Boating

Taylor style...

See we McBrides are kind of wimpy novices when it comes to doing all the fun tricks you can do behind a boat.

I mean, we are pros at jumping in....."Cannon ball!"

We can do a dive or two...Swim like fish in the water...Pose like surfers...and front flip from the deck.Owen's only skill....pushing cute girls off the boat.But when we went out with the Taylors....it was on! Even their 18 mo. old Indie (is she not the cutest thing you've ever laid eyes on?) surfs with her dad!Oh, ya, no fear in her! She WANTS to touch the water!She's happy as a clam on that surf board!Her adorable, big sis, Liv....surfer girl too!Oh, and that's their mom, Sally, she's pretty much the pro. Can she do a 360? With ease and grace!So, Bob and Pay tried too.
They gave me some much needed tips on how to TRY to jump the wake!

Here's what that's supposed to look like.Even Miss Aves did a little surfing action, thanks to Brandon.

Sally was nice enough to play captain so I could take some pics.

Here's Bob enjoying a few waves!

Sally made surfing look so easy. I tried, I really did. There's no pics. Funny thing is, the ones of me didn't download. Bob doesn't believe me, but it's true...can't say I'm disapointed. I think it's a camera miracle, really.

Taylors.....thanks for giving us boating lessons 101. You guys were more than patient and helpful with our novice crew. We had such a fun day on the lake with you, mad-skilled, mega fun seekers!

Boating....Taylor style....we liked it!

Simply......"blankie"

This little snuggle bunny jumped up on my bed and begged and begged for her mama to let her sleep next to her all night long.Since her dad was out of town, I obliged. She's a goof ball, especially when doing her new favorite trick.....crossed-eyed, Avery! So, I snapped a few pics. of the little one being silly on my bed.
and then it occurred to me, I have never posted about "blankie", yes that's the simple name, long ago, she gave to that ball of material you see sitting in front of her.

That stringy thing looks a, down right, mess!Oh, but how she LOVES it! You see, Miss Avery J has slept with this "blankie" since the day she arrived home from the hospital, over 5 years ago.
It goes everywhere that Avery goes. I don't know that she could sleep a wink without it.Oh, and the wear and tear is treacherous, I know. One might think, "Geez...sew the little one a new "blankie."
Don't you worry....we have! Grandma McBride made her a perfectly, adorable new one. It's made with Avery's favorite bright colors and her favorite animal, a puppy dog, printed lovely all around.

Nope, she won't have anything to do with it. It sits folded nicely at the end of her bed, but "blankie" continues to be the one she snuggles and cuddles each and every night.

I don't know how much longer "blankie" will last....literally.

Good thing I cut off a perfect square a little while back, a keep-sake, so she'll always remember. Sweet dreams little Avery J.

I know how much you love that "blankie" of yours. I know, I know....because even though it's hard for you to imagine anyone loving anything more than you love that "blankie", this mama loves YOU more!

Impossible!

Pay is leaving tomorrow to go camping with Grandma and Grandpa and the fabulous McBride clan. She's been packed for over a week, and it is all she can think and talk about. All I can think about is how sad I am she is leaving me for three days and wondering how in the WORLD I am going to survive without her?! I mean, who is going to lead the kids in fun games like "Let's make a rock band?"

or house......their all-time favorite!
Or help with the babies at Roaring Springs...

Or chase the kids around the house, making sure they brush their teeth and get dressed for the day.

Or hold, swim with, and take care of the kids at the water park.

Or keep the kids busy with adventures like, lemonade stands.

or simple, fun, made-up games like this?Oh, and I really need to know, who are they going to crawl into bed and snuggle and sleep with?

Boy will I be missing my biggest girl. Who I rely on probably way more than I should. The one I thank the good Lord for sending me....every, single day.

I love ya, Pay.

I hope you know that YOU'RE the glue holding this mama together. I promise to try hard not to miss you too much and somehow get along without you, but I'm quite sure.....

It's going to be impossible!

On the Boat Again...

We just can't wait to get on the boat again.....

And so Bob was up at the crack of dawn mowing the lawn and getting things done so we could spend the entire day at the lake with the kids. He would have been finishing the Spudman tri. in Burley right about now, but he's been gone so much for work that he passed it up. I know that wasn't an easy decision for him, but I am grateful he's here because we missed him last week while he was in Nashville hanging at the Grand Ole' Opry!

So we're off to the lake enjoying our new boat. Our summer....pretty much booked. If you need us, you can find us at the lake. Come on up. We'de LOVE for you to join us!

Hands Down

The best money we ever spent was buying this Wal-Mart special pool. It occupies our days. Literally......

We've had one every summer since Payton was tall enough to touch the bottom, and every summer my kids swim, swim, and swim some more all day long in the pool. Their skin is tan, scaly and dry, but hey, I think they're happy. The proofs in the pics.

I'm telling ya, the best money we ever spent!

Hands Down!

Swim Team

Swim team has been a new adventure for us this summer. Our good friends, the Seversons, did it last summer and talked us into doing it with them. I didn't quite know if I wanted to drag my little one's rears out of bed every day for practice, but amazingly enough, they have been the ones dragging my rear out of bed. I have never once heard a complaint, whine, or a beg and plead to stay in bed and skip practice. That's a small miracle in this household of "love to sleepers!"

So, the first meet was crazy. There were soooo many people. It seemed like complete and utter chaos, and not to mention it lasted almost 5 hours! Avery swam her first race, won, had to swim it again due to a false start, got out of the pool, puked and cried herself to sleep. Hmmm.....I wondered what in the world I had gotten this 5 year old into.

Pay, she swam like a champ. Her form might have been ugly, but she pounded herself quickly through the water and took first in her heat. She was pretty excited,to say the least.

And just like that....week after week, swim team became a new part of our summer. The girls have loved it. They have made new friends, learned new strokes, and even won a few ribbons. It amazes me to see them grow, work so hard, and accomplish big things. I mean, I can't even swim. Sure I could get myself to the other side of the pool, but it would be a lot of dog paddling and swimming on my back. Bob can swim, but it wasn't until 6 months ago when he took lessons for his triathlon, that he knew himself.

So, already at 8 and 5 Pay and Avery are accomplishing much more than their folks, and we are enjoying cheering them to the finish of each and every race. It is good, and I hope they'll stick with swimming. The older I get the more I realize, "Life long sports are the ones to play!"

P.S. Thanks Nate and Emily, Karrie Jo, Beckham, Kalli, Grandpa and Grandma McBride and Jared for coming to their meets. We love you and appreciate your support!

P.S.S A funny sidenote.....just last week Pay's coaches realized that she and Avery were sisters. All this time....they had no idea. They look and act nothing alike! I thought that was pretty funny!

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Red Fish Lake 2009

We had such a fun weekend in Redfish Lake over the fourth. We enjoyed camping with friends, boating, biking and eating lots and lots of delicous food. Our site was right on the lake and the views were spectacular. Avery learned how to ride her bike, so that was quite the accomplishment. All was well, minus a little too much rain for my liking. Thank goodness for the camp trailer. Bob and I might have had one of our biggest arguments ever over purchasing that trailer, but like all his big purchases I drag my feet on making, I end up loving them in the end!

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