John-Makynna-Livia: June 2009

So did you notice the "new and updated" look of the blog. I thought it was time for a change so...taa daa.
The summer has been busy so far:
John had to take summer school to improve his Science grade, which meant early mornings for 3 weeks - start time of 7:40am. Hopefully that will help come fall - motivation to get his work done. He also took driver's ed classes, so he is ready to get his permit when he turns 15 later this month. He is now on a trip with our Church and 94 other high schoolers. They are heading down to New Orleans for the Jesus, Justice and Jazz ELCA youth gathering. There will be 37,000 kids filling the Super Dome next week. Wow. They saw the arch in St. Louis, spent a couple days in Memphis. He said that he LOVED Beale Street - enjoyed the shops and food. They tired alligator gumbo - sounds good?? As I am typing they are on their way to Pensacola Beach Florida - and looking forward to the beach time. When he gets back he'll have a week free - which I think he's going to spend with Brad's dad and Brad's mom. Then it's a week of hockey camp and then football starts. Practices are 8am-1pm everyday....busy!
Makynna has been enjoying the summer's outside as much as possible. Her and Liv love to be outside. She took 4 weeks of swimming lessons in June. She isn't a "water baby" by any means, and I believe last year she was still clinging onto the instructor and didn't want to try anything. This year she started out cautious, but by the end was doing awesome. Jumping in, swimming with a noodle and putting her face in the water. She ended up passing the preschool level - she was so proud. She was also in "Big Booper Baseball" in June as well. Probably not one of her "callings", but she had a blast. The first night, she had no clue what hand to wear her glove on, or what way to go on the bases. Her time in the outfield usually consisted of playing with the sand/gravel. Good times. **quick side story** I picked the girls up from daycare before one of Makynna's games. On the way there Livi said, "Kenya, elmost dere?" Makynna responded, "no not yet." Not even ten seconds later, "Kenya, elmost dere, t-ball, elmost dere?" Makynna responded again, "no, not yet." This went on every 10 seconds until Makynna's response changed to an annoyed tone, "well, we're almost there, but not really almost there." I had a hard time keeping back the laugh. So funny. I just dropped her and Livia off with Grandma for a week. She was really looking forward to it :)
Livia hasn't had an activities this summer other than following her big sis around and insisting that she do EVERYTHING that she does. Definitely Makynna's "little me." She's very active and loves to be outside too. Jumping on the trampoline, swinging on the swing **higher, higher**, going to the park and playing with Makynna.
We have been out to the lake a couple of weekends this season, hopefully a couple more to come. I've been busy with work and working most weekends :( Looking forward to some down time at work.
Picture book below :)

Brad took the girls to the lake one Friday this summer. Having fun.

They love their shades.

Livi eating "shake, shake" ice-cream. We bought a ice-cream ball that you shake for 20 minutes to make ice-cream. It was really fun. They thought it was pretty cool to make ice-cream.