Summer 2010 Through Rachel's Eyes

Our sweet Rachel. What an amazing summer she has had. It's been a fun summer for our girl. She is getting ready to start Kindergarten in a week and we thought it was time for her to have a big-girl summer!

And boy did she...

She started the summer at the beach. Rachel is such a soft-spirit. She LOVES the ocean, mostly because she thinks that she should be a mermaid. She often asks me why God made her a human and not a mermaid. I have to explain to her that if she were a mermaid, then she wouldn't be able to live with mommy and daddy because we aren't mermaids. So, instead, she now asks if we can be a mermaid in Heaven. I don't have an answer for that one...maybe, I tell her! But, we better practice swimming so that when she gets to Heaven she'll be ready!With that, we have been practicing swimming a LOT. Rachel really loves to swim and she is finally getting the hang of it. She is now swimming without her floaties in the shallow end. We are still working on getting her strong enough to maintain herself above the water in the deep end.

We decided to do two different camps this summer so that we can decide what to do this fall. We didn't want to invest in a semester of classes only to find she doesn't like it. The first week long camp she did was gymnastics. This may be her thing, aside from being a mermaid. She was really good and graceful.
In between camps, Rachel did some skating...

...and participated in Safety Town. She was so cute, following all the traffic laws. And now she asks us so many traffic related questions while we are driving...she is really soaking in her environment. And, of course, she tells us everything she knows about the traffic laws!

Safety Town graduate!!

The second camp she did was a dance camp...and obviously, they worked her hard!!!

At the end of the week, they did a cute little performance. Here she is afterward...

With daddy...

...and with Nana!

Rachel was also blessed to spend the summer with some of her cousins! She was able to have some great bonding moments with her newest cousin, Alexandra. Sweet girls...

...and spending some time with Alexandra's brother, Zachary! They had the best time...

We also got to have cousin Halle spend the night one weekend. Boy, we need to do that more often, the girls had SOOO much fun. Aren't they beautiful!?!

What a fun summer! Now, off to Kindergarten...such a big girl! We love you!!

The Many Faces of Cooper!!

How can one kid have so many expressions?? Ahhh, the many faces of Cooper Samuel...we love them all!!!

Mischievous Cooper...not sure what he's up to!? He's not quite sure what to think here...he likes the water...it's a bit cold...doesn't want Nana to let him go...
Sneezy, Cooper...

Jealous Coops...doesn't want me loving on Alexandra in the background!

This is hungry Coops...begging for some food, daddy!!!

Happy boy, learning to pull up! He's SOOO excited!

Super happy Cooper...he thinks the world is so funny!!

Sleepy, Coops...

Sweet Coops...gotta love him!!

God knows it's July...

Funny Rachel-isms:

"It can't rain, doesn't God know it's July."
--In reference to the rain on Fourth of July.

"Dad, did you always want me?"
dad - "yes"
"Because you knew I was going to be a good colorer?"
dad - "that's one of the reasons"

"Dad, what color is this?"
dad - "violet red"
"I was thinking it was violet red."

The Last Month...

So, the past month has been full and busy. Here is a month of pictures in no particular order since this crazy blog is NOT picture-user friendly!

Rachel and Daddy, jumping waves in Florida! Eric and Zachary playing on the beach!
Nana and Cooper!!

Uncle Chad and Rachel dancing at the reception...Zachary, in his dazed-dance trance!

Aunt Jamie and Rachel.

Cooper on the beach...

Eric, Rachel and Zachary ready for the beach!

Eric, Rachel and Halle skating over Father's Day weekend!

Rachel and Nathan doing the hi-bars in gymnastics camp!

Sweet Cooper!

Rachel with Nana and Papa on the plane!

Andrew and his 3 month old, Alexandra.

Chad and Jamie on the beach. So pretty!! All of the "Jennings" clan!!

Chad, Jamie, Mom, Dad, Alexandra, Cooper, Samantha, Eric, Brooks, Rachel, Zachary, Lee and Andrew!

Tornado Damage...at the Parents!

The tornadoes of last week touched down at my parents!! Dad was home and looked out the back window with just enough time to see the tornado across the valley and coming right toward the house. Luckily, the tornado lifted up right as it hit the yard, as best as we can tell. My parents yard and trees were horribly damaged, but thankfully the house and most importantly, Dad were spared!!! The house had minor damage as you can see from the picture below where Dad is holding the chimney topper!!!

Over the past week we have spent many hours outside cleaning up tree debris and after four days, still haven't even made it to the back yard. The tree pros will have to do that. But, what a blessing that Chad came in from Phoenix. In addition, Dan and Whitney came over two days worth and did tons of cleaning up!!! Also, aunt Gloria came down to watch the kids so Brooks and I could help. But, as you can see, Rachel and Eric did have some chances to help!! You wouldn't believe how many questions Eric had for Uncle Chad! He was a good sport and Eric found a good friend in him!! THANKS to everyone!!!!

These helicopters have been flying back and forth all week. You know it's serious when the military choppers are up and about. We also saw the news choppers multiple times!!

Sweet trees...

In the neighborhood across the valley the damage is much worse...

Look how the trees just snapped!!

Check out the crack in Perfect Swing's roof...not sure if they will be back in business??

Sweet Cooper...we got home each night WAY past bedtime and poor Coop just couldn't take it any longer!!! He mde it half-way through his bottle and crashed!!!

Happy Mother's Day!! Touch a Truck!!! Cousin Lucy, too!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's in my life (a little late)!! Here is my crew in bed with me and the yummy chocolate fondue and fruit breakfast they made me!! I have it so good!! Oh, and somewhere in these past few weeks Cooper turned 8 months!! Wow...what a big boy!!

So, in addition to all the tornado excitement and Mother's Day, we also had some great activities!! The kids went to the local fairgrounds to "touch a truck" day. They got to climb in all the trucks and blow all the horns!! The two big kids LOVED it. Cooper, not so much. All the horns and sirens were a bit too much for him!!

My cousin Kelley came to visit for a few days with her new baby girl, Lucy. She is SO precious and my kids LOVED having her here!!! Lucy is such a good baby and you can't argue with how cute she is!!