Picture says it all

told you...what can you say to that? No words needed.

VBS....Boomerang Express

This past July, I taught graduates of pre-k in VBS...aka Aaron's class. I am sure many of you recognize at least a few faces :) We had a blast. I had some great friends come and teach with me. I loved every single minute of it. It is one of those things that I look forward to serving in every year. One of the little girls that doesn't go to our church but goes to Edmondson with my children...gives me a hug and the biggest sweetest smile everytime I am up at the school and it is November. I hope to know her and her family for a long long time. What a blessing!!!! Aaron was thankful to have me as his teacher...next year....it's Abigail's turn again :)

Singing in the Rain....

I got the cool mom award on this day. I don't get those all the time...so it was quite special :) It was one of those warm summer days where its raining, but there is no lightening. I let the kids stay out in it and they had a blast. But, at a certain point, they decided to seek shelter in the playground. You can see how hard the rain was coming down.....those umbrellas did absolutely no good!

What's Behind the Curtain??

not very much! We headed to Purity Farms on a little field trip this summer with our playgroup friends. The kids were soo excited to see where ice cream was made. When we got there a blue curtain covered the front of the room. We told them not to open it until after the movie that I believed might have been filmed in the 70's. They were very good listeners...patiently awaiting what was behind that curtain...then we all discovered that it used to be where they made ice cream, but not anymore. Fortunately, the kids were all still thrilled about being there and LOVED the ice cream afterwards!

Watermelon Days

It is so fun to do things with your children that you remember so fondly doing when you were a kid. Eating watermelon was a summer tradition with my family. My brothers and sisters would all get a big quarter slice of a good juicy watermelon. Put it on newspaper and go to town. We all had different eating styles...I tried to be like my dad and eat mine very precisely by cutting little sections very smoothly and then making little squares and then picking up each piece with my fork. I tried...but then I would go crazy and just make a big ol mess. Then there was my brother Kyle..who hated watermelon, but sure loved to watch us eat it. It would usually be his idea to go and get one just so he could watch. One year we even planted watermelon seeds that grew big plants that looked like weeds and then Dad removed them from the front yard. It was fun to share these memories with my kiddos as I watched them and their "eating styles". Abigail was precise and Aaron tried but then hacked into it. And Allison...well, as you can see...she chose not to eat dinner...so poor thing...didn't get any watermelon :(.

Fun at the Beach!

We had a great time with my parents at their new place in Gulf Shores. Abigail and Aaron couldn't get enough of the boogie boards. Allison was more into the snacks, ice, and juice boxes that we brought down everyday, but she definately wasn't afraid of the water or the sand. Their place also has a pool; which the kids thought was the best ever!

It's been awhile....a long while!

It might have appeared to my faithful followers (all 3 of you....ha ha ha) that I have given up on blogging, that I just don't have the time or the energy to keep up with it. And while that assumption might have appeared true (since the last time I wrote was June 11th)...I am not a quitter, so I will not quit. Though, I sure do have a lot of catching up to do. I think I will just look back at pictures that I have not posted and just write about those one step at a time.

The pictures are of Abigail and her cousins at the American Girl Doll Store in Atlanta, Georgia. We went to celebrate with her cousins' for their birthdays in the middle of June. It was so fun to watch the girls faces just light up as they saw their favorite dolls 'come to life' with all their outfits and houses and friends, etc. That place is a gold mine for the owners...and a money pit for the rest of us. You seriously cannot get out of there without buying something that is too expensive, but hey...you don't get to go to the actual store very often. Thank goodness. We had fun picking out presents for Avery and Linden and of course sharing a "gourmet" lunch at the cafe with our American girl friends. It was a great day! The next day was filled with more birthday fun...as we had an 'almost slumber' party with Linden and a fun day at the Y with Avery. We sure love our cousin time...though we don't get enough of it!

People, We've got a loose one!

Tooth that is...Aaron at barely 5 is about to lose a tooth. A couple of days ago his Daddy discovered this after Aaron had complained that his tooth hurt. When Jason said 'your tooth is loose'...Aaron started to cry. He was sooo upset about it. But, the reading of Arthur's Tooth made it all better.

Just Cruisin'

We have enjoyed bike riding so much this summer so far. Now that the kids don't use training wheels they can go so much faster. It is so great to have a really long driveway for them to ride on and a neighborhood where we can ride without worrying about too many cars. And yes, Abigail is in her p.j's....hey, it's summer!

Sprinkler Time...Gotta love it!

There is nothing better than setting up a sprinkler, putting out some water blasters and a plastic pool and letting the kids and their little friends (our neighbors this time) go wild! Allison cracked me up. She is fearless, that girl. She walked right over to that sprinkler and put her face straight in trying to catch some water in her mouth. She did this over and over again and would just laugh. It was so cute. The older kids got such a kick out of watching her...she looked like it was so much fun that they gave it a try as well. But, no one was as bold as Allison and the girl didn't even have her suit on!

Cutie in the Car

Just had to post these pics of sweet little Allison. She knew she was being cute and I was so thankful to have the camera in the car.

Big Graduation Day at CCC

Clearview always has the cutest pre-k graduation and this year was no exception. Aaron's class were crabs and sang some songs about crabs. It was precious. They get to walk down the aisle and accept their diploma as their names are called out along with what they are going to be when they grow up then they say a Bible verse they have memorized. The microphone didn't pick up Aaron's name the first time...he was the first child to walk the aisle. He got to the end and said...'that's not my name.." and just gave the cutest confused look. They let him have an encore performance at the end which we were all thankful for :) He said he wanted to be a baseball player when he grows up. I did pretty good throughout the graduation...not crying that is....that is until that picture you see up top of Aaron and his best bud Andrew. Those two are just the greatest friends and it just started the tears thinking about the fact they will be at different schools next year. Aaron had a great year at CCC. Two down...and here comes Allison...I hope they are ready *smile* I am sure once we are totally done with this preschool program, the teachers will say..."those Walton kids...each one was so incredibly different!! We never know what we are getting :)"

Aaron's 5th Birthday

Every year Aaron has chosen to have a Pump it Up party. Which has been great every year and very easy, but this year...he had it all planned out. He wanted to have his party at home. He wanted a big water slide and a Fish cake. He got exactly what he wanted and I am happy to say that everyone had a blast. It was a bit chaotic, but Aaron and his best buddies (all twenty of them...yes, and not all of them could come and we didn't even invite the girls in his class...he is my social guy) laughed and played the whole time....well at least before their lips turn blue and it was time to open presents. It was a great party. Happy Birthday Buddy! We love you! We can't believe you will be a big kindergartner after the summer. You are growing up so fast. Remember, it is not too late for mommy to home school you *lol*...it is going to be hard to let you go!!!! I am crying just thinking about it!!!!