Art Class.

Sarah started taking art classes at Dianne's this summer. She is in a class with one of her very best friends Justin. We are giving the classes a try for the summer. I am working at the studio while she is in class. They are studying basic drawing and composition. Actually, there was quite a lot of giggling coming from their table. She is loving it. If she really likes it, we will try to continue in the fall.

Meanwhile, the clean up continues in Jamie's room. Today included haircuts and an unexpected trip to the Orthodontist. It's always fun to travel in 5:00 traffic for an hour so they can fix a problem in 10 minutes.

Cake Bake.

Sarah decided to bake a cake for Mike today. He was flying back from Texas and she wanted to surprise him. I gathered the ingredients and told her to read the directions. She made it and decorated it. Mike was thrilled. He and Jamie both had a hard time staying away until after supper. Good job Sarah. It smelled soooo good. I have resisted temptation so far.

Jamie and I are cleaning his room this week. We are clearing out old toys and trying to update the look. I don't have any good pictures of that. His room is truly a mess. I have to breathe deep and count to 10 a lot. We have added quite a few things to our garage sale inventory. I have never had one in the heat of the summer. This may be a first.

Good Clean Fun.

Sarah spent this week at Family Farms Christian day camp. We have gone every year since Jamie was in first grade. Even when it is 100 degrees plus, the kids have a wonderful time. They do all the things you do on a farm. They fish, ride horses, play with the animals and more. Sarah was old enough this year to shoot the BB guns during riflery. The campers memorize Bible verses and sing praise songs. It is a unique experience and very special. The kids come home dirty and happy. It is easy to see why. They play hard. Many of her friends were there this week. That makes it even more fun. The girls built sand castles together. They paddled across the pond together. Truly good clean fun for all.

It has been very quiet here this week. Mike was in Texas and Jamie is at Band camp. It has been lovely.

Fathers Day

We are very lucky to have a family full of wonderful Dad's. Two of them enjoyed a steak dinner after church at our house today. Mike grilled some incredible ribeye steaks. I was licking my fingers and the chihuahuas were drooling. It was a beautiful warm day in Arkansas. After we were completely stuffed, we watched a little golf. We wish all of our Dad's a great day. We love each one of them. I hope Mike Sr. is either reading or fishing and I hope Ted is relaxing. Whatever or wherever, enjoy the day. Mike did not appreciate the camera during the cooking process. I did try. Dad wanted to show off his latest accessories. His shades protect his eyes after surgery. His magnifying glass came in handy reading his cards.

Beach Games

We played Frisbee and badminton one evening. The sun was setting and a cool breeze was blowing. Everyone was playing and having fun. I was taking lots of pictures. The sand is so much fun to play in. I caught a wonderful smile on Mike. That is pretty rare. He runs and hides from the camera. I really like these. The soft light was perfect for the camera.

Sarah took her first art class today. They studied shading and composition. Fine art principles that carry over to photography. She enjoyed it and I learned a lot too. I am working during her class and listening at the same time. It feels like I am subbing in a class. Dianne taught art in school for years. She has lots of patience with the kids. Many of her students have been with her for years. Our friend Jenna has been taking for years and is very talented.

Ahoy Mates

The pirate cruise was fun, fun, fun. We spent a delightful 2 hours cruising the coast on a cool pirate ship. It was totally designed to entertain the kids. Sarah and Deanna fully participated. We lucked out and saw dolphins playing right beside the boat. The older kids hung out and enjoyed the scenery. The pirates were very funny and kept everyone laughing. Activities included: swabbing the deck, sword fights, treasure hunting, and the limbo. The bottom shot is a golden sunset on the beach. Lots of pretty things to take pictures of.

Drowning in Pictures

I am literally drowning in a sea of great beach pictures. We had a wonderful vacation in Florida. The weather was perfect. I loooooove the beach. It just fills the senses. You can feel the stress melt away with the waves. I read 3 books and loved every minute of it. This year we stayed in Panama City Beach. We shared a fabulous condo with the Ayres family. The view from the 21st floor was really something. We lucked out and had a unit at the end of the building. So our view down the strip was clear for miles. I got to play on the elliptical machine in the fitness room. Here are just a few photos to start. Both families dressed up for pictures on the beach. The view from the end of the balcony. A shot inside the condo. I can't wait to show you more.