Thursday, July 22, 2010

College Hop and the Cowboys

I took my students on our annual "College Hop" trip last week and survived! I must be getting old because I dread this trip more and more every year. The highlight of the trip was our tour of Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. Our tour guide mentioned that "the Triplets" (Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin) were there that day and I'm ashamed to say I didn't know who she was talking about!
Once she reminded me, I felt stupid for not knowing because I was a huge Cowboy fan and was totally in love with Troy Aikman!!! Although we didn't get to see Troy or Emmitt, we did get to see Michael Irvin, which we thought was so cool! He seemed very nice and gracious.... As I was walking off the field I passed a security guy who was talking into a headpiece and I heard him say, "the Triplets have left the building." It struck me so funny!

So glad to have made it home without incident and have this trip over for another year!!!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Dinner and a Movie

We met Shane and Deana and their kids for dinner and Toy Story 3 a few weeks ago... maybe it was longer ago than that. I've totally lost track of time this summer.
I'm pretty sure that Mark and Shane liked the movie as much as the kids. I'm just excited that I stayed awake through the whole thing. Normally I don't!!
We are looking so forward to going to Branson with the entire Hartsell clan in a few weeks. It will be just like old times-- only with 11 more!!!

Monday, July 19, 2010

You Can't Choose Your Family

This is an old picture that I have never posted and it is one of my absolute favorites of Kamdyn. It totally captures her expressions and you have to imagine her saying, "hummpphh!" when she crosses her arms like that!
Anyway, it reminded me of something that she told me a few weeks ago when we were getting ready for school. She was having one of those mornings where nothing made her happy. I'm not even sure what prompted it, but she looked at me and said, "well, I don't want to be in this family anymore!"

So I calmly said, "well, that's too bad. We'll miss you on vacation in a few weeks." About that time Mark walked in the room and caught the tail end of the conversation. She looked at him and said, "well... OK, Daddy, I'm going to give you one more chance!"

It is so hard to keep a straight face at the things she says to me sometimes.... most of the time I can't and she knows that and uses it to her advantage!

I did manage to say, "no, how about we give YOU one more chance?"

Swim Lessons

The kids took swimming lessons the last two weeks in June and had a blast! This year's lessons were much more successful than last year!!! If you recall, Kamdyn quit after two lessons last year when the instructor made her go under water. Earlier this summer; however, we were at the lake and Kenzie worked with Kam and got her to go under. She's been a little water bug ever since then!

Cooper, on the other hand, was a little skiddish this year in the water at the beginning of the summer. The lessons have helped tremendously with that.
Kam learning to dive.... I'm not sure why they were teaching her to dive when she still hasn't mastered swimming but, whatever. I missed her last two lessons for a trip and when I came home she had totally learned to dive. I was impressed!
After the first day, Kam told me she wanted to jump off the high dive the next day. I thought, "ok, we'll see how you feel tomorrow," but she totally did it the next day with no fear whatsoever. Mark asked me if she hesitated at the top before jumping but she didn't at all. She looked over at me, waved, and jumped. She loved it! I was pretty proud because my little "fraidy cat" wouldn't even jump off the side of the pool at the beginning of the summer. What a difference two weeks can make!
This is major progress for Cooper.... he's on his own with a noodle. No teacher or life jacket. Really proud of him too!
Jumping off the low dive....
A quick pic before climbing the steps to the high dive...
It never occurred to me to be nervous about her jumping off the high dive until another parent told me a story about someone slipping off the high dive several years back. I really wish she hadn't told me that story, but I just kept reminding Kam not to run at the top and to be careful.
So proud of both kiddos and the great progress they made this summer!!

Friday, July 16, 2010

New Look

I have wanted to make a header for our blog for a long time now. It's one of those projects that I know I can do but I just need to find the time and, more importantly, the energy to work on! And I've had these great new pics of the kids that I have yet to do anything with. So bad I know!!! But tonight I had a burst of energy and decided to give it a try... still a few things I would like to change but definitely more personal now.

So what do you think? Leave me a comment and let me know. I have neglected this blog terribly this summer and comments definitely motivate me to keep it updated. I like to know who's reading!!!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Cousins Weekend

The grown up Efird cousins (minus Derek,Holly & Scott - we missed you guys!) had a great weekend get together, courtesy of Jodie and Mike. As many of you know, the "cousins" are close and we have always enjoyed a special relationship with each other. Jodie has wanted us to get together for a grown up weekend for a while now.

We met at Jodie's Friday night for a great meal, music, fellowship, and tons of laughs!
The guys played golf Saturday morning while the girls enjoyed some lazy time together before heading to the pool. It was so nice to lounge at the pool with no kids jumping on me or having to watch to make sure no one was drowning!! Jodie is a fabulous hostess so we had tons of food all day long! I really hated to leave!!

While we were gone, our kids stayed with Mom and Dad. Aunt Donna had the rest of the kids and on Saturday she and Mom took all the kids swimming and to eat afterwards. I think they had a great time!

When we came home, they were all at Mom's playing in the dirt. I think Cooper was dirtier than I've ever seen him before! This is how we play in the country...
Of course, Kamdyn and Kamryn were glued to each other and spent every second they could together. Kamdyn always ends up crying when Kamryn leaves and last night was no exception.
We had such a great time that I think the cousins weekend will now be an annual event. We are also looking forward to spending the weekend at Timberlodge with the whole family in August. I can't say enough how blessed we are to have such a great family! I love you all!

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Did He Really Do That?

I found this picture from a few weeks ago of Cooper. It was one morning when he decided to be funny and put his underwear on his head. Gives him the lazy eye effect--among other things! And, if you are wondering, they came from his bottom. The boy didn't even have sense to play with clean underwear!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The Rules According to Kamdyn

On the way to church today Kamdyn told us she had made up some new rules.

#1: You have to use hand sanitizer to touch my barbies.
#2: Cooper has to spike his hair on Sundays.

I can tell you now... Cooper's going to go ballistic over #2.