July 31, 2012

We made it to the Beach!!!

Ocean City, look out the Phillips' are here.

July 30, 2012

Love this shot of Magpie playing Frisbee with Clay.

July 29, 2012

Doesn't this look like it belongs on the wall of a restaurant?

These are the peppers from Clay's Garden...Beautiful.

July 28, 2012

Today we went to Gettysburg.  

I love History, but it is still sad to think what happened there.

Good thing Sethy was there, he always makes me smile!

July 27, 2012

Love living this close to the National Mall...

We need to go more often.

July 26, 2012

I got to borrow my sister's underwater camera. 

I love how he is blowing bubbles out of his nose.

July 25, 2012

The Boys

Tonight was the Swim Team Year End Party.

It was a blast, as usual.

July 24, 2012

Jake, Ethan, Seth & Sam

We went to Luray Caverns.  Laura, the boys and I went through their Maze. 

Sam, Jake and my boys found the hidden fountain first, but luckily 

Laura and I made it to the overlook just in time to snap this picture of them.  

July 23, 2012

Today we went to the fair.  

I loved that the fire truck had the Flag for the National Anthem.

July 22, 2012

We have just a *tad* bit of Lego's in our house.

Believe it or not there are 5 binders, today was the day the 

stray instructions got sorted back into their proper binder. 

July 21, 2012

Bittersweet day: the last swim meet of the summer.

Divisionals were kind to the Phillips family this year.

Seth got 12th place for freestyle and 11th for Backstroke.

(I don't think there is a need to point out that there were only 12 and 11 kids in the events.

Also, no need to point out the backstroke took him a whopping 1:57.28 and 

I swear he was moving an inch at a time!)

Magdalena got 11th place for her backstroke.

Ethan had a tiny issue with freestyle...no goggles- so he swam it with his eyes closed.

Let me just tell you it was memorable.  I think that was the only time I told him to keep his head up for freestyle EVER!  

And as you can tell from his wonderful picture, he was the only able to pull off the Phillips Family 

Heat Ribbon Challenge.   On the way to the meet Clay promised a small Lego Set to anyone who got a heat ribbon.  I guess Ethan couldn't resist a new Lego set.
The winning time 39.32, a record best for Ethan!

(42.07 was his fastest time before today.)

Way to go Magdalena, Ethan and Seth, 

we are so proud of you all!

July 20, 2012

Hands down, my favorite part of the swim year.

They get an old swim cap and stretch it and then set the little ones in.

This cap eventually had 7 Little Sailfish in it!

Then they got out and Coach Tim got in it.

Hard to say the swim cap doesn't fit after this.  

July 19, 2012

It was so hot at the Mini Meet at Spring Lakes, 

Ethan found a tiny bit of shade under the lifeguard stand and stayed there.

July 18, 2012

Angela thinks she is a Lego evidently.

Either that or she thought the kids wouldn't see her in the Lego bin.

July 17, 2012

My monthly card challenge is once again complete.  

The consensus is the top two look better. :-)

July 16, 2012

The curse has been lifted.

Finally after 11 years combined summer swimming, 

a Phillips has *finally* won Swimmer of the Week!

Sethy just started swimming across the pool on July 3, so the last week he swam in 
2 big meets and a Mini Meet.  I am shocked at how good he is doing- 
especially since I tried to bribe him across the pool the week before.  
I guess he just wanted to do it in his time.

Way to go Seth, we are so proud of your accomplishment! 

July 15, 2012

Clay got a Bi-Plane ride as a reward from work. 

We went to the Flying Circus Airshow to redeem it. 

As he got his tickets he asked if anyone wanted to go with...

and of course Seth volunteered.  

This is the two of them getting ready to go in the plane.

July 14, 2012

I love how Magdalena was waiting with Sethy for his backstroke heat.

She was really looking out for him.  She even gave him her jacket right after 

I snapped this picture of them.

July 13, 2012

Continuing the Swimming theme:  He has a look of pure Joy at getting his ribbons and medal today.

July 12, 2012

Sethy swimming at the Mini Meet today.

He did a great job!

July 11, 2012

Our Pirate Themed Meet

It was a great meet!  Sethy swam for the first time in a *real* meet!

I told him not to warm up, because I wasn't sure he had more than 1 lap in him.

Of course he didn't listen to me and did it anyway.  I went to tell him to get out, because A. I was a nervous mom and B. they were doing backstroke- which I didn't think he could do.

Seth looked at me and said he could do it...and proceeded to swim backstroke across the pool.

Proving once again, I have no idea what I am talking about!

July 10, 2012

Magdalena and Kitty Girl- two sweethearts! 

July 9, 2012

I visited my Troops Brick at the library today.

You'll be glad to hear it is still there. 

July 8, 2012

Bed Time Tuck-ins!

I really need to embrace the bed time tuck-ins with Magdalena while she still looks forward to them!

I can't believe how grown up she is already!!!

June 7, 2012

We wanted to go canoeing last summer, but we never made it.

We were originally going to go tomorrow, but the forecast called for scattered thunderstorms, so we went today instead.  Even though the temperature was in triple digits, it was the perfect day.

We drove to Shenandoah River Outfitters in Lurray, VA.  

It was a great time, once we figured out that Magdalena and I could not paddle in the same boat.  I spent the first part of the trip being yelled at by my 11 yo that I was doing it wrong.  I ended up in my own canoe for awhile after that and realized it was definitely easier to do it by myself- no wonder Clay wants a kayak!  Most of the trip I spent with Seth in my canoe and Maggie and Ethan joined us every now and then.  Seth just kept wanting to jump in the river and had a grand time just floating in his life vest while the other three caught up to us.

It was a great time!

June 6, 2012

My little Raccoon!

So now I know why we never stay past 11am!  

Poor Magpie looks like a raccoon.

July 5, 2012

Ethan was in a really silly mood today.

He stole my summer hat and put it on his head, 

"Hey, look!  It's me in my sombrero."

I love it when he is happy!!!

And for the record, he picked this to be the picture of the day, 

it could have been Seth and Coach Lincoln.  ;-)

June 4, 2012

The family waiting for the fireworks at Ida Lee.

June 3, 2012

Story Time snuggles.

Clay is reading them The Hobbit at night.

June 2, 2012

I think Kitty Girl is channeling Gene Simmons today.

Do you agree?

July 1, 2012

Tonight the boys were reading their books under the stars.  

I think Ethan looks like a born reader in this picture, I just hope it gets easier for him.

I didn't get Seth's picture because he was reading on my lap. ;-)