Splash Pads

We haven't joined a pool yet for the summer but we've been sure to get in lots of fun water time already.  Twice this week between morning swim team practice and afternoon swim lessons, I took the boys to splash pads with Missy and other friends.

On Wednesday we tried out a brand new park (Port Royal) that had opened this past weekend in Spring Hill.  They have a splash pad and a really nice playground with huge slides and unique playground equipment on an astroturf ground.

I even got Grayson in his suit and sat him near a small fountain (I had to put Carter behind him so I could take some pictures since he's still having trouble not tipping over while sitting).

Grayson loved the water!  He didn't care at all when it sprayed him in the face either :)

The big boys had fun too!  They especially loved the one water blaster they could shoot at people.  Unfortunately there is only one and always a line for it.

I love Grayson's face in this group photo!

Yesterday we went downtown to Cumberland Park.

Again, Grayson loved the water!

Here's a video too ...

Rylan's friend, Radnor, also joined us.  He'd never been to a splash pad before and loved it!

Silence

Love when this happens ...

Swim Lessons

Carter and Rylan are doing swim lessons again this year with Sweetman Swim School.  We are doing them with Suzy and Jen's kids so we all make up about 75% of the class.  The lessons are one hour a day for a week.  They are out in La Vergne, which is a little over 30 minutes from our house, but definitely worth the drive.

So far lessons are going great!  It poured for about 40 minutes of today's lesson but the kids didn't seem to notice and made great progress.  The rain cleared out for the end of class so I was able to get a few videos of the boys.

Carter doing freestyle:

Carter doing backstroke:

Rylan turning over to his back:

Rylan doing streamline with a kick:

I'm super proud of my boys for working so hard and having good attitudes about it!

It's great having friends in our class too because we get to have special treats.  We stopped at Sonic on Monday after our first day of swim lessons.  The "boys table" ...

Everyone is doing great!!!

Radnor Lake

Yesterday was gorgeous and I wanted to do something fun for our first day of summer.  So I took all the boys to Radnor Lake State Park to go for a hike.  I was a little nervous about Rylan getting tired but he did great.  Everyone was perfect actually (which I needed because the big boys have been getting on each other's nerves a lot lately and Grayson has been extra fussy).

Grayson used the backpack for the first time.  He loved it!

This is my new favorite picture of the three boys!

We did 2.6 miles around the lake using the Lake Trail and Otter Creek Road.  Rylan kept saying throughout the hike, "I'm not even tired yet!"  Which was great because there was no way I'd be able to carry him with Grayson on my back!

Carter took a picture of Grayson and me ...

We spent the hike finding as many animals as we could.

We saw turkeys, geese, ducks, deer, squirrels, and turtles as well as lots of different bugs.

Grayson did so good.  He never made a noise.

The trails we did were pretty flat and really well maintained.

There are a couple of more difficult trails that I promised the boys we'd do soon.

Grayson eventually passed out.

He even slept through our one snack break.

It was a perfect day for a hike and I'm so glad we did it!  I can't wait for more summer adventures!!!

Last Day of Kindergarten

Carter had his last day of kindergarten on Thursday!

He had a great year and learned so much.  When he started in the fall, Carter could only read a few words.  Now it seems like he can read everything!  He only needs help occasionally with a big word he hasn't seen before.  He can also spell a lot of words correctly (about half his words are right at any given time).  He loves to write stories when he draws a picture.

Carter made some great friends this year and we hope to have lots of playdates this summer.  I really liked the kids in his class.  His teacher was great too.  She had her baby about a week before school ended but is planning to be back in the fall.

Carter has grown so much in the last year and it's crazy to think we now have a first grader!!!

Last Day of Kindergarten (May 21, 2015)

First Day of Kindergarten (August 14, 2014)

So Sweet

Carter wanted to feed Grayson yesterday morning.

He's a pro!  He's been watching me because without any prompting he was catching the food that dribbles out with the spoon and putting it back in Grayson's mouth.  I expected a huge mess but they did great together!!!

Rylan's First Day of Summer

For Rylan's first day of summer, I took him to the fountains at Bicentennial Mall State Park.  Missy, Suzy, and Michelle met us there with their kids too.

It was a little cool, but the kids had a ton of fun.  When we were leaving, Rylan was so sweet and thanked me for taking him there :)

Rylan and Gray.  These guys are such great buddies.  We are so sad that Michelle's family is moving to Michigan in less than a month!!!

Our Gray(son) with Jessie.  Jessie is 2 1/2 months older than Grayson.

Grayson with the city he was born in ...

Warming up on the map of Tennessee ...

Last Days of Kindergarten

The kindergartners at Carter's school got to dress up for the last week and a half of school.  Carter had a lot of fun getting to do something special each day.

Sunglasses & Flip Flops Day

Pirate Day

Mustache Day

Jumprope Day (also Kindergarten Performance)

Superhero & Princess Day

Cowboy & Cowgirl Day

Field Day (Bubble Day)

Luau Day

Bananas

Grayson tried bananas last Thursday.  I have to say this is his least favorite food so far.  I think it's a combination of texture and taste.  I've been mashing the bananas so it's thicker than the purees I've been doing.  But I think he also doesn't like the taste because as soon as the first bite touches his lips, he makes an awful face.  All 3 times Grayson's had bananas, it's the same faces.  But my hungry little man still eats up the entire half banana I've prepped for him!

Sorry for the blurry pictures - it was overcast and dark when I took the pictures!

The bananas must have smelled good because Charlotte was very curious!

Swim Team

Carter started swim team practice yesterday.  This year Carter is doing swim team with the FAST (Franklin Area Swim Team) Frogs through the Williamson County Rec Center.  We picked this program to be with Suzy and her kids.  I figured we can help each other out with all our kiddos, especially the babies.  Also, Carter will love getting to see Chase everyday!

This week practice is after school from 4 to 4:30 pm for the 6 year olds and under.  Starting next week it will be at 9:20 until 9:50 am.

So far Carter is doing just fine.  It's going to take a few more practices before he can swim 25 yards without assistance or taking a break, but he's getting there.  He's been a little nervous before practice but nothing like last year when he did Junior Swim Team with the Y.

I'm excited to see him progress and compete this summer!