saturday swim

we have had a busy saturday with lots on our agenda, but we took time out this morning to take a dip.

see my tooter pants swimming!!!!

layla has been begging her daddy to go to the pool so she can show off the new moves she learned in swimming lessons.

we had lots of fun splashing around

me and my little girlie swimmer

hayden had fun splashing in the shallow water

I hope y'all are having a fun saturday too.

dogs like frosted flakes too

Mornings are my favorite around here.  Yes, I am half asleep and need coffee, but it is so fun to watch the kids play in their pj's in the backyard on cool mornings.  Heck, we can't play outside in the evenings because it is so flippin' hot.  And there is no end in sight!  The forcast says 100 + degree days for the next week.  Layla wanted to have her frosted flakes outside on the patio for breakfast the other morning.

She wanted to me to take a picture of her w/ her face in the flowers. 

It turned out cute, but I took it with my phone.  When I catch her in the right mood, I will use the camera and get some more fun flower pics.

This picture makes me giggle.  Callaway's tongue is slurping his doggie lips.  He wants a bite of those frosted flakes. Layla is sitting in a short kid chair and she has to hold the cereal away from his face.  She was giggling the whole time!  Don't you just love kid giggle first thing in the morning!

Now Callaway and Harley are both begging.  And see the empty princess cup. They knocked it over and drank the milk.  Yep, it is like having four kids.

Now Harley is stalking Layla.  She wants cereal to go with the milk she just drank!

And Layla finally spilled the frosted flakes.

After the dogs had their picnic...Hayden wanted to pose for a picture.  He looks like a tin soldier.

This made Layla want to pose, which is fine by me...she is always running from me.

We had a super fun morning.

Until we had to get ready for swimming lessons.  Layla just doesn't really like the lessons.  I am SO GLAD they are finally over.  I am tired of all the drama and build up that comes with going.  She is a great swimmer and CAN do it.  She is just stubborn.  But now I feel better just knowing that she can swim and help herself if she falls in the water.  Don't get me wrong, she has a TON more to learn, but for now I am happy.  I will put her in lessons again next summer.  She doesn't know that yet!  hA!

Here is her little sad face before the lesson, and after she finally got that 4th sticker!

She just wanted another sticker..ha!

I am very proud of Hayden through the whole swimming lesson adventure.  Each day he sat with me and ate a snack and watched Layla.  He really wanted to run around like a mad man, but he sat/laid down like a good boy.  We sat upstairs in all cement grand stands.  I was so scared that he would fall down the bleachers or stairs and scuff himself up.  But he didn't!

Now after a whirl wind two weeks of swimming lessons we can sit back and enjoy the rest of the summer before school starts!  I'm exctied about school!  I don't know about y'all, but I'm getting ready for fall and all that comes with it!  Football, weather and of course fall foods.

the many emotions of swimming lessons

black bean taco pizza

Last month my blog friend Kelli @

posted a recipe for taco pizza.

Y'all know me...if I see a yummy recipe I usually can't get it out of my head until I give it a try.

I didn't have all the ingredients she had, so I did my own version, but it was good!

I had a helper or two, and this recipe was the perfect recipe for young cooks.

Layla and I greased a cookie sheet and spread out a refrigerated pizza crust. 

I put a can of black beans in the food processor and mushed them up, and then Layla spread them over the uncooked pizza crust.

Meanwhile, I browned one pound of ground turkey meat.

Layla spread the browned turkey meat on top of the black beans once the meat cooled a bit.

Then she topped it with 1/2 a can of drained yellow corn.

Then on top of the corn she sprinkled shredded cheddar cheese.

She even smiled for the camera...usually she runs from it.

Hayden also helped sprinkle cheese.

Then we put it in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes.

This is what it looks like after it is baked.

While the pizza was baking I chopped romaine lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and an avocado.

I also set out ranch for dipping and salsa for the adults.

The kids picked their toppings.

Layla just wanted avocado and ranch.

She loved it, and she ate the whole thing...probably because she made it!

Hayden pointed to avocado, tomato and ranch for dipping.

He munched down on his piece too.  Thank goodness...he has been so picky lately.

This is daddy's piece...a little bit of everything.

And this is mommy's piece.  I love veggies and salad, so mine actually looks more like a salad. 

I had to use a fork to eat mine.

It was so stinkin' good...thanks for the inspiration Kelli!

hello monday

ONE

Gary and I went away for the weekend.  We were at a lake and there was little to no cell phone service.  It was nice.  I needed a break.  I took the weekend off from taking pictures, blogging, tweeting and texting.  I took about 5 total pics.  While I am sad about it, and not having pics of our memories, I am happy that I relaxed!

We went on a night time boat ride with a handful of our friends. 

The moon was full...it was so pretty.

We rode on one of the 5 jet skis we had at the boat dock. I had a GREAT time hanging out with my friends and husband.  We ate greasy cheeseburgers from a little hole in the wall restaurant near the lake.  We got breakfast burritos in the morning, and we ate chips and dips for lunch. 

It was wonderful...a total break for me...no cooking...gasp!

TWO

The kids wanted to ride the jet skis so badly, but they had to stay behind at Auntie's house.

They finally got to climb on the skis on Sunday morning when we picked them up.  I couldn't imagine getting back on those monsters.  I am still sore from riding them and it is Monday morning!

THREE

My little Hayden turned two yesterday.

He got a tricycle.

After his bath he was climbing on it.  He really isn't sure what to do with it.  HA! 

Boys will be boys right?!?

FOUR

We had a wonderful weekend away, but came home to quite a mess here at home.

Apparently a lightning storm rolled through our neighborhood on Friday evening.  Our house and our neighbors house felt the effects of that.  We have LOTS of things not working.  I am so bummed out.  Just to name a few, our TV in the living room, our land line phones, our security system, the Wii, and even another TV in another room doesn't function properly. Never a dull moment in our household.

 Happy happy joy joy! 

click on the link above to go read other bloggers miscellany monday posts!

happy birthday to Hayden

Today at 1:02 pm our little guy will be 2 years old!

He is getting so big and the time is flying by.

 

Hayden makes me laugh everyday and I am so happy that he is my son.

Hey little two year old, your mommy and daddy love you very much.