Testing new blinkie! Come one, come all - take the code and embed it into your blog!

I have always loved the "I love today's creative blog" blinkie, but never really gave it much thought to do one of my own (or find someone to make one for me, rather!). That was until I found Rachael (another BBC friend of mine) when I did a random search on BBC for a web designer. Of the four names it pulled up, I noticed we were already buddies! She was super nice to put this together for me and if you're interested in one for your blog (who doesn't like bandwagon ideas???) give her a shout on her blog here.

Or see her link on my list of Blogaholics "Not Quite So" Anonymous to the right.

Happy Blinking everyone!!

If you love my blog, and would like to put my blinkie on your page, copy and paste the following link to your blog.

<a href="http://www.snipsnsnailsandpuppydogtails.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v42/imamuthafinrobot/blinkies/blinkie3.gif" /></a>

It's GREAT to be seven!

The new seven year old!

Jonathan and baby brother - always a great photo!

Jonathan's birthday was probably one of the busiest, and most exciting days we've had in a while. His day went something like this:
*wake up
*eat the gogurt he picked out
*get dressed for swim lessons
*where he got moved up to level 8!! we are SOOOO proud of him because this is a level that a lot of kids get stuck because the breast stroke and butterfly strokes are difficult to master. I told the instructor to give him a hard time (teasing, of course) because it was his birthday and he should move up on his birthday! Well, this is the kind of swim school that if they didn't really feel he was ready to move up, he wouldn't. There must have been some birthday magic in the air! He'll be working on turns on station 8 and after that, lifetime strokes and individual medley. He's almost done with lessons and will soon be able to decide to move up to summer league or do another sport.
*go to Toys R Us to spend the seven dollars he got in a letter from Mom and Dad. He chose an Iron Man toy (that we're pretty sure Dad will enjoy playing with too!) and a toy shark. I spotted him a few dollars. ;)
*pick out a cake at the store - Jonathan just *had* to have the one with the cookie on the cake surrounded by cupcakes. They must have seen him coming!
*go to Sonic to celebrate (nope, not his birthday) getting moved up to station 8. We have a deal that when he gets moved up to the next level he can celebrate with a treat from Sonic. We got to see Sarah working at Sonic, our Euchre friends' daughter.
*open up gifts early in the afternoon since Neil came home for a while before his last appointment *plus* it gave him time to enjoy his gifts long before bedtime!!

so excited to open his gifts!

what could it be?

it's the PSP I've been asking about for months!! how'd you know I wanted it?

what do I do with these???

the cake that just keeps on going

blowing out the candles

the cookie that sold him on the cake

DEEEE-licious!

just ask me if I'm going to eat anything beyond the frosting...I dare you!

ok, seriously guys! i put in an order for a cupcake too!! what's with the stinkin' cheerio?!

not my best photo, by far, but I had to pick something with Ashley in it!! we loves us some good cupcakes!!

Summer Yummers!

Monday was our 'get down to business' day. We sat around eating breakfast and came up with our monthly menu...mostly to avoid daily catastrophes at the demand for me to be a short order cook for each meal. We came up with ten breakfasts, lunches and snacks. Ashley made up the weekly menu and we went to pick up the groceries for this week. Ashley wanted to switch up Friday's lunch with today's (PB&J for homemade pizza) so we ended up with a cooking project today. I actually had forgotten that we have Friday's reserved for lunches out (contingent on good behavior and chores getting done with decent to great attitudes) and given that tomorrow is Jonathan's birthday, the pizza thing made the most sense for today...that, or wait until next Monday to do it. They had fun putting them together and slathering on the cheese. Not too bad for a fifteen minute project, start to finish!

load it up with cheese! and not just the yellow stuff! {see goofy brother on left}

it's no fun without any pepperoni!

what a goof!

our proud creationist

the finished product!
{you'll have to excuse the lighting in the photos - our house is lit soooo poorly,
it's a wonder I get any decent shots!!}

Such a trooper!

~The back light was pretty bad that I was having trouble manipulating the lighting, but one shot came out as a really cool silhouette - on accident. I caught him as he came up for air working on his butterfly stroke.~

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Paige had her first swim lessons today. Initially I had her signed up first and Jonathan's class was immediately after, but I got a call from Nitro last week saying they moved him from the 9:30 to the 8:30 class. That means his class is smaller and basically means the ratios are better overall. I got a few pictures of both their classes.

Jonathan goofing off with new buddies - he's not at station 4, but 7.
Coach Mike was doing a private lesson on the other side of the pool.

working on his strokes


Paige holds onto her instructor for dear life at the beginning of class.

Paige is starting to get the hang of putting her head in the water.
The instructor said she did everything *except* put her whole head under!

The "key" to a good summer

This weekend was fun! And now that the kids are out of school, my time is divided beyond belief. We "invested" in Jonathan's swim future by buying a neighborhood pool key so he can get some extra practice in outside of classes. Well, I lie. Actually we got it because it's Texas and it's hot and we wanted to have some fun in the evenings together. I'll probably venture out with the kids by myself too. Rather than enjoy the water yesterday, I spent some time catching some shots of the kids as well as Neil and figuring out the logistics of handling four kiddies at the pool with a potty training three year old. I hope you have some free time, because there are quite a few pictures to go through!!

I will be adding more to this post throughout the day. With all the kids home, it's been difficult finding time to post. Check back throughout today and tomorrow to see the updates.

Drew and I hung out by the pool after we realized his 6-12 trunks were *way* too big on him! And yes, I realize I could have just put him in the pool in his 'swimmie' but I liked staying dry and watching everyone. With a nice cool breeze behind us, it was really nice out!

Jonathan and Dad enjoy some time goofballin' around. I can't even count the number of times he got tossed. Here is just one of the many series I caught of the two of them bein' boys.

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"had enough little kid?"
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~Ashley 'canon-balls' off the side of the pool~






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Jonathan tries a canon ball


record scratch: we'll come back to this later...
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WHY?
***
Neil and I both saw him run to get some major air on this canon ball...
"Jonathan!" we both call to him when he finally surfaces
He comes over to me after I motion for him. We talk about pool safety and how he could really get himself hurt by running. He then turns to me and asks 'can I power walk into the pool?'

POWER WALK? I think to myself...'sure, why not?'

Here's the end of that canon ball:


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Neil and the kids enjoying the kiddie pool - "hey big guy! that pool's not for you!"

Ashley enjoying the kiddie pool

Dad and Jonathan splash it up some more! Paige tests the waters in preparation for her swim lessons tomorrow!

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miscellaneous pictures

Jonathan practicing his strokes

Ashley sharing pics and videos of the last day of school with her buddies