Big Cedar Lodge Summer 2010...

A few weekends ago we made a trip to Big Cedar Lodge with my parents. We love spending time here and will take any opportunity that we can to head that way. We had so much fun just relaxing and visiting with my parents around the pool on Saturday afternoon.

Before we headed to the pool the girls had fun collecting some kind of tree nut...

Molly

Molly

Taylor

Later that night we went to dinner at one of the on site restaurants.

After dinner we walked around a little bit and fed the HUGE catfish and turtles.

After feeding the fish my dad and Stuart set a great example for Molly and Taylor

by climbing rock pillers.My dad turned 60 this week, so I was very impressed ( and a little nervous) with his climbing skills!

I like this picture because it looks like she could be really high up!

My parents left on Sunday and we headed into Branson to take the girls to White Water. It was fun, and the girls did pretty good going down the slides. Taylor was my slide partner and she loved it. The whole way down she was saying, “wee wee wee,” and then at the end she would yell, “Let’s do that again!” Molly was a little more timid, but still seemed to have fun. Stuart said that she had a death grip on him most of the time.

I love the hand on Molly's hip in this picture...

After a long afternoon at WhiteWater we headed back over to Big Cedar. We rested up and then went to eat dinner and then back to the pool for a short evening swim. Taylor hopped up on this rock and asked me to take her picture. She said she was like Ariel sitting on the rock and broke into the Little Mermaid them song.

Molly giving me the thumbs up!

Taylor relaxing on her back!

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us crash your weekend at BCL. We had a great time!

Swim Lessions

Molly and Taylor finished up swim lessons last week. I was a little skeptical at first. I used to teach swim lessons during summer break when I was in high school and college. One thing that I do remember when teaching little ones how to swim is that the parents should back off. Acutally this was one of the cardinal rules of swim lessons...parents need to stay out of sight. The first day of class I was very annoyed to see that there were so many parents actually standing pool side talking to their children. These were only 30 minute classes and there were about 6 kids in each class. I don’t know how in the world these parents thought they were helping their children (or mine) to learn to swim by standing right there distracting the class and the instructor.

Now, I understand now as a parent all about being over protective, I’m actually a little neurotic when it comes to my children. But, there is a reason why parents should not go sit next to their kid in the classroom when they are trying to learn to read. And the same rule should apply when they are learning how to swim! I was able to sit in the shaded area only steps from the pool. I felt this was a comfortable distance, and I guess after a few days of class (and maybe some complaints from other parents) the hovering parents did to.

The session started out as a two week session, which actually turned into three weeks because of make up rain days.

The very last day of class the girls were able to get a private session. Their instruction had kept them in the 3 foot area through the course of the swim lessions, but the last day of class he decided to venture down to the deep end.

Molly and Taylor followed him right up the stairs to a rather large slide with noodles tucked under their arms. I got as close as I could with the camera without being noticed, and I have to admit I did not think they would actually do it. But sure enough within seconds Taylor was down the slide and in the water and Molly followed right behind her.

I actually don't know who this is going up the stairs and down the slide....

They then moved over to the diving board and they both jumped off without hesitation. I could NOT BELIEVE IT! Then as we were not amazed enough...they both jumped off the diving board WITHOUT THE NOODLES and swam to the ladder with a little assistance from their instruction. It was all I could do to hold back from jumping up and down, cheering and screaming out their names.

Off the board with noodles...

And off the board without noodles...

When class was over they came running over to Stuart and me talking a mile a minute. They were so proud of themselves!

Their instruction was so nice to pose for a picture...

So, in the end, swim lessons were very much worth it!

If I were to do it over again, I would sign them up for private swim lessons

(which I will defiantly do next summer).

Lost tooth score is tied.......1 to 1

Molly lost her first tooth earlier this month!!!

Taylor lost her first tooth around Easter and we were shocked at how early that happened.

I was just as surprised to see Molly’s loose tooth. She showed it to us one night, and just a few days later when I picked her up from daycare it was out.

It’s kind of funny, because it is the opposite bottom tooth that Taylor lost.

So, now they are mirror twins…haha.

May/June Update...

Mothers Day weekend we got together with my family for my niece and nephews baptism. My sister asked Bryan and Karena to be my nephews Godparents, and she asked Stuart and me to be my nieces Godparents.

Group shot...

Thomas and Anna Claire taking a look at their special cake...

My nephew Jonah...

Nephews Thomas and Seth and my niece Anna Claire...

My mom, me and my sisters...

The first weekend in June Stuart’s grandparents came into the area for a visit. We got together with them over at his mom's house along with his sister and her family. I didn’t take many pictures while we were there, but here are a few that I was able to capture…

My niece Tattom...

My nephew Reggie with Molly and Taylor...

My brother in law Shawn with his two daughters Tattom and Olivia...

Stuart with his grandaddy...Can you see the resemblance???

Early June my brother was in the area from Wyoming for a visit. So, we headed to my parents house to spend a few days with him. We got to my parents house on a Tuesday and had a wonderful dinner. My dad made his famous ribs and my mom made some great sides to go with them! After dinner we all headed down to the Rib Room to watch a local band called Copasetic. My youngest brother has been singing with them on and off for the last year. He has such a great voice and it was great to get to hear him sing. We were unable to find a sitter, so we took the girls with us. I was a little unsure of taking them, but it was an outdoor venue and my parents took them home around 9:30. They had the best time drinking sprite, listening to their Uncle Patrick sing, and tearing up the dance floor with their daddy.

The band...

My brother Bryan and sister in law Karena...

Group shot...

Stuart dancing with Taylor and Molly is dancing with one of the nuns that taught my mom in college that just happened to be there!!! She was so sweet and loved the girls.

My sister Kristen and brother in law Brandon...

Mom and Dad...

Molly and Taylor have been taking tap and ballet this year and they had their first dance recital in June. I wish that I could figure out how to upload the video we captured from the video camera because it was SO cute. Maybe I will figure it out sometime! They did GREAT! I was really impressed that they got up on that stage and danced their little hearts out and remembered to smile all the way through.

No stage fright for these two girls!

Taylor

Molly

Family Picture...

They danced to the song, “Hot, Hot, Hot” and it has been nothing but hot, hot, hot here in Arkansas this summer. We have been hitting the pool as often as possible! Here are some pool pictures of Molly, Taylor, and their friend Kaylee that I took after they finished up with the recital.


I will try to post a July update soon...Happy Summer!!!