More Swimming Lessons

In addition to VBS this week, Peyton also had swimming lessons every afternoon.  The life guard who taught lessons at our pool earlier in the summer offered a few private lesson sessions at her house this week, so we used the opportunity to help Peyton further his skills a bit.  By the end of this week, he was swimming further with better strokes, diving deeper, floating on his back, switching from swimming to floating mid-pool and starting to tread water a bit.  He's really doing great and is loving the pool! 

Vacation Bible School - Creation Station

Vacation Bible School was held this past week at Community Bible Church, our new church in San Antonio.  The theme was Creation Station and focused on looking at the world and all the wonderful things God created from a view from outer space.  Peyton, as you can imagine, was THRILLED about the space theme!  He's been looking forward to VBS for weeks!  Mommy was the crew leader for his Kindergarten group, and Reagan even got to go to her own preschool class. 

 Peyton hanging out with his Kindergarten friends waiting for worship time to begin.

 Reagan enjoying her front row view of opening worship time!

Making a craft. 

 At the end of each day, I would pick up Reagan a little early from her class and bring back to enjoy the closing worship time with the Kindergartners (her class didn't come back for closing worship).  She loved getting to sing with the big kids and made a new friend!

 Reagan with her VBS crafts.

Peyton with his VBS crafts.

 Enjoying "Moon Pies" at Family Night.  

One day, during Rec time, the kids played a game where they had to take turn tossing a soaked water ball into a trashcan from about 15 feet away.  They got one team point each time the ball went in.  They could also shot the ball into a gallon bucket for five points.  Peyton had a hot streak!  Every time he got up to shoot, he hit the trash can and even made one shot into the bucket (only he and one other boy on our team made that shot!).  I think even he was surprised by his hot streak!  He kept asking me, "How come I always make it in?"  

On the last day, I asked him what his favorite part of VBS was.  He thought for a minute and said, "Snack time.  And crafts.  A rec time.  And the skit with Gordo.  And the songs."  Obviously, he really liked it all!

Reagan's 4th Birthday

On Sunday, we had a fun family day to celebrate Reagan's "actual" birthday.  Reagan woke up and found Peyton already playing in the playroom.  He told her that she was four today.  She came into our room (where Mommy and Daddy were trying to get a few extra minutes of sleep!) and announced, "Peyton says that I'm four, but I'm still three!"  We confirmed that Peyton was actually correct, that Reagan was indeed four today.  She took a step back, held out her arms, looked down and said "But look at me!  I'm still three!"  Apparently, she thought turned four would actually cause her to look different! 

 Reagan's requested birthday breakfast - chocolate chip muffins!  Grandma and Grandpa came over from Brett & Stephanie's house to have breakfast with the birthday girl.

 After breakfast, Reagan opened a few more presents.

Soccer shoes!

 Precious Moments from Granmommy and Grandaddy.

 Reagan modeling her Pinkalicious dress for Grandma and Grandpa.

 All dressed up and ready to head out for a day of fun!

 Before heading out, we stopped by Brett and Stephanie's house to see Grandma and Grandpa, who were straightening up the house in preparation of Gregory's homecoming!

 After lunch at Freebirds (a family favorite!), we went to the San Antonio Zoo.  It was Daddy's first trip to the Zoo, and the kids were really excited to show him all of their favorite parts - including the "river" in the Tot Spot. 

 The kids played in the river for a couple of hours!

 After the river, it was time for an afternoon treat.  The birthday girl requested cotton candy - AND actually chose blue instead of pink!

 Watching the hippos swim.

 Daddy is pointing to the lion.

 After leaving the zoo, we enjoyed a leisurely train ride around Brackenridge Park.

 After dinner at Chili's (another family favorite - and requested dinner location by the birthday girl), we came home to cut her cake.

Happy Birthday Reagan!

Reagan's 4th Birthday Party Luau

On Saturday, July 16, we celebrated Reagan's 4th birthday with a party here at home.  Her party had a luau them and the entertainment was backyard water fun!  Daddy grill hot dogs.  Reagan loved every minute of it!  At one point before the party, she looked around at the decorations and said, "Ohhhh! I just LOVE all my pretty decorations!"  The party started at 11am, and Peyton excited asked about every twenty minutes that morning if it was 11 yet!

 Reagan's "fake" (for the birthday book) invitation.  The real one was an evite.

 Party favor

 Decorations

Cake and cupcakes

 Peyton insisted on making this "rules" sign for the slide - "No two people going down at the same time."  Notice in later pictures that that rule wasn't exactly followed, even by the "rule-maker!"

Our pirate pool is no more! :(  During the party, the bottom ring blew a hole too big to fix, and we had to throw it away after the party.  Lots of great memories in that pool!  When we first got it out this summer, it seemed smaller than usual.  Then we realized that it was our kids that are getting bigger!  But after 3 summers, 2 birthday parties, countless evening "swims" with and without friends and numerous patches, it was time to say good-bye!

Grandma keeping Reagan occupied before the party!

 Lunch - minus the hotdogs!

 Cake

 Kids enjoying the water slide.  

 Reagan and friend Ashley.

 Lots of kids in a very little pool!

 

 Ready to sing "Happy Birthday"

 Blowing out candles

Birthday girl licking the icing off of her cupcake

 Hitting her pinata

 The kids made their own water slide!

Reagan with her gifts from the party.

 A Pinkalicious dress!  Reagan has now decided to be Pinkalicious for Halloween.

 Reagan loves Pinkalicious!

We missed Uncle Brett, Aunt Stephanie and one-day old Baby Gregory at the party, but we're looking forward to some big July birthday celebrations in the future!