Roller Skating

I took the girls roller skating today for the first time.  I have such fond memories of roller skating as a child.  My brother and I learned to skate in the basement of our house using those skates you put over your shoes.  I remember monthly skating parties on Monday night with the area churches in the Tri-Cities area when I was a teenager.  I wanted the girls to enjoy the fun of skating.  Today as we were getting ready to go, Lauren wanted to wear a "costume".  She had it in her mind that we were going ice skating, even though I told her several times that we were roller skating.  She has seen ice skating on television and wanted to wear the little dresses the ice skaters wear!

Lauren loved skating.  She did pretty good for her first time.  Allison didn't skate as much as Lauren.  We were at the rink for 3 hours and Lauren skated most of that time.  We went with Amy, Clara, Coy, Kelly, Brooke, Lindsay, and Kelly's Mom and sister and niece Brooklyn.  We all had a great time. 

My only problem was that roller skating wasn't like riding a bike.  I didn't pick it up as easily as I was hoping.  I wiped out early on, getting my feet tangled up with Allison's.  Luckily I fell on my bum, which has quite a bit of padding.  The bad thing was, I put my hand down to brace the fall, so my wrist and hand are sore.  I took my skates off after that so I could help the girls skate.

Here are a couple videos of the girls skating.

Lauren skating at the beginning of the session

This was not the video I wanted of Allison (I hate when they are sideways), but I can't get it off.

                                         

Lauren skating closer to the end of the session

Lauren posing for a picture

A serious Allison hanging on tightly

Allison smiling for a picture

Swim Lessons

We just finished two weeks of swim lessons today.  While it was a hectic schedule getting to lessons each day and then getting bathed after each lesson, we certainly had a fun two weeks.  Last year the girls took swim lessons in early May right before their first trip to the beach.  Those lessons were the "Mommy and Me" version with Bill and I in the water with both girls.

This year I was thrilled to get to watch the girls from the side of the pool.  Both girls were in the Preschool Class together, along with Sam.  Madison was in the Preschool class right beside ours (with her favorite instructor).  Will, Caleb and Taylor were in higher level classes.  I just have to say, having friends around certainly makes everything nicer.  The girls loved being with their friends each day, and I enjoyed visiting with my friends, too!

Some of the skills the girls worked on during the lessons were front floating, back floating, retrieving rings under water, holding their breath (without holding their noses), blasting off from the side of the pool, and jumping in the water......including jumping off the diving board!!

        Lauren practicing her back float                             

Allison practicing the back float

My serious little Allison on the kickboard

Sweet smiling Lauren

Lauren and her buddy Sam with Allison in the background

Sam, Allison and Lauren practicing with life jackets

Lauren going off the diving board

Allison going off the diving board.  I was so proud of her doing this.  She really did not want to jump, but agreed to go off after her instructors asked her to.  Even though she is being "lowered" down, I was still very proud of her!!  After all, she just turned 3 in May!  Yea Allison!!

Mr. Zack, Allison, Lauren & Megan....the instructors

Here are a couple of videos of the girls jumping off the diving board.

4th of July Weekend

We spent the weekend at my parents' house.  We enjoyed great food, good company and even the hot house.  My parents have been experiencing air conditioning problems.  The air has gone out a couple of times over the past few weeks.  Their unit is under warranty, and they have had several service calls, but they have not been able to correct the problem.  They replaced some "board" on Wednesday before we arrived on Friday, and Mom thought they were set.  We went on a picnic Saturday afternoon and when we got back to their house Saturday evening, all hot and sweaty from being outside all afternoon, it was hot in their house!  Fortunately the house cooled off after the sun set and with the windows open and the ceiling fans blowing, it was not too bad.  The air came back on Sunday afternoon when I was napping with Allison, only to go out again later that night.  The service guy was going to take Monday off, but decided to come on over to Mom and Dad's with a little gentle persuasion from Mom's message she left him. :)  I just feel bad for my folks to be going through this terrible heat wave with out air conditioning.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. 

This is Lauren holding Zack with Luke standing beside them.  This was our first time to see Zack.  He was such a happy, sweet baby!  He loved the girls.  Luke did, too!

Allison's turn to hold Zack

Instead of going to the weir for our picnic this year, we went to Warrior's Path State Park in Kingsport.  It has a wonderful playground for the girls.  Bill's Mom and step-dad came and brought Parker (the girls' cousin). We  got to take the kids on paddle boats.  They loved it!  Lauren really wanted to get in the water though.  Grandma had to keep a close eye (and hand) on her

while they were pedaling.

                                       Lauren and Grandma on the paddle boats

                                     

Allison and I on the paddle boats.  Notice how Allison was sitting so she could reach the pedals.

                                    

                                                    Parker was riding with Bill

                                      

                                                       Allison on the playground

                                    

The playground had a little beach area connecting the sand box to the stream.  The girls loved it in there.

                                   

                                                   Allison playing in the sand

                                   

We had a great weekend and even got back to Knoxville Sunday evening and took the girls to see the fireworks downtown. 

World's Fair Sprinkler Park

What better way to usher in the month of July than to spend it in the sprinklers with good friends!  The day could not have been any more beautiful.  The sky was so blue and the air was just as pleasant as could be.  It was actually a little cold for the girls when they were in the shade but that had a great time, none the less.
                                               Lauren and Allison in the sprinklers

Allison

Lauren

Allison, Brooke and Lauren

Allison, Brooke and Lauren

Look how high those sprinklers rise spray....Lauren looks so little!

Lindsay, Allison, Brooklyn, Brooke, and Lauren

Sweet little Allison as we were getting ready to leave.  Look at those tired eyes.

Looking forward to the 4th of July weekend with my parents.  I think Bill's Mom and Step-dad will join us for a picnic on Saturday.  It's going to be a great holiday weekend!