Summer Fun camp and Swim Lessons

A couple cute girls in our ward came up with a great way to make a little extra money for the summer. They put on "Summer Fun" camp for a few of the little kids. Why didn't I think of this when I was their age. It was so cute and Emma had such a great time. Every day there was a different theme:

Pirate Day

(Emma's best pirate face)

Carnival Day

Fiesta Day (they played "Freeze Dance" which is Emma's new favorite game!!)

Then Under the Sea Day and Swim Day.

Callie and McCall definitely earned their extra money having all of these cute, excited, bundles of energy. They did a wonderful job.

Swimming Lessons

She's become a little fish since swim lessons. Not for the life of me could I get here to put her face in the water. But not only will she go all the way under she went off the diving board!!! She was so proud of herself!

This is getting out of hand?!?!

The heat for some reason doesn't particularly bother Emma and Tal. They could be outside all afternoon as long as I've got water and popsicles!! So on one afternoon I gave it while Tal was sleeping and Emma and I went outside... just for a little while! The only shade that's close it under the deck, so we headed there to play a little baseball. As soon as we get down there we hear, "Tweet, tweet, tweet!" You've really got to be kidding me! Four new baby birds in one of the nests from before. At least they're not on me front door this time.

Missouri HOT!!!

When you wake up and your back door looks like this, you know it's going to be a hot one in Missouri!

We have our very own sauna. It's free and it's here most of the summer! This is what you get when it's 98 degrees with 100% humidity outside, and this was taken first thing in the morning. So what do we do on a day like this? We get wet!!!

This is how Emma thought she'd get me wet. She almost got me too... I just about sat down! What a tricky little thing she's turning out to be!

Butterfly kisses

It finally stopped raining the other day (giving the leaking into my basement a break....aaaagghhh) and so we went outside with Emma's butterfly net in hand. 

We looked and waited and finally we found one. She was so excited. It took a little convincing for her to hold it, but once she did she was amazed.

Tal really liked it too.

My Five:

1. Honest people

2. Fun learning moments from a little butterfly

3. Our little red wagon. Emma and Tal love riding in it together

4. Finding good deals. Our neighbor is moving and sold me some great toys for the kids. Walking into there house was like being in a toy store. 

5.  The good ideas I get for primary singing time. It's the best calling.

Matt's new toys!

Every once in a while Matt decides that he needs a new toy. I guess for every 10 we get for the kids he feels like he needs one too. So here he just as pleased as punch with on his new "mow lawner" (that's what Emma calls it. I love it, I don't have it in my heart to correct her. It makes me smile every time!!!) Very cool babes, and not at all Hoosier! It only took him 20 mins to mow our lawn instead of the 1 1/2 hours it used to take him with the push mower! I guess it's true, nothing runs like a deer!! Very impressive and the grass looked great (like always!)

Then as if that isn't cool enough he got one of these:

A few weeks ago there was a terrible storm that ripped through a small town in south central Missouri leaving trees and damage everywhere, and there was a call for help from surrounding stakes in the church. So one overcast Saturday a group from our ward headed out with Matt's mighty saw in hand. I was told that if it wouldn't have been for his heavy duty cutter that there is no way that they could of accomplished all that got done. Money well spent!! ;)

Apparently "The Saw" took care of this tree:

And this one (that's actually one of the members of our stake presidency way up there in the tree. Now that's leadership!) :

Can you just feel the power!

Our group that went. Good job gentleman!!

We are empty nesters!

Yep, it's true. Our cute little birdies flew the coop. But not without leaving us a gift to remember them by!

Gone Fishin'

Memorial Day weekend was a wet, soggy one this year, but we still did a little fishing in the lake behind Matt's parents house. Emma made sure she had her pink princess fishing pole and little purple chair because that's what "fisher-girls" need to go fishing. 

She was pretty sure she was going to catch something, and I have to admit, the only thing I thought she would catch is a bunch of seaweed that was floating in heaps around the edge. But she was persistent (not a new trait for her!!) and she actually ended up catching 2! Lucky Duck. She knew it all the long!

My Five:

1. A fun weekend. Although wet, it was fun, and relaxing with family, friends, and food. That's all ya need right (plus it was a much better then last year)!

2. My blog. It makes me so happy to look at these pictures and remember the stories!

3. Good neighbors.

4. Tal's starting to walk! With the way this kid eats, carrying him was beginning to take it's toll on my back.

5. And Matt! Cause he helped touch, catch, and TOUCH Emma's fish!

Emma's Pre-School Graduation

Now I know that some people may say, "It's only pre-school. Why do they need a graduation?" Well, you get the answer to that question as soon as you walk into one such event and see this:

Who wouldn't want to go to one of these? The kids are so dang cute, and they are so excited you're there. Such a fun little day! Good Job, Ems!

Emma and her cute friend Amanda

Miss Penny, Mr. Bill, Emma and Miss Karen 

Emma Leigh Coleman

Imagination Station Graduate 2009!

FLORIDA...

was AWESOME!! If you've never been, GO! It was the best trip ever. Emma thought she was in heaven, and it couldn't have been better for Tal because we were outside ALL day. Here are a few of my favs: 

  

There's more!!

It seems as though our house is quite popular with the birds. Frankly, I feel like we are running a birdie hotel. As fun as it is to see these little babies, I think it's time to hang out my "No Vacancy" sign and we'll be taking NO more reservations for this year. As cute as they are, they sure make a mess... if you know what I'm saying!

So, the babies from my previous post have all flown out of their nests, but when I went under our deck to check after we got home from Florida I discovered nest number two! As I looked a little closer I realized that 2 of them had fallen out of the nest. I thought, "You're mommy is going to be so sad," so I picked them both up, climbed the ladder and put them back in the nest where there were 2 more. All four had just barely, barely hatch and didn't have any feathers at all and there eyes were still closed. Yay! I saved the day! 

And since you all, I'm sure, want to know this it's not true that if you touch a baby bird that momma won't come back. I called a bird refuge place (yep, I did) and they said that the momma's really can't smell that well and they will come back and take care of their babies!! That makes sense right! Just because Tal stinks sometimes doesn't mean I'm going to fly off and not come back!! 

They were right! Mama came back and here they are all grown up and ready to fly away!

Our next guests were quite a surprise! My friend Cammie so nicely pointed them out after mama bird  about took her out as she was walking to our front door.

Do you like my wreath? Isn't it pretty? I made it myself!! 

I did not put this there! (I think it was added while we were in Florida)

Or these!
Or this!!!!!
Last year my problem was is the birds would sit in the middle of the wreath and poop down my door. Apparently I makes a nice place to have some babies too! Oh, boy. Although, these have been fun for Emma. Yesterday morning we checked them and 3 of them had hatched and had their beaks wide open waiting for momma and the fourth was pecking with his little beak through a little hole in his egg. SO CUTE!! Emma was dying. All four are here now, and I'm expecting more poop on my door very soon!