These Boots Were Made For Walking....

And apparently playing T-Ball, and going to Tumbling! These hand-me-down boots from cousin Logan are a BIG hit at our house! Everytime I turn around someone is wearing them....and sometimes to the most outrageous places! When Chub wore them to his T-Ball game I heard him say at the house that he was going to wear his "speedy shoes". I didn't realize until we were at the park that he meant his cowboy boots! They have been fun and sometimes exasperating to have around!

Silly Sally

Just felt like smiling.... You're awesome Ladybug, I love you!

It's a LONG way down......

There are so many things that I want to post about this week but one particular event really stands out in my mind. So, the others will have to wait for another day.
Yesterday Tiny Man and I had quite an experience together with a group of about 100 strangers at the North Shore Pool. We have been there a few times this year and he has always wanted to go off of the high dive. I have allowed this but he just has never been able to bring himself to do it. I have seen him countless times from afar wait in line, climb the ladder and walk to the end of the diving board only to turn around and climb back off unsuccessful. Well, yesterday we had the opportunity to have Nate attend the pool with us. Nate came and found me and told me that Tiny Man had wanted me to go to the big pool to watch him jump off the high dive. Thinking that he had already done it I grabbed the camera and headed over. I saw that he was already in line, we made eye contact, smiled and I waited with him for his turn. Once I saw him climbing up the stairs I positioned the camera for the big moment. I snapped off a picture of him walking on the board thinking it would go quick.
Once he reached the end he hesitated. I started cheering for him and encouraging him to jump. He waited. I snapped another picture to show what I thought was just a momentary hesitation.
My cheering must have come to some of the crowds attention. I got a little bit of motherly nervousness for him as the crowd started to take notice and yell things out. Some of it was from less sensitive kids telling him to jump or get off, others were far more encouraging.
As I cheered and tried to give him words of encouragement I saw a variety of emotions play across his face. I told him to just look at me and not down as he stepped off. I saw his eyes close in an attempt to be brave in front of the crowd.
As the minutes ticked by the crowd became more and more aware of my Tiny Man's inner struggle. I was becoming increasingly concerned with how they might react to my little boy. I prayed inwardly that they would remain kind and positive towards him.
As he struggled to pull together the courage to jump I heard a variety of reactions in the crowd. I could still hear those irritatingly impatient kids taunting him to jump or get off. I also knew that he could hear them too. However, I also heard far more encouraging words from the crowd. At one point there at the end there was a group of total strangers chanting "Do it! Do it! Do it!" At this he smiled and looked at me. I encouraged him to just close his eyes and step off...to just let go and not think about it. It happened so quickly I almost missed it! As he stepped off the high dive the crowd erupted into a round of applause and cheers for my boy. As I struggled to take the picture and cheer at the same time my eyes immediately watered. It was one of the proudest moments I have had.

I was so grateful for the awesome experience he had just had and for the encouragement of the crowd. As he hung out around the pool a short time later I witnessed young and old come up to him and bump fists with him, high five him and tell him how awesome that was! I loved it and I know for a fact he did too! He went on to jump off the high dive EIGHT times that afternoon. It was a great day and it still brings tears to my eyes to think about it! Congratulations Tiny Man!

4th of July Slacker

I have been meaning to get this post put on here since the Monday after the 4th. You can see how far meaning to and actually doing it have been from each other! Anyhow...here goes!

We ran away to our favorite nearby vacation spot...Bear Lake! We had a bunch of the extended Burke family in town so it was a huge weekend PARTY! On Friday Nate and I took Tiny Man and Ladybug to the Pickleville Playhouse with the rest of the adults and watched "Annie Oakley". It was great! Front row seats aren't too shabby either!
After the play we got to meet the two main characters. Ladybug was really cute and asked her if her name was REALLY Annie. Annie then told her that she had a friend that was named the same as Ladybug. Instantly Ladybug told her that that made them friends too. It was fun!

On Saturday we went to the lake of course! All day fun in the sun! We played horseshoes on the beach, applied a ton of sunblock, ate yummy food, Jet Skiied, ate yummy food, canoed, ate yummy food, applied a ton of sunblock, ate yummy food, laughed our heads off, applied sunblock and then ate some more yummy food! It was great!



Ladybug dancing an outcropping of rocks with a pool of water in it. She was having a great time in the warmer water until we told her that it was probably warm from all of the younger kids going potty in it! Which wasn't 100% true!
Evidence in Tiny Man's braces of the yummy food we ate all day! Yum! Yum!


That night we had a family baseball game at the park, had a BBQ, and watched fireworks.
The next day we cleaned up and hustled home so Nate could turn right around and head to the airport for California! A way fun weekend!

Nate's Surgery Update

Nate is finally out of surgery! He did great! He is still in Recovery. There was no permanent damage and nothing but the infected cyst....in other words NO CANCER! They had to remove 3-4 lymph nodes that were enlarged from the infection. It went great... they said to give him about 3 weeks and he will be good as new!

Daddy Daughter Date

This was earlier in the month but I wanted to get it on here now that the pictures are on the computer. The achievement day girls held a 50's theme Daddy Daughter Date on June 12th. Ladybug was really excited that they invited all of the girls who are turning 8 this year. So we whipped together a Poodle skirt....thanks Shawnee! They had a great time together! They had a hoola hoop contest, did the hokie pokie, danced, played games etc. They had a great time!

Before and After

I am feeling really excited about our yard! It is finally coming together! There is still a TON left to do in the backyard and the vegetable garden....but it's coming! The last three years have been so full of intense manual labor it is just nice to see an end in sight! so I thought I would show you some before and after pictures.

BEFORE



AFTER