Mini-Vacation

We spent last weekend at Navarre Beach! It was a great get away for a few days, and we had a great time!!


Janey is ready to go to the pool


Jumping waves with Daddy


Snack Time


Popsicles on the balcony



Everyday after we would get in from the beach the girls LOVED taking a bath in the jetted tub!!

Last day of Swim lessons

The girls finished swim lessons for this summer about a week ago. I am very proud to say that Mary Varner is now a graduate of the "penquin" class, and is swimming completely on her own with no floaties. Janey (although cried through most classes) did learn how to hold her breath, grab the wall (and climb out), and float on her back. I feel this is exactly what I was hoping she would accomplish this year! I am very glad that lessons are over, and think that everyday for 2 weeks might be better (especially Janey) next year instead of one day a week for 8 weeks. Here are a few pictures I took on their last day!

Janey(crying) and coach Mary


Janey all smiles showing off her "medal" and sucker after her lesson


Mary Varner swimming the entire length of the pool


Mary Varner on the back of the "boat" that is about to tip over, and they have to swim to the edge of pool and get out on their own


Mary Varner LOVES Coach Mary!!

8 Years

Jim and I celebrated our 8 year wedding anniversary yesterday! We went out to eat over the weekend, and Jim brought me some beautiful roses home last night! Happy Anniversary to us!!

Next Top Model

Mary Varner has been playing "movie star" alot lately. She wants to dress up in my clothes instead of her regular dress up clothes, and spends about 20 minutes styling her hair. Then she will put on her sunglasses, walk around swaying her hips, and talking with a fake British sounding accent.

"face painting??"

Janey has been "caught" putting things all over her face lately!

Pudding...

Lipstick...

Pool Party

We took the girl's slide outside to use as a slide in the swimming pool. It was a huge success, and it freed up a ton of space in our sunroom/playroom area.

Fun, Friends, and Fireworks

We were invited by our good friends, the Jacksons, to go to Harborwalk in Destin to eat dinner, listen to a Christian music concert by Jason Castro, and watch the fireworks show last night. We ate out on the deck, watched all the boats coming in and out of the harbor, saw a military jet flyover show, and of course fed the fish! After our early dinner (kids ate free before 6:00), we went to the outdoor concert by Jason Castro. Our local Christian music station is sponsoring a concert series every Sunday night in the summer at Harborwalk that is free to the public. This was our first one to go to this summer, and it was very encouraging to see such a wonderful turnout!! We ended the evening watching the spectacular firework show over the harbor. Mary Varner was in absolute awe, and told Jim midway through the show, "It's the most prettiest thing I ever saw, Daddy!" Janey wasn't sure what to think and had concern on her face the entire show, but she watched the entire show and did not cry. All in all it was a great way to celebrate the 4th of July, and we are going to really miss the Jackson Family when they move in October.


Buddies


Janey getting ready to feed the fish


Feeding the fish with Daddy


Trying to get a family pic


The "flyover" show was really neat!! Janey kept saying "cool man" when the planes would come over us!!


Enjoying the concert



Mary Varner watching the fireworks...her face says it all!!


Janey watching the fireworks...her face says it all

Orange Beach 2011

We went to Orange Beach last week with Papa Doc, K'K', Brad and his crew. We had a great time together. Most of the pictures are of the girls in the swimming pool because this is where they wanted to be most of the time. I guess they are so used to the beach that a swimming pool is something different. The last night we were there a very large wildfire broke out in the state park area across the street from our condo. The condo people said that someone was grilling out, and a spark from the grill started the fire. Reports said that it burned about 250 acres. Since we were on the 14th floor we could see it very well. The next day our cars had ashes all over them, and the smoke was very thick!! We have heard that the fire is still burning a week later.

Swim Lessons

The girls have been taking swim lessons on Wednesday mornings for the last few weeks. Mary Varner has picked right back up from last summer, and is swimming unassisted for over half the length of the large pool at swim lessons. Janey is in the Mom-n-Tot class with me. She screams the entire time! At first I thought that she was scared, and maybe I should drop out so that she would not be traumatized. Well, I soon learned that she is not scared because anytime we go swimming outside of swim lessons, she loves it and has a blast. The problem with swim lessons is that she does not have the freedom to do what she wants to do. She HATES when the swim coaches start coming around and working with her. It is so bad that others in the class as well as the coaches have commented on how strong her lungs are because she is screaming so loud for most of the class. Next year she will be old enough to be in the class without a parent, and I really think this will be better for her (and me!). I have not been able to take any pictures of her at swim lessons because of her tantrums, but I have a few of Mary Varner. I will get some of Janey before we finish in a couple of weeks!