Perfect Summer Day!

We have GREAT neighbors! The Williams family traveled to Mexico Beach for the holiday weekend and left us the keys to their pontoon boat. With our newest neighbors, Brandi and Heath Eslinger and their three lovely girls, Brooke, Keely and Maddy; we went out for an adventure on the Tennessee River on Saturday, May 29th.
The day started with easy cruising and Kestrel adjusting to her new life-jacket. She was pretty into it...
and loved cruising with the wind in her hair...
Once Kestrel was settled and into cruising, our first stop was the Hunter Bluffs! The dads got out and climbed (Heath is a novice, but is really good!), the kids snacked and the moms took a jump into the river, which I was sure I wouldn't do but Brandi said I would be fine. I think she said something like, "I grew up swimming in the _____ creek and I don't have a growth coming out of my butt. You'll be fine." So, in I went and I loved it the minute I hit the water! Typical me.

We joked and said that Brooke was saying, "My daddy is better than your daddy."
After climbing for a little while, Heath took the kids for a little paddle in the Coleman inflatable. The current was a bit strong so the paddling was a bit of work. The kids didn't notice and had a great time!
We loaded everyone up in the boat and cruised down to Moccasin Bend. All of the kids relaxed and enjoyed the ride - including Happy the Horse.

Kestrel, being the baby, had enough fun and took a little siesta. I was surprised she slept as well as she did and when she woke up she was ready for more fun!
We couldn't resist redneck fun, so we loaded the kids up in the raft and towed them behind the boat. Layton was so funny with his arms out while surrounded by girls in the raft.
We couldn't tie the raft to the boat so Heath just held it as we went about 5 mph down the river.

We heard cries of, "Faster, faster!" but kept safety as #1. After all the fun, it was time to head home.
It really was the perfect summer day! We had 5 kids under the age of 5 and we stayed out on the river for almost 7 hours with no major meltdowns! We are so happy the Eslingers moved into Waterhaven and that our families mesh. I knew we would when I heard Heath say, "The trick to life is 'be nice and work hard', that's all there is to it." My thoughts exactly! This day will definitely go down in the memory books (or blog books) and we hope that there are more to come.

Layton Skywalker Turns Four!

On Saturday May 15, 2010, we celebrated young Skywalker turning four years old. It was a great day with lots of friends from the neighborhood, pre-party pool session, lots of sweet food and drinks, lots of presents and a huge 18-foot tall blow up, bouncy slide that Mom called "jump-jump". We had the slide for over 24 hours which meant that everyone got lots of time to slide and bounce on the massive structure. On Sunday (Layton's actual b-day), Layton, Chase and I had an excellent soaking wet session on the slide during a rainstorm that created some extra speedy and slippery laps. Thanks to everyone who came out for the party!

Priscilla — The Early Years

Since a majority of the Silly photos from the last set were taken in Tennessee over the last four years (post Layton's birth) Mel and I thought we should dig up a handful from her earlier days in New Mexico and Colorado (before her two knee surgeries). This is how we will remember her best — in top form — running crazily at high speeds through the woods chasing deer and squirrels, rolling in the grass, basking in the sun, digging nests in the shade, poking crotches, stealing food off the table, eating garbage, cat liter and cat food and hooooowling at any chance to sing.

Silly, bunny chicken, floppy chops, brown chicken and chooch were only a few of the names we called her over the last thirteen years. She was always there as an important part of our family providing a kind unconditional love only a dog owner can understand. She was the best dog ever and we will never forget her.

Rest in peace Silly,
The Laeser Institute