Ya gotta have friends

On Sunday morning, the Smith crew got up and headed for Nanny & Pa's EARLY. There were to be some people arrive around 7am to launch hot air balloons from the pasture. Jess & Glenn had some friends over Saturday night and they heard, so they wanted to tag along, too. One of their friends, Brook, is moving out of state at the end of this week, so we had no problem letting the 4 of them hang out together for just a little while longer. They are such a great group, anyway.
After the much-delayed-do-to-rain balloon launching (3 of them launched, a couple others decided not to)the kids wanted to get some pictures of all of them together, as well as pics of Brook & Lauren who are the best of best friends. More like sisters, really.
We had a BLAST getting pictures. I was the target for much flying bark off the dead oak - but when I retalliated, Glenn found out just how good his mother's aim is! (sorry 'bout that lip, bud!) Lauren fell off the tree and scraped her leg; Brook fell OUT of the tree and was hanging by a branch, which decided to abandon her; Jesse, he just decided to hang around - literally! As we bid farewell to the fallen oak and ventured back towards the house, I can't say I wasn't a little sad - not just for the tree that I have known to be a GORGEOUS and strong one at the edge of our property for my 30+ years there, but for the foursome of friends who will now have to be dependent on modern technology to 'hang out'. *sniff* Thank goodness for unlimited texting, IM's, etc.
The pictures here are just a SMALL portion of the ones that I took Sunday. The balloon pictures alone numbered 500+ as I recall!

 
 
 
 

New Swimmer Try-Outs

The new swimmer try-outs for our local swim team were today. Jess and Glenn, of course have been on it for just over a year and they absolutely LOVE it. Kaleb decided that he wanted to give it a go.

Jesse (a.k.a. The Other Mother) prepared him for try-outs by getting him dressed in his BodyGlove swim suit, goggles and Jesse's swim cap which Kaleb likened to a form of torture. The finished product was:

 
 

When we got to try-outs, Jess trucked him into the locker room to get him prepped and ready to go. He came out and hopped right into the pool when Coach Jason prompted him to do so. I really wish I would have video taped him because Kaleb's technique was definitely ALL HIS OWN!!!
 

He did really, really well. Coach requested that we bring him back again tomorrow because he would like to work with him a little bit more. He is "this close" to making it. Kaleb never had any sort of formal lessons and in fact, he could only swim under water until this 'pool year'. He has really improved. I'll be sure to let you know what the final outcome of try-outs is!
 

A Saturday road trip

Yes, the house needed to be cleaned. Yes the laundry needed to be done. However, we decided to hop in the van and take a road trip - where we would end up was any one's guess! As it turned out, we headed west towards my husband's old stomping grounds. We took the boys out and introduced them to the Hendricks'. They are the parent's of Rick's best friend from high school, Kevin. Kevin passed away several years ago, but Rick has kept in touch with his parents.



The last time we ventured out to their place, J & G were real little - maybe 4. The boys had a blast 'visiting' with the chickens, exploring the timber and just being boys!




While we were there, I took the opportunity to snap a few pictures of all three boys. Let me tell you, it was a difficult task - they don't hold still long!!! Here are just a few of the pics I was able to get - the ONLY one of J I was able to get other than the one of all three of them!!!