Boating on the Potomac

My brother-in-law recently bought a boat. On Saturday, we went boating on the Potomac River with my sister-in-law, her fiance, my brother-in-law, and a friend. I wasn't sure how the kids would do, but they had a blast. Madelyn even wanted to get in the water, and she loved it. Pierce got in to, but he wasn't nearly as thrilled. I think he became frustrated with the life vest, but he eventually stopped whining and played a little bit.

Pierce playing captain with Uncle Philip

A rare shot of Madelyn smiling at the camera

Pierce unimpressed with his situation

The kids with (soon-to-be)Uncle Brian

Madelyn in the river

A rare me sighting

Madelyn's got J-O-Y

Turn up the volume. This might be hard to hear at first, and in case you have trouble understanding, here are the lyrics:

I've got joy down in my heart
Deep, deep down in my heart
Spell it
J-O-Y down in my heart
Deep, deep down in my heart
Who put it there?
Jesus put it there and nothing can destroy it, 'stroy it, 'stroy it!
Huh! (With a karate kick for emphasis)

What the kids do while I'm getting dinner ready

More weekend fun

Granddaddy is so silly!


Gotta get Dada


Cousin lovin'

June Pictures

are posted here. Ballet class starts, warm weather takes us outside, messes are made, and friends come over to play.

Celebrating Independence and Life

This past weekend we visited with JD's family. His grandmother always hosts an Independence Day bash at her house on the Rappahannock River. We swam in the river, dug in the sand, ate some hot dogs, and enjoyed some fireworks. In addition to the 4th of July festivities, we also celebrated Granny's 90th birthday. On Saturday, nearly the entire family, as well as many of Granny's friends, joined her for a party in her honor. Before the party, we were able to get some various pictures of the family. This is one of my favorites. Granny has 16 great-grandchildren. Fourteen are visible in this picture. You can see the 15th's legs under the chairs to the right, and the 16th was busy trying to find her mommy.

Yard care confusion

Some of you might find this interesting. Not the funniest conversation we've ever had, but I wanted to jot (type) this down, lest I forget it.

Madelyn: Mommy, it's raining.
Me: I know, honey.
Madelyn: The yard is wet. (Said in a somewhat panicked voice. She is very concerned when things are wet. She doesn't like it when her clothes get wet, and she insists on changing at the slightest drop of water.)
Me: It will dry really fast once the sun comes out.
Madelyn: No, we need to mow it.
Me: We can't mow it until it dries.
Madelyn: (Almost hysterical at this point) No, we have to mow it so it can dry.
Me: No, honey. Mowing doesn't dry the grass. It makes the grass shorter.

No wonder she's been talking about mowing the yard when it rains. It also clears up some confusion from a conversation before when she asked why the men were mowing when it hadn't rained. I'm often amazed at how well Madelyn can communicate now. However, I am more amazed when it sometimes takes two or three or more conversations to figure out what's going on in her head. Although, I don't know why this surprises me. Sometimes it takes that long when adults communicate with each other.