The big swim meet

At our swim club, there is tiger sharks  (which is the swim team with swim meets) while mini sharks is a start out program to get the kids  used to swimming laps and work on the basics of the strokes. Usually kids do mini sharks for 2 years before doing tiger sharks and it is a great into program.

Ella and Laney were in mini sharks with 3 of their friends. The kids are divided into groups with 5-6 kids in a lane and Andrew D. was in the girls' lane. They loved having a buddy :)

After a month of practice, there was a "meet." Those in their group swam against each other and everybody got a ribbon. The coaches swam in the pool with them and held a noodle for those that got tired or needed an extra help.

Ella and her friends all ready to go. 

Laney and Sarah Cooper

First up, free style.

Andrew, Laney and Ella jump in....and they are off!

The girls were swimming so hard

Next up, backstroke

Laney was working so hard and focusing on each stroke

My little perfectionist, Ella, getting the movements down

The next race..the long awaited horsey race. 

But Laney was more focused on smiling at the camera :)

The girls finished neck and neck...it was a photo finish :)

Showing off their new ribbons

While Matthew was asking to be in mini sharks too :)

I'm ready Mom!

Who doesn't love a medal?

I am so proud of the improvement in their swimming. Both girls are well on their way to swimming a full lap :)

The Indy Children's Museum

What is this...a post?

Life has been so fun (yet so crazy) the past month. We have loved pool time, VBS, art camps, play dates and all of the joys of summer. My AdvoCare business is booming, which I am incredibly blessed and happy about, but something had to give...and since my kids continue to want meals, the blog will be sacrificed :) I will try and post every so often but I doubt it will be more than once every few weeks. I know, aren't you bummed? LOL

About 3 weeks ago, my friend, Jody, and I loaded up my van with our 6 kids. Yes, 6 kids. We met one of my friends from Indy and her 3 kids for lunch before hitting the Children's Museum. Jody and I are all about changing up the routine and the museum was just what we needed. In fact, Jason and I decided to get a pass and are headed back 2 more times in the next month. I think I am going there more now than when we lived there :)

My kids were excited to show the Duckwalls around

The boys were right at home

Matthew loves, loves, loves William.

I think Matthew likes feeling like he is bigger than someone :)

I get by with a little help from my friend

Max was digging away

While William needed a break :)

The cutest scuba diver, right?

The girls saw dress up and they were all over this.

Always a crowd favorite...the glass exhibit while sitting on the move couch.

Jody, Max and myself

The moment we were most excited about! 

HOT WHEELS!

Andrew and Max

This was the coolest tunnel ever...hot wheels all lined up while lights flickered.

Matthew was in love!

Although he doesn't look especially thrilled here, he asked for this car!

Ok, only one person looks happy in this picture. Thank you for cooperating, Andrew!

What?? My girls got along??

I must buy them a pretend motorcycle!

Another day, another fun car.

Since we call Laney, Laney bug, this was too perfect :)

I had the toughest time getting a picture of Matthew because he was running around with such excitement.

He would put the car down, run, go get it and repeat. It was awesome, It made him so happy, I am thinking we might need some Hot Wheel tracks :)

See? Happy :)

Andrew driving us to the next exhibit

So on our way to the museum, Ella cried because we said we were going to the playscape area. When we got there, she cried because she read the sign that said 5 or younger and she wasn't allowed to go it. Really? After we reread the sign, we noticed she can go in if she helps her siblings. Ella was a huge help with Matthew and loved this motherly roll :)

With the Egypt exhibit came music time.

I bet my kids stayed there for 30 minutes banging the drums :)

What a great road trip!

Um, don't let your license expire

We had been here over a year and my license was about to expire. So on my birthday, I thought I would go (that's when it was expiring). But the branches were all closed on Mondays...who knew?

So I went in Tuesday thinking I would just take the written test and pay a fine.

But since it expired and it was out of state, I had to take the driving test and the written test. And since my license was expired I had to have a licensed passenger with me at all times when driving my own kids. No joke! I had friends ride along with me when taking our kids places.

Luckily I got in to take the drivers test in under a week but I still had to take the cone part of the test with my mini van!

I got points deducted for stopping in the cone area and for making too sharp of a left turn. I tried to become buddies with examiner but she wasn't having it. But no worries, I passed and was excited to get my new license. What a riot!