Preschool Nook...

After much prayer, we've decided to do homeschool preschool this year!  We are super excited about it and are loving the time we've already spent learning together this summer!  We are thankful to have such a large dining room in our kitchen!  I knew it would work perfect as a place for us to enjoy our family meals as well as a double as a learning nook!  So, as you can see from the picture below...it has been a bit bare.  Since we are renting our house...and we're not exactly sure how long we will be here, I've been hesitant to spend too much time and money adding curtains and all.  But, I decided that we needed to spruce up this nook just a bit!  So, we pulled in Bella's little kitchen, her easel and her little learning table!

After a quick trip to the fabric store, I whipped up this table runner as well as a coordinating centerpiece and wall decor!  

And with the extra fabric I made Bella a little cushion =)

Now we have a perfect little nook for homeschool preschool!  I will have to add more pictures as we fill up the walls with all of Bella's masterpieces through out the year!

SuMmEr Fun =)

Just a few fun summer moments I've captured the last month =)

Splashing in the water as we enjoyed a beautiful summer day...

Feeding the ducks who wanted to join us at Bible study in the park...

Jer and Jackson in their matching shirts...

Bella and Jer skipping rocks together at the lake...

Brother and Jer enjoying the beautiful summer sunset...

Discovering the splash pad behind our YMCA!  SO SO fun!

First time visit to Rita's Italian ice...

Chubby baby feet...

First time piggies for Bella boo!!  Woo-hoo!...

Loving school time together...

Shopping for school supplies for underprivileged children in our area...

Early morning dance parties...

And wonderful rainy afternoon naps...

Even princesses need relaxing naps...

Facetiming with sweet cousins...

And watching the puddles grow during a summer rain shower...

Such a fun summer we have enjoyed together in our new community!

Traithlon Time!

About 2 months ago, some friends and I decided to train for a sprint distance triathlon!  We'd been doing spin classes together and running a bit on our own...so we thought it would be fun to do the YMCA's triathlon!  

They got me in the pool and thankfully were lots of encouragement to me...because swimming is my least favorite component of the race.  We all dusted off our road bikes, pumped our tires and ventured out to some country roads not to far away from where we live for some nice bike rides.  (I only forgot to unclip once...and toppled over!)  I was able to give them some encouragement as we ran together a few times a week.  For those of you with preschoolers or babies...you know just how tricky it can be finding time to exercise each day...especially when you mix it up with 3 different sports!  But, with the help of my amazing hubby, I was able to get enough training in to feel confident to compete!

Here is my fan club!!  Best cheerleaders out there!

I confidently made it through the swim (350 yd), pumped it hard on the hilly bike course (14 mi) and was thankful to finally get to the run portion!  The first 1/2 of the 5k was all up hill...not exactly fun when your legs are so heavy from biking...but then the final 1.5 mi was mostly down hill.  I was glad I was able to average in the 8's!  I finished at 1:29!   

As I was racing, I found myself continually thanking the Lord for the health, strength and endurance to train and now race on such a beautiful day.  The last tri I did was in 2008...pre-baby!  For all those who know me well...you know that pregnancy itself does not mesh well with my body!  SO this was such a glorious day as I reflected back to where my body was last summer!  I've come a long way in just a year and I thank my Jesus for the restoration He has brought to me.

Cow Appreciation Day!

We loved celebrating Cow Appreciation Day!  We'll do anything for some free "Chick"!!  Now every time we go to Chick-fil-a, Bella asks, "Mom, do we get to wear our spots today?"  Haha!!!

Our little fish!

Bella has been loving every minute of this summer swim weather!!  She is a little fish...thanks to her "Puddle Jumper" swimmies!!  (Highly recommend them if your tot needs some support!)

She is enjoying her 2 week swim class...the boys are a little older than her...and much more daring...but she seems to really enjoy learning swim strokes, jumping in and going under water!!  Thank you Mrs. Laura for all your patience and for making learning to swim so fun!

Happy Birthday!!

Saturday night,   I took Jeremy out to a nice dinner...yes a real - DATE!!  We don't really know how to handle ourselves without our precious tag-alongs!  We dropped our kids with some friends and then headed over to Bone-Fish Grill!  At 5:58 we looked at our watches...we were finished eating dinner.  HAHA!  Wow...you really can eat quickly without little tiny fingers grabbing your food and having to pause every 3 seconds to cut up food for tiny mouths!

But all that to say, it was a wonderful evening together...just the two of us to enjoy adult conversation and relax together.  We ended our evening with some Starbucks and enjoyed the coffee house atmosphere. =)

Sunday was Jeremy's actual birthday...so Bella and I went on a special birthday shopping spree.  Bella knew exactly what she wanted to get for her daddy...

And of course he loved it! =)

After opening presents, Bella and I baked Daddy some cookies...sang "Happy Birthday"...and enjoyed the yummy birthday cookies!

Happy Birthday Daddy...Jer...We love you!!!

Happy Birthday America!

We headed out to the shores of Lake Murray and enjoyed watching fireworks together the Saturday before the 4th!  It was such a pretty evening...so fun to relax and enjoy the nice weather!

Then, on the 4th...we headed over to grill out with friends and enjoy the night celebrating our freedom and our country's birthday together!

We ended the night with what we thought were some mile neighborhood fireworks...but what in the world!!  These South Carolinians do it up big in the neighborhood!!  So, that lasted about 30 seconds then both kids were in tears!!!  Needless to say, Jeremy tucked Bella in to bed in our closet with every bathroom vent on as well as sound machines.  And I rocked Jackson to sleep. =)

They weren't too sure of the loud noises and bright flashing fireworks that were so close...