A few things

Brett likes to scream.  He does it out of excitement, but it's REALLY loud and high pitched.  

Grant is a really great helper.  And he's proud of himself for it. 

Ice cream can be really messy...

...and it's best shared with a brother.

Grant's Swim Lessons

Due to some technical difficulties with our computer I haven't been able to download the pictures from our camera.  Keith came to the rescue last night and now I have my pictures from July!  

Here's Grant at his swimming lessons at our local pool.  I started teaching him earlier in the summer, but it was too hard to get to the pool without Brett in tow so that we could have one on one time.  Plus, Grant got to the point where he needed a teacher that wasn't Mom, so that maybe he would be braver and listen better.  I will say that his kicking skills are much better now and he's starting to try to use his arms.  He loves to swim around under water and I'm hoping that with more practice he'll learn to come up for a breath now and then while he's swimming.

He loved his teacher from his first session of lessons.  The kids called her Ms. Mickey.

While Grant was waiting for his turn, he'd often be watching the water in the drain around the pool.

One day Grandma Jackson came to watch a lesson and we got to go swimming at her house afterwards.

Grant and Brett's hair got sooooo blonde this summer.  A couple weeks ago we buzzed their hair and I seriously had to hold back tears.  Hopefully it'll grow back fast so it can go blonde in the sun again before summer's over.

from around the house

We picked some apples last week from my parent's friend's tree.  We still need to do something with them all.  I think an apple crisp will be in order for dessert tonight.

 Grant entertains me with a puppet show.

Because it's too hot to run around outside, Grant has me put on "basketball music" and he and Brett run around the outer edge of the family room super fast.  See the umbrella too?  I brought that inside as a dust storm swept through our area last night.  Too bad it was HOT wind.  And see the trampoline?  That's how I get my cardio in.  And see the new draperies?  

Here's a better view of the draperies.  We love them.  I love the color and interest they add to the room.

And I love how they make the fireplace scream, "Remodel me NOW!!"  I'm not sure where on our list that project falls, but I'm thinking it should get bumped up to first or second place.  :)