Our Empty Nest/Bye Bye Angie and Fishes School

Mikayla and Coach Angie

In one of the makeshift boats that teaches them balance

Just splashing around as you can see she is all smiles even with the water all in her face.

Our baby Robins nest is now empty....and the baby bunny I mentioned did not make it. We do though have a baby bunny we believe just released from mommy a day or two ago that seems to have made his home in our yard for a time. Mikayla has not been able to see him except maybe once with Daddy. I only hope the neighbor cat does not find him or that my boys leave him alone. Since the Robin nest arrived the boys have been better at not chasing the birds I can only hope the same will happen with the bunny. I would love to keep our yard a safe play area for all Gods creatures.

Yesterday was a Super Swim day for Mikayla. Being a Holiday weekend and all she was lucky enough to have her fav coach and the whole pool all to herself. I put some great pics and video here for you to enjoy. They had a blast and I know Mikayla got her work out because she ate so much more than usual yesterday I could not believe it...and if you know Mikayla if I said she ate more than usual you know that is a lot. Today she gets to swim again with CC, I believe, for a makeup class we can only hope she gets the same luxury she had yesterday with Angie. CC is another of her buds. I think she has taken a liking to both Angie and CC not just cause they are awesome but also because she can sign with both of them. So to her they understand her more than most...and she can relate or vise-versa. I have decided not to take pics of swimming today as it is a make up class but I will probably regret that. Now that both gymnastics and swimming is over and we have the next week free we hope to have more fun at home with the sandbox and our own pool we will see if the weather lets us do so.

Until the next update I hope everyone enjoys thier 3 day weekend and has a wonderful summer. Blessings, AJ



She had to get the pearl in the oyster and close it

Just playing making bubbles together

Jumping off the side and touching bottom

The last segment of swimming across the 15' pool a segment at a time with all the swimming she did that day I was thinking she was starting to look like she was wore out yet of course she did not want out of the pool when class ended.

She had to get the dive toy at the bottom of the pool.

Bye Bye Super Beast

My Monkey

Just taking a break being silly

Monkey crawling her fav

Another fav swinging on the rings

Most of her class that would stay put... and fun and crazy coach Allison... we will miss her.

Another of the class with a few other classmates

The proud Super Beast with her new Metal

Do you think she enjoyed getting her Metal

Today was the last day of Gymnastic for the semester. Mikayla will no longer be a Super Beast. We will have one week with no gymnastics and then when we go again. Mikayla will be going back as a Funny Bug. She has grown so much and I can see her growing inside and out daily. Just yesterday she carried a full gallon of water to me from one room to the next. I was amazed. Her whole class of Super Beasts were awesome. I am sad to say good-bye to them all. I know some maybe back but some will probably still only be Super Beasts while a very small percent would be Funny Bugs if they do return. We did exchange some numbers but I am not sure anything will become of it. It was really cute how they gave the metals and all. The Beasts loved every minute as you can see. The Super Beast class was with Mommy participation... the Funny Bug class mommy does not participate so this will be something new and interesting for Mikayla and Mommy to see. Tomorrow will be Mikayla's official last day for the Little Fishes Swim School semester also although she will also go on Saturday (a make up day). When she leaves the Little Fishes School she will not be going back but will be going to a new School... the Jewish Community Center (JCC) where she will be learning the Red Cross way and if she stays there she will have the option to become a lifeguard if she chooses. With all this said make sure you visit again real soon for some pics of the new swim school and maybe some from her last days with the Fishes. We will definitely miss CC, Angie and the rest of the wonderful, sweet coaches at the Fishes School.

Not afraid of the high bar just thinks she still needs help and assistance on it

My Super Beast

Baby Birds Rising

The 3 growing baby robins this one always has his eye on me

The pretty Cardinal posing for us

Daddy teaching her to be a pro

This face was when she was complaining about something ... the grass being to tall or something

Aren't they cute?!?

I am sorry but they both look like they have the same expression to me...too funny

Lets see if we can poke out an eye watch out Louie looks like he can attack at any time.

It is definitely 3 baby robins in that little nest. We watch momma feeding the babies constantly and they are growing fast as you can see. I even got the great video of momma feeding and cleaning the nest. We thought we had a beautiful guard on duty but come to find our lovely Cardinal just wanted to pose for us. With the mornings so sunny and warm Mikayla and the boys and I have been able to get out and play a bit. Even Daddy got in the act teaching Mikayla to be the Golf Pro... I am not sure Louie was too keen on been home bound outside. Beware though those Boxers can be really mean if you try to poke their eyes out as you can see Louie biting Mikayla's arm off in the pic. What gets me is some times it just looks like they have the same facial expressions....too funny. As of yesterday evening we have a new baby ... a baby bunny left alone. I hoped mom would come to warm him last night. I know she was around but baby was still alone in the morning. I am leaving alone again tonight. If he is still a survivor in the morning I think I might attempt taking him under my wing we will see.

Rain Rain Will It Ever End?

Playdoh fun

Mommy's playdoh creatures

More of Mommy's creatures

Mikayla building her block wall

Ms Robin

The little ones

Rainy days are never boring around here......there is always playdoh and blocks and so much more to do in our house. Come by and join us one rainy day and see the fun to be had here at Mikayla's house. We also acquired a new robin mommy friend.....we believe there are 3 pretty quiet little ones as well. The robin has been so good...never pecking us or running to far from her home. Ms Robin has become quite brave and accustomed to us opening and closing the door as well as the boys running in and out and all over the yard even to stop and drink water from right under her nest. We will miss Ms Robin and her little ones soon as they grow and move on to their new life of adventure. Until then we will enjoy watching her feed and take care of the little ones every chance we get. Mikayla's daily reading book for the time has become...Baby Birds First Nest...about a little bird who falls out of her nest to be-friend a frog who helps her build her own nest until he can help her get back to her momma up in the tree. I can not imagine why this became her favorite ... can you??????

Our girl is growing so fast....I have been so behind in telling you about her in general and it is her growing site....shame on me. She is now 3 and no longer wearing diapers, no longer wants to sit in a high chair or booster seat anywhere. She is now facing forward in her car seat this really excited her. She also recently has refused to use her little potty seat and wants to sit directly on the big potty. Although mommy and daddy still refuse her lastest request she occasionally gets away without wearing a bib at home or out unless she is eatting something really messy. She is learning like a crazy whether her gymnastics, swimming or normal school stuff. She is writing her ABC's and 123's like a pro with outlines and knows how to add and subtract with numbers one to five. She is a wiz with a map and doing memory games and so much more.....her new phrase is no longer "tomorrow" but "I am Big" and "This is my Mommy/Daddy". Our little girl is growing up....

Tennessee at Dryer Times

The famous stairway created from Gone With The Wind still exists

The back of the stairway and the hallway for most of the restaurants now as some were moved here...as you see Fuse on the right it will no longer exist but will soon be a gigantic sports bar bigger than any other.

One of our guides showing us one of the many new touch screen maps/etc that will give you a map of the grounds, places to eat as well as the menus of the places, local area sites and much more...so cool. There will also be small touch screens able to play full length movies at the entrance to each and every conference room. Awesome

This entire area and hallway and rooms have been redone as it was completely under water....if you look over the shoulder of the lady with the green shirt on the left you can see one of the small touch screens I mentioned. And we have not seen but have been told that each conference room also now has the most up to date electronic equipment

This is the river for the boat ride and if you look closely it is kind of hard to see but you can see the red mark on the left white pole of how high the flood was.

The waterline on the trees of how high the water was

If you look close you can see the tree waterline showing you the cars were completely under water

In the check in area now to be less cluttered the new glass sculpture ...along with the new glass ceiling in the next photo were beautiful and created to represent new life.

These pics do not do any of the changes justice

Just two of the many lovely water falls that were once hidden behind the rotating bar that no longer exists.....fyi the woman was just a fellow tourist in the group

Another fountain area where the water jumps from area to area...in the background on the left is where the rotating bar used to be that is now a sitting area where you can get hors devours and drinks and play on your laptop.

Just a quick shot of the rooms from inside the gardens...the top area where there are glass windows instead of balcony's are suites way to big to even think about staying there or should I say you will want to stay there and never leave.

Us taking the boat ride to view changes from another angle.

The Famous gigantic chandelier and fountain still exist also

This is the largest suite/Presidential Suite that cost just a few THOUSAND DOLLARS a night to stay in. From what we are told many famous people have stayed there

The widely known Dancing Fountain is yet another awesome site to see still in existance

Just one of the many beautiful garden areas that look untouched but have been through so much

The waterfall you can walk under...yep..still there

Mommy and her baby girl sitting by the walk under fall

Back at our Balcony...Can you say Brain Freeze?!?

Well I am sorry it took me so long but life does go on and stays busy around here. Our free Tennessee trip was awesome. The reception unbelievable not to mention the tour guides and the beautiful changes that had to be made. I was a very emotional day for everyone just one year ago when the Opryland Hotel took a beating and was flooded, the Opry Mills Mall went totally under water and the many residents that live there had their lives changed forever. Even though the Mall has yet to recover....Today was another emotional day of remembering, remembering all the help there was and how quickly help arrived to recover and help the people of Tennessee. Remembering the day brought back memories as well as a bright future for all the wonderful changes that have now been made. At the reception there was so much finger food continually coming as well as drinks all on their dime. They welcomed us all back with honors and a free group photo to boot. The next day was the tour of the Hotel showing where the damage was and how it is now new an improved. Later that night we also had free tickets to the Grand Ole' Opry as fabulous that was and I am sure the show was unbelievable we decided to pass and have fun with Mikayla instead. The Gardens never looked so beautiful and calm this day just relaxing and enjoying every minute of the weekend. Maybe one day each of you will get your chance to visit and enjoy this awesome place....blessings to all. AJ

School District Fair!!!

Getting fitted for her new Helmet

Hanging out in the back of the Big Fire Truck was really high up

She really enjoyed driving the big truck

All the kids went to sit in the seats in the back of the bus Mikayla went straight to the drivers seat...the Bus Driver had a good laugh

She loves driving...she will probably drive like her momma

We had a blast at the fair as you can see. There was plenty to do but mommy was not in picture taking mode so this is it for the fair.....have no fear we are going to be off to Nashville really soon so there will be some pics from there coming soon. I know Mikayla is excited to be traveling but I speak for myself when I say I am very excited to see all that is changed from the flooding that sent us to this journey now. This is a free trip on Opryland to bring us back since we were there when it flooded. I can not wait to see and hear on the tour what all has changed and I hope to also visit the mall to see what is changed there also. Wish us luck and pray that all this rain did not effect and will not effect them as we are there this time. Talk to you all again soon. Blessings, AJ