Cannonball Madness

Griffin had one very important goal for his summer.
He wanted to do a cannonball into the deep end of the pool.

Of course, he could barely swim.
After swimming lessons and
a lot coaching from mama and daddy,
he built up all of his nerve...

and jumped right in!

You should have heard us cheer
when he hit the water and then popped back up.

It's one big step toward
his growing independence.

We have to celebrate every little victory.
Especially the awesome huge splashy ones.

52 Weeks of Happiness :: Week 22

The other morning, we woke up and it was raining.
It rained and rained and rained.

By the time it stopped,
we were all tired of looking at each other
and had a bad case of the coops.

So, we strapped on some rain boots
and went on a hike in our neighborhood
to hunt for puddles and observe
the soggy world through binoculars.

We stomped through every single puddle
that we encountered.

It felt like an adventure.

Along the way, we stopped to search
for little wet birdies perched in their nests
or damp squirrels peeking
out from their little hidey holes.

Pretty much all we saw
were wet leaves and mud.

It was still fun to look.

There is something almost magical
about stepping out into the world
after a storm.

The smell of fresh rain is so sweet.

The humid air sticks to your skin.

The freedom of jumping in puddles
and not being scolded for getting soaked...
it's the stuff that childhood is made of.

I love sharing these simple moments
with my children.

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae172/leighbug_photo/stuff2/2875824415_abeaebc155_m-2-1-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />

Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

Winner : Marmaids Edition

We have a winner for this week's installment of Freakshow Friday. Please take note that my super hilarious and non biased best friend was the judge. Here are the top three in no particular order.

Karen Mortensen

The first pregnant merman.

Linda D.
The latest Mermaid Weight Loss Wrap -
guaranteed to help you use 5 inches -
seemed to work for everybody but Uncle Rodrigo.

Moooooog35
Well. There goes THAT fantasy.

and the winner is...
Karen Mortensen

The first pregnant merman.

Karen Mortensen
is the funniest blogger in all the land.
Please visit her blog
and marvel at this fantastic award she just earned!

Thanks to all the people who played.
Tune in this Friday for another installment of Freakshow Friday!

Freakshow Friday : Mermaids Edition

It's time for another installment of Freakshow Friday. Where I ask my readers to come up with a caption or story for a funny photo. My best friend will be the judge and she's one hilarious freakaziod. So, bring it! Here is this week's photo, I love this crew!

Uncle Ronnie tipped the scales.

You got a better one for me?

If so, you may just when this awesome award
and have bragging rights forever.
Oh...do I ever have an award for you!
You will win this brand spankin' new award!!

If you win then I'll link up to your
Blog and make a big deal
about how funny you are.
Simply leave your funny caption or story
in my comments section.

The winner will be announced on Monday.

The Rythym of Summer :: Week 9

Summer is in full swing
and in an effort to make sure
that I don't just plop my kids in front of the TV all day,
I am pulling out all the stops
to keep my children engaged and entertained.

I plan to document some of our
simple summer adventures here each week.

Here's we've done recently...

Wrote in our school summer journal.
(much to Griffin's chagrin)

Grabbed a bucket of soapy water
and a soppy sponge,
then "washed" our pretend bus.

Constructed amazing Lego fighting ships.

Dug a hole for no reason.



Built an amazing fort
out of an easel turned on it's side ,
a slide used for a door, a wicker basket,
and Mama's fancy blanket.



Played on our swing set,
because sometimes the greatest adventures
can be found right in your own back yard!

First Day of School Freak Outs!

Okay, you mamas, it's coming:

the first day of school for your child.


How are you planning to handle it?
Do your kids freak out?
Do you freak out?

Please click here to read the article
and join the discussion by
leaving a comment over at Athens Patch.

The Stay at Home Mom Chronicles : Going to the Polls

My days around here seem to run together.

Ordinary moments unfold around me daily
and I need to stop and relish in them.
One day, my boys will be out living life
and I will miss these everyday experiences.

So, I am taking the time to document
the simple moments that pass between us.
I'm calling this little collection of memories...



I really love taking
Griffin with me to the polls when I vote.



So many great conversations
unfold in the car
as we drive to the Elementary School where mama votes.

We talk about our democracy,
how our government works,
and how lucky we are that
Americans get a say in who governs.

He always listens very intently.



I love that he watches me fill out the form,
proudly hand them my ID to get my ballot,
and that he stands beside me (quietly)
while I cast my vote.

I love that he gets this awesome sticker.

I hope that the memories of going
to the polls with his mama
will instill a social awareness in him.

That he will feel honored when he is a man
and exercises his right to vote.

I cherish these real life teaching moments.