Lazers Swim Team

We love our local pool- it's so fun to go up there and swim with the kids. 

We have lots of family friends to visit with and enjoy summer time.

Maddie is on the Lazers swim team this year! Here she is at her first time trials. As I was driving her there at 7:30am Saturday she said, "Mom, why are we doing this again?!" Me: "Because it's fun!"

Coach Ashley is the BEST. The kids adore her, she knows her swim stuff, and she's so encouraging!

I love watching the kids waiting for their event. So adorable.

Maddie swam a 25 free, 25 breast, and 25 back. I was so proud of her!

She did so great! She's the one closest to me.

Savannah is a Little Lazer. Here she is learning to float on her back with Tessa!

Outings with Papa and Mimi

 Once Jesse and I got back, we had a few days with my parents and enjoyed some DC touristy adventures. Yes, my mom rode in the trunk to the pool for swim team!

  We went to Union Station to catch the DC Duck Tours one day. On the walk there, the girls got a kick out of how the air came up out of the subway!

 I love her smiles!

My fashion girl.

We started out learning some pretty interesting facts driving through DC.

 

Then the bus went right in the Potomac River! 

The girls had a blast quacking their duck calls as we floated down the river.

Look at our driver!

 After swim practice we ate dinner outside. These two snuggle girls.

 And had a fire.

  Papa kept the fire going while Mimi read.

 Chillin' out in Fairfax...

 Shake time!

Maddie reading to Mimi.

 

 On another day we took the paddle boats into the Tidal Basin.

What a fun crew!

 Thanks for coming Papa and Mimi! We miss you.

Thanks Mom and Dad

While Jesse and I were enjoying ourselves in the Caribbean, my parents were being amazing grandparents to the girls.

 Highlights from their time together was going to the pool, park, movie theatre, playing pretend, slumber parties, baking, and reading books. Whew! Sounds like everyone was busy!

 Maddie showed Papa how she cleans the hamster cage- 

it's all her responsibility and she does a great job!

Papa also put the girls to work in the back yard. They cleaned all the tables, chairs, and deck. 

  Then they enjoyed lunch al fresco.

 While they were working hard, I was, well...not.

One of my favorite things there was doing laps in the water! Ah. It was truly amazing.

 Jesse and I were able to read some excellent books and discuss them during our getaway. I read An Infinite Journey (book about sanctification) and another one called Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full (great book for moms). Both were great reads. Jesse read The Evangelistic Zeal of George Whitfield and a biography about Eric Liddell.

 So relaxing. 

Loved being with this guy. 

Happy Father's Day!

We celebrated Father's Day a week early (since my dad was here last week).

We went our for brunch as a family last Sunday. We had a great time together.

Love the hats- the girls dressed themselves!

 When we got home, the girls gave both my dad and Jesse the same gift.

 This year the girls and I did a Bible study of God's names. At the beginning of the year, they painted a sunrise on canvas, then throughout the year they added God's names as we learned about them.

Of course, God is is our perfect Heavenly Father. We worship Him and are ever grateful for His kindness and love for His children. I'm also so thankful that my dad and my husband are both fathers that follow God's Word and serve Him with their lives. What a blessing!

St. Martin

What a joy is it to be married to my best friend! These past 10 years have been full, and God has been faithful each step of the way. As we thought back to how the Lord brought us together, the friends He's provided, churches, family, ministry, lessons we've learned; Jesse and I can only be thankful. 

We celebrated by taking our first trip just the two of us since having kids!

 We loved this island! One thing we enjoyed is that it is made up of two countries/cultures- French and Dutch. Here we are having gelato on the Dutch side.

 We had a great day walking and shopping in Philipsburg. 

 The sunsets were amazing! It was even more amazing that we could sit long enough to watch it and have several conversations (this would never happen at home :).

 We stayed at the Grand Case Hotel- this the beach was so beautiful! 

 We enjoyed snorkeling every day! There were beautiful fish, sting rays, crabs, and coral.

The water was the perfect temperature.

 We took a drive to Maragot (the French side) for a little shopping, lunch, and a walk up to a fort.

 I think there were about 100 steps.

 Here's the view from the top!

 We stayed walking distance from the French restaurants. It was so unusual to eat out every night and enjoy a quiet meal! I think we ordered fish every time!

 The next day we took a 20 minute boat trip to Anguilla. 

 This is a British island, so we had to bring our passports.

 After a little tour of the 2x16 mile island, 

we enjoyed the rest of the day on one of the world's top 10 beaches...

 I think we could have just stayed there forever!

More to come...

It's Been A While...

Life has been super busy, so I haven't had time to update the blog- 

sorry to the 4 grandparents that check it regularly :)

A few weeks ago we had Clint Archer (from South Africa) come visit for a while. What a fun time we had talking, sightseeing, eating, shopping, and doing life with him. Clint has been friends with Jesse and I before we even met. Clint definitely played a big part in Jesse and I getting together :) 

So, we like Clint.

 

Our church put on the Foundry Conference where Jesse, Clint, Austin, and Jordan spoke. 

Here's a link to the messages if you want to download.

   While the guys were busy with the conference, the girls and I had fun times together. 

Maddie read the Puffin book (from Grandma) to the little dragon!

 We watched a helicopter land at ICS- pretty cool!

We got to take a trip to Six Flags with friends for the day.

We had a Grill and Chill at the Cowles house and swim team started for the summer!

Then Papa and Mimi arrived and the real party started!

Dancing in the street (well there was an outdoor concert).

Jesse and I went on our 10 year anniversary trip to St. Martin- more about that another time.

And the girls stayed home babysitting Papa and Mimi :)

Actually, Papa and Mimi were the best at making the time fun and meaningful with the girls while we were away. Thanks so much!