swam in the Atlantic Ocean which was 50 degrees and then the next day him and Conlan swam in a lake that was a toasty 52. Notice Ray and the girls have on sweatshirts it was a chilly 57 degrees and very foggy.

Bass Harbor

Bass Harbor is a working lobster village. It has over 80 lobster boats in the harbor. We stopped at a lobster shack and had lobster rolls. Conlan and Donavan didn't like it so that left more for Colleen, Ray and I. It is amazing to see a culture that we know nothing about. I liked this little town, but more peaceful than Bar Harbor.

Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Sunset on the mountain