ACE Skills Camp...

We have officially kicked off our 5th cheer season...hit the road Friday afternoon for a night in Birmingham before an all day skills camp on Saturday.

This all the sudden big girl of ours ready for her day of camp...

We love, love, love our Coach Katie!  

We had to divide and conquer.  Anna Lauren needed to be in Birmingham and Matt's sister was having a birthday party in New Orleans.  So...Anna Lauren and I did Birmingham, Matt did New Orleans, and Cooper went to Nanna's.  Therefore, we traveled with these two ladies and their daughters.  And maybe just maybe I talked them into exercising Saturday morning.

But really...who doesn't want to exercise when it is a trail through the woods of creeks, streams, etc.  It was such a fun morning!

Youth 2 Desperados...this year is going to be a little different, but we are excited about it!  Anna Lauren's squad from last year pretty much go split down the middle.  So...this is the year for us to make new friends and Anna Lauren's turn to shine and be a leader.  She's happy so we are happy!

And Coach Katie is actually taller than the back row this year...you couldn't even see her last year because she blended right in with the girls.

Still smiles after being at camp ALL day...

Our "travel group" for this quick little trip...

Splits, splits, and more splits...

Matt is by far my first pick for traveling, but since he couldn't go, we made the best of it and really did have a fun girls getaway.

Swim Meet #2...

Last week Anna Lauren's swim meet got cancelled shortly after we got to the pool due to weather.  She has really enjoyed swim this summer and was sad it got cancelled.  So...she was really ready to have her meet this week.  Because...the meets are the fun part, right?  The actual "competition" is always more fun than practice!

She got to swim in the freestyle relay (50 yards), the 50 yard freestyle, the medley relay (she swam freestyle 50 yards), the 25 yard backstroke, and the 25 yard butterfly.  She was really excited to get to do two relays...but...she was for sure tired at the end.

We are super proud of her for taking on a new adventure this summer!!!   Matt and I are fine with her cheering, but we have for sure enjoyed swim this summer.  Just fun to watch them do anything that is "fun" to them...

Annual Boys Fishing Trip...

Sharing old stories, telling new stories, and making memories that will last a lifetime...

Thankful Matt got to escape the "dad life" and spend four days with the guys who became his best friends 20 years ago on a football field.  So neat that they all went different ways but can still come together once a year and act just the way they did 20 years ago (now that may be the scary part...boys will always be boys).

Father's Day Fun...

Anna Lauren is always super excited about anything that is a project or craft of some sort.  So...she got busy Saturday night and Sunday morning preparing for Daddy to arrive home from his fishing trip on Father's Day.  She said it sure is much easier to do things for Daddy when he is out of town and you are not having to sneak around.  She has a point...ha ha!

This was kind of a "last minute" thought Sunday morning, but they made a sign to hang on the garage door...

Anna Lauren likes to come up with fun/creative things to do...so...we had discussed Father's Day all week and landed on this idea.  Each kid would put things they like about daddy inside of a balloon...then he would have to pop all the balloons and read them. We ended up with 28 balloons that Anna Lauren and Cooper put all over the house.

Some of the balloons were in obvious places...

And some of them had to be found.  As a matter of fact, we still cannot find one of them.

Anna Lauren walked into the kitchen and she had made this banner...didn't ask for any help...just did it all on her own.  I thought it turned out really cute...we may just leave it up all week.

Daddy arrived home around lunch time...one little boy was beyond excited to see him!

Daddy is the fun one so they were missing their play mate 
for sure!!!

Cooper didn't let Daddy even take a breath before he had him popping his balloons...

Oh my gosh...love Cooper's shadow on the wall...

Rather he was excited or not, he looked excited...a new grill (we just couldn't pick out what he wants)...

High fives for a new grill...

Cooper's favorite things about Daddy...written just the way he said them.

Sam's favorite things...

And Anna Lauren's favorites...

Hopefully he will actually go pick out a grill soon because he sure has been complaining about needing a new one.

They may not realize it now, but one day, these three will realize just how lucky they are.  Don't think you could find any better to call their Daddy!

Just a normal picture doesn't seem "fitting" for Matt...one thing for sure, it is always an "adventure" with him, and we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.  He loves life and makes sure every single day is fun for our family!

Happy Father's Day, Matt!!!  We love you!!!