I took the kids to Crown Center last Tuesday so that we could enjoy the fountains and Clifford display that is on.

The kids loved the Clifford display despite that there were about 100 kids there.  Samantha especially enjoyed being the postman and delivering everyone's mail.  Blake's favorite part was going down the slide on Clifford's tail.

After playing in the fountains we picked up Sheridans as a treat.

This past weekend we made a short trip to Great Bend.  Travis and Blake got their hair cut.  Travis' classmate Dave does a great job, in fact I think it's Blake's best haircut.

We spent Sabbath at the lake with Travis's family.  There aren't many pictures because I didn't want to get our camera wet.  The kids loved their boat rides from Uncle Jimmy and Todd.  Uncle Jimmy let each kid drive the boat.  In the afternoon we played in the water. There was this great little playground next to where some were camping.

Samantha has fallen in love with books on CD.  They help her quiet time go by so much faster.

It seems the older the kids get the farther apart their accomplishments or perhaps they are learning so many little things we just don't take note of them all.

Samantha had a big week last week.  She learned to skip.  She loves skipping now and practices when she can.

Swimming lessons are going so well and we are very proud of the progress she's made.  She can now put her head all the way under the water.  It's a big step considering this winter she didn't want to get water on her eyes.

The first day of swimming lessons I sat quite close to the pool so I could watch her.  The second day she asked me to sit farther away-at the opposite end of the pool.   She didn't want me anywhere near her.

While in the bath last week Blake slipped and went under the water.  Sometime along the way Samantha must have gone under the water to because when I was drying Blake off Samantha declared that they didn't have to be baptized now because they already had been:)

Blake is saying BIG sentences now.  His vocabulary is quite large and figures things out quite easily.  He's pretty much mastered his phonetic sounds of the alphabet and listens to everything we teach Samantha.  It's amazing what those little ears pick up!

All ready for church...

They love to play outside...

We were happy to see BeBe and Papa again.  We asked them to come down and watch the kids so that Travis and I could celebrate our 10th anniversary.

They came in late Thursday night which gave us all day Friday to spend together.  My mom and I took Blake with us shopping in the morning.  Samantha wanted to stay with her Papa.  When BeBe called Papa he said that they were at the park.  They had rode/walked quite a ways and when we picked them up Samantha was one tired girl!

Friday my mom and I sliced and bagged 3 rolls of veggie lunch meat that I had bought at campmeeting.  My mom had picked up a slicer and special bagger that made the process go so smoothly and look professional.  I am thrilled and thankful for her thoughtfulness.

Sabbath we stayed for potluck at our church then spent time together in the afternoon.  The kids enjoyed playing with BeBe and Papa Saturday night while we were gone.  I am pretty sure they got to stay up late and catch fireflies.

Sunday we took the kids to the park after getting back and attempted to go to the fireworks but because of rain we were sure there wasn't going to be any.  We were wrong and had disappointed kids but oh well.

Hope everyone enjoyed the 4th.  I loved having my parents here, I always enjoy their company and seeing them play with the kids.

Here is Samantha counting by 10's for you...




Here is Blake counting to 11. He counted to 13 a couple of days before but I think 11 is great to...