MORE BACKYARD FUN

When we got back from vacation, "Kate" used some of her birthday money to buy a small trampoline because she LOVES to jump. The best part is that it was a surprise, because she had no idea she had bought this with her birthday money. She would live on that trampoline if we'd let her. One of us is on it everyday with her. I have learned just how out of shape I am jumping on it with her. Just a few bounces and I am about to pass out! I think God is trying to say, "Sister, GET IN SHAPE!!" Of course, summer would not be complete without your own backyard pool, so Kate and I went to Wal-Mart and got her the plastic, "fancy" kind. She will stand at the door waiting to get out there.

We are having such a wonderful summer. Very laid back and relaxed. I have only painted the hallway in our house so far. Scott even let me pay someone to come paint Kate's room (the horrible mural is gone!), the den and our stairway to the bonus room!! I only have two rooms to go!

POOL PARTY WITH THE POWELLS

One of our best couple friends, the Powells, just had the finest pool added to their backyard and they invited us and the sweet Willoughbys over for a fun time! Kate and Trey had a super time deciding who would use which ring in the pool. Perry and Ally were terrific lifeguards so the grownups got to just sit back and watch and let them corral the little ones. Kate could not have wished for a better "big sister" than Perry!! I first laid eyes on Perry when she was only 3 months old on the Fourth of July. She is one special little girl. She has called me "Aunt Miss Tammy" since she was 3 and then practiced calling me Mrs. Jasper when she was in K5 hoping that somehow she might be in my second grade class someday. Well, as luck would have it she was this year and she is quite a jewel. And, of course, so is my sweet Ally Willoughby - also in my class this year. They are 2 of my best girls ever and I thank God for allowing me the privilege of being their teacher this year.

BEACH TRIP 2008

Well, we had another fun year at the beach with Kate. Last year she wasn't walking and we could stick her somewhere and she was pretty much there (which made picture taking a breeze). Now this year, on the otherhand, she hit the ground running (literally), and we couldn't hold her still for a minute. The three of us headed down on a Thursday morning and Scott's brother, Brian, joined us for the fun on Sunday. I think he had the best time of all of us! Kate wasn't the least bit afraid of the water. She would run into to the waves like she had been doing it forever. It was high tide most of our time there, but it didn't stop her from wanting to just jump in. We, like crazies, waited until our last afternoon there to try and take some pretty beach pictures of Kate. She was having no part of that being sweet and still stuff - she had some water to get into! The morning that we left, we dressed her up again and were about to walk out the door and it began to rain for the first time during our trip. I was livid, but lesson learned!! I am so thankful that we were able to take this trip as a family and that even though Kate won't remember 2008 in a year from now, Scott and I will have those memories and all of the fun times to laugh about when we go back next year.

KATE'S GOT A NEW SPRINKLER!

Kate loves the water so I decided to get her a sprinkler to play with in the yard. I didn't really read the instructions just hooked it up and Scott and I started to film and take pictures. Scott started saying that surely the thing would spray more water than it was, so as I was trying to adjust it, all of a sudden the thing started spinning round and round!! Well, Kate thought that was even better. Not long after the water began to run down the little hill in our yard, a mud puddle formed and Kate forgot all about the sprinkler in favor of playing in the puddle! I hope this doesn't mean she won't be a girly girl!!