Swim Team

While the boys were not sold on doing swim team, we thought it would be a great way for them to make friends at the pool while becoming stronger swimmers.  We showed up to the first meet and quickly learned that swim meets are the epitome of organized chaos. While Caleb learned to swim butterfly and Luke figured out the backstroke, Creed and I learned how to read heat sheets and "mark up" their arms before the meet. We also learned how to make sure 8 year old boys were where they needed to be come race time! 

Our little swim team really had a family feel. Everyone looked out for each other and the kids all had SO much fun. Something tells me come next summer we will be back in the pool!

Caleb and Luke at Championships

with Caleb's 8 and under friends

One perk of swim team was spending sweet time with friends that swim for other swim teams. These two are trouble!

Luke has the BEST swim coach- Kennedy! She was kind, sweet, and made it so much fun. Instead of watching from the pool deck like so many coaches, she was in the water at practice with him. During meets she was the one at the end of the lane cheering him on.

Luke with some of his 6 & under friends at the Awards Banquet

Caleb and his age group

At the Awards banquet, they give real awards as well as funny ones. Luke's coach gave him the "Can I go first?" award since he always wanted to go first, even before he knew what he would have to do. Caleb earned the "Where can I get a Speedo?" award because by the end of the season, he was done with his Jammers and wanted a true Speedo like the older kids had. :)

Taylorsville Lake

If Creed is off work and it isn't raining, we are at the lake.  

We have used the boat so much this summer, staying til dusk if we can. The boys love tubing and swimming, especially if they can explore a nearby shore. Last week they spent over an hour playing with rocks and sticks on the bank...just being boys! They love taking friends on the boat, running into Grandmom and Grandpa and jumping on their boat, and they especially love getting popcicles at the marina. 

We love lake life and just can't get enough! 

You know it's been a good day when Luke crashes for a solid hour. Boat naps (apparently on my lap!) are always the best!

He even stayed asleep after I moved out from under him!

A few times a summer the marina will host a big party. This night there was a DJ and they grilled hot dogs and burgers, while everyone brought a side dish. 

And, like last year, Caleb ate his weight in banana pudding. :)

4th of July at Claytor Lake

The week of 4th of July is our family's favorite week of the whole year. It is a week that we spend months looking forward to, and nothing quite compares to how excited we are to load the car and head to Dublin, Virginia. 

Luke loves jumping off the top deck of the boat house, which is funny since heights make him uneasy.

Wake surfing with Daddy is Luke's favorite thing to do on the water!

Caleb got in many ski runs, and finally conquered  going down and back up the big wake from PeePaw's boat.

I got in the water with Luke and he tried really hard to get up on skis. He was close but never really got the hang of it.

Wake surfing is much harder now that Caleb is so big! Creed had a time getting him up...

They made it and were able to drop the rope!

Caleb was determined to learn to wake surf on his own, but unfortunately, he just wasn't big enough to use the board we had.

This view and a fishing pole...Creed's idea of perfection!

At the lake house, Caleb always sleeps with Hallie Girl! We were cracking up when we found them like this...

This view and my Kindle... my kind of perfection!

The Rest of June

Creed had a "Sunday Funday," celebrating his birthday on the lake this year.

This boys love swim meets at Copperfield because the Kona Ice truck is always in the parking lot!

Luke got hit on the trampoline in the eye, making his entire eye swollen. Then, a few hours after, fell on the deck steps and got a bruise on the same cheek. It was a painful evening!

Caleb is now taking hour-long piano lessons, so Luke and I have passed the time at Broad Run Park.

Luke lost his FIRST tooth!

Actually, Caleb pulled out Luke's first loose tooth. :)

Luke left a note for the tooth fairy...

Caleb's Date

We decided to take the boys out one evening this summer for a special date night, so while Luke spent the evening with Grandmom and Grandpa, Caleb had our full attention.

His first stop was Music Go Round so he could check out the electric pianos. This boy loves music!

He picked Mussel and Burger Bar for dinner, and managed to eat his entire bacon cheeseburger

AND ordered the ice cream sandwich of the day.

Then we wrapped up the evening at Main Event. We played lots and lots of games, and Caleb did laser tag and the ropes course too. 

It was a great date night with our nine year old!

Father's Day at Claytor Lake

We spent three days with Peepaw and Grandma Beth at their lake house for Father's Day weekend. Uncle Matt and Uncle Drew both came too, which made it extra special. Our weekend was full of fishing, swimming, and just playing on the lake. 

9 Years Old

On June 14th, Caleb turned nine years old. 

It is so hard to wrap our minds around that number.

He has physically grown so much this year and we are constantly buying bigger shoes and longer pants. As much as he has grown physically, he has also matured socially and emotionally so much this year. We are so proud of the young man that he is, and are so thankful to have been blessed with him nine year ago!

To celebrate, Caleb invited a few friends over the weekend before his actual birthday. They played, ate dinner, and then we took them to Main Event. 

They played games, lazer tag, and turned in SO many tickets for candy. 

Instead of a cake, Caleb wanted ice cream sundaes when we got back home. After dessert, the boys played outside and then watched Star Wars before I made them go to sleep just before midnight. 

On his actual birthday we went to the pool and then Malibu Jacks that afternoon. It was our first time there, and while we prefer Main Event, the boys still had fun.

Dip In Dots for the birthday boy

At his 9 year old check up, Caleb was 70%ile for both height and weight, and we are already taking bets as to when he is taller than us. ;)

At Interview at Nine Years Old

What is your favorite...

food- pizza

snack- chips and guacamole

fruit- pineapple

dessert- Berries and Bits

ice cream flavor- cookie dough

drink- Hawaiian punch

TV show- Nicky Ricky Dicky & Dawn

song- Kill a Word by Eric Church

restaurant- Mussel and Burger Bar

thing to play with- Lego

store- Five Below

book- I Survived books

game- Minecraft PC

person to play with- Luke

place to go with Mom- Main Event

place to go with Dad- Main Event

If you could plan your perfect day, what would you do?

For breakfast it would be Cracker Barrel. Then we would go to Game Stop. Then for lunch we would have White Castle. Then we would go to Main Event. Then we would go to the mall to get a sugar cookie and an Icee. Then we would head back for dinner and go to Mussel and Burger Bar. After that we would go to Five Below, After that we would go to Dairy Queen.