Swimming Lessons-- Avery

This was Avery's first year of swimming lessons.
She did so well... only a few tears the first day.

Lessons really helped her get more comfortable
in the water.  Before she would not get off the step
but now she wants to jump in and put her head
under the water.  She also learned how to pull
herself up on the outside of the pool.

No where near ready to swim by herself
but just getting comfortable in the water from
where she was before was worth the money
and the driving everyday!

Potty Training Update

I forgot to post this months ago-- but
Avery is officially potty trained.  Once
I brought out the Poo Poo prize bucket
she got it almost immediately.... poo = prize!
Once all the prizes were gone though she had
a hard time not wanting something after every
potty but she doesn't ask anymore!  No more
pull ups even at night.  So proud of my big girl!

....and so proud of mommy lol!

Vacation through the eyes of Aaron

Each vacation I do a segment on the blog with pictures
from Aaron's camera.  He specifically requests to use
his personal camera each time we go on vacation.  I always
find it a little humorous as to what is on his camera when
I download the images! Here a few of his pictures:

Air Museum and Blue Angels

No trip the Florida is complete without
a stop at the Air Museum and we checked
ahead to make sure we went on a week the
Blue Angels were practicing.

The kids loved seeing the Blue Angels!

Mini Golf

After beaching it up all day we took one
night to play putt putt golf and let the kids
play some games in the arcade.  It was a
beautiful evening to play golf and we all
had a great time.

At the arcade Avery hit the button once
on a game and won 500 tickets! We split
the price between both of them and they got
a couple of junk dollar store toys but the look
on her face when the 500 tickets was spitting
out was priceless!

Family Beach Pictures

Of course no Gaines family beach vacation is complete
without beach family photos... here is our attempt at some.

Avery is of course making her squished up nose face in
most of the pictures but here are the ones that I thought
were decent enough to share.

Beach Fun

Dinner at the Crab Trap

We ate all of our meals at the condo except for one night
Momma requested we eat at the Crab Trap-- the kids
got buckets and shovels with their meals and there is a
great playground for them to play on while we waited for
the food.  It is always a favorite place to stop at the beach.

On our way to the beach!

On our way to our beach condo we stopped
off at one of our favorite places.  It's an old
pharmacy that is still in operation in Foley, AL-
in the front of the store is a soda fountain.  We
got coke floats to share.

Happy Father's Day!

A little Father's Day breakfast at Another Broken Egg.

We love you Daddy!

Avery's First Pedicure

While we were in Lafayette the boys went to pick
up Pop Pop's new bbq pit and the girls decided to go
get a pedicure.  This was Avery's first time... mommy
actually didnt get her first pedicure until about 2 years ago.

She was really excited but was a little to short to sit in
the big chair so she sat on the side of Judy's foot tub
and the lady painted her toes hot pink.

Lowe's Kids Build Craft

We went to visit my dad and Judy this
weekend and had some time to kill before
we went to their house so we stopped at
Lowe's to do their monthly kids craft.

The craft was a dragon from the new movie
that was released this weekend.  Daddy had
to put both of the kids together because I
didn't understand the instructions.

Blueberry Picking

We have some friends that have about 100
blueberry bushes on their property and they
invited us over to pick a gallon of berries.

The kids helped for about 10 mins before
wanting to go play so the moms finished picking
our gallon bucket.

First Day of Swimming Lessons

Avery, Aaron, and Jackson started swimming lessons
this week.  This will be Aaron's third year at Crawfish
Aquatics and Avery's first. All 3 enjoyed the first day--
only 7 more days to go.  Avery has been a rock star
and hasn't cried about going.  I've watched her through
the fence and she listens well to the teacher.