Zoo Day!

I decided to take the boys to the zoo the day before Grady's 1st day of school, to wrap up the summer on a high note. We got lucky by pretty much having the zoo to ourselves!! It was a beautiful day, but most older kids were back in school, so the place was SO quiet!

 Here we are on our own private train ride :) In our sunnies!

 Grady always wants his picture taken with his "favorite black & white animal"

...And of course Chase had to have his picture taken too :)

Wednesday Night-Cousin Night

Gram has been nice enough to treat the big kids to McDonalds & church every Wednesday night this summer. The kids LOVE making a "cousin train", and eating chicken & fries, AND a little ice cream treat to top of their meal!

 Samantha & Grady with their cones! They loved putting ice cream on their noses & cracking up!

Chase LOVES sweets!!!!

Norris Lake, TN! (August 2012)

 

This summer we took our summer vacation to Norris Lake, TN. We rented a house with Grandpa Bob, The Hauser's & Uncle Scott. We couldn't have asked for better weather, and everyone had a good time! We spent our days boating, and our nights eating!

 Grady & Samantha on the tube...

 Everyone went swimming off the boat

 A little before bedtime snack

 

 We rented a jet ski for the day, and this is crazy Nick showing off

 Grady and I on the boat

 Lauren & Nick on the jet ski!

Grady and Nick on the jet ski. Grady was for sure the dare devil of the week, and while it made me a nervous wreck, he was having so much fun I couldn't turn him down...

 There was a bridge that went right over the lake, so Lauren, Nick & Jeff decided to jump! NO thanks!

 Uncle Scott & Grady tubing

 Nick & Grady tubing. It was HARD to get Grady off that thing! He loved when the adult would fall off, and he could ride alone. :)

Grady and Mommy (and my wind blown hair).

 Grady & Samantha on our boat...

Chase on the boat...he pretty much stayed on the boat most of the time, but still tried everything (tubing, swimming, jet ski) once.

Lauren & Natalie...it was good to spend time with the newest addition to the family!

Playgroup Olympics!

PLAYGROUP OLYMPICS!!! The 3 legged race...

 Our playgroup did an Olympic-themed playgroup this week, and the kids went nuts for it! Here are all the medalists!!! We did water balloon toss, sack race, three-legged race, long jump, bean bag toss, and soccer goal shots. They had such a fun time at all the events! We also grilled out & potlocked at Friendship Park.

 Chase medaled in getting the most wet-by throwing water balloons at himself.

Grady got the gold medal in the sack race! He smoked everyone! :)

YMCA Camp!

I signed Grady up for a Tuesday summer camp at the Y, called Skillbuilders, and he LOVES it! It's right up his alley because they do camping themes, picnic, bugs, etc. I snuck up to take a picture of him outside with his class, and they were doing some stretching. Of course he caught me :)

Happy 4th!!!

 Grady and Chase before we headed off to the 4th of July parade! They DO love each other! ;)

 Poppy came with us to the parade, and Grady loves his Poppy!! Doesn't seem like long ago, I was sitting on the curb with my dad collecting candy!

Grady, Chase (in their sunnies!) & Poppy!

Red, White & BOOM!!

 We went to Red, White & BOOM this year!! Grandpa (a.k.a. Bob) moved downtown this past year, so we had a GREAT opportunity to stay at his place & eat, play, etc. before the fireworks! We walked down to all the festivites, and it was pretty hot, so the kids put their feet in water to cool off!

Samantha & Chase cooling their toes!!

 

Grady and Chase were both SUPER tired by the time of the actual fireworks, but they both seemed to like them. Alot of kids don't like the noise, so I was glad it didn't bother them!